Christmas 2009 is in the Books

It is now a couple days after Christmas and all I can say is...PHEW! I am so glad it's all over with for another year. Next year I plan on doing so much more shopping well before the last few days of December. Don't get me wrong, the hustle and bustle does get everyone in the spirit of things I believe, but I want to be able to not have to squeeze everything in at the last minute. Thank goodness for George, because he did a lot of running for me and split up some of the chores. I never did get all of the baking in that I wanted to but I guess no one missed the cookies and some of the other treats. The major things got done and done well, I might add. :-)
I think everyone was pleased with their gifts. I got a couple thumbs up from Eric and Sara loved the pink sweater I got her except it was too small. That was the only thing that needed to be exchanged and George did that for me today. He couldn't get sweater in pink but he picked a pretty blue one instead and I think she will be happy with it.
George and I got a lot of gift cards to several restaurants, I got a gift card to Kohl's, a book, and we got several things for the house. We got a couple of very pretty gift baskets too. Jessie knows me very well and picked out several things that she knows I like. Candles, cashews, kitchen towels, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, dark chocolate and teas and hot cocoas. The topper was an autographed picture of Chris Carpenter who pitches for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is a local boy who grew up in Raymond, NH and I've been following his career since he made it to the big leagues. He is also Jessie's cousin, which was a nice surprise. The picture made my day.
George got a lot of clothes which he needed badly and several dvd's, a gift card to the sporting goods store and some books. He and I agreed that we weren't going to buy a lot for each other because we want to redecorate the living room and get a new sofa so that will be our Christmas gift to each other.
We spent Christmas Eve with George's kids at Nicole's house. It was fun watching the grandkids open their gifts and I had a ball watching Matt, Jon and Patrick get drunk. Matt was probably the worst of the three and he pretty much bent my ear all evening but it was fine and it took my mind off of George's ex wife being there. By the way, she is probably the rudest person I have ever met and her son Patrick is following right in her footsteps. I am not the least bit surprised, but I can now completely understand the lack of warmth that comes from him. Anyway...I made the best of the evening and managed to have a few laughs anyway. (I am supposed to be at a hockey game right now with George to meet Patrick's girlfriends parents, etc, but I didn't want to go so I didn't. I am sure I won't be missed anyway.)
Christmas morning we went to George's brothers house for coffee and donuts. I was surprised to see Jon and Nikki show up with Patrick and Renee but we were happy they showed up. Ray and Diane don't see enough of them, that's for sure. We stayed a couple of hours and then went to my parents house for the rest of the day. It was really fun. My kids were there, my nephews, and my neice came with her new husband and little Kendal. We had a blast and never left until 9:30. It was a long day for sure. We had a pot luck supper and opened gifts, played cards, the usual fun at the homestead. Oh one gift I got that was pretty cool was a puzzle of my home town. It's done up like a map with the streets marked off and the highways, rivers, and even the high schools mapped out. The center piece of the puzzle is shaped like a house and it is located right where I lived. it's pretty cool and I've got it started out om my puzzle board right now. There is no picture to go by like with other puzzles so it is a good thing I know where the streets are located otherwise I would have a heck of a time with it. I'll grab a pic of it when it's finished and post it.

So here are a few pics from Christmas Eve

Jon Pat and Alex playing with the race track


Jon playing the drum


Pat and Nikki


Matt taking his turn with the drum


Nicole in her penguin shirt (picked out by Alex)


Alex with his big truck


Callissa's new doll


The little ones got Leapsters


And Christmas Day

Sara says Cheers!


How many men does it take to put a ham on a platter?


Great Grandpa and his pride and joy


Brad


Kelly, Crystal and Kendal (with my brother Dave's head snuck in there)


My Dad playing with Kendal


Brad, Sara, Eric and Jessie


Group shot


I have one more mini celebration planned for this week with my best friend Rose and her husband Steve. They are coming for supper one night this week. Not sure what I will make, maybe mac and cheese or lasagna...whatever it is we will eat and have a few drinks and exchange some gifts. I am looking forward to that and then the celebrating is done. We usually spend a quiet New Year's Eve at home with take out and a couple of movies or maybe watch whatever marathon is on tv that night. New Year's Day we will go to my parents for Chinese food. It will be a small group this year because both of my kids have other plans and will not be coming. That makes me sad but it's ok. They are all grown up now and have lives of their own, which is a good thing!

I hope I haven't bored you with this rambling. But I hope you like the pics!
I also hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.
Happy New Year to everyone! May 2010 be a great year for us all!