Monday, December 19, 2016

SOME CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION FUN


Well it's December the 19th and we are just a few days away from the big day.  I feel somewhat like I've been celebrating since before Thanksgiving, which I guess in a way we have been! lol.  Seriously I know everyone feels differently about decorating and "doing" for Christmas which I think is only obvious.  We are all soo different and each have to do what suits us best.  I love the decorations and the feel of having my house all "decked out" so the longer it is up the better for me.  Maybe some day I'll analyze why it is that I do, but for now I will just enjoy it.  We set our tree up in the living room of this home, which is where my comfy recliner chair is as well as where I sit to do a great many things....My devotional time, talking on the phone, computer and blogging time, reading etc., you get the idea.  Come early evening or even late afternoon, I go to our family room where the TV etc. is, and that's where I usually spend the rest of my day.  My point being, I don't get much opportunity to look or enjoy the tree in the evenings etc.  Or of course during the time of the day that I am sitting at my sewing machine or work table.  Soooo I told hubby to set the timer for the tree lights for 6:00 AM and to leave them on ALL day until 10:00 pm so that I can enjoy them all day long while I am sitting in this room.  I leave them on at night even though we are not in there because you can see our tree through the window at the front of our home.  Anyway, it was one of my more brilliant ideas as I have SOOO enjoyed the tree this year.  The other morning it was pouring rain and it was a chilly 48 degrees (especially fun for So. California) and so I had hubby light me a big fire before he left for work to enjoy for a while too.  Can't tell you how I enjoyed it.  Here was my view....

HERE WAS MY VIEW FROM MY CHAIR....LOVED IT
sorry to those of you who follow me on social media and have already seen this!

Last Thursday I met my lifetime girlfriend Cindy at our favorite place for lunch and exchanged our gifts.  I am imagining there might come a day when we stop doing this, but we have been doing it for SOOOO many years it wouldn't seem quite like the holiday's if we didn't.  It was it's usual wonderful time.  We sat there for well over 2 hours, so it wasn't our imagination when we started getting "the eye" from our waitress, lol.  I was struck again how much I appreciate her friendship and the times we've spent together since we were but 9 years old.  Only my sisters know me as well.  Anyway, honestly the rest of my week was spent not doing a whole lot.  I did manage to finish up all my shopping, but I've still got a little wrapping to do.  Most of the gifts I give are home made, and that's why my sewing is soooo frantic for a while there, but it has cut WAY down on shopping, except for trips to the fabric store etc.  We do buy toys for most of our grandkids as well which is always enjoyable and helps their parents out some, but that is usually not to difficult to do.  The older grandkids and my kids get money, which suits them as well as makes it easy for us.  I like it when I have the majority of my sewing out of the way by Thanksgiving (which considering I give the bulk of them then I have to be done, lol) because it frees me up in December to mainly just enjoy the gatherings and the special events.  I do have an outfit for Capri to make, and a pair of pj's for Vinny, but that's about it.  Neither one of those projects should take much more then an hour or so to do, so it makes it seem like I haven't really got much of anything at all to do.  I am pre-shrinking the fabric as I type this, so hopefully I will get Vinny's pj's made up this afternoon.

Capri celebrated her birthday this week-end.  She is already 12 years old!  Time goes sooo fast I can hardly believe this.  She had a little party with her girlfriends, and received a karaoke machine from her parents.  I don't have to say much more I am sure.  12 year old girls and a karaoke machine only equals fun...

TALLER ALREADY THEN HER MAMA BY 3 INCH
And then we had a really fun and busy Sat as well.  It was hubby's 65th birthday and we were busy from the beginning of the day until 11 o'clock that night when we finally tumbled back into our bed. First, we picked up our almost 16 (Dec. 26th!) year old grand daughter Lindsey (it was her turn for this event with her grandparents...we trade off taking a few of them at a time) and had a quick lunch, and then headed to Huntington Beach to see our 17 year old niece in the Nutcracker where she was performing as a Snowflake.  We met her mom (my sister Donna) at the door and were thoroughly entertained for the next two hours.  It was just soo relaxing and entertaining and the time sped by quickly...Katie did wonderfully, and it was really fun to see her perform.

