'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE . . .

Nothing has reminded me of how far behind I am in posting more than this post! Here it is, nearly JUNE and I am just now getting around to posting my CHRISTMAS adventures! Oh, well. At least I am still plugging along!

Traditionally Christmas has been an holiday that I wholeheartedly enjoy. I tend to be completely present in the moment and rarely take pictures. This year was certainly no different! I did manage a few throughout the month though because, (as you might not know) Gordons celebrate Christmas the whole month through!

IF THERE IS ONE MONTH WHEN I AM HAPPY TO SEE SNOW, IT IS DECEMBER!

ALTHOUGH, I HAVE TO ADMIT, I WASN'T SO THRILLED TO SEE THIS MUCH SNOW!

AH, POOR FLOYD!

SADIE LOVES THE SNOW!

SHE ONLY COMES IN WHEN SHE IS COMPLETELY FROZEN!

EVEN THEN, SHE STILL LOOKS LONGINGLY OUT AT IT!

MY BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL

HERE SADIE WATCHES JACKSON (WHO CERTAINLY DOES NOT SHARE HER APPRECIATION FOR THE SNOW). SHE CAN'T BELIEVE HE MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE GRASS THIS TRIP -- SINCE HE USUALLY TAKES TWO STEPS OUT THE DOOR AND PEES ON THE DOOR MAT! I DID END UP SHOVELING A PATH TO A PEE PATCH IN THE GRASS FOR THE POOR OLD GUY!

THIS YEAR, FOR MY MOM'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY, I SUGGESTED WE DO AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY -- AND THEN I HAD TO WORK. :( ALTHOUGH I COULDN'T GO TO THE PARTY, JESSIE AND I IMPROVISED!

DURING OUR LUNCH BREAK, WE DONED OUR UGLY SWEATERS . . .

AND WENT OUT FOR CHINESE FOOD (SINCE IT WAS BEING SERVED AT THE PARTY WE WERE MISSING OUT ON). WE TOOK PICTURES OF "OUR" PARTY AND SENT THEM BACK TO THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY! WE WERE DEFINITELY THERE IN SPIRIT!

YUMMY! PORK AND SEEDS . . .

AS THEY LIKELY DID AT THE FAMILY GATHERING, JESSIE OVERINDULGED

(IN THE HOT MUSTARD)!

FOR THE MAIN COURSE, I INSISTED WE USE CHOPSTICKS . . .

JUST AS MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS WERE DOING!

JESSIE DID SPECTACULARLY WELL!

ME? NOT SO MUCH!

DURING DESSERT, JESSIE AND I GOT SOME PRETTY AMAZING FORTUNES!

AND BEFORE HEADING BACK TO WORK . . .

WE STOOD AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE FOR TRADITIONAL PHOTOS!

WE EVEN RECEIVED GIFTS!

AND THEN, JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS . . .

MY DRYER HAD A MELTDOWN.

WITH THE HELP OF THE BRILLIANT MAN AT MY NEW APPLIANCE PARTS STORE, I MANAGED TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR MY DRYER -- BY MYSELF!!! TURNS OUT VICTORY WAS A PRETTY TERRIFIC CHRISTMAS GIFT TO MYSELF!

AND FINALLY CHRISTMAS EVE ARRIVED.

WE LOADED ALL THE PRESENTS IN THE SLEIGH . . .

AND HEADED FOR THE CHAOS AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE!

(poor danny had to work).

THERE WERE FUNNY FACES . . .

HILARIOUS MOMENTS . . .

A VERY SPOILED OLD MAN . . .

ONE SNEAKY LITTLE BOY . . .

AND SOME VERY TENDER MOMENTS BEFORE . . .

THE TRADITIONAL READING OF THE "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS."

WHEN DID MAKAYLA GROW UP SO MUCH?! SNIFF, SNIFF. MY BABY GIRL! SNIFF, SNIFF.

MAKAYLA READ IT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME.

FOLLOWED MY MISS CLAIRE . . .

AND EVEN GABE!

I LOVE THAT WE ALL LOVE THIS BOOK!

AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, IT WAS CHRISTMAS MORNING!

OF COURSE THERE ARE NO PICTURES BECAUSE I JUST SAVORED THE MOMENT!

BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY FAVORITE GIFT I RECEIVED!

GARRETT MADE THIS WATER GLOBE FOR ME!

WHAT A SWEET, CREATIVE LITTLE MAN!

AND ANOTHER MEMORABLE DECEMBER!

is it time for warmer adventures yet???