New Year's Eve

Have fun tonight (but not TOO much). We celebrate at 4pm here, which is midnight in England.

Quiet Time

The visitors are all gone, the house is quiet. Now my cat Dasher can come out from his hiding place.

Gumdrop Tree

When guests visit for the holidays, I like to put up my gumdrop tree. 

Ice Skating

My family is going to go watch the movie "Frozen", and then try our hand at the local ice-skating rink. 

Coloring

I put a black & white coloring cloth from IKEA on the kitchen table, for my family and visitors to color. Everyone has been having fun doodling, and then signing their name next to their "art".

Ampersand

I love ampersands. This holiday is a good time to use it:

Family & friends & food & fun & festivities &.....

One of my favorite Christmas gifts is an ampersand bottle-opener!

Christmas Family

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Stockings

They're hung up by the chimney, with care.

Cookie Tree

Each year, it's my family's tradition to make a gingerbread tree out of different sizes of star cookies. 

Winter Tree

Yesterday was the first day of winter.

Busy Elves

The elf and I were busy getting last-minute things done for the holidays. But where is he now? I still need help!

Christmas Shows - Rudolph

We still enjoy watching all of the old Christmas classics on TV. Rudolph is a favorite. 

Snowman

This snowman is inspired by a favorite Old Navy holiday shirt that each of my kids wore, long ago. I kept the shirt for the grand kids. 

Christmas Wrap

I love Christmas wrapping paper!

Piggy Bank

The pigs are empty because of all the shopping.

Shopping for Presents

Only 9 shopping days left!

Christmas Tree Ornaments

I finished decorating the Christmas tree.

Glitter

I bought a giant jar of glitter. I'm not really sure why; it just called out to me! My son said that's what hoarders do. But who doesn't need some glitter in their lives?

Forest

This is my dog, Gidget, in the local park. She thinks she is a fox in the forest!

Mail

Christmas cards are arriving!

Christmas Toys

It's fun to see old friends again during the holidays. Here are the nutcracker, the gingerbread boy, and the mouse girl. 

Presents

I have a stack of velvet-covered gift boxes. Most of the time they are used as holiday decorations, but each year on December 1, I hide new ornaments inside for my family to find. 

Christmas Wreath

This is the wreath on my front door.

Snow?

We were promised snow. 100% chance! It rarely snows in our town. Well, there were a few flakes visible among the raindrops! That's about it. The most exciting thing was the weather report.