Happy 2010!

I'm assuming this is my last post of this year. I hope everyone has had a good holiday. It sounds like it from reading everyone's blog. We, too, have had a good holiday. Last week, I ran around a bunch getting ready for Christmas. I even felt up to baking. I baked two different kinds of cookies (Chewbilee cookies and Chocolate Toffee Crunch). I also attempted my grandmother's divinity. If you've never heard of divinity, it's basically sugar and nuts. It's supposed to be fluffy KINDA like a marshmallow but not as squishy. It's a little harder than that but when you bite into it, it kind of dissolves in your mouth. ANYWAY.... now I've never made candy before but I thought I would give it a try. So, on Christmas Eve (big mistake) I whipped up a batch. Unfortunately it's a temperamental candy that humidity greatly affects. If you were here, you know it rained in the late afternoon and all night... which means, that my divinity did not set at all. In fact, it looked like white pecan brittle. It tasted REALLY yummy, like my grandmother's. BUT, I had to throw it away because it wouldn't set and we couldn't even peel it off the wax paper. Oh well, I'll try again next year. This time on a day where NO RAIN is in the forecast.

This was the first Christmas we were at home. It was quite nice being at home and to begin to think about family traditions that WE want to have with our family. Christmas Eve, we were invited over to my brother and sister in law's for dinner. We crammed into their one bedroom condo and had a delish meal with them, my dad and stepmom, grandmother, her parents, her brothers, her sister in law, two nephews and her grandfather and his wife. (which is why I used the word CRAMMED). My dad, step mom and grandmother joined me and Chris in attending the 11:00 pm service at the church we've been going to. It was nice and I know it will be the last late service we're able to go to on Christmas Eve for quite a while.

Christmas morning it was SO NICE to wake up in our own bed and be lazy. I made breakfast for us and we opened presents just the two of us. We had a lazy morning and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. I even surprised Chris and set the table in my mom's Christmas china. We even drank out of our crystal tea glasses. It was quite fun! We headed over to see Lonebutterfly, her hubby and caterpillars for a short visit before going to my dad's. We had a great time with my family, eating, laughing and opening gifts.

This week has been much more relaxed for me. Chris has been working all week (of course) and I have mainly just hung around the house and rested. Tonight, Chris's parents are coming and we'll celebrate Christmas with them and Chris's brother tomorrow. This is, of course, assuming that Sprout isn't affected by the blue moon tonight.

Happy 2010 everyone! I wish everyone the most blessed new year to come!