Christmas and a Fortunate Year

Okay, so I know I'm a little late posting about Christmas, seeing as it's New Year's Eve and all, but, well, that's how it goes. I also know it's been almost a month since I blogged. *LOL*

Anywho, Christmas was great! I have mentioned several times that this year has been a good one for us, and it has. We were able to give a little more to our families this year. It's somewhat nice to not have to be so overly creative in staying within such a strict budget to find something nice for family members. Although, I will say, handmade gifts are probably the ones that are always best received. Unfortunately, I just did not have the time this year. But, that's okay.

The highlight of this Christmas is probably Christmas Eve. My siblings and I went in together and bought our parents a new TV, bringing them out of the CRT age and into the flat screen (and larger, of course). However, we had to get my mom out of the house to get the TV set up (my father can hardly see, so he's not much of a problem). So, many of us arrived early with excuses of rearranging the living room because we were going to be watching a movie that night (which we WERE). But then, how to get mom out of the kitchen and away for about 45 minutes? Thankfully, my niece had purchased the wrong thing for the gift exchange, and had to go somewhere, and got my mother to finally go with her.

Boy, was my mom surprised when she came home! But, the funniest part was that she only first noticed that we had rearranged the living area. It took her a few minutes to realize they had a new TV! (And, sadly, my father, who had been "watching" said TV for the last half hour hadn't realized either -- told you his sight was bad.) And then she started crying! Awww!! She thought it was the sweetest thing, gave us all hugs and then got fake mad at our tricksy ways! It was too funny!

We ended up watching The Polar Express, which she enjoyed.

Christmas Day was a little nerve wracking, as I had to sing a solo in church that day. Ugh! Singing solos makes me so nervous! I did okay, but not my best. Every time that happens, I think I should get a voice teacher. Well, we'll see.

But, later that day we went to Brian's mom's house and enjoyed time with his family.

All around we got some nice gifts, especially a new P&S camera from Brian's dad and stepmom. We wanted a little P&S to be able to carry around and not worry about MY camera. and boy, is it small! I think it's smaller than my iPhone! It's so cute. (I think this year I would like to start saving to buy a DSLR next year. We'll see.) And Brian splurged on me and got me some perfume that I've always wanted, J'Adore. It smells so nice! MMm.....

It really was a great Christmas.

And a great year. A blessed year. A fortunate year.

Which brings me to the shorter second half of this post. A you know, ever year we get ornaments to commemorate something momentous, interesting, big that has happened to use during the year. Last year, we got a Leica camera glass ornament. Since I had participated in Project365 that year, I thought it was only fitting.

This year, it too me awhile to think about what happened. Yes, we had a lot of great things happen this year, but how do you put that all into an ornament. We were truly blessed. And then, one day, in Hobby Lobby, I saw it -- a fortune cookie ornament. It was perfect!

And so, I share with you the scrapbook layout I did about this ornament.



I know I've gone on a lot about how great a year we've had. And I know that others haven't been as fortunate. I know that one day we might not have as much again, which is why I do things like this, so one year, when perhaps it might be hard, I can look back on this year, and remember.

So, here's to another great year! And, in the next few days I will post my "resolutions" per se, or really, things I want to accomplish in the new year.

Have a great New Year's Eve and Day!

Project 365 Roundup: Week 48

November 26 - December 2

Christmas Printable

I came across this idea on someone else's blog, and I thought I could easily make one, in a color I wanted!

Have you seen those "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters? Well, this is a Christmas version of that poster.

And, you are free to download and print out to use in your holiday decor! I have two versions, each in green and red, all in 8x10.

Enjoy!

(To download, click on image, which will take you to the larger image. Then just save down to your computer by clicking "Save Image As." You can print at home, or take somewhere that makes prints. Any questions, just let me know!)

Christmas Decorations are Up!

So, I don't usually put my decorations up the day after Thanksgiving, but ... knowing how crazy my December (and part of January) will be, I decided it was now, or never.

However, we are not putting up a tree. It's mostly because the cats have really damaged the one we have, and it looks pretty sad. That, and we don't have much room these days. The place it went in last year has a chair in that spot now. And no place else to put the chair.

So, what we mostly decorated was the mantel, and a few other little places here and there. What do you think?

(Sorry about the lighting -- this was taken indoors, without flash, using my phone camera.)

My favorite part is the stockings for the cats. I got them several years ago, and one says "It's All About Meow" and the other says "I've Been Purrfect." Also, very hard to tell, but on the upper left corner of their stockings, on the white cuff, there's a silver embroidered fish skeleton. They're so adorable! Seriously! ^_^

Edited to add: