For the Christmas Journal ...

{So just know you're getting ready for a "novella" ... this is more for me to remember.}

Thursday, December 20th - Ten Year Wedding Anniversary
A low key day (if I can remember that long ago, LOL) ... we started off the morning making "candy cane mice" for Ethan's preschool classmates. I did more sewing, lots of Christmas music and more computer games ;). While Ethan was at preschool I stopped by the library to pick up another book for me, The Gift by Richard Paul Evans (I also managed to read, The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Promise by Donna Vanliere). I got home and finished putting together my "gift" for Matt. We choose not to exchange Christmas presents or Anniversary presents this year due to our celebratory trip to Maui a few months ago. However, I'm a girl and wanted to acknowledge the very special day, so I put together a clever little gift. It was three parts and on the brown packaging I stamped, "Let's keep growing closer." And then I had a little not written on each part, the first on parenting and how we need to keep growing closer (not being divided, which is so easy to do) as parents, being a united front ;). Second was two little tag books about growing more romantic and three things the other person can do to be more romantic. Third and lastly was a layout, of us documenting our last 10 years, that I framed (I've had the frame forever, waiting for that perfect layout) and wrote on the packaging about growing closer as a couple with our date nights and time away, just the two of us. It was fun to do and Matt really liked it ... and I liked my 2 dozen hot pink roses! To top off the night we went looking at Christmas lights.

Friday, December 21st
My mom sweetly volunteered to pick up Ethan on her way home from work and keep him overnight so we could go out to celebrate our anniversary. I didn't argue ;). So Ethan and I spent the morning making more pretzel turtles, frosting for our sugar cookies, walnut kisses (shortbread wrapped around a kiss and then rolled in powdered sugar after it is baked) and *gourmet* dipped pretzel rods. I was SICK of baking at the end of Friday ;). I had a few hours after my mom picked up Ethan, before Matt got home, that I used to finish the baking, finish some more sewing and get ready for our date. Having not made a reservation, and it being the Friday before Christmas, we were happy we got right into a little place we've been wanting to try, Flatbread Community Oven. It was quaint, cozy and casual ... all good things for us ;). The food was good and the company even better (do you know how nice it is to not have to cut someones food, not to have to remind them of showing manners and not be interrupted 80 billion times? It's nice, very nice)! Needing one more last minute gift, we braved a quick stop at the mall and grabbed our favorite Hagan Daaz milkshake while we were there. Then we came home and I wrapped all the presents and went to bed at midnight ... thankfully we could sleep in ... 'til all of 8 I think ;).

Saturday, December 22nd
After a relaxing morning, we met up with my parents for the pass off and came home for lunch and ??? I can't remember what happened the rest of this day ... which is why I knew I need to blog daily, just didn't have the time ;). Oh wait, I do remember. I made Chex Party Mix and why did I make it? Well to take to the annual cookie decorating party at Kelly's house, of course, now I totally remember. We had a great time munching on yummies and watching the kids decorate cookies. It was so nice, thank you Kelly for allowing us to step into this tradition with you and a HUGE thank you for opening your home. You know it would have been a ticket to the looney bin had I done it! It was a perfect night when the snow started falling!

Sunday, December 23rd
Off to church, which included the children's Christmas program ... so funny. All of them were high on sugar from the cake and punch for baby Jesus' birthday ;). After church we had our traditional Sunday nap and then a relaxing afternoon of cleaning house, yes I said relaxing and cleaning in the same sentence. After all the chaos of the week cleaning was so nice ... and it was snowing which made it even more relaxing. Then while Matt smoked salmon I braved the elements for my favorite pizza. A really nice day, the "calm" before the storm, LOL.

And now ... to the posts with pictures. This post deserves a lot of pictures and I'll probably add them, okay who am I kidding, I think I'll just add some albums to my side bar, so I'll let you know when I do ;).

And if you read this ... you are a sweet person! Happy day to you!