Christmas Is Down

Yah!  Christmas is down for another year.  I love having it up, but it's always good to put it away.

Now it's time to get out the Snowmen for the month of January.  Brrrrrr  Feels like we've already experienced January.  
Yesterday Alan and I spent the day painting our bedroom.  I will have pictures soon.  We have always bought Dutch Boy paint from Menards and paint two coats and then go around and touch up a few spots.  We bought from Sherwin Williams because they had the color I wanted.  My neighbor has her living room/kitchen/dining room in this gold color and that's where they got it.  The paint was really thick and after two coats there were a lot more spots than normal to redo.  That's really discouraging.  Especially when it's a vaulted ceiling and the spots all seem to be at the top.   It's done, we like it and all is put back together.  Next up is the laundry room.
Well, I guess if I'm going to get the Snowmen out, I had best get started.  I hope you are all staying warm today.

54 Years

I was standing in line at Walmart last week and I thought, this will be my 54th Christmas.  WOW! Of course many of those I do not even remember.  It would be so much fun to be able to look back in time and watch what it would have been like on Christmas in 1959.  I'll always remember the big bulbs on the Christmas tree with the tin silver stars that would protect the tree branches. And, who could forget putting tinsel on the tree.  The old glass ornaments were so beautiful.
Growing up we would always anxiously wait for the Christmas catalogs to arrive.  Then we would sit down and circle and write down our wish lists.  Dad always came through for Christmas.  We probably got just about everything we wrote down.  And, we always got new underwear, socks and pajamas.  When we opened our gifts we would take turns.  Dad would give Jeanne a gift and she would open it.  Then he'd give one to Bill, then me, then Donna.  One year he told us that there was a paper shortage, so we had to very carefully open each gift, fold the paper and give it Mom. LOL  Pretty sure he was pulling our legs.
Now I 54 Christmas's have gone by.  33 of those with Alan.  Now the girls are grown and celebrate with their own families.  We still blessed to have one with us still.  Just celebrated Christmas number 22 with her.  My dream would be to one day celebrate with all of our girls and their families.
I am going to enjoy the decorations for 3 more nights and then Monday I think it will be time to put it all away again.  It's almost January and at my house, that means it's time for the Snowmen to grace our home.  That's my favorite kind of snow.  Decorations.
I hope that you each had a wonderful season and that you were truly blessed.  It's so easy to get caught up in all of the decorating, presents and baking.  But, without our Lord and Savior being born, there would not be any reason for the season.  Because of Him, we are Blessed.

Oh, Happy Day!

Oh, Happy Day!  My shopping is completed and all packages have been mailed.  Ahead of schedule makes me feel accomplished.  Everything is also wrapped and under the trees.
I really haven't done a lot of baking.  Last weekend Kendra and I made a few sugar cookies, still need to frost those, and we made some Ginger Bread Bars, very yummy and some M&M cookies. She took the bars and the M&M cookies for an exchange at work.  I'm going to make the ring pretzels with the Hershey's Kiss melted in the middle with a green/red M&M in the middle in the next few days.  My plan is to give the neighbors a box of hot chocolate mix and a plate of the pretzel treats for Christmas.  I have the boxes of hot chocolate, now to finish it up.

Mine probably won't look this cute, but it will get the message across.

Alan and I are hoping to leave Saturday morning to go and visit his Mom and brother and sister.  We'll stop in Knoxville on our way to see Alan's Aunt Lova and Uncle Charles.  Charles is not doing well and has cancer.  Just waiting for his time on Earth to end.  We should get to Chariton no later than 1:30.  We'll head back home on Sunday.  So, praying the weather stays stable and that Alan is feeling well.  He's been fighting a bad cold.  I'm also praying I don't get it.

I am so tired of the cold.  Not sure if I'll survive the Winter or not.  But, I'm guessing I will.  LOL

Well, it's time for me to head down to ride my bike.

I hope you are all getting your shopping, baking, whatever you have left done soon.

