Christmas Eve

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We are just a little over 15 hours away from Christmas here in Arizona. Today is going to be a full day spent in the kitchen here. Sugar cookies to be baked and decorated, dinner for tonight, meals for tomorrow to do some pre-prep work on. Army Guy is going to need to get some sleep today since they forgot to tell him that he had staff duty last night. Actually they forgot so well, that he didn't get a phone call till two hours of the duty had passed! I'm wondering if it will be possible today to keep the girls even semi quiet for him to be able to get some sleep. Those presents under the tree seem to be screaming out to them very loudly since last night. Sweetpea and Little Bug have their game plan set for sleeping tonight. Yes, they actually set up a game plan for sleeping on Christmas Eve. They have a yearly tradition of doing a slumber party with just the two of them. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning they will wake up and be out looking at the tree and the gifts trying to keep themselves from waking everyone else up. Sweetpea will tell Little Bug stories of...well we really just aren't sure of what, because they are not shared with the rest of us. I know for as long as I can remember with these two, I will get up because of hearing little sounds being made and find them sitting together in front of the tree. Sweetpea will have her arm around Little Bug and Little Bug will have her head laying on her older sister shoulder. The conversation will be far to quiet to hear, but I get to enjoy quietly watching the scene. At least until they realize that I'm awake and start asking if they can wake everyone else up!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve. Stay safe, stay warm, laugh a lot, and enjoy the moments spent with those you love.

Standing Guard...Standing their ground

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Alright it is one day seventeen hours and so many minutes ticking down till it is Christmas! May I just say a quick "WOW" this year's countdown has gone fast. I'm not sure how it passed so quickly, but the final countdown is just killing the kids here. I swear the presents under the tree have been rearranged, slid, touched, shaken, held, so many times that if the gifts inside them are still in one piece it will be nothing short of a miracle!
Last night I tried talking the girls into going ahead and baking the sugar cookies one night earlier. Boy did I hear an earful and then some about how they are the cookies that are baked on Christmas Eve, and I don't get to mess with the tradition of that. The majority ruled and set me back in my place. I was thinking since they kept talking about the sugar cookie dough that we could bake them a night earlier, and then decorate them on Christmas Eve. I will never voice this thought again though. The good thing about not having anything to bake tonight is I will have the day to do that final good cleaning of the kitchen before all of the cooking that will be going on. Hey maybe if I'm lucky I will actually get that last load of laundry done...oh wait that last load has grown into two loads again but still.

Yesterday was my last trip out into the world till after the holiday, and boy were they people driving aggressive out there. All I had to do was pick up ink for my printer so I could finish a senior portrait order, but just about as soon as I was on the road I had thoughts of what a stupid idea it was. Good thing though, the little shop that I go to for the ink had no one in it. To bad it sits in the same strip mall shopping area that I think half of the town was at! Portraits are all printed and packaged though and will be ready for delivery after the holidays. After getting home I went through and for the third time did the check to make sure that I had everything for meals so as to avoid any more trips out to stores though. I'm sure being out today will be more of a risk to life and limb than yesterday was.

So that leads to the question, are you all ready? A week ago I thought for sure that it would need a 2 month extension to get ready for this, but have managed to pull it all together and actually find a day were other than cleaning I can have a few hours down time. I hope that no one has to make the ever dreaded trip out to any of the stores today. I hope that everyone has a great Tuesday, and remember if you are thinking about changing a tradition be ready to hear all about how wrong that idea is.

Making even the little things matter

100_0021, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Here we are two days and about 15 hours away from it being Christmas, and I think I may have finally figured out why I've had a difficult time holding onto that Christmas joy of mine. Because every time I have found it, I seen or heard something else that just make me feel sad. Every year there are stories about things that make me feel sad, but this year there just seems to be so much more and it isn't from the news but from people around me. People who's jobs have been down sized so much in the last couple of months that trying to make ends meet is requiring a second job to third job and a draining of savings. Parents turning their backs and a blind eye to their children and their needs because of hatred toward the other parent. I'm sure it is really getting even with the parent that you hate when you keep the basic needs away from the children.

I know these are things that happen every day of the year, and they are things that make me sad year round. But during Christmas it seems to hurt more. When a little boy takes a home made cookie and hold on to it like it is the best thing that he has ever been given, it hurts my heart. When a single Dad and his sons get excited about a left over meal that's not even a complete meal, it hurts my heart. When a Father of boy that is your daughters friend gives me a hug and thanks me for doing so much for them and for being so kind to them...it hurts my heart. It hurts because I want to do more. It hurts because I will never understand how a Mother can turn her back oh her children, just because of hatred for their Father.
It's not just during the holidays that people should care, it should be year round, and I know there are a lot of things going on right now that possibly no one could ever do enough to help with. But if we pay close enough attention there are many little things that all of us can to do that will matter a great deal to those we do it for.

