So This Is (Was) Christmas

The Christmas Season this year was kind of a weak effort on my part.   My inability to tolerate frigid cold temperatures, a funeral, a wicked flu virus systematically taking down each member of our family and the fact that I could not get over the fact that Thanksgiving was just so late this year are only some of the reasons I was acting a little Scroogish.  But we did manage to slide in some of our favorite activities of years past...and even attempted a new family activity. Some of my neighbor gifts actually even got delivered.  And true to form, after Christmas morning was over I pretty much forgot I have access to a camera, so if it happened after about noon on Christmas it lives on only in my memories...

I spy with my little eye:
Letters to Santa (along with a joyfully received response!)//Decorating for Christmas//A visit from our Christmas Elf//Festival of Trees//Cookie Making Day//Christmas Crafts//Ogden Christmas Village//Neighbor Gifts//Christmas Eve games and crackers//Tracking Santa//Leaving Santa his cookie fix//Presents, presents and more presents.

Till next year, Christmas!

Thanksgiving Thankfuls

So, sometimes a lot of times I complain, but it's no secret that I have a pretty sweet life.  One that I am so very thankful for.  And since there are about a million things I could list right now, I've decided to keep my thankfuls Thanksgiving related for this post.  Because there's plenty of those to keep me busy, plus it's an easy way to document Thanksgiving.  Well, parts of it.  I've discovered that the more food there is involved with a holiday, the less pictures I take since I am so busy stuffing my face, so Thanksgiving is lucky to get any photos at all.  

1.  Thankful for a husband who encourages me to decorate early so I can enjoy my tree on Thanksgiving.  I know.  Thanksgiving blasphemy.  Look away if you're offended.

2.  Thankful that we are all healthy enough to enjoy a Thanksgiving morning walk...Also thankful the weather cooperated.

3. Thankful that my mom is such a good cook, so that my job on Thanksgiving involves very little cooking, and a very lot of eating.

4.Thankful for Wii tournaments with the family.  And thankful that I was usually playing against Holden so I always got second to last place instead of last place.  

5.  Thankful for Black Friday deals that required no early mornings, Thanksgiving night shopping, or long lines.  Guess other people were not as excited about the tupperware sales as I was.

6.  Thankful that my family always comes to my random parties, and in this case, thankful they all took home extra eggnog after our taste testing session.

7. Thankful for this mama's girl, who is always ALWAYS up for a good selfies session.

8. Thankful for this little boy who drew me a ghost when I asked him to draw a Christmas picture.  He beats to his own drum, that one, which is equal parts infuriating and adorable, depending on the circumstances.

9.  And, as always, I am thankful for Diet Coke.