It Keeps Coming Back To Christmas...

 All of my pictures...all of my memories of late, still keep taking me back to the season that is

Christmas.

The day was wonderful, 

but I have so many awesome memories from December still floating around my head. 

We kept up with our Advent Calendars...

the blue one had a variety of candy, the hubs loved it and I will get it for him again next year.

The red and white one was mine, Walkers Shortbread Cookies.

It was fun, 

I liked the design and the pictures but I would not get it again.

I love shortbread cookies but these were terrible...very dry, with no flavor.

Next year, I will pick something else.

On December 8th I spotted this red truck all decked out for Christmas.

It is a different truck than the one I featured here.

We saw this car several times and I was able to speak with the driver while we were both getting gas.

Such a nice, young, happy guy...he had on his pj's and a santa hat.
He waited so I could take this picture.

Santa came to the neighborhood on his fire truck to visit the kiddos.

He always visited us on Christmas Eve when my boys were little and seeing the truck

brought back some really happy memories.

I purchased three of these "Merry Builders Blocks", one for each of us to keep us busy 

Christmas Eve Morning.

I had the "Snowman" and even with Mike's help, I was not able to put this together.

The hubs had an "Elf" and is always the prankster...

Mike had "Santa", he finished first.

Here is "Santa" and the "Elf" 

 humor me for a minute as I provide a little background about these.

They looked like legos, the pieces were so small you really did need a magnifying glass to see them,

the box said they were easy to build...it took the boys close to 3 hours each for them to finish theirs. 

You be the judge.

Looking up and looking out the front door...

I saw this rainbow on December 19th...

and then the sky turned to this on the same day.

We saw this beautiful sunset on Christmas Day...

and this one on the 29th!

I have not been to the alpaca farm, Arrow Acres Farm, the farm I usually visit to see the alpaca.

I have however been able to see them on YouTube.

Liz and Leanne have a vlog...@cocktailhouratthecoop5454.

They talk about their lives, knitting, crocheting, family and life on the farm.

This is the closest I got to New York City this Christmas, and I thought this picture was beautiful.

Stay Sweet

 Last night I needed a little quiet time.

I began looking through the pictures on my phone 

and realized there are many beautiful images and events that I have not shared here. 

A lot!

One place I have yet to shown you is 

 Stay Sweet

the sweet shop inside of Gaylord Resort.

The next 5 pictures are of edible cakes that were on display...

even this fireplace and the stiletto are made to be eaten.

These sweet treats were packaged individually and ready for purchase.

This chimney was also a cake.

The Christmas Trees in the shop were so pretty.

Every year the hotel provides a fun Scavenger Hunt for the kids.

This year it was "Mistletoe Mile...Scavenger Hunt".

We partake of course and I have to say it was much harder this year than in years past.

There was one item we never found, but it was super fun!!

So This Was Christmas....

and it was a very Merry Christmas!

We don't have a large, one and done, Christmas Tree.

We have several of these "tabletop" trees, scattered about the house. 

Since the boys moved out, these work well for us...

I do miss seeing all the special ornaments we have collected over the years,

they are in boxes, perhaps never to be seen again.

oooh dear, I hope not!

- "0" days until Christmas -

- Christmas Gifts -

- Mikes Gifts -

Mike loved the blanket I made for him,

I was so thrilled to see him open it and to share that moment with him,

when he saw it for the first time.

He said he loved the color!

We all watched the Disney Christmas Parade, and had homemade coffee cake for breakfast.

- So fun -

We were in charge of deserts for Christmas that my niece Dean-na hosts.

These mini donuts were so good...

we brought 2 cheesecakes and a chocolate layer cake...i did not get a picture.

We brought lots of Christmas Cookies...

these are a few of the cookies I made.

Niece Dean-na, her brother Billy and Dean-nas husband, Anothony.

Sister and Brother

Lorelei

Addie

Those are the Disney Ornaments I gifted them..

I have purchased each of them an ornament every Christmas since they were born.

This is about half of us...I don't know how other families get a picture of everyone.

The kids kept disappearing, the adults did not want a picture,

it was complete chaos and I loved every minute!

I am there in the back, just my head!