I hope that everyone has a great Monday, and share some home made baked goods with someone, you might be amazed by the appreciation you receive for it.

Sibling Sunday...Three Days Till Christmas

Christmas2008, originally uploaded by torri_g.

"The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much"
-Henry David Thoreau

Every year I'm slow in finding my Christmas joy. I've known why for a good while and it has a lot to do with the race and the rush of other people during the holiday season. Being shoved around and out of the way for someone to get that gift that they just can not live without, even if they are going to end being back in the store the day after Christmas return it. Something happens for me every year though that helps kick in that excitement. My Sweetpea makes a trip out to a store with me, and I hear my thoughts come out of her mouth about it isn't about the gifts, it isn't about rushing and racing, it is about family, memories, and love. This usually happens a couple of weeks before the holiday so I tend to lose motivation but come baking time I remember and find myself having the same excitement as any of my girls. Years of memories of much smaller hands helping to make the Christmas Eve sugar cookie dough, thanks Grandma G for sharing that recipe in the family cookbook oh so many years ago. Trying to scrape dough off of busy moving fingers and almost needing 8 arms of my own to get it done, but calling in the backup of Daddy for a good strong arm for help. Flour flying everywhere and of course me wearing something black so it can stand out the most. As each of them have gotten older they play more of a role in getting the baking done. They help gather what is needed, measure, mix and repeat. They still talk me into doubling a batch of cookies even though just one would be more than enough. They still want those cookies to be giant sized so as to make the baking time a guessing game for me. They all still want to be able to claim the title of "I had the very first cookie!" and of course they want it when they still have to blow on them because they haven't had enough time to cool. They don't test just one for quality, they have to test many...and I'm always surprised when we manage to get the sugar dough in the fridge to wait for Christmas Eve. without huge chunks of it missing. The things that they remember from Christmas's past make me smile, and laugh. Seeing Christmas through their eyes, hearing their laughter, is where I find my joy.

For this Sibling Sunday before Christmas I asked each of the girls to write a list or a letter with Christmas wishes.

Little Bug's Letter

Dear Santa,

I would like to be able to write better. Also I would like to ask for a better year next year for my whole family. But mostly for better writing...yep better writing.

P.S. Did I mention better writing?

Binky Sue's Letter

Dear Mr. Claus,

I am writing to you to discuss what I wish for Christmas if I was good. I have 3 wishes to tell. One, I wish for good health. Two, I wish for an even better year. It's not like I didn't like this last year, just that things could always be better. Third, my BIGGEST wish, is for me to never ever, ever, EVER to grow up. I don't think it's big. There are lots of people who wish for peace of Earth. Look at it now, no sign of peace. So staying young like how you live forever, can't be that hard of a thing.

I will write to you again next year.

Respectfully,

Binky Sue

Sweetpea's List

• For great Christmas memories
• To be happy with family
• To have a good meal (not sure if this means that she has never had one)
• For it to snow (Umm...not very likely)
• For EVERYONE to have a GREAT holiday season

I agree with Sweetpea on the last one. I hope that everyone has a great holiday season filled with memories and happy family times.

Busy house

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With just four days left till Christmas my house is not anywhere near as peaceful as the houses in the Christmas villages. There is cleaning to be done, baking that was started last night and more yet to be done, those few lonely unwrapped gifts would like to come out of their hiding place too. I finally broke out my tripod last night though to get some steady pictures of decorations in the house. After the stress of making peanut brittle, because I always start the baking season off with the most stressful thing, getting the camera out was a great way to relax.

I hope that everyone has a good Saturday and that family that has been hit hard with harsh winter weather is staying warm and safe.

Gifts, ribbons, bows, and carols

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I honestly have no idea how Binky Sue got Kiki to be willing to pose for this photo, but since I was able to capture it I don't really care. Kiki loved playing with the shiny things that Binky Sue drug out for her. The gold gift ornaments, the strands of beads with bows were all way to much fun for the cockatiel. Even more fun has been hearing the combination of songs that Kiki is starting to whistle. Ever heard a version of Jingle Bells with The Caisson song blended into it? It makes for some very interesting listening.

So here we are five days till Christmas, and this is the Feline & Furball with Feathers Friday entry. Time to head over to visit Steve and Pickle, and if you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments. I hope that everyone has a great Friday and wonderful weekend!

To distracted and no time

100_9983, originally uploaded by torri_g.

How is it possible that there are only six days left till Christmas? What happened to the last two days? Oh wait, run here, run there, surprise have to run to this place, opps surprise have to run to that place is where it has gone. Throw in there a small heaping of probably a million other good excuse I could come up with...better yet let's not. Good news is that once girls get done tomorrow with school, they are on break till the new year. I'm going to need my Sweetpea to start doing some real kicks to my behind to get me making the final push to get things done here.

