Ms. Susie has invited me once again to join her Cookie Exchange festivities. I am honored to attend, and will be sure to take my shoes off at the door. I have cute warm little sockies to wear instead.
I don't have the time nor the energy to upload new pics, so old pics must suffice.
Our Christmases are filled to the brim. When we first got married, for the first several years both LP and I worked either Christmas Day, Eve, or both. We were flying in every different direction. Some years we did our celebrations on the 24th, the 23rd, even the 26th. Once Rug was born though, both he and I had non holiday working jobs (me being a SAHM for awhile anyway). So for the past 10 years our Christmases have looked like this:
Christmas Eve Day: Baking cookies
Christmas Eve evening: Trek over to my Mother in laws, LP's mom and stepdads.
(if LP and I got each other something, we usually open it after we get home when the little ones are snug in their beds)
Christmas a.m.: Open our gifts from Santa, then off to LPs dad's for brunch.
Eat way too much.
Go home, unload, nap.
Around 4 p.m. head off to my parents' house 1/2 hour away for one more go at it.
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Needless to say, it's exhausting. Now, last year and this year, I have to work. Just 3 hours, and I get time and a half, so it's not too big of a deal, but basically replace that nap with working. Bummer, right? Plus this year, Christmas falls on my day OFF but we are all required to work. Double bummer. But still, it's not a big deal, cuz I'm at home in my PJs surrounded by my family. It's all good!
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I love dips and appetizers, I could literally eat them all day long. I just went recently to a party and one of the attendants brought these delicious meatballs along. They were so yummy, that she was hesitant to give me her secret recipe. But fortunately she did, and I will be making them for New Year's this year. Enjoy:
YUMMY DELICIOUS MEATBALLS
Frozen Meatballs
2 12 oz jars Heinz chili sauce (or BBQ sauce)
1 32 oz jar grape jelly
1 bag meatballs (about 80 in a bag)
Put chili sauce and jelly in a large pot, heat until jelly is melted and sauce is smooth, stirring often. Add frozen meatballs; heat until meatballs are thawed and then simmer for 3 hours.
Hey, if you want to make your own meatballs, go right ahead. I'm just making your life a little less stressful.
MY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS:
We read Twas the Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve before the kids go to bed. We all pile into our bed, snuggle up and LP reads it. This year I got one of those recordable editions, so his voice will be reading it forever. I love that.
We also go to look at Christmas lights and crank up the Christmas music and then make cookies afterwards. It's the best tradition ever, really.
One last tradition we have is more of my husband's, that is, he every year will promise that next year we will have the best Christmas light display on the block.
We have not had ANY Christmas lights up in 5 years. Gotta love him. And I do! LOL
Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy every moment, smell, sound, and taste of the season. It truly is magic.
And thanks Susie, again, for making me blog and for your friendship. I love ya.
(PS, that was last year's Santa picture, but most definitely a classic)
