Wonderland, my a$$ !!

While the southern grandsons were beyond excited at the prospect of the coming snow, I was of a different mindset and hoped it would hold off long enough for everyone to arrive. Oh well, so much for my plans!!

It started out innocently enough...

but by the time it was over...

we had a lotttt of snow. Bah, humbug!

My brother and sis-n-law started out early Saturday morning but had to turn back by the time they reached the NC/VA border. He's a retired truck driver so I figured if he couldn't make it, we wouldn't be seeing #1 granddaughter on this visit. Ha!! I temporarily lost my senses and forgot how headstrong and determined my baby girl can be!

Fifteen hours (!!) and 22 inches later, her car was safely parked in our driveway and she was snuggled in a warm, cozy bed, catching up on some much needed sleep.


The boys had fun pelting each other with snowballs...

we stayed warm (in front of a balky fire) watching Christmas movies together (Christmas Carol and Polar Express)...

and Zoey claimed her spot on the bed, away from all the hubbub.


In spite of all the snow...


we had a wonderful early Christmas, and everyone got back home safe and sound.


Only then did I really appreciate the winter wonderland beauty of our snowy weekend.

Warmest wishes for a very...

Ready and waiting...

The outside is done:









The tree is done...


complete with train...


and my mom's ornament in its place of honor at the tippy-top.


The rest of the upstairs is done:







And the downstairs is done:






with new, whimsical addition, a Charlie Brown tree! :)


The cookies are baked, the fudge and pretzel turtles are made, and the cleaning ladies left us with a spic and span house. All that's gonna be done, with the small exception of a rum cake tomorrow, is done!

The only thing left is to wait for all the bodies to get here before an expected winter storm does. Erg! Part of the southern gang will arrive at o'dark thirty tonight and the rest will show up on Saturday, all safe and sound and hopefully, sans snow!

Lots of cookies...

Back in the day, when there was a little kid needing to fix Santa Claus his midnight snack, shaped and decorated sugar cookies were an annual tradition around our house at Christmas time. I'd gather up all the paraphernalia we needed -- cookie cutters, candy sprinkles, colored sugars, Karo syrup, cheap little paint brushes, etc. -- and we'd make a night of it.

Nowadays, my little kid is far from little and is off making his own, so sugar cookies don't get baked here anymore. Neither Lew nor I need the extra calories and quite frankly, I just can't be bothered. I was never too good at it anyway and only made them because my little guy liked them. I've never really mastered the art of rolling out cookie dough and usually overwork it, which ultimately ends up with cookies tasting like, in my humble opinion, sugared sawdust.

However, since that same kid and his family will be here to celebrate Christmas this year, I've been a cookie-baking fool the past couple of days... none of which needed rolling out!

Chocolate chip and snickerdoodles...

butter cookies rolled in colored sugar,
my one concession to decorated sugar cookies!

'Course I had to sample them to make sure they'd be fit for human consumption and I declare them all right tasty, even if I do say so myself! ;)

Coming up for air...

Alrighty then. Moving right along, we've been busy, busy, busy since Thanksgiving and our wonderful visit with Susan, Lawrence and the boys. I am so loving this grandkid thing!! ;) (check out Lew's blog for cutie pics.)

Next up is Jim, Tammy and the boys, as well as Christy and her fella! I can't remember how many years it's been since we celebrated Christmas with them all at our house, but they're coming up the week before Christmas so I am ultra excited!!

We usually decorate for the holiday, but this year we've been putting a little bit of extra touch on it, pulling out old but fond memorable decorations that we don't always use when it's just the two of us. The tree is up and beautifully done, the outside is almost complete, and there's just a few more finishing touches to do inside. Fun stuff!

So far I'm just a skosh behind my planned schedule, but somehow we've managed to get all of the out-of-state presents for the rest of the kids bought, wrapped and shipped off... early for a change!! We also enjoy our annual toy shopping for the Toys for Tots program so that's done and the goodies dropped off at the local collection site.

This year I learned of another community project that is sure to become an annual favorite as well. Be a Santa to a Senior spreads holiday cheer to lonely, forgotten, or financially challenged seniors. Luckily, our local Wal-Marts participate in this program so we had fun picking a couple of ornament tags - a guy for Lew and a gal for me - and shopping for the requested items.

They don't ask for much, tshirts, peanut butter cups, towels, Mickey D gift cards, and the like. One item my lady wanted was a little challenging - some Avon perfume - but we got it. I Googled, found a local rep right here in my development, and she was able to get it to us yesterday. More fun stuff!

We are so fortunate to be able to do something for others and it just feels so good ... warms the cockles of my heart. :) The Christmas spirit is alive and well in our corner of Maryland!!