December Happenings

Things around here have felt very Christmasy and wintry lately. I had 2-hour delays on Monday and Tuesday due to the large amount of snow we've had in the past week. We don't usually have this much snow or this cold of temperatures this early in December. It's felt a little weird, and I keep having to remind myself that it's NOT the middle of January! It's been nice, but just a little too cold for my liking.

Yesterday I sent out our Christmas cards! I had so much fun with them. I won't share the actual card yet, because I don't want to ruin it for anyone who is going to receive one, but here is what the envelopes looked like. Ignore all the whited-out spots.
I had fun drawing the little string of lights on each one :-) Have I mentioned that I love Christmas? I feel good now that I have my cards sent out. However, let's not talk about my Christmas shopping. Deal? Deal.

What is it about the frigid temperatures that just suck the energy right out of you? I've had so much trouble staying motivated this week! But at the end of each day, after I'm finally done with everything I have to do, I have loved snuggling under a warm blanket, stretching out on our new couch, and reading stories from this book:

This is a very special book to me. My dad had to go on one or two trips a year for his job while I was growing up. We always missed him when he was gone, but he always brought us special gifts when he returned. They were special because we knew that for Christmas and birthdays, Mom usually picked out most of our gifts. But these were things specifically from Dad. I can't remember where he went on the trip that he bought me this book, but it was probably in 1996 when I was in 6th grade. He brought me "Christmas with Anne." I LOVED the book!The book is full of excerpts from stories by L.M. Montgomery (the author of the Anne of Green Gables series), and they are all about Christmas! I remember sitting on our window seat when I was about 12 with a beautiful, snowy landscape in view, and reading this book for two days straight. I devoured it!

And 14 years later, I'm enjoying it just much! I am too busy to read it in one or two sittings now, and I usually fall asleep after reading just a chapter or two each night, but it is such a peaceful way to end the day. As I have said about so many of my other favorite books, I can't wait to read it with my daughter(s) someday. Let's hope I have at least one. If I have all boys, I just won't know what to do with them!! (Just kidding, I'm sure I'll figure it out if it comes to that :-)).

This Saturday I think I'll begin my Christmas baking. I don't really know what I'm going to do with all of the things I bake, but I'm sure I'll find someone to give them to! I like baking all through the month of December. That way, when people come over, I always have something Christmasy to feed them :-) And if I go to a party or whatever else, I have something to bring. Also, I like to give a lot to my grandma who lives in the apartment downstairs. She has a sweet tooth just like me! That must be where I got it...

I'm not sure what I'll make on Saturday, but I can't get peppermint bark off my mind, so that will probably be in the mix. Maybe I'll make some Russian tea cakes, which are my all-time favorite Christmas cookie. Although that probably wouldn't be smart, because my waist-line and rear end will be cursing me the whole Christmas season for that!

I hope you're enjoying this season as much as I am! It's definitely the most wonderful time of the year, if you ask me!!