crossrhodes

I’ve made handmade cards for my family these last couple of years. This Christmas, however, I sent plain old boxed cards like most people do. MY GOODNESS, I got more reactions from sending plain cards than I did about handmade cards!

“You didn’t make your own cards this year?”

“I was surprised when I opened the envelope!”

“What’s wrong? Are you eeling alright?”

I just did not feel like it. That’s all! I left the Christmas tree in the attic. I didn’t sing carols with the choir. I didn’t make handmade cards. But I hosted my in-laws on Thanksgiving weekend, my family on Christmas weekend, and got all my gift shopping done 3 weeks early! Don’t they count?

Of course, now that Christmas is over I am totally inspired to create and decorate! Don saw a German Christmas Pyramid or candle carousel at my friend’s house last night. It brought back childhood memories of his Aunt Elizabeth and now he wants one, too. They are pretty cool — the top blades rotate when you light the bottom candles — and make nice heirlooms to pass down to generations.

And since I saw these small, skinny trees on Martha Stewart recently, I decided I want one for every room in the house next Christmas :) I found out they are called German feather trees. (Germans must really love Christmas!) They display ornaments really well. James has a box of annual ornaments from grandma I want to group together on a small tree like this. And I want another specifically for handmade and photo ornaments of the kids. The real custom, handmade German feather trees cost a pretty penny! And apparently Martha Stewart discontinued her K-mart version 3 yrs ago. So I’m scouring the net for used or similar trees in the 2-digit $ range. If you find one, let me know!

Merry Christmas everyone! We didn’t have a huge clan reunion with the extended family this year. I think our family’s too big and married now. Instead, we had an intimate gathering here at home with just my mom and dad’s branch of the family tree.

Everyone slept over, we had a big slumber party. I served a perfectly roasted rack of prime rib for dinner and our holiday mushroom soup. My mom and sisters made everything else on the table. After dinner, Mom took charge of the noche buena ham and cacao. (I really gotta learn how to make the cacao or the tradition will die with my generation.) We opened gifts before midnight because the kids can’t stay up that late and the grown ups couldn’t wait to watch the kids open gifts :)

The next morning, I was the first one out of bed thinking all the kids would be up early. But not a creature was stirring, except me and my 5 y/o nephew who both couldn’t wait to play with our toys — he with his art kit and me with my camera :) All in all, it was a great weekend-long Christmas! Photos are posted to the album.

We drove around to see Christmas lights last night. On the way home, we noticed a traffic jam and police cars on a side street. Just for the heck of it, Don turned and joined the line. As it happened, there was a hayride and live nativity scene drive-thru sponsored by a local baptist church. They had live animals, carolers, a CD narration you play in your car as you drive to each scene. It was neat! So instead of plain plastic manger scenes, we got a live story from the creation to Jesus’ resurrection.

BTW, this is how we found the Dukes of Hazzard museum and other sites off the beaten path… thru Don’s curiousity and love of the open road. Just drive!

I am so congested and heavily medicated this morning, I can barely stand straight. But I had to get out of bed coz I wouldn’t miss this for the world! It’s James’ annual ROTC inspection and drill show again. Don and I came for the latter coz he’s actually in the drill team this year. He’s been very committed to drill and takes ROTC very seriously. We’re just so proud of him! These kids are da bomb :) Alrighty then… I’m gonna lay my sniffling sneezing coughing aching stuffyhead feverish self back to bed. Enjoy the pics!