All for one day

So.. I overheard a women in the store the day after Christmas saying," I cleaned, wrapped, baked, cooked and decorated... all for 1 day... and I don't know if it's worth all the work." I kept my comments to myself.. and I heard her voice... I understood her point of view... but I think it's worth it.. the magic... the birth of baby Jesus... Even if you don't have children... and you try to keep the commercialism to a minimum I still think it's worth it..
My son's questions... expressions... new traditions..and the memories I hope I am creating..... I tried to teach giving.. not getting...
I am in my 40's and I still have very strong Christmas memories that my step-mother and father started...
We started out the holiday early by visiting my brother and he had a gift or two for my son. The we celebrated Christmas Eve.. Hope this year.. My mom drove 13 hours from North Carolina to Here.. and was coming to dinner... 7 fishes.. but at the last minute she was too tired.... and they did not make it.. so it was my mother-in-law and us... It was so delicious.. and calm and I really enjoyed myself... So did my Mother-in-Law.. so much so.. she called the next day to rave about it.. And if you dont' know her well... well, she does not Rave about anything I do...
Christmas day after watching my son open his gifts... we went to my husbands' Uncle's home for dinner... and I had helped to add to the number and the noise of the company by taking my little son.
  So now it's the blizzard.. and I have time to reflect... and think... before I clean it all up.. and start eating better... but before I set up the snowman... and think about my New Years Menu... Let's have my top 10 favorite parts of the holiday.1..Watching my son... at Christmas

see the soot on the floor.. Santa made a mess the night before...

 2. My new drink.. Red Bull and Bubble gum.. ( 3 olives brand vodka)
I only had one.. but so tasty...while listening to my new favorite holiday song.. By Dave Barnes and Hillary Scott.. here's a line from it.. Baby, let's just light the fire (but I got a new dress) Doesn't look to safe to drive (you bought me that necklace) We won't know what were missing if we don't go out for Christmas tonight....

3.  Making homemade gifts.. I made .. cinnamon honey butter from our bees..., oatmeal milk bath... and blueberry jam from this summers blueberries.

my lopsided candle holder.. I made for my neighbor.. but hey... It's festive...

4. my idea.. to borrow my Mother in law's little lite up houses.. for the center of the table.. looked so warm and inviting.. with the lights on the houses.. and the lights off in the room.

5. My mother-in-law happy.....

6. the clam sauce..

7. Gingerbread house.. fun

8. Watching my son.. with my husbands family...but missing mine...

 

9. my son in his dress up shoes and socks...

 New snowfall

10. the pets gifts and they looked so happy themselves

And of course my family safe and healthy

So bring on the snowmen... and women...

I did finally see my mother.. but our only holiday picture together came out like this...

my mother's dog... tried to get in the holiday action too..

So it's all worth it.. even if the women in the store did not think so.. I did... and we had our Christmas breakfast..together and today.. before the family went out to shovel... we had my famous..  Cream Cheese Scrambled eggs.. 

surprise your family on New Years Day

1 pk 3oz cream cheese

2 tablespoons of half and half cream or whipping cream or a little milk you decide

7 eggs

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of real bacon bits

2 tablespoons of butter

IN a bowl, beat cream cheese and cream or milk until smooth.

Beat in the eggs, parm cheese, and egg mixture.Cook and stir over med. heat until eggs are set..

ENJOY