WE DID IT--

hopefully --
we all survived Christmas--
I had alot of fun doing Christmas this year--
and it was alot of fun and surprises too!!!

but let's see first--
where did we leave off--???

Dec 22nd-Sunday--
was a day for--

I was in the baking mood this year--
and did get 5 different kinds made--
(though I had at least 3 other's I wanted to make!)

These are called --Cookie Candies in the Betty Crocker Cookie book--
I have been making these for years and years and are probably my favorite cookie--

and these are the Russian Tea Cakes, Sandies--whatever???
I learned this year not to roll them in the Confectionery Sugar while they are still hot--
to wait until they cool--then roll them--and they did come much better!!

and my Aunt Judy's sugar cookie cut out cookies--this recipe makes the soft sugar
cookies and there is a bit of nutmeg in the dough--another yearly cookie--
a family recipe from my Aunt Judy!!

and before Christmas I also got some peppermint cookies made with a Hershey's kiss
in the center of them--

Dec 23th Monday--
was a shopping day with Frannie--

We went to the Dollar Tree and my favorite grocery store--
Publix--had to get some fresh salmon and other fixings for Christmas dinner
and to finish the cookies--

afternoon I handed out a lot of small gifts I had made here to the staff and dinning room staff--
even left some cookies in my mail box for the mail man!!

Dec 24th-Tuesday--
and Christmas Eve day--

It's time to finish up all those last minutes things to get ready for Santa Clause tonight!!
so the day was busy--but a delightful day!

Dec 25th Wednesday--
Christmas day--

and the birth of Jesus--
here is my tree--

This is my son's stocking and his gifts--
his sister--DD sent his gifts here for him,too--
and one for me--

In the morning I unwrapped the gifts from friends--
and here is some photos of them--

Plus a gift card for JoAnn Fabrics--

and here is a gift card for Walmart--
don't you just love those flamingos??

two of my favorites--birds and pansies!!!

Long distance one--

another tree ornament hand made--how sweet--

from across the 'pond'-- cute--

from a new friend--

And from the kids--
from DD--

a  Dolly-Trolley--that's what the paper work calls it--
huge bag to fit over the handle for carrying things
and then turn it around--

and it has a pull down seat!!

From my DS--

Lots of new games--I had gotten rid of all of mine--
they were needing replacing any ways--
and a nice Christmas tote bag behind them-
and the card games are in one of the new 'copper' fry pans--
he has one and said he loved his so he got me one--
but the very 'BEST' gift is.....

Dec 26th Thursday--
here is the best one--

Ahh--it looks like a day at the Zoo with my DS-
well--yes-- we did go--
and we did have an awesome time--
but it gets even better--
cause this is the actual gift--

a membership to the  Zoo for this whole next year!!!
for me plus one!!  so whoever  takes me can get in free too!!
and no more waiting in line--(plus they said the price of tickets is going up-
in January--it is now already $20 per person!!!)
so we went to pick up the actual pass and to visit the Zoo--
got lots of great photos--will publish some soon--
we stopped at Cheddar's for a early dinner on the way home--
great day--sun was shining--temps mid 70's with a nice breeze!!!

Dec 27th Friday--
can anyone guess what I did this day????
here's a hint--

I really needed to just take a day and do this--
and this--

I read this whole book yesterday afternoon and evening--
OK so I also 'enjoyed' some Christmas Cookies!!!!

Can you believe I only have 3 more days to do the Inchy--
what ever will be talk about after that?????????

I LOVE YOU ONE AND ALL--
LUV, DI