Christmas Eve ...

I can't believe it's been over two months since I've blogged. Will definitely have to remedy that next year. Life has been busy as always - I guess more so as we moved into the holidays. I started Christmas knitting November 1st - I'm still Christmas knitting. I never get everything done I want or intend to complete, but that's just what I do. I love making things for people who I know really appreciate and love and effort behind the gift. As many as I have managed to make in the last two months, there are plenty more I wanted to get to that I didn't - time just runs out on me. So those projects will probably be completed some time during the year and just given to the recipient whenever it's done.

I've got lots to do today. There are a a couple of gifts not wrapped, only because I need bigger bags, but those are the only ones left "naked." Bob and I went out yesterday (yeah, I know) and managed to find some new dishes. Since we're hosting brunch Christmas morning it'll be nice to have pretty new plates to use. They're just white square plates and pretty boring, but are nice quality and hopefully they'll wear better than the last set we had. The old set was only about 6.5 years old but were pretty ragged looking. So in addition to all I had planned yesterday, we ended up out in the madness looking for dishes. THEN I had to come home and open everything, load the dishwasher and clean out the cabinets (trying to find a place to put the old stuff until I can get rid of them). So I didn't get started on my cooking yesterday like I had planned.

I still have to finish Cari's clues for her Treasure Hunt tonight. We started that tradition about eight years ago when she got her flute for Christmas in 7th grade. The next year the big gift at the end was her piccolo. I missed a couple of years in the middle there somewhere but, believe it or not even at 21 now, it's something she looks forward to and requests each year.  I only have about three clues written as of this morning. We'll do the Treasure Hunt tonight. I really need to be writing those clues instead of sitting here blogging because I have to do that when it's quiet. I'll get to that next. So for now I guess this will be it.

Oh, I wanted to mention Florida too!!! I am finally beginning to get a little excited about vacation! We've never taken a vacation this close to Christmas before. I'll tell you one thing, it certainly takes long term the excitement out of the equation. There simply isn't time to think about AFTER Christmas when you have so much to do FOR Christmas. But now that it's Christmas Eve and most of what's gonna get done is done, I'm allowing myself to start thinking past Christmas Day ... I am SO looking forward to not only vacation, but getting to spend an entire week with Mom.

OK, and am going to finish for now ... hopefully I'll get a chance to check in tomorrow after things settle down a bit. So,

tata for now

ETA - it's almost midnight, we've made it through the day. The packages are wrapped, the food is prepared. Gift are basking in the light of the tree for the last night before being ripped open and discovered. In 24 hours it will be all over for another year. An entire year sounds like it's so far away. Unbelievably is comes incredibly fast. So here I sit reflecting a bit. Probably won't reflect too long because I've already taken my Ambien. LOL You'll probably be able to tell when it starts kicking in - I'll make even less sense than usual. :) Cari started her treasure hunt before 10:00pm. I actually stumped her (temporarily) on a couple of clues. She really had to think a while before she got them. Bob helped on a couple of them, giving her a direct clue she'd never miss. I was ready to slap him! Then Cari was ready to slap me. She usually gets her big gift at the end of her treasure hunt. Well this year I took a detour. She got all but her big gift tonight. She'll get the clue for the last gift at the bottom of her stocking in the morning. She isn't too happy about that part. But it'll go fast in the morning so all will be well.

Midnight now so I'm heading to bed ...