Christmas Eve

This was a Christmas Eve like no other. First, we woke up to the house temp reading 47 degrees. I slept hard in the cold, but Wes did not. He was on the phone calling for help before the sun rose. We had a technician at our house at 0900, and at 7:30 this evening we finally reached a temp of 65 degrees. 

Our road was cleared of the two day frozen slush at around 1:00 this afternoon, but by that time our Christmas Eve candlelight service had been canceled. This is my favorite Christmas tradition, and I hated we missed it. 

For the first time since we lived in Germany, my sister celebrated Christmas Eve at our house. She wore a Sherpa lined jacket and brought two blankets for fear she would be too cold. Truth be told, even if our heat was functioning properly, she would have dressed the same. She thinks the house is cold on a normal day. 

I spent the morning in front of the warm oven making cookies for the boys; peanut butter blossoms for Evan and oatmeal for Keagan. 

We had loaded bake potato soup, sausage balls, and Italian pull apart cheese bread for a late lunch. That’s a tradition that Evan says we can’t ever break. Wes wants to know if we have to wait another year to have the bread again. 

The Cowboys beat the Eagles in an exciting game, and the whole house celebrated! Christmas Eve can be a joyous day if we win, and it seems like it has been a while since we have celebrated a win on December 24. Losses really put a damper on a couple of peoples’ moods.   

Tonight Santa comes! 

It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Note to self: Never say never. At one time I thought the orange and white checkered bibs were just about the worst thing any college kid could wear. Time changes opinions. Case in point. My own son is wearing the once hated bib and I bought it! Nothing screams school spirit like this lovely fit.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, now that the family has returned home, now that all seven loads of laundry have been done, it is time to decorate for Christmas! While Evan and Mak watched the Tennessee football game and Keagan and Madi watched a movie, I decorated. 

I had to have my fireplace stone painted white for no other reason than this. 

I bought this nine foot flocked and pre-lit tree this summer for $399. I had no idea what I would get when I opened the box today, but I am so very pleased. This is better than I expected! 

My winter themed tiered tray is a carry over from last year. I love a clean, neutral color theme. 

Decorating my German dough bowl with each new season is my absolute favorite task. 

Most of these holiday pieces were given to me by a dear friend. Every year I pull them out and think of all the years we’ve been friends. 

 Now I’m kicking back, putting my feet up, and enjoying the beauty of the twinkling Christmas lights.