Good Day

Despite sleeping in until 10 this morning, I still got quite a bit accomplished.  It felt good to sleep after having a sleepless night the night before.
When I heard the winds blowing this morning, I was trying to talk myself out of going grocery shopping and running errands.  Almost had it down to just groceries and then decided that I needed to buck up and get out there.
So, I left just after 11:30 for my busy afternoon.  First stop was Taco Johns to pick up a Taco and some Diet Pepsi.  After enjoying my Taco I went to Best Buy.  Gee, I wonder what I bought there, Rachel.  lol
Made a stop to look at some fashion boots at Sears.  They have some great sales right now.  But, didn't find what I wanted there.  Next on to Payless to return a pair of shoes.  Found a pair of boots there, so did an exchange.
Made a stop at Kohls.  I couldn't believe how many people were shopping today.  But, during the wait in line, had a nice chat with a lady.
I went to Target where I found a few more stocking stuffers and some of my favorite Chick a Boom sweetened popcorn.  And, it was on sale!  So, I bought 3 bags.  YUM!
My last stop was Walmart.  Picked up a couple more stuffers and groceries and headed for home.  I got home about 4:20.
Right now I am watching an old school chick flick and then House Hunters and to bed.
Tomorrow I'll stay home and do some wrapping and figure out if I've got all that I need for everyone.
Alan is still not feeling well.  Praying he's better by the weekend.  We are planning on going to his Mom's on Saturday and then home on Sunday.  So, he needs to be better and no weather advisories.  If either of those, it will be postponed.
I hope you are all staying nice and warm and are ready for more snow by morning.
Night all.

My Day

* Got up.  That's always a good start.  lol
* Ate breakfast.
* Checked Facebook.
* Worked out.
* Ran some errands.
* Mailed the Beck's Christmas box.
* Grocery shopped.
* Put away groceries.
* Brought in Thanksgiving/Fall things that were outside.
* Did a 2nd short bike ride.
* Made/Ate supper.
* Watched TV.
* Now it's time to think about bed.

The Night Before Thanksgiving

Where has this year gone?  Here it is the night before Thanksgiving.  Crazy!  And, Christmas is just 4 weeks away.
Just about everything is ready for tomorrow.  I'll do the stuffing and mashed potatoes tomorrow.  At least I don't have to wake up early to pop a turkey in the oven.  Cooking it the day before is the way to go.  I'll head over to pick Mom up at 10:30 and then when I get back set the table.  Can't do that until just before or Daniel will try to pull the table cloth off.  And, I don't think he's ready for that trick.  lol
The Elam's are on their way.  Guessing they'll arrive no later than 8 by the time they stop for something to eat.  Kendra is on her way and should be here soon.  Then we'll have our supper.
Ready for a fun weekend with the kids and Daniel.  :)
I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

One More Sleep

One more sleep until at least 2 of our girls, a son in law and a grandson arrive for Thanksgiving weekend.  We are do blessed that the Elam's are able to come again this year.  And, we are blessed to have Kendra so close by.  It will be nice to spend time with all of them.  One day we will get the Beck's to join us for a Holiday event.  Might take some work though.
I got up this morning and put some sheets in the wash, ate some breakfast and headed for Walmart.  I really felt like I was going to just fly through the store, but from start to finish it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Here's hoping I go everything I needed, and then some.  I broke the bank.  Next stop was Hy-Vee, because I am in love with Chick a Boom popcorn and I can only get it there.  Plus I picked up a couple of extra items there.
Got home and unloaded ALL of it and put it ALL away.  Turned the oven on and got the apple pie baking.  Then ate some lunch.  Mixed up the cake and tossed that in with the apple pie.  Smart thinking on my part.  Now I have a pumpkin pie baking.  As soon as that's done, it's down to the gym to get my workout in.
Supper is in the crockpot.  Yah, for crockpots!
After supper I probably better look at the damage to the checking account.  I'll watch some tv and just relax.
Tomorrow I have a few more things to make and I'll bake the turkey as well.
I'm glad the sun is shining today or it would be a lot colder than it is.
I better go and check the pie and keep on moving.
Enjoy your afternoon/evening.