Alright since I'm sitting here humming a song from the Grinch movie I think it is time to break out the post it notes and make the "To Do" list and try to stop being so distracted and get something done! I hope that everyone had a good Thursday, and see you tomorrow with another Feline, Furball Friday Christmas countdown entry.

Say Cheese!

101_0002, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Oh...seven days till Christmas left! I didn't get around to taking pictures of much of anything other than my new favorite ornament. Of course while taking a picture of it I had to listen to Army Guy and his comments of it being like a photographer taking a picture of another photographer, but it was worth it. This ornament came in a box, and as soon as my girls saw it they all screamed out "That is so you Mom!" I'm thinking I like this little guy enough to find him a year round spot on my desk after Christmas decorations have been packed up and put away. I think on the shelf with my camera's will be the perfect spot! Since it doesn't have a hanger it gets to sit on top of the television facing out at everyone like they are non stop posing for the camera. I just have to say I LOVE THIS ORNAMENT!

Okay, now that I got that out of my system for the day finally...the real question is have you found or received a new ornament that you just so love? Even better question is how ready are you for the holiday? Binky Sue and Sweetpea went with me to the store today and we managed to find all of our baking supplies, so maybe tomorrow after school we may start the cookie baking marathon. Before heading out to the store today I took some time to look up a recipe for a desert for Little Bug to make for our Christmas dinner since she kept asking for one thing to cook all by herself. Since I know her sister's and Daddy read here I'm not going to share the secret of just what we will be having for dessert, but I'm sure my Little Bug will do a great job of baking it.

I hope that everyone had a good Wednesday, and I will be back to continue the countdown tomorrow.

Snow?

100_9989, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Eight days left till Christmas and after talking to family today and hearing about the snow falling back home in Nebraska and Iowa, I figured pictures of the only snowmen this house will see would be perfect. The picture isn't all that great, but I haven't really taken the right amount of time to do great photo's here the last couple of days. However, being inspired by an ornament that was a gift, I'm hoping to actually break out the tripod tomorrow and get some great photo's taken of the decorations. That or get out and get some pictures of the snow on the mountains around us. There is talk that we could be seeing some snow fall down here in the valley area's sometime this week.

So...is everyone ready for Christmas yet? All shopping done? Presents wrapped? Treats baked? I'm suddenly picking up steam and making real progress in the right direction for this. Tomorrow is grocery shopping trip for the rest of the month, and I sat down last night with cookbooks to make sure that I had all things for baking on the list. The girls start half days tomorrow and run through Friday, so I'm still thinking about starting the baking come this weekend since the girls have finals and were already upset with me for wrapping so many of the gifts myself today.

I hope that everyone is had a good Tuesday, and everyone stay warm and safe if there is snowy cold weather near you, and if you are someplace warmer get out and enjoy.

Rushing around

100_9981, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well there is at least a couple more hours left of 9 days till Christmas. Today just flew by and tonight went by even faster. Tonight Army Guy and I got the shopping done though with a quick stop for dinner for the two of us. The crowds were easy to deal with, and everyone seemed happy and was nice. I'm glad to be done with it all, and now just have to work on grocery shopping list for the rest of the month, then start the baking.

I hope that everyone is having a good week so far.

Sibling Sunday Ten Days Till Christmas

100_9914, originally uploaded by torri_g.

This year's countdown is just flying by. Ten days left and I just finished the decorating and have yet to move on to the baking? I'm thinking I will be ready for Christmas come say...February!

The girls are ready for it to be Christmas, actually they are more ready for it to be Christmas vacation time. The end of the first semester comes with the Christmas break, and the stress of finals week came walking into the house Friday afternoon. Binky Sue has spent most of her weekend shut in her room working on several different projects that are due this week, and that is after spending most of last weekend shut in her room due to projects that were due this past week. Sweetpea is stressed because of all of the finals that she is going to have this week, and says she thinks she may be losing her mind because of it. Her words "So Mom when I'm crazy over Christmas break at least now you know why!" Oh joy for me getting to spend two weeks with the soon to be crazy 16 year old! Little Bug doesn't seem to be to affected by the whole end of the semester stuff though. I guess middle school is just taking it easier on her than the high school is for the big girls. This past week was Little Bug's Christmas choir concert, which both Army Guy and I had to miss. He missed it because of having to make a trip to Ft. Bliss, which was anything but blissful for him. I had to miss it because of having to spend the night running the children in all their different directions. Two hours in the Mom shuttle bus what a lucky day that was for me! Sweetpea did make it over to her baby sisters concert though which made Little Bug feel good. I got there in time to pick them both up and make the final transport of children back home.

