We made it to the big day! And I *think* that even though I combined a few days here and there, I posted for every single blogmas topic. It’s a blogmas miracle!

Another short quick one today. I’m taking a few minutes while waiting on the dishwasher to finish up so I can make my chocolate pie. And yes, I could take the pan out of the dishwasher but I needed this 20 minute break.

Even have a couple pictures to share with my post. The topic is Christmas Day Traditions.

And really, we don’t have much of any here lately. We do open stockings/presents in the morning (or early afternoon depending on when people get out of bed).

Dinner with family usually.

We used to do breakfast with my husband’s family and I hope we get back to that some day as I miss it. (I’d settle for brunch timing though).

Hope whatever you’re getting into today, it fills you with joy and wonderful memories!

Merry Christmas!

I just have a few minutes so I thought I’d pop on here and do a quick, no picture blogmas post. Today’s topic is Christmas Menu and that’s convenient as I’m getting ready to go to the store. Rather, my husband is taking me to the store since G took my car to work.

Our Christmas Eve Menu

Since J is playing at the candlelight service and needs to be at church by 4 with the service at 5, our plan is for taco soup in the crockpot. We’ll probably just plan on a late lunch at Subway (exciting, I know) so that we can enjoy church without worrying about everyone being hungry.

I debated getting an ice cream cake to have as dessert. Still on the fence as we have lots of cookie goodness floating around here at the moment.

Christmas Menu

Just got off the phone with my brother a bit ago. Finalized plans are dinner around 4p.m.

So, I’ll probably pick us up some million dollar cinnamon rolls from a local bakery for breakfast. Unless, my brother-in-law and his wife decide to come for breakfast, then it’ll be my husband making biscuits and gravy. Stay tuned.

Lunch will be snacks. Leftover soup.

Dinner at my brother’s house: Spaghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread. Cheesecake and pumpkin pie for dessert along with chocolate pie (my contribution by request). We’ll take some cookies. And I’m planning to make an odd *doesn’t really go with spaghetti but we talked about it at Thanksgiving* jello salad my mom used to make. And homemade whipped cream for the pumpkin pie.

Not exactly traditional but I’m looking forward to it.

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Hope whatever is on the menu for your Christmas meal, it’s delicious and your holiday is wonderful!

Well, we didn’t get as much snow but enough for a white Christmas. And the cold did arrive. Flannel sheets on all the beds. Me, turning the thermostat back DOWN, griping about the inability of certain people in this house to dress appropriate for the weather. Suffice it to say it’s NOT shorts weather even inside. Well, unless you turn the thermostat up too high. No, not the kids. The husband.

Shall we talk Christmas instead? Getting closer…

Today’s another quick Blogmas topic, I think. Just a question.

When Do You Open Presents?

We’re pretty much full on Christmas morning/day opening people around here. G had a tradition of starting our Christmases super early until very recently.

Last year I was waiting on them to get out of bed!

The kids do get to open one “Christmas Eve” present each year. It’s always the same: Christmas pajamas and a book. This year, might be a movie though. We’ll see if the books actually arrive in time.

As a teen, once all my siblings no longer lived at home, my mom used to always let me open one present of my choice on Christmas Eve. Sometimes she’d discourage me if I happened to choose one of the bigger gift choices.

Gifts from family/friends, however, are opened as received if they arrive early. Same with gifts from school.

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When do you open gifts?

It’s a cold, snowy day so let’s make it a 2 blog posts kind of day! First, this is the general Blogmas catch-up post. Then, later I’ll do the actual Blogmas post for today.

First up in the catching up….

Blogmas Day 25: Last-Minute Gifts, Homemade or Store-bought

Well, I’m not one for making crafts that turn out in giftable form so usually I stick with store-bought. My go-to gifts, not necessarily always last-minute:

fuzzy socks and lotion

candles

Small flashlights (packaged with some candy)

For young children/teens: a card with a small amount of cash

And sometimes, just homemade cookies/fudge in a gift bag

Day 26: Weather? Lights? Parades?

Well, today’s weather is more in keeping with a white Christmas but usually, it’s more mild at this time of year. There are lots of light show/display choices in our area though we’ve been to none this year. It’s in the back of my mind to make more of an effort to put these on the calendar next year, at least one.

They didn’t have it this year but in 2019, I did get to go with some friends to Winterfest at World’s of Fun (photos). 

And in past years, we’ve gone to see the iconic plaza lights.

Other classic light displays/events (not so many parades here at Christmas time) are something called living windows on the Independence square(photo below), some sort of huge display downtown at Union Station, Powell Gardens, Christmas in the Park (a free drive through display though they do collect for charity at the end), something called The Magic Tree (I need to do this, never been to it), and probably many others I’m forgetting.

New things this year are something called Zoo Wild at the Kansas City zoo, some sort of walk through experience at the Renaissance Festival grounds, and a newer drive-through light display somewhere east on Interstate 70.

Of course, I’m not giving up hope on seeing some lights as many of these displays run until New Years. And I know they keep the plaza lights on generally until some random mid-January day.

Finally, the last day of the catch up post…

Blogmas Day 27: Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Since past is first, I’ll start by sharing the little girl with the wreath since I stumbled across her photo when looking for light pictures.

And her she is with her sleigh. The bag in it is from a local soap company, I threw it in there that year.

She’s definitely from the Christmas past. I’m keeping this section fairly brief and so just moving on to Christmas present.

How is your present Christmas season going? I cannot explain my relief at getting a delivery of a substantial part of the Christmas presents last night before the storm hit. Whew! Other than that, I’m a bit of a mess this year. Can’t think straight/get organized/minimal decor out. And I don’t think it’s just me in talking to my hairdresser yesterday.

As I pondered this yesterday, I think what it might be is an after-effect of the pandemic. Things were so off the past two years and then suddenly, they’re mostly back to normal this year. A bit of a jolt and I don’t think I’ve had time to adjust to the sudden changes from the past 2 years. Maybe? I don’t know. Just a thought. I’m certainly glad Christmas is back to normal this year though we’re doing something different for the 3rd time in 3 years. Dinner at my brother’s which is kind of back to normal and yet it’s been so long it almost feels new again.

Finally, Christmas future. I’m still enjoying this season (and playing along with Blogmas is helping!) but I’ll tell the truth and say I’m also thinking ahead a bit to things I might do/not do/do differently for next year. The yearly wail of next year “I’ll be more organized!” certainly comes to mind.

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If you’re in the path of the great storm, I hope your staying safe and warm. Don’t forget to go check out all the wonderful Blogmas posts over at Chasing My Life. I’m off to bake a few cookies but I’ll be back later to add today’s topic in a new post.