Merry Christmas, everyone!! No snow, but we have plenty of rain for our Christmas here in Northern Virginia. Rang bells and sang at 3 church services last night (7, 9 and 11) and by the 3rd service, I almost had the sermon memorized.
Still, I love the Christmas services with the candles being lit as we sing Silent Night and they turn off all the lights. It's just so neat seeing the flame being passed from person to person until everyone's candle is lit and the entire sanctuary is aglow--it's very moving and gets me choked up every time.
It was almost 1 AM by the time we got home, so we opened the huge box that had arrived from Dave's DS and DIL (with the Disney Shopping label on it!!) They sent each of us really neat Disney stocking holders. Dave's is Goofy and mine is Minnie--both are decorating matching Christmas trees and they are just beautiful! Also, there was an absolutely gorgeous new tree skirt with Minnie kissing Mickey in his Santa suit, holding his bag of gifts. That part is beautifully appliqued and then there is gold embroidery all around the edge of snowflakes, swirls and Mickey icons. Santa left a gift for Dave, too--a big Darth Tater, complete with an R2D2 tater and a "Spudtrooper" wielding a laser masher instead of a light saber!! Since we are saving up for a trip to NYC to see Mary Poppins, we had decided that we would not bother to exchange gifts this year. Of course, that was decided AFTER Darth Tater was already secreted in the office at my store.
Whoo-hoo, Suzanne, on your Christmas miracle!! That was so very sweet of Neil to let you rest undisturbed for so long. Sure hope that leg feels better soon. Is the surgery in Hawaii still in the works? Congrats, too, on the Medicaid approval!! What a load off your mind that must be.
Sorry to hear the cold germies have invaded your house, Tara. Hope Mama Bev and Ethan are able to kick them quickly. Smart mommy to speak to Santa about the drum set!!
Don't feel bad about not finishing E's stocking--I still haven't finished a bell pull I was cross stitching for my DSis' wedding gift. She now has 5 kids and the eldest started college this fall.
I honestly don't even know where the thing is, I haven't worked on it in so long!
Hey, Laine! Any of those cinnamon rolls left?! A big gooey cinnamon roll would be quite tasty with my coffee here. You have certainly been the busy gal helping out at your dad's and at church in addition to getting your own place ready for the holiday. Enjoy the day, now.
You had to work this morning, Paula??!!
And break-ins on Christmas day--good grief!! Are you a "monitoring station" for a security alarm company? What a PITA. Keep smiling and enjoy the rest of the holiday.
I'm so glad Chris is safe and sound.
Pam, we have the same problem with the deer around here. Too many new housing developments crowding out the herds. Not a day goes by that I don't see another one on the side of the road. So very, very sad. We have the animal rights people fighting against the expansion of hunting season in an effort to cull the deer population and then we have the homeowners fighting for "protection" of their landscaping from the hungry beasties. Sigh...
Speaking of hungry.....I need to get that ham in the oven. Any of those perogies left in the freezer, Lily? They'd be right nice with ham, I think!!
Check back in with ya'll later
They'll be right over.
The one night of the year that the kids don't complain about bedtime 
I'm bored - gonna have to start waking people up soon!!
