Christmas 2010

This Christmas was probably one of the best I've experienced in a very long time. I had Friday and Saturday off, and then I took Sunday and Monday (today) off, too. I had my shopping done by the the Saturday before Christmas and by Sunday or Monday everything was already wrapped and under the tree. I did my candy, cookie, and pie making/baking throughout the week. This was probably the least stressful Christmas I remember.

We had our family holiday on Christmas Eve. The kids came in on Thursday and spent the night. The grandbaby was so much fun and so excited for Santa. At bedtime she was too excited to sleep, so #1 son rang some jingle bells downstairs so she would think Santa was near and would go to sleep. It worked. She dropped right off to sleep almost immediately.

On Christmas Eve #1 son dressed as Santa and the Girlie didn't know what to think. She wasn't scared of him, but she was in complete shock that he actually came to see her. He gave her a present (Cinderella Barbie), but she was too surprised to play with it until Santa left. She was pleased that Santa told her she was on his nice list.

We opened presents. The Girlie got a lot of nice toys, clothes, shoes, and boots. Everybody seemed to like what I got them. There was a nice brotherly emotional moment when #1 son opened a gift from #2 son. It was a baseball autographed by Johnny Bench. This was a big deal because Johnny Bench has always been my son's big hero. He played before my son's time, but he grew up hearing about him, seeing him on TV, etc., and that was his athlete hero. He always chose Johnny Bench's number for his own baseball (and soccer) jerseys from elementary school through high school. So this was a big deal, and he got very emotional. It was a very sweet moment.

My presents: a beautiful green pea coat, matching scarf with several colors in it, including the same green of my coat, Bath and Body Works shower gel, lotion, and body spray in two different scents (Cherry Blossoms and Twilight Woods), and some handsoap in Twisted Peppermint. I got a digital picture frame, and I got some cash from my mom and from my friend from England. I was totally shocked by English friend. I had an email on Christmas Eve from him that said I needed to go to my nearest Western Union place and pick up a gift of cash, and he said he wanted me to spend it all on myself because he knows I don't do all that much for myself because I love spoiling my kids and my granddaughter. When I looked it up, the Kroger that is very close to me was listed as the closest Western Union. I had no clue how much he sent, but he gave me a number to give them there. It turned out to be $350. As I said, he schocked me with that.

We had a nice dinner of ham, potato salad, green beans, corn, dressing, macaroni salad, and rolls. The dinner was a complete mess. I paid more attention to my grandbaby than I did with cooking. Time got away from me so my daughter didn't even get to eat with us. She was going to her dad's house at a certain time, but she hates her stepmother's cooking. So I fed my granddaughter some food that was aleady done and my daughter took some ham with her to eat on the way there so she didn't have to eat at her dad's house. Later that evening my son and his fiance left to go to her family's house about two hours away, and they spent the night there so they could spend Christmas day there. She had to work that night so my son drove back here and spent the rest of the day here. I cooked the turkey that didn't thaw out enough the day before, because #2 son isn't too fond of ham. I made my aunt's banana bar recipe (Yum!!), and a banana split cake. I heated up the rest of the food and we ate leftovers. After dinner we went to my mother's house to take her gifts to her. She didn't seem to like mine at all. I made her a crocheted afghan for her sofa, and the look on her face was clear that she didn't like it. I asked her if she thought it would match her sofa, and she said she doesn't put afghans on her furniture. I asked what she's going to do with and she said "keep it" like she kept the brown one I made for her. I had completelly forgotten that I made her one before, but that was a good 15 years ago or longer. So that translates to "I'm going to throw it in the back of the closet and leave it there." :) Oh well. All you can do is try. I know not to do anything handmade for her again. All three of the kids loved it and they all want one. So that's one of my 2011 projects. The rest of teh evening the the boys played their new games and the new Kinect. It was another nice day/evening.

On Sunday my two sons and I went shopping. They both had Christmas money to spend, as did I. Neither one of them bought anything, but I used some of my money to buy a big vase to put on one side of the sofa and some tall dried flowers, etc., to put in it. And I found a really pretty teacup and saucer and a pretty cream pitcher. I also got a new hat to go with my new coat. Today my youngest son and I went to the mall and I got a new journal and three writers magazines. The journal was sealed so I couldn't look at the pages, but I got an unbelievable deal on it. When I got it home I found that the lines were skinny so I probably won't use it as my personal journal. I'm a big journal lover so I used them for all kinds of things. This one will be used for my writing ideas. I have many journals for different purposes, but they're all in storage except for the one journal that I write in as my personal journal. I have one that is used for geneology stuff, one for phone calls, one for recipes, one for my granddaughter's adventures, a travel journal, etc., etc. This new one will have to be used with a fine point pen, and I like using a fountain pen for my personal journal.

It's getting late, so I'm going to shut down and look over my magazines. It's back to work tomorrow, unfortunately. Oh how I would love to win the lottery. And don't think I will be one of those people who decide they love their job so much that they continue working. I would love being a lady of leisure to do what I want when I want and where I want. We will see...