Looking Up

Christmas wasn't a disaster, though we had a few near misses. But everyone enjoyed themselves in their own way, and we look forward now to a new year. As promised, I've posted some of the pages in my 24 Days Before Christmas.

Although it seemed easy enough, one photo a day up until Christmas, there were a couple days I couldn't remember, or desire, to take a picture, but I did, sometimes on the very mundane parts of my day.

December 17 was easy to take a photo. Our school performed the Nutcracker Suite. The problem was in choosing which of many pictures I took to scrap.

My son's birthday is December 18, and I took off that day to be with him. We went to see the movie Avatar in 3D (awesome movie), and later the whole family went out for Sushi.

More snow fell, and the forest preserves were postcard pretty.

Now that the holiday is behind us, we are homebound couch potatoes this weekend. We have watched the entire first season of Eureka (my Christmas gift), slept late, eaten leftovers and relaxed mightily. Wendy has read ALL her books she received Christmas Day (that's four manga and a novel) and my hubby and son have also watched their respective DVDs.

There's so much more in the works, but I'll save that for later. It's getting late and I'm hoping the Coke I drank this afternoon doesn't keep me up much longer. G'nite.

Bah Humbug

If you want to retain your Christmas spirit, don't read further. Just check back in a few days. I'm going to vent, When did the holidays fall apart? DO adults see Christmas differently than children? I don't remember this much drama when I was growing up.
This Christmas, we have a funeral to look forward to, actually a memorial, as my cousin's wife died earlier this month, much earlier. We won't be seeing my cousing because up until last week, he firmly believed she was going to walk out of the morgue (happily he is now accepting her death and now in full grieving mode and I respect his time to himself).
Meanwhile, his dad, my uncle, is on death's door, dying from a brain tumor/cancer. So his half of the family is keeping a very low profile and that's 11 people missing from my dinner tonight.
Then there's my other uncle, the crazy one (I mean really crazy). After punching my sister and resisting arrest, after the charges (most of them were dropped), after his arrest earlier this month for DUI, He is depressed and thinks every one hates him (we don't, we're just worried about him, and a little scared of him). Sop my gram, the matriarch of the family, without whom CHristmas wouldn't be CHristmas, wants to stay home with him instead of coming over to be with the sane part of the family. Now we're down to nine.
Other than that, I've had a lovely Christmas, got and gave some great presents, thanked God for all we have, and am about to serve the best damn CHristmas turkey dinner this year.
Thank for letting me vent. I promise to put some of my latest work on the next post, and shake off this dismal mood. Everyone have a joy-filled Christmas, and a peaceful and relaxing New Year.

a Visit from Three Spirits

So after I whined on my blog, I spent the last hour and a half of the day scrapping another eight pages in my 24 Days before Christmas album. I felt better, and went to bed, well, not with sugar plums dancing in my head, but feeling more of the Christmas spirit.

Yesterday, I breught down some of my Christmas boxes from the attic and went on a decorating rampage, so the house looks at least respectable.

And today, after coming home from my office Christmas dinner at Appleby's (our tab, not the church's), I finished the Christmas tree. If I do say so myself, it looks beautiful (and about time too).

Although I have to work tomorrow, I have 12/24 off so I can lock myself in my craft room and wrap presents. The turkey is thawing, the kids are cleaning the house (a miracle in itself), and I'm done shopping. I'm on my 4th day of Weight Watchers (does dinner at Appleby count? not right now) and I have crafting goals for 2010. Life is looking much better.

Yummy Blog candy

Just discovered a new blog, and the first post on it is offering blog candy. SO in the spirit of Christmas I wanted to share it with you, so here's the link:
http://crafts-international.blogspot.com/2009/12/judes-birthday-candy.html
Good luck, all!

Confession Time

Being raised Catholic, I have this irresistable urge to confess my wrongdoings. So saying, I have to admit that this is the last page I have scrapped for my 24 Days Before Christmas album. I thought I would have a nice finished album to show off Christmas Day, but Dec. 11-18 is sitting in the computer waiting to be printed, and it's almost time to go to bed and I haven't taken one for today!
Life gets so busy this month. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make and bake treats, shop for that special something for those special someones, make the house shine--I had a day off today and I can't say that I used it wisely. I didn't bake, I didn't buy presents, unless you count the two gift cards I bought while at the grocery store, I managed one load of clothes and one load of dishes and a clean bathroom before I lost interest. My presents are ready to wrap but I haven't brought out my paper yet. And my scrap room is a sty again!!

The tree is up but not lit, and all my Christmas decorations and the fun stuff I adore to play with at this time of year are still up in the attic. I feel like the song title "Where Are You Christmas?" I need a visit from St. Nick to shake me out of this funk. Tomorrow I'm putting on Christmas music and come hell or high water I'm wrapping presents at the very least. Anything to kick the Christmas spirit into gear.

Hope everyone else is faring better than I!!

24 Days Before Christmas pages

I have to admit that it is getting more difficulkt to take photos each day. Here you see I took a pic of our office being decorated with blow-up ornaments. I like that the page has hanging ornaments on it.

My co-worker, Gregg, had a birthday in December, so we brought snacks for lunch: chili cheese dip, artichoke dip, and crab butter. No wonder I've started on Weight Watchers again!!

I often go to Panera on a Wednesday morning before work and pick up half a dozen bagels for my gram. She loves them, and only lives about three blocks from the store, but can't drive and can't walk there any more. I also get a chance to visit with her mid-week.

More Days Before Christmas pages

I love how Daddy and Bella are gazing into each others' eyes--so glad I caught this moment! I am so far behind on printing out and scrapping my photos of the month of December, but I have yet to forget to take a photo each day. Today the school and staff were treated to a performance by the Drama Club of The Nutcracker. We have some very talented students here. The two girls who danced pointe were amazing!! You better beloieve I took plenty of photos of the performance. Now comes the hard part--choosing just one for my album!!