This post is going to be a long one - so get ready! Instead of splitting it all up, I'm posting all of Christmas in one place!
I took the above picture as I was waiting for my gal pals to show up at my house for a Christmas potluck.
December was SO busy. SO BUSY! Somehow this Christmas season, I managed to see and spend time with so many people I love - and that made me happy. The last couple of years, I managed to get very sick with colds/bronchitis and I would have to cancel/postpone plans. Somehow/someway - I did not get a cold or respiratory issue this Christmas season. I prayed that I would stay well because this was Briana's last Christmas as a high schooler and I just wanted everything to go well. I'm so happy I didn't get sick.
I can't say I wasn't suffering with any sort of health issues this Christmas season (my heel is still not great and now my knees are giving me issues), but I was still able to do all the things I wanted to do.
Christmastime is still a very frazzled time though...
So here is a rundown of all things Christmas!
********************
As you know, Briana always paints a coffee mug for Doug. That is his request each year. Bri and I went to our favorite pottery painting place in November. Briana already had the theme in mind that she wanted to tackle for Doug this year - a pool theme...
As Briana is working on her piece for Doug, I always pick out some sort of Christmas themed pottery to work on. This year I picked an elf.
These are all the crafts that I have painted over the years as I waited for Briana to work on a mug for Doug...
Of course, Doug loved his new mug!
Briana has finally decided to retire from painting mugs for Doug now that she is heading off to college. We think he has quite the perfect collection!
You may remember all her other creations...
Because my heel is still a problem and I'm dealing with pain in my knees, I had decorate my house at a slower pace this year. I got it done though. I am so grateful to Doug for dragging all the holiday boxes up and down from the basement. It would have taken me so much longer without his help.
He is still in charge of our outside illuminations (he did a beautiful job as always)...
I am in charge of the interior...
I have admitted my addiction to buying ornaments and decorating Christmas trees...
Bri with the China tree...
My friend Julie bought me my newest addition...
Speaking of ornaments, I own so many beautiful ornaments, but below are a few that I really love. When Bri and I go to our favorite craft fair, there is a lady who makes ornaments out of "every day things." Little dolls, tiny tchotchkes, etc. I just love her little handmade ornaments and decorations. This is what her booth looked like this year...
I have bought several Christmas ornaments from her over the years (the red panda is my new purchase this year)...
I also bought a Thanksgiving decoration from her a few years ago...
These ornaments just make me happy.
The one interior that Doug is in charge of now is our Lego village. He lit up almost the entire village - has just three more pieces to go. It is so cool...
Doug bought me something I saw in Savannah back in June when Bri was at SCAD camp. I saw in a Christmas store a beautiful old time "television" that had a rotating Christmas scene in it. I didn't want to buy something that pricey at the time, so he secretly called the store up when we got home and had it delivered to our house. He surprised me with it in November and I love it (and him)...
And lastly, our family received so many beautiful holiday and new year cards from so many people this year. They lined our walls once again. We definitely feel the love!
Our house was very festive this year!
***************************
Briana sewed these adorable Christmas bears...
She also decorated a gingerbread house...
She's so creative!
************************
As I mentioned earlier, I was able to spend lots of time with friends and family this December.
First, we had our friends Khalid, Ansu and Kira over for dinner and some pool playing...
Then we met up with our close friends the C family (Bri's bestie Meredith) for a hibachi dinner...
Then, I invited my besties Valerie and Amy and Bri's besties Mary and Imerie for a potluck dinner at my house along with a present exchange...
Look at my plate of food - yum!
Then I met my bestie Kathy for coffee one morning and had lunch one day with my other bestie Julie (I have a lot of besties - lol!)...
Finally,
Briana and I ventured over to my sister's house right before Christmas to do a cookie baking day with my sister, mom and the cousins!
Whew, I am tired just writing all of that!!
And Doug went to Colorado for a weekend to see his mom and his brother (and our sister-in-law). Unfortunately Bri and I could not join Doug on this trip (insert sad face emoji), but I hope to see them all very soon. Doug did see some cool Christmas lights with his family while he was gone...
*********************
Mei Mei always loves Christmas time. So many trees to sit under! LOL! She also loves laying in front of the fireplace...
Because Mei liked to do this to my Christmas tree skirt...
You may notice I now have a new Christmas tree skirt around my family room tree. One she can't mess up.
Our Christmas elf Red still makes an appearance at our house, though he doesn't move around as much anymore. And Bri knows she can touch him now - heh. One day I placed him on my snowman and he ended up like this due to Mei...
Poor Red! (See her angry bird baby in the picture?)
*********************
We watched "Christmas Vacation" as a family one evening (a must watch)...
***********************
Christmas Eve was a quiet one for our family. We ate our Honeybaked ham, potato salad (that my mom makes), mac n cheese and baked beans for dinner...
We put our presents under the tree and went to sleep...
Christmas morning we opened presents...
Then went to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with the cousins, my sister and BIL in the afternoon...
Like last year, Briana drew digital pictures for our family members and framed them. These were her creations (and everyone loved them!)...
Zoolander, Archie Comic, Barney Fife, The Umbrella Academy (that was my gift!), The Wizard of Oz, Blazing Saddles and The Three Amigos. She amazes me (all of us)!
********************
After Christmas, we went on an overnight trip with Briana's bestie Meredith to the Chattanooga Zoo to see the Asian Lantern Festival (I will blog about the trip in separate posts)...
***************************
Wow - told you this was going to be a long post! I was determined to post about Christmas before the new year!! And I did it!
I can't say I will be able to tackle another December like I did this one, but looking back, I managed to accomplish everything I sent my mind to and I am proud of that. And this post doesn't include all the gift wrapping I did! Whew!
Thank you for reading and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!
What a BIG year 2023 has been! It was filled with ups and downs, but we definitely got through it all!
Started driving to meet up with friends to hang out (sans parents)... 
