Christmas 2011

It will come as no surprise to my family and friends that read this blog...that I am having trouble getting it to do exactly what I want it to do tonight. I had hoped to add a few more photos...but can't seem to get them to download...so I'm going to go ahead with what I've got so far. We had a great Christmas Day here in Indialantic. Both Brenna and Megan were able to come home this year. We decided that because we enjoyed the brunch down at Disney's Vero Beach Resort last year...we were going to go again this year.
It was a beautiful (a little warm) day...so we had a nice ride down A1A. we got there early to check out the gingerbread display. This year it was a beach theme...(I think) Cute!
Tiki huts, Girls in bikinis and grass skirts, Santa riding in a red convertible (with the top down of course)
and then we went upstairs to look down at the real beach.

Anne, Brenna, Goofy, Megan and John
Here are the girls and I out front
Here's where I go off track a little... this was earlier in the day...Haze after "opening" his gift.
Christmas Eve we went to mass at 8:00 errr...make that 8:30...(flyer was sent out with the wrong time...so they compromised and started at 8:20pm. After that John, Megan and I ventured up to Verbenia Ct in Satellite Beach to walk around the cul-de-sac and see all the lights that the neighborhood puts up every year.
ooops, here we are again....,
There were lots of lights,music, cars, people on bikes,
on foot...having parties in the driveways
all getting us in the holiday spirit.

Megan's favorite flamingo lights. She bought some for herself this year...there's one on her porch up in DC...but that bird's a little chilly
It was a nice Christmas Eve...started at Long Doggers with all the Tebow fans...watching the game and AL...then mass, then the lights. I stayed up to bake a coffee cake and get things ready for breakfast. Christmas morning we got up, ate, opened gifts, watched the little boy across the street checking out his new Little Tikes fort...fun! Took a walk with John, a bike ride with Brenna and then went down for our dinner.We all had a great time.

Ready or not

Last week we attended a graduation party for one of our friend's daughters..
Her mom had been working on the black and gold decorations for a while. Peyton made some of these black and gold ornaments as favors.
Everyone had fun...and there were cupcakes!
That party got us in the holiday spirit.
so did these lights in Megan's room...I love the way they throw loops and whorls on the walls and ceiling.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve...I think I'm done...ready or not...The weather here is not very Christmasy...warmer than usual...but it's hard to complain about cloudless blue skies, a slight breeze and perfect weather for sitting by/in the pool, riding a bike, taking a walk...etc.

December

Monday was a beautiful day. The sky was blue as could be and it was kind of cool, the kind of day you wish you could have all year long.

November was my month to host BUNCO, but it would've been the same week as Thanksgiving, so we postponed it. I had it here on December 5th.
Hummingbird cake, Publix Turkey, Gouda cheese,bacon and cranberry subs on whole grain bread...and a couple of new recipes from the latest issue of Southern Living.
The Cranberry Pecan Cheese wafers were a big hit. The fruit is in my Christmas Tree shaped pans that my mom gave me years ago.


The Saturday before that we had holiday fun at the library.
Some of the Friends of the Library were elf helpers.
And Sue S. makes a good Santa doesn't she?!
Today at Storytime we had holiday stories and one of the moms volunteered to make these adorable cookies! Her son has lots of allergies...so these were made with no eggs, no butter, whole wheat flour, etc. And they were not only cute but very tasty. The kids loved them.



The story tells what the Mousekin family does for Christmas, then shows the reader how to do the same crafts, treats, etc. That Christmas hat is just too cute!
I love this book. I may need a copy for myself.

2011

Hope your new year is off to a GREAT start!
CHEERS!

Christmas activities

Two days after Christmas and things have quieted down a bit. My sister left on the 23rd...made it home before the big snowstorm hit the northeast and brought an unusual 9 inches or so of snow to Virginia Beach! Megan left this evening...no problem getting to Atlanta and so far her flight into DC (Dulles) is only 2 minutes delayed. Actually the hour delay out of Melbourne made her layover a bit more tolerable...so she kind of lucked out. When she called to check in...lots of folks were running from the gate hoping to catch their connecting flights.Christmas day we decided to head to Vero Beach for dinner at the Disney Resort there. Brenna came up with the plan and was on the phone for a long time on Christmas Eve...trying to get a reservation at one of the Disney resorts...Vero Beach was perfect!since it's just about 45 minutes down the road. It was a BEAUTIFUL day on Christmas...sunny, warm, breezy. Absolutely beautiful...perfect for all those recipients of new bikes, skateboards, fishing poles!
We had a reservation for 5pm...so we left our house about 4pm. Arrived at the VB resort and walked around for a few minutes. We spotted Goofy and a cookie/gingerbread village...actually a replica of St. Augustine, Florida.
"Buildings" were composed of cookies, crackers, candies, gum, candy rocks and fondant...90% edible.




we had time to get in line and get a photo taken with Goofy, The photographer also took one with my camera.
John and I on the lobby stairs.
In the tunnel back to the parking lot on the opposite side of A1A Brenna and I were hamming it up.We had a great dinner and saw some people we knew... it was a great afternoon!
Christmas Eve John wasn't feeling too great he finally caught my cold so Brenna, Megan and I went to the Christmas Eve mass without him. We went to the contemporary service at 8pm. Megan and I liked it...Brenna said she would've preferred the traditional mass...Oh well. The choir sounded great...especially the young woman who sang the readings and prayers...she had a beautiful voice. It was a pleasure to hear her sing the prayers. Another highlight was the choir singing "Silent Night" in English, French, Italian, Spanish and (our favorite) German sung by one of the men in the choir...definitely a native speaker...he also had a beautiful voice. The priest gave a nice sermon and all in all it was a perfect Christmas Eve mass. When it was over...we dropped Brenna off; and Megan and I ventured up to Satellite Beach to a neighborhood that goes all out for the holidays. All but the two end houses decorated this year and as usual people came from all over town to walk around the cul-de-sac to enjoy the music and lights. We used to go every year...still go when we can...but it's more fun with the girls. Megan and I had a fun time walking and taking pictures and admiring the displays. Each house has it's own unique style. It was chilly so it felt like Christmas like I remember it as a little girl...minus the snow!



I had different shoes on when we went to church...but they weren't great for walking around the block...so I changed into these sandals...they look a bit goofy with my winter coat! haha
Megan's favorite house was the one one with the lighted flamingos...we need to get one of them!




Next up....New Year's...now I just need a plan...............................hahahaha