Christmas Begins

The kids made our traditional Rolo cookies and my grandmothers short breads on Sunday. You have no idea how thrilling is not to have to deal with that kind of baking anymore....it's nice to pass the baton I tell ya! ( Note the little Sara Palinism) Bryan obliged when asked to knead the short breads for the required twenty minutes. We watched a bunch of Christmas movies together while the cookies baked. It was pretty special.

For a good many years I made the big dinners and baked like mom did. Thankfully it's been over ten years since I had to make Christmas or New Years dinner. Do I miss it you ask? Not one bit... I used to run my self ragged trying to make everyone happy. I remember many all nighters baking, wrapping, sewing and painting....just to make the perfect Christmas.In the words of Susan Powder...(remember that mouthy ball of feistiness?) ...Stop the insanity! I certainly did stop that insanity, by force of course...but now it's a blessing.

I much prefer the laid back holidays now. Friday we went to see "Four Christmases" in the theater. It was a cute feel good movie, probably closer to reality than all the perfection I used to strive for!

My daughter has impeccable intuition, it's difficult to surprise her! Sunday Bryan picked up 27 scratch and win tickets for our advent calender. One extra was for Sunday because we knew she'd be tempted not to wait once she saw the Calender full. Sunday she won another free set for life ticket. Replaced it on Monday and won six dollars. Surprisingly she only opened one yesterday. Another two dollars. She plans on packing the money away! Let's hope there's a big winner for her, she deserves it!

It was thrilling to be able to awe her with something she loves.An idea I got from Gary at Potters blog! She's the gambler who beamed when she discovered the full calender! It hasn't had anything in it for at least five years. It wouldn't have the same affect on Bryan and I. Unless of course we hit the jackpot! Then we'd all be set.