Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas one and all! What a great Christmas our family had. Christmas Eve was spent with Greg's family. It was the first time in 10 years that we have celebrated with Greg's brother and children. It was fun and fast! They were ripping open presents so fast I missed most of it! The food was great and when we got home, we were all happy to get into our new Christmas Pjs!

Christmas morning was nice and leisurely! Greg and I slept until 8:30 a.m. Allison woke up by 9:00 a.m. and we had to wake Kaitlin up shortly after! Santa was good to my girls as usual! Stockings were full of goodies and the much wanted cell phones were under the tree. Plus lots of other good things for the girls and for Greg and I.

In the afternoon we went to my brother Rick's house for my side of the family's celebration. My brother Jeff and his wife arrived from Tennessee and my cousin Jane joined us too. Julie & Tom's granddaughter, Logan was with them and it was so fun to have a toddler at Christmas again! We laughed and enjoyed good food and lots of treats.

Christmas is all about family and I have a wonderful family to share it with. My dad was happy to be surrounded by all of his children. It only happens a few times a year, so it makes it all the more special at Christmas.

I have spent today happily relaxing and doing pretty much nothing all day! I am tired and content and ready for my bed and my book!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Celebrating 82 years!

Yesterday was my dad's 82 birthday! We celebrated with dinner at my sisters house followed by cake and ice cream and presents!

It is so great to be with my family. I know my dad is happiest when we are all together, laughing and telling stories! Happy Birthday papa -- we all love you!

While the "grown ups" were busy talking, the "kids" went down stairs and did a photo shoot. What a bunch of hams! But, they are so cute! Kaitlin, Allison and my neice Nastia.

O' Christmas Tree

Last Saturday during the Winter Storm Warning we made our way to Allegan to cut our Christmas tree! It was cold and it was windy and it was snowing so hard, but we had fun! It was probably the fastest I've ever found our tree! The kids had some hot cocoa and tried to get warm by the fire while we had the tree bailed. It was a great little tree farm, family owned and they were very friendly. Once the tree settled and dried Allison and I decorated it. I was up late, but it was done on Saturday night and it's so pretty! I always love our tree. It's really Christmas time with a tree and pretty packages underneath!

After the tree was decorated and I was the only one still up, I really enjoyed looking over our ornaments and they sparkled on the tree.

This ornament is always the first one on the tree! Greg made it when he was a little boy and it means a lot to him and now to me and the girls too!

This disco ball brings back great memories! I was having a disco themed Christmas party with a group of girls one year and my good friend Nancy (who wasn't even coming to the party!) found this ornament and gave it to me.

This little drum always makes me sing "The Little Drummer Boy" song! One of my sweet little daycare kids gave it to me for Christmas about 9 years ago. He was an adorable little guy and told me it was very breakable and be careful not to drop it or his mom will get mad!!

And this is an ornament that I got Greg many years ago. It's so true! He is such a hot rod and now he owns one!

This ornament always makes me sad. I found this shopping in Shipshewana the summer after my mom died. Every year I read the poem and think of my mom celebrating Christmas with Jesus. I'll bet it's the best Christmas she's ever had.

A Reason to Smile

Look what I got today!

Aren't they beautiful! They made my day and made me smile!

They are from a retired professor in the Accountancy Department where I worked before coming to the Marketing Department. Mr. Rozelle is a wonderful man! We really hit it off and have stayed in touch. He and his wife travel to France and other parts of Europe often and I always get a wonderful post card from his travels. Just a simple, beautiful, thoughtful thing and it truly made me feel the spirit of Christmas has arrived!