Christmas: Wrap It Up!

Phew! What A Whirlwind!

Is it me or was that one quick run up to Christmas and fast forward through all the hoopla? I'm talking fast-like-the-speed-of-light.

We had a great holiday.  We were off to sister Glo and bil Jack's for Christmas Eve, which is nice because there is way more room there to hold all of us than there was on my parent's porch and in their living room (that used to be the Christmas Eve venue). We are not a small crew and we come with a truckload of presents.

There were lots of laughs, lots of great food and drinks (can you say St. Elderberry liqueur?) and even a big surprise.

Niece Cait gave 'grammy and grampy' a present to open.

Uh oh, what does it say?

Yup. Cait and her husband Jon are expecting! Yay! Bring on the baby!

Now, although, Sister Gloria (left in red) is the grandmother to be, it was Sister Di that would not, could not stop crying. She was a blubbering fool. Right Di?

What a nice present Cait!

Of course, I think there were hours of unwrapping on Christmas Eve and then we had to do it all over Christmas morning, because that Santa is one heck of a guy.

We started with our Annual Christmas photo in front of the tree.

We took our time this year getting to the presents.

Eventually though, we had at it.

I scored these awesome new wellies. I'd worn my old lobster wellies right out. They were toast.
Kind of like the crockpot that Santa was also nice enough to replace! My old one was ancient. You know, since we were married 'ancient'.

I always love new books for the nightstand. If anyone has read The Book Thief, keep it to yourselves. I haven't even started it yet!

Here I am styling my new Bruins Fleece jacket from fellow Bruins Fan sister Gloria, and holding the photo of New York harbor I took when we were down in September.  I printed and framed it for the Gman, who was a little emotional when he opened it.  It's where he spent his first Christmas in the States. We miss NYC.

 

Everyone loved their sharpie paint pen projects that I gave - personalized mugs and decorated plates. I kept a couple of rejects that didn't make the cut.

This morning, one more gift arrived for Gar and my parents (yes Mom and Dad, one more little gift): a printed issue of the muse.

OK, so I looked at it before G, but I couldn't wait!  So cool seeing it all in print.

It's received 170,000+ impressions in just eleven days. Oh yeah,  170,000.  And what makes me even happier is close to 1,000 people have taken the time to 'read' the muse. Really read it. 1,000 people!!! Not bad for less than two weeks time and over the holidays no less.  If you haven't had a chance to take a look at the first issue of the muse yet, perhaps now is the time?  And, if you like it, I would be honored and thankful if you shared it.  Many thanks to those who already have! Know how important you are in helping me make the muse a success!

Beyond all the presents and celebrating, we've spent some time with the neighborhoodlums who we will be hanging with tomorrow night to ring in the New Year.  I had a movie/couch surfing day with the dog which was heaven.  Baked shortbread and cookies and a ham. Generally speaking, for the most part though, there has been a lot of chilling out going on.

What about you? I hope your Christmas and holidays were as good as ours have been so far.

Ciao for now,

After Christmas

Enjoying Some Downtime

Hi all. I sure those of you who celebrate Christmas, had a very merry and enjoyable one.  We sure did. We were off to Sister Gloria's house on Christmas Eve and of course, there was a lot of wrapping paper strewn everywhere by the time we were done.  Christmas was enjoyable at home by the fire. We've also been skyping with our overseas family.  It's all good.  Even better, we both have a few days off this holiday season, so we're just kicking back and enjoying a slower pace, so posting may be a little lighter than usual.

There's been a lot of lounging going on, and there is sure to be more....along with going through our gifts again, learning to use my new camera (yay!), looking more closely at the annual photo album my Mom puts together, a little reading and of course, eating all the goodies we got.

I'd say a field walk too, but today is miserable. Unfortunately, we were just across the snow/rain line for this storm and we've been mosting getting freezing rain and sleet with snow mixed in. Wish we were just a bit further West where the snow is dumping right now. Ah well..........at least the fire is roaring.

Ciao for now,

It's All Over So Soon

Another Christmas Gone

Hi all.  Sorry I've been scarce, I've had a rotten bug since before Christmas and it just won't give up the ghost. 

Despite feeling lousy, I had a great holiday. I hope you did as well.

Thursday night, the neighborhoodlums stopped by.

Joanie brought Lucan a chewable Christmas card. Sandee and Gerry baked their yearly 'Coogans'........cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. Joanie and Tom gave us a new pine bench (see it on the left?) Tom made with native wood he milled himself. It's awesome.

Missed getting a picture of Gerry, but he was here.

Gar was nice enough to help me with our Christmas baking so it was ready to give out when they stopped by (more on that in another post).

Christmas Eve we were off to sister Gloria's, as was the whole famn-damily.

Great nephew Cayd had tupperware on his list to Santa. We were happy to oblige with a big bin full of the stuff.

While he was busy getting the Santa hat he wanted out of one of the tupperware containers, great niece Sophia danced up a storm with Glo's lifesize singing and dancing Santa with help from Auntie Cait.  She didn't stop all night. She just kept dancing, and dancing and dancing.

Once Cayd got his new Santa hat out of the tupperware, he gave out some Christmas lovin'.

Our family friend Donna and niece Nicole chatted in the kitchen. 

Niece Maddie got a great travel bag from Grammy and Grampy. I had my eye on it.

However, I had my own presents to open. Please excuse the same sweater and shirt I've had on in every picture since November. I really do have other clothes.  Feeling as lousy as I did, it was all about comfort Christmas Eve. 

Some of the girls were styling and smiling.

Nephew Pat was happy to get a Kittery Trading Post shirt from Grammy and Grampy. Now he's officially one of the big boys. Right Pat?

Niece Maddie made Grammy mittens she upcycled from a sweater! Awesome!

Cayd was still busy with his Bin O'Tupperware.

He was enthralled by the sandwich bags that were in the bin and were also on his list. He was pretty psyched about the spatula too. Funny stuff.

He took a break to help Great Grammy and Great Grampy open their big gift from the gang......a brick. I know, it doesn't sound exciting, but it was.

It was a replica of the brick with their name on it, that is now part of Fenway Park! Even the Yankees fans present (me and Gar and brother Mike) liked this one.

Though I may have been even happier with my new Stanley Cup Champions Bruins Winter Hat. I know, I'm ever the Fashion Plate.

Got a picture of Mom before she got me. Take that!



Nephew Pat horned in on his niece Sophia's 'dancin' with Santa' territory.

As we left Briar Road, it started to flurry. Perfect timing just in time for Christmas.

It continued on and off the next morning.

We enjoyed our annual Christmas Mimosas as we opened our presents and stockings.  Again, please keep in mind I was not a well girl and it shows.

I spent the rest of the day pretty much under the afghan on the couch, cozy by the fire.  Not a bad place to be.

All in all, another wonderful Christmas gone by. I hope yours was as nice.

Are you ready for the New Year?