The Day After

CA and I started our day at Le Petit Paris French Bakery with some excellent coffee and sharing an almond and an apricot croissant. 

Some of the Fun Kids posed with the Lemon and Raspberry Tarts we made yesterday morning. Then, they decided that they wanted a silly pic. 

We managed some last minute gift wrapping in the driveway. Amazon had been busily shipping gifts directly to our daughter's home. 

No tree yet, so we dedicated this corner as the gift repository. Worked for us. Each family will be celebrating separately from us this Christmas.

JE had arranged a photo session for the entire family. We snuck into their neighbors backyard instead of going to the local park, as planned. Thinking we'll have some fine family photos to document this special holiday together. 

DM and I took the 6 Fun Kids to see Trolls at 4:00pm, and we finished out our time together with pizza and then gathered around the firepit with some Creamy Limoncello while the kids jumped on the trampoline in the dark.

We've had a wonderful Thanksgiving; time together as a family. Love, laughter, stories, photo ops, and lots of great food. 

Holiday Spirit

I've gone Christmas decor "lite" this year. Aiming for some Christmas spirit while keeping the details few. We're not entertaining here at all, though we did Thanksgiving.

Keeping Christmas simple was also imperative as the master bathroom remodel begins, finally, on the 26th. Had to change-out our tile selection after almost 9 months of waiting. The color is more pedestrian, but probably better for eventual resale.

Very excited to see and enjoy the final result. I've gotten some new towels, and am keeping some I've had for 2+ years. Love these from Target. Expensive and they are wearing well. Very absorbent, and I love the ribbing.

Colorado Fun Kids

Ralph Lauren Christmas

We have this RL glassware pattern in Old Fashions and Double Old Fashions. Love them! Not loving the wine glasses. Still, striking table settings.

Odds and Ends. Christmas details.

Special cookies for Fun Kids. Bittersweet. Chicago.

Slovak handmade "Bethlehem."

Southwestern Nativity.

Fun Kids craft project.

 And, elsewhere. Fort Collins Fun Kids on their way to Washington, DC.

Christmas magic: my department:

This year's table runner.

Molasses cookies, with lemon buttercream.

Some plain; some sandwiched.

Mrs. Bate's Fudge.

Christmas at GG's

This will be our last Christmas at GG's as she is in the process of resettling permanently at her assisted living facility that is in the same complex as the cottage she's lived in since 2004. With that in mind and as is our regular custom, we did it up completely!

HW with Lucy and Yoshi.

My peach tart. CA had hoped to make an apple tart,
but his back pain got in the way.

Yes, this is our presentation and buffet table...
What can I say? We just dove in. Delicious New Orleans BBQ shrimp
and oyster shooters, etc., etc., etc...

Grits cook-off. Geechie Boy grits won best in class,
but the shrimp grits made by LW were the BEST.

The Fun Kids love a good motel room...

GG decided to sort through some of her jewelry.

She gave me this lovely dinner ring, which is already being resized...

And, This is How We Spent Our Christmas with the Fun Kids.

Grandma made a home for Cammie, the camel.

This is far as the Fun Kids wanted to take our craft project.

Cousin Sophie gave Lucy this princess-worthy nightgown.

Early morning re-culturization. Electronics.

Perfection!

Grandpa, we have to kill the villagers to steal their houses...

Best puppy ever!

My favorite ginger.

Breakfast for our early riser.

And then, there were two.

Christmas dress from grandma.