Holiday in Review

December always goes by in a blurr. I am so happy to have pictures to remind me what a wonderful time it really is. This year we decorated our tree in ballerinas (from the Nutcracker Play) and crystal ornaments. We buy a commemorative each year. I think my motto this year was symplify. I did not do lots of presents and donated to the Red Cross and Salvation Army instead. That made me feel better about what abundance we have. I was not pressured into anything except eating cookies, breads, fudge and brownies. I have paid for that now and am void of it all.

We were able to visit with friends for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That was very nice. We ate our traditional crab feast at my friend Maaikes house. She is a crab snob as is my husband. So it was NW WA dungeness crab or nothing. Maaikes daughter Amanda is now 25 and babysat for me when Katie was just 6 months old. This is Amanda all grown up. I think she could be my daughter, we look alike. She is so sweet and compassionate. We gorged on food and laughter at Maaikes. I have to say Maaike had the most pathetic tree I have ever seen. To top off my poor attitude about it, I tried to straighten it up and it fell to the ground! I felt awful but it was heavily loaded with ornaments on one side, so....

Christmas day Katie was 6 again. Up early and anxious to open gifts. She was very grateful for all which made it all worth it. She wanted Guitar Hero, which I thought was kind of silly since she could get a real guitar and learn to play it instead of a game. So... she received it. The music is from my era of 70's and 80's rock. Not so bad to hear her playing it over and over again. Although I never thought my daughter would be into my music. Cool. It was a very quiet Christmas Day

In the afternoon we visited with my friend Sue and her family. I talked Sue into playing Scrabble with me. That made me so happy, it gave me the warm fuzzy I get being with my family for the holidays. Mike was very content to chill. Just before we left Sues to come home it started snowing!!! It was so beautiful. It has not snowed on Christmas Day in 17 years. We were glad to have it.

The Friday following Christmas, Katie and I worked at the food bank for 3 hours. I was hoping to give Katie some insight to what it is like to do without. It was a good experience. She was a much harder worker than I thought she would be. Never under estimate your children.

The year is ending today and I have been through a gammet of emotions and have made it back to feeling happy. We are having our neighbors (2 couples and family) over for the evening to play games and catch up on the years events. We probably won't make it to Midnight which is fine with me. I am looking forward to the new year 2008. Mike says that the last 11 years have all been a blurr to him and wants to know what happened. I have a different perspective and see it as full and running over with lots of life events and celebrations. There have been a few low points but overall...It's a Wonderful Life.

Happy New Year to everyone. Peace to all.