I love this time of the year! With the cooler weather, the holiday lighting, the Christmas music and good times with family and friends.
Every year I decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I start playing all my Christmas Cd's and try to get into the jolly spirit. I usually have my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. I don't like the crowds and the craziness. I like to take my time and go when everyone else is somewhere else. :-) We have a neighborhood in our area where almost every single house decorates and turns on their lights for all of us to walk around and enjoy. This year we went with a group of friends and circled the block twice. (we needed to see both sides of the street) We bought hot cocoa and kettle corn as we enjoyed all the lights and music and various Disney and Pixar characters. I have never walked through with a group of kids before. It was so much fun. There were 9 kids and 9 adults, which seems to be a good ratio, and it was chaotic. I loved every second of it.
This year we are going to New Heights Community Church's Christmas Eve service to be with my family. We will go back to my folks house for chicken pot pie and hot chocolate or cider. Then Christmas morning, Dan and I will spend a quiet few hours together before we head back to my parents house. My brother and his new wife will be showing up at 11am like us. We will have brunch and exchange gifts. Then of course their is Christmas dinner. Not sure what it will be this year but there will definitely be mashed potatoes and toffee (not together of course:)).
On Saturday, Dan and I will fly up to San Jose to be with his family. It has been a long time since I have been to the bay area and seen everyone. We are both really looking forward to it.
Happy Christmas all!
