All is Calm - All is Bright...

Christmas 2009 is now a thing of the past - to be filed away with so many others.

It turned out to be a pretty nice one, in spite of the last minute preparations (and the mild panic attack.)
My oldest daughter did most of the shopping (it's one of the things she does best!) It was fun to be able to sit back and have a few surprises again!

We were able to squeeze in some fun activities this month - like attending my youngest daughter's choir concert.

It's her first year in the choir, but her last year at school - bittersweet for us - the last High School concert we will be attending for one of our children...

It's been a long time tradition here, that the last number performed is always Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, and they always invite any and all former members of the choir who are in the audience to come up on the stage and join them. It's always very powerful and touching.
My other daughter went up to sing with them - a two-for-one night!


We also attended her choir concert at Temple Square. It was so beautiful there!

I love the old Assembly Hall, where the concert was held.
Isn't it amazing that back in the day when the tools and technology were more primitive, they still built places like this?
Now that we have every tool and convenience known to man, all you ever see are boring straight lines.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

It's no wonder people come from all over the world to see this sight...


Hubby's family party was a big hit - as usual (organized chaos)...And, as always, Santa was there:


Christmas Eve dinner went well too, in spite of all my worry and my absence from the kitchen.
(In fact, I think they did better without me! *Making a note for next year...)

New Jammies were had by all...


If you'll excuse me for being corny - I went to bed that night with a very full heart. I have a wonderful family - I feel very blessed.

The Christmas morning breakfast was nice, (or should I say brunch? It was a little more laid back this year.)

Elmo was late.
"Hey - where did everybody go?"

Hubby and the girls have this week off, so they are keeping me busy, but just wanted to share.

Leaving with this parting thought - my favorite Christmas Message:

Hope your Holiday was Happy too - and wishing you the Happiest of New Years!
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Myth Busted

The Perfect Christmas. Does it exist?

In all the years I've been doing them, I've never had one.
If such a thing does exist - it's out there roaming around with Sasquatch and the Lock Ness Monster.

There's always something more I wish I could have done -
if only I had more time, or more money - or just the brains to organize and plan better.

In my mind I imagine sparkling dinner parties, with everyone in best dress - and food that even Chef Ramsey would
approve of.

Instead, I usually serve meat that is a little dry, vegetables that will probably be luke warm, and the same old tired pink salad.

Instead of a candle lit dining hall - we'll be setting up the folding tables in our cramped living room - and invariably, something will end up spilled on the carpet or the furniture. (OK - sometimes even by me...)

This year will not be one for the books (at least, not in a good way) - there won't be many gifts, and I won't even be able to make dinner myself - I'll be working.

Still, I have much to be grateful for; a daughter who is willing to sacrifice her income to help buy the gifts, a family who all live within a few minutes of home, so they can be here to share the day with us.
Hubby will have time off to spend at home, most of the debts will be up to date (for a change.)
...And there are three little grandchildren who's excitement and joy bring all the magic back again.

No, it won't be the perfect Christmas - but it will be good enough.

Merry Christmas!

Epic Fail

...That's a phrase I borrow from my daughter, but it certainly fits the way I'm feeling today.
What a cruddy Christmas this will be. Besides being behind on everything, and having to last minute shop because no one gets paid until next week - I found out last night that I work Christmas Eve until 6 PM!
...I've got 15 people coming for dinner, and I won't be there to cook it!
(Hubby and my daughter have generously offered, but I'll miss putting in my touches.)

That's all today - just feeling bummed.
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Shifting into High Gear

I was sitting in the kitchen, minding my own business Sunday, when my daughter came in and exclaimed - "Merry Christmas.... in about a week."

My stomach dropped to the ground floor as I realized - it really is that close.

*Ahem* ...We started shopping like - two days ago.
We have never waited this long, or been so unprepared!

It's time to shift into high gear (or in other words - panic mode) and get moving!
I did some shopping today, and finished making my Christmas cards, hopefully to go in the mail tomorrow - started that hand-made gift that should have been finished months ago... the list is longer than my arm.

Wish me luck - I need it.
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Mind if I Regress?

Sometimes my brain goes off on tangents, and gets stuck there...

Lately I've been spending a lot of time with my gran-girlies, and I think how fun it would be to share with them little things from my childhood that they will probably never experience.

Just the little things like the games I used to play - jacks, hop scotch and jump rope... and favorite memories like holiday times, and the fun children's' fashions from times gone by...

For instance, I took little Millie for a ride the other day, and I was trying to tell her about when we used to use a "muff" instead of gloves to keep our hands warm. How do you explain something like that to someone who has never seen one?
I found this picture to show her - but she just thought it was funny.
(I've been playing with the idea of making her one just for fun.)

My mother was a lovely seamstress, and she made most of my clothes back in the day.
At Christmas time, we always fell asleep to the drone of the sewing machine in the other room, as she created new cozy flannel nightgowns, beautiful ruffled dresses, or outfits for our dolls.

Back in "my day" (don't you hate when old people use that line?)
*Ahem*, anyway - we weren't surrounded by the huge chain stores that carry everything from toothpaste to tires.
We only had the little local mom & pop department stores.
They didn't have the floor space to carry toys all year through, but at Christmas time, they would often open up a corner of a storage room, fill it with toys, and call it Toyland.
We always thought it was such a magical place - our own little glimpse into the North Pole.
...We were always anxious to see if the toys we craved were there.
I love this painting by Tricia Romance - it reminds me of those days...


My thoughts had me Googling vintage patterns from the 50's and beyond. I found several sites selling vintage patterns, and I had a lot of fun browsing those sites - viewing fashions from other, more glamorous eras.
One site carried a variety of wedding gown patterns, from the 30's on down through the 80's. That site was particularly fun - and guess what? I found the pattern that I used for my bridesmaid dresses!

I remember it clearly, because I had a LOT of bridesmaids, and I had to cut out each and every one of their frocks, just to make sure I could get them all out of the amount of fabric that I had...

By the time I finished looking at all those dresses, I looked at the clock and it was 3:30 A.M. I had gotten carried away again!
When I went upstairs to go to bed, I looked out the window, and it was so light outside. There is nearly a foot of snow on the ground here - and the street lights played off it like a white sheet on a clothes line. It was glowing and beautiful, like a Thomas Kinkaid painting (my son would argue with that one...)
I tried to get a picture of it, but the window screens blurred the picture - and just as I was debating whether to venture outside - the battery died.

Just as well - a body does have to go to bed sometime. Especially an old body.
Here's that feeble attempt:

...Now I'm going to head upstairs to bed, before it's the wee hours again...

'Night!
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December

Can't believe I haven't been here since Thanksgiving.
I didn't even realize until several days after it was over, that
I didn't even think to take any photos that day.
I guess I was more concerned about having it go over well (and having to work the next day) to even think about it.
*Sigh* Maybe next time.

It snowed here over the weekend, and it's cold. I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter...

I finally saw New Moon this weekend. I liked it ok. If I have to pick a team though - I'm going with Jacob. The boy is just too cute - but seriously - can't that girl find any normal guys?
I think her father missed the boat by not putting her in therapy - she is messed up.

Anyway, the house is all decorated now (prayers of thanks) and now we just have to figure out the Christmas list (or who's been naughty or nice.)

'Till then...
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