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.

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a GREAT day! I had the day off...the county gives employees one personal holiday a year...so I even got paid! I got so much done in one day! My first stop was the post office where I went to mail a package. Naturally there was a line...but you can't go to a post office in mid December and NOT expect a line. when I got to the counter I was paying by check...I handed the man my license and he said "Oh..it's her birthday! Come on everybody"...and then they all sang Happy Birthday to me. It was a fun way to start the day. Later in the day I went to read at my friend Amy's class...the boys and girls all made me birthday cards. I loved it!Our friends Mike and Denise had made arrangements with a local bar to allow us to come in and play our music one night...it just so happens their slow nights are Tuesdays...and my birthday happened to be on Tuesday this year...so my celebration was at The Monkey Bar.
The plan was to be there from 6-11 or so. I knew none would really be there at 6pm...so I expected most people to come around 7-7:30pm. My friend Heather and I got together and made our play list. Just like Santa we made a list and I checked it twice 3,4, too many times!haha Our "main" CD included Respect, Friday I'm in Love, Human, Tesla Girl, Bizarre Love Triangle, Hey Ladies, Insane in the Membrane, Once in a Lifetime, And So It Goes, I'm Gonna be (500 miles), Blood Pressure, Just Can't Get enough, Safety Dance, Wild Wild Life, Tainted Love and Sex on Wheelz. That was just one hour...We danced all night! which is exactly what I wanted to do.

John got me a cake and some balloons
Mike and Denise got me these beautiful flowers...and some champagne of course...which the bartender let us keep behind the bar...very nice of the owner to let us do that.
Just our speakers and a cd player (and a back-up)...and John was in control of the remote.


Not everyone danced...but there were pool tables, air hockey, Foosball, etc to keep the non dancers busy. haha




Lighting the candles so we could have some cake...a Lemon Infusion Cake from Publix...never had one before...it was GOOD!My night ended with a few minutes on the porch where I caught a glimpse of 6 shooting stars!...then the clouds moved in...but 6 was good enough.
so I guess if getting older is inevitable...we might as well have fun along the way. I feel pretty good this morning...just tired feet! Several people asked if we were doing it all again next week for John's birthday...the answer to that is...I don't think so....hahaha

Kiena meets Rudolph

I was taking Kiena for a walk around the block this morning...which was nice after two full days of rain. She stopped for a moment in front of one yard and all of the sudden she kind of jumped...like she does when she spots a cat or a squirrel...but this time she spotted Rudolph! She backed off a bit and then cautiously approached "him"...next thing she was nose to nose with Rudolph...wish I'd had my camera...they are just about the same size. She sniffed him for a minute or two and then decided he was no threat...so we went on our way. haha

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.