KATIE AND LINDSEY AFTER THE SHOW BACKSTAGE

Then! we went back to our house so Katie could quickly change her clothes, and headed down to Claremont to the Candlelight Pavillion to have dinner and see their annual Christmas musical play.  We have been doing this for years and years (since Melody was 3 years old) and it is one of our most fun holiday traditions.  Since Melody married and moved away we trade off taking a couple of grandkids with us each year.  They do have matinee's too which makes it much easier on the little ones, but naturally with the older girls we went to one of their evening performances.  It was as always HIGHLY entertaining, and the food was it usual scrumptious self too.  It was a little different this year in that the play was a comedy, which worked out really well having the older girls for too as they really enjoyed this.

KATIE, HUBBY AND LINDSEY
Lindsey was wearing the dress I made her for homecoming which was adorable on her!

MY TURN WITH THE GIRLS

POSING WITH THE BIRTHDAY GUY

THE GIRLS MADE THE EVENING FUN



LOVED THIS
too many steps and no hand rail for me to go up there to jump into this pic too, lol
All in all a very fun, though somewhat long day. We got home after 11 and as the girls were putting a Christmas movie on, hubby and I went to bed...oh to be that young again, lol.  Sunday we met Lindsey's family at church and after lunch hubby and I finished up the very last of our shopping.  Soo here we are.  Lots of plans for next week-end and hopefully everyone stays well as we continue to celebrate.  Seems like lots of people are starting to get sick....it is that time of year.  I am hoping to get up maybe one more post before Christmas.  Hope you are all enjoying the season too, and are not too frantic with the last minute rush.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

Just some more fun holiday pics...

LUKE AND SAM HELPED DECORATE SOME SUGAR COOKIES FOR THEIR FRIENDS...THEN THEIR MAMA PUT THEM IN TINS AND THEY DELIVERED THEM TO THEIR FRIENDS.  SHE LET THEM WALK UP TO THE DOOR BY THEMSELVES, AND THEY GOT THE BIGGEST KICK OUT OF IT!  I LOVE THEIR SHIRTS

CLAIRE HELPING WITH CLEAN UP, LOL, AND SPORTING THE LITTLE GINGERBREAD OUTFIT I MADE HER,  SHE'S ADORABLE AND GETTING SOO BIG!

MELODY AND THE KIDS AT THEIR LITTLE LOCAL MALL (NOT REALLY A MALL, LOL) ON THEIR WAY TO GET SANTA CLAUS PICTURES

AND THIS YEARS PIC...CLARE WAS NOT FEELING IT, LOL
And then I just had to show you these few second video of Melody lip syncing this song....a girl can dream, right?  lol  She keeps me amused with these little pics and videos of her little family or don't know if I could take not getting to see them for Christmas



6 comments:

  1. I love the picture with the tree and fireplace. Gorgeous!

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  2. Christmas JOY all over the place. Love seeing your beautiful grands young and "old." You are the fun grandparents that's for sure! Looking forward to your next post.

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  3. I am in awe of the view of your chair! I fear I would never get up. And your family is just so darling. Happy birthday to your husband and all of you have a Merry Christmas.
    And yes, traditions with friends are just so wonderful.

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  4. What a lovely 65th b'day celebration! Such cute pictures and loved Melanie singing O Holy Night. How cute! Christmas blessings and thanks for the pretty Cmas card!

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  5. What a great birthday celebration. Loved all the pictures and great singing! Merry Christmas.

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  6. What lovely celebrations you all are having! Happy birthday to your hubby!

    I have to say that you continue to impress me with your speed and amount of sewing. When you said that you could make an outfit and/or a pair of pajamas in an hour, my jaw dropped! What?! Either one would take me a week or more!

    Merry Christmas to you and yours as we celebrate Immanuel - God with us!!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!