Christmas/Hanukkah 2008

It's Christmas Day and all is quiet in the house. I have a bad cold, so our friends really couldn't come last night-(since I get a cold only every few years, the one I get is a doozy!). So it was my MIL, Mr. P&P, Lilly and me for prime rib, scalloped potatoes and a kick a** chocolate mousse cake from WF. (Oh and asparagus too) Our tree is below and, yes, we DO get it online from the fabulous Weir Tree Farm. It's full, fab and smells like a dream!

Today? My MIL will be visiting with my SIL and BIL later so she's home. Mr. P&P and Lilly are napping and I'm watching White Christmas. Later, turkey, mashed potatoes (a Mr. P&P exclusive recipe) and some salad....oh and some more pastries from WF!

Santa/Hanukkah Harry were very good to us...

Lilly got a stocking full of toys (see pic above), Mr. P&P got a snazzy new radar detector for his snazzy sporty car and some clothes, a new suitcase for his work travels and some dark chocolate. I received a beautiful wallet from my favorite store leather goods maker (C) and a really fancy schmancy digital photo frame. It's all set up with a photo stream of Ally, Lilly and some J stuff too. I love it.

I saw K, Little K and Little Mista on Xmas eve and everyone loved their gifts. I usually get K some 'work' clothes (since no one else seems to think of it, though she needs new stuff for class...) and she loved each item. Little K went NUTS over her Uggs...she'll get chocolate colored ones next year (shh...) from our friends in Australia. Little Mista loved his building set and digital watch-he's getting so grown up! They got me a beautiful memorial ornament in honor of Ally which I loved and a nice Itunes card!

We made it a low key Christmas/Hanukkah this year...I think it's really terrific, keeping it simple and not focusing on 'buying'...spending time with those you love and really enjoying the time is most important and it feels good to focus on those things. That's a tradition I can really get behind!

On a side note, we have Ally's ashes home and here's a pic of our little memorial for her. That poem is the 'Rainbow Bridge'. We wanted a place of honor for her in our home and now we have it! Having her 'home' for Xmas was important and we are thankful we were able to do that!

Well, it's time to wake up the family from their naps and get cracking on that turkey...

We hope you all had a wonderful day (or week for those celebrating Hanukkah) and are enjoying a relaxing time.

See you in class this weekend so we can all work off all this great food!