Since all of the girls don't seem to have anything on the board other than studying this week, I'm hoping to finally have time to get out and try to finish the shopping. Although with the way things have gone for me in regards to this holiday, I'm not about to hold my breath for anything! (Once again I feel the need to point out that I may not be ready for this till February!) I'm going to try tomorrow night though and if I have to I will drag Army Guy out with me kicking and screaming the whole way!

I hope that everyone has had a good weekend, and that you are at least a little more prepared than I seem to be this year.

Lights, lights, lights!

100_9958, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Here we are eleven days till Christmas and my frustration with lights just keeps growing. The new tree that Sweetpea and I bought came pre-lit with lights, but since we all like the lights so much, we put on two other strands. Now like anyone else, I checked them before we put them on the tree, and they worked! To bad later that night when we plugged the lights in those two strands would not work. Fast forward this week to Tuesday while I was working on the village set ups and once again lights worked before being put up but didn't work after set up was done. I've had it with lights! Tonight though was the very best of all...Sweetpea wanted to plug in the lights for the tree and sure enough those two strands that would not turn on flipping turned on and sparkled like never before! Yep...I've had it with lights!!

A kitty cat letter to Santa

Yuck! Cat Food?, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Dear Santa,
My name is Eclipse a.k.a. Miss Fuzzy Pants, and I have heard talk that you are the man to go to with requests for things during this holiday season. Now I know that I have never written to you in the past 4 years, but I was giving my Mom every opportunity to do right by me. However since she is failing horribly I feel the need to take this to a new level. First I would like to make sure that Mom is on your naughty list that I have heard so much talk about. Because Santa, she is just about as bad as they get! She expects me to eat cat food! I know you are probably shocked by that, but it is very true. That isn't all though Santa, and you should probably be sitting down to read the rest of this. She will not let me climb the Christmas tree, she will not let me roll around in the Christmas village, she will not let me chew on the garland that is hung, she will not let me eat candy, she will not let play on the stove top, she will not let me eat people food of any kind! Santa, I feel these are all things that you should know about, and you should make sure that she doesn't receive any gifts because of her very naughty behavior this year.
I know this may sound like I'm being a tattle tale, but I think it is for her own good. I'm not looking for anything for myself here, but if you would like to leave me some treats I would not turn them down. I personally love cookies, candies, breads of any kind (even though they say I have a grain allergy). I say the reason I get sick is just so I can leave gifts for my humans, Mom just seems to have this horrible reaction to it. I think maybe she doesn't really understand the whole thing about it isn't the gift it is the thought that counts.
Anyway Santa, I just wanted to let you know these things because I'm sure that they will affect your decision on just what to bring to her.

Sincerely yours,
Eclipse the sweet kitty cat

P.S. I feel I just need to mention that I've heard talk about leaving milk and cookies out for you and if that happens I'm going to have to take my fair share of it first. Don't worry though I will leave you a gift in return.
Oh and one more thing Santa...could you please take that stupid spray water bottle of Mom's away during your visit here to the house this year? Angel and I think that it is the kitty abuse and we have been unable to get rid of the thing. So if you could take it back to the North Pole with you that would be great! Thanks in advance Santa!

Now for everyone else reading my public letter to Santa, it is 12 days till Christmas, it is Friday, and that means time to head over to visit my friend Pickle. (I wonder if his human lets him eat all the things that he wants?) Feline and Furball Friday time, so head over and check out all of my fellow animals. If you want to play along all you have to do is get your human to take a picture of you, help them post it, and then make them leave a link in comments. Now if you will excuse me I have to get back to my quest to get human food, and trying to make that stupid spray bottle either disappear or break!

Pickles Place

Is it really 15 days till Christmas?

100_5892, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I really need to finish decorating this house so I at least have something to take pictures of. Until then I'm starting my Christmas countdown with pictures pulled from archives of Christmas 2007. Heck I may even end up writing an entry much like one posted a year ago about this picture. This little angel is one of the oldest angels in the house, and the only one that I'm willing to risk putting on the tree every year. The couple of angels that I have from Army Guys Grandma H, even though I could hang them I'm to afraid of them getting broken. This little angel was made by my mother when she was a child and I think she was the cause of my love for collecting angels. She probably needs a wing make over at this point in time because this little one has traveled miles and spent many a Christmas perched within the branches of several different tress. For most people it is the placing of the tree topper that signals the completion of the tree, but in my house it is when this tiny little angel finds her spot. For me she carries memories of all of my past Christmases, and every year when I take her from her "rest of the year" sitting place and find just the right spot for her on the tree there is a smile comes to my face because of those memories.

Alright the countdown has started and I challenge everyone who reads during the countdown to leave comments sharing about the topic for each of the days. So today would be what is the oldest ornament that comes out in your house during Christmas? If you want you could post an entry on your own blog and stop long enough to leave me a link so I can read it. I hope that everyone is having a good week and staying warm.