It's Christmas Time

It's that time of year again. Christmas. Usually the thought of it makes me incredibly anxious and nervous. My stomach starts turning about mid-October when I walk through stores and they're bringing out the decorations. It's normally such a stressful and frantic time for me I don't really enjoy it. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are wonderful and I love spending time with the whole family, it's getting to that point that just about kills me. Every year I say I'll do it differently next year and never have. Until this year. I'm loving it. It's not quite here yet and I still have an office party to take care of, a birthday get together to plan for Joni and his brother this weekend, Christmas Eve dinner to plan, and I don't even want to think about New Year's Eve but so far I'm way ahead of where I'm normally at. Because I wasn't running around all weekend trying to get things finished I spent a few hours with Blake Saturday baking Christmas treats. It was great, I had a really nice time. Joni came over Sunday and got the outside lights hung so I can now say I am officially done. Shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, cards, everything is done. I am patting myself on the back right now :)

What's a post without an embarrassing photo of my girls? Baileys 1st Christmas, 12/97. Are they adorable or what?
I got her to smile for this one

Some of the finished product

The future pastry chef

"Perfection" -that's what I kept hearing every time he stepped back to admire his work. It is perfect Joni, thank you!!

It's nap time for all 3 of them after a couple hours of hanging lights for Joni and barking at the tree for the puppies

My tree

I told you it was up & there are wrapped presents underneath it!! This is the first year I didn't get a real tree. I will admit it was a lot easier to put up but it just doesn't feel the same. I got pine scented candles and pine scented air freshner but it's just not doing it for me. I'm spraying the house so much it's making the girls gag and the puppies sneeze. Of course I won't be finding dry pine needles all over the place for the next 6 months either.....

The family that bowls together........

The Saturday night after Thanksgiving a bunch of us got together and went bowling. It was Nate & Jaelynn, Blake Bailey Joni & I, my Grandpa, Mom, Joni's brother Tony, his wife Gladis & their 3 kids-Tatiana, Antonio, & Angelo, Joni's mom Almas, and some friends-Youel, Tommy, & Sarkes. We were definitely not the best bowlers out there but I know we had the most fun! I think it's great doing things with a big group like that, especially when I love everyone that was there so much. How can you not have a blast?? I can't wait to do it again! Here's some more pictures ~
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8237&l=9d55b&id=1436413128

Nate & Jae~ Maybe some bowling shoes and her own ball for Christmas???
Nothing like chicken wings and soda to get you energized for a long night, did I mention we bowled for 4 hours?

Antonio almost gets a strike

Some of the group

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I know I'm just a little late with this post. I've thought about it every night but have had so many other things going on I kept putting it off. I am very proud to say that my house was decorated for Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I had about 90% of my shopping done and ALL of what I have bought so far wrapped last week. I've never done that before, ever. I'm the one that's wrapping everything 5 minutes before people come over Christmas Eve or as I'm walking out the door to my Mom or Dad's house to exchange gifts. Even all of my Christmas cards have been sent. I am getting way to organized in my old age! So, that's my excuse for why my blog hasn't been updated lately. Anyway, back to Thanksgiving. My Grandpa came in for a visit which is always nice. The holiday started with a pregame at my Dad's house on Wednesday night. It was supposed to be a quick dinner and some business talk. Then Joni & my Dad thought it'd be fun to do just a couple shots. Well, 4 bottles later I had to drive everyone home. I had a great time, but not as great as the time had by the people that were drinking. It was funny to see my Dad, Joni, Raelynn, Nate, & Derrick having so much fun. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I wasn't able to catch any of the craziness on film but it will be awhile before I forget it, no matter how hard I try :) It was rough getting up early the next morning for Church but we made it. We went to Dale & Elvia's to eat dinner that afternoon. It was delicious and very nice visiting with everyone. Later on it was over to my Mom's for more late night visiting and of course more cocktails. I gave up and turned in around 2:00 am but was woken up when Nate, Joni and Grandpa decided it was time for them to go to sleep, at 4:30. It was a long day but a lot of fun, spending all that time with family was worth getting no sleep! I'd do it again in a second, and I'm sure we will soon. Christmas is just around the corner. Thanks to everyone that opened their homes to us, it was wonderful! Click on this link to see more pictures of the day
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8236&l=85820&id=1436413128

Thanksgiving centerpiece

The family playing cards
Dad & the girls at church. You hide your hangover well Dad :)