Stockings

When I was little this was my favorite part of Christmas. My siblings and I would get up bright and early and run downstairs to see stocking full to the brim laying on the fireplace harth (they were too heavy to hang). We would sit down and spread our legs wide and dump the entire contents of our stocking on the floor. Oranges, Apples and tons of candy. I would save mine. One year I saved a Candy cane for 3 years.

I made Emily's stocking special, since this year she knows what is going on. I stuffed the toe with suckers, then added crayons, glue, watercolor paints, stamp pad and stamps loaded to the top. She has so many presents on the 24th and the 25th. She didn't even open her stocking. So one night really late when she was bored getting into stuff I let her open her stocking. She has loved playing with watercolor it keeps her busy when I'm on the computer.

Christmas Eve

Festivities

4:06 pm. It starting to feel like Christmas. The festivities are beginining. I hear Christmas music in the background and fireplace is crackling, the christmas lights are glowing. Emily is watching Rudulph the Red Nose Reindeer, Rich is baking Ham, I'm washing dishes and cleaning, Mia is sleeping. Now we are just waiting for our guests and present to arrive.

Once upon a time . . . I had a little tree

This year we can't afford a tree, the money just never came together right to get one this year. So I had a 2 ft faux tree in the attic mixed in with some other decorations. I fluffed out the limbs and put a huge strain of lights round and round the tree and the pulled out all the non-breakable ornaments. Emily stood in front of the little tree for hours hanging and re-hanging the ornaments.

I put the few 5 wrapped gift next to the tree. Emily got the idea it was time to open them. She started to pass them out. She would say, "this one is Thanksgiving dinner" (whatever that means), "this is for the Christmas tree, "this one is for mama", this is one is for dadoo, this one is for me" and then she would switch it up. I caught her finger in the corner of one present ready to rip it open. Yesterday, she said "can I open them" Me: no we have to wait until Christmas. Emily: "Can I open just one?".

Since the tree is really small and Emily likes lights. I hung lights on the piano and over the window and around the dresser in the diningroom. I'll probally be hanging more tomorrow.

When I was on the attic stairs getting the lights and ornaments, Emily kept saying "Mama is dangerous. Mama be careful. Let me help you. Its dark up there, you need a flashlight." I made just find up and down the stairs with those 3 boxes, but Emily was quite concerned that I wasn't going to.

So now its Dec 22 and all the decorations and lights are up, the tiny tree is decorated, the few presents are wrapped it now beginning to feel like Christmas.

No Tree Yet? but shopping is done!!

Today Grandma, Pop and Sophie suprised us today. So while they were watching the kids I slipped out of the house to do some christmas shopping. I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and Belk and came out with nothing. Then I went to Sams and picked up Formula and cardstock for etsy stuff and some fruit snacks for Emily. Target was the place to go. I found Rich two things on sale. I got Emily Candy Land, stocking stuffer (paint, watercolor paint, elmers glue, crayons and candy). Then I stopped at Office Max to check out Linen cotton paper for some new cards I have cooked up in my head, but I didn't buy it I couldn't find envelopes to match. I got home and hid everything. Then when Rich went to get fuel for the furnance I wrapped his presents with Emily's help. Emily had to personalize the presents with pictures. She drew a snake, wheels and a cat. When Emily laid down to watch some cartoons I quick wrapped up her presents. After washing all the dishes and folding and ironing the laundry I was beat and fell asleep with Mia on the couch for 3 hours.

Surprise . . . Christmas present

Rich said he is going to Atlanta to pick up my Christmas present. Christmas present? I wasn't expecting anything and I told him I thought it was the new to me fast computer he was building me. Nope. He gave me a few hints.

1) It weighs about 150 lbs
2) I have to find a place in the house for it
3) It is more then one piece
4) It can't be found locally
5) It will bearly fit in the back of the truck
6) Its really heavy
7) It will fit in a box
8) I could use it before Christmas
9) not a freezer
10) not a dishwasher

I have no clue something he found on Craigslist or Ebay. I think it might be an letterpress machine or a laser printer. ??

Happy Thanksgiving