Pre-Christmas Christmas fun

Merry Christmas Eve Eve. 2 more days til the big day, and I have already had quite a full Christmas. How is it that I am so lucky to get to have 5 Christmases??? And my family is still all together, hehe. Here are a few photos from my Christmas festivities so far

The girls in my Sunday school class have an annual Ornament swap. I got a beautiful snowy church ornament, and found out that 2 of my great friends are expecting! Congratulations Lygia and Joanna! I am so happy for you. This is a pic of my BFF Rebecca and I. We have a tradition of taking a photo together at every event. Aren't we precious? hehe.

I have seriously been in the baking mood lately, and have had some serious successes. Grandma Smithee's home made Chicken and Dumplings recipe is seriously amazing, and I had so much fun making it. I am thinking of making some of the dumplings tomorrow and freezing them to take to Missouri. I also made a batch of Peanut Butter Blossoms. So very tastey.

Saturday was Locke family Christmas at Meme and Papa's house. As usual, it was crazy, but we really had a good time getting to spend time together and open each other's presents. I got a really pretty cashmire sweater from Meme and Papa. I think it might be the first piece of clothing I have gotten from a family member that I have liked since I was a child, haha. It is super soft and has an argyle pattern on the front.



Here is a photo of the grandkids... well, the ones that were able to be there, in front of the Christmas tree and all the presents. We have so many people in the family now that Meme and Papa decided on a super small tree to save some space in the living room. I think though, that we ripped through presents in about 5 minutes and I am not sure that I saw everyone open the gifts I had brought. For all my adult, female family members, I made these:

A reminder to us all to never settle... to always try our hardest, and to always remember that we CAN do it because we are well educated, strong, capable women. I have one of these on my desk at school and it does me good to look at it every once in a while.

And of course, the funniest photo of the evening... Annabel and I. I am not going to begin to guess what she is thinking at this moment, but it makes me laugh every time I see it. So for now, may your days be merry and bright... see you after the holidays!