Happy Christmas and a day or two

I find myself simply amazed how quickly this month of December has gone by. J and I decided maybe saying yes to everything was the culprit..not enough down time to simply sit and enjoy the lights and decorations. We did have a lot of fun so its wasn't all bad...just disappeared too quickly!
We had about 50 people show up for our big annual Christmas party and most said it was the best yet.
I tried to do too many last minute hordourves and found myself still working when the first guests arrived. Fortunately it was my Canadians bfs and they went right to work helping me. J had spent weeks getting the train far enough along to run during the party. It was wonderful because he lit up some of the cars with tiny xmas lights and a tree. He also decorated some trees with lights and the backyard looked great.  While it was a big success I don't think we will do it again next year. Maybe take some time to help others and volunteer. If you look up Snowball Express its a wonderful program put on by American Airlines for families that have lost a parent in the war. It is such a worthy and noble cause I am hoping to have J and I volunteer our time to it. We have been so fortunate it would be a good thing to pay it forward. I cry every time I see a commercial asking for us to help wounded warriors. They come home so broken and yet so many find ways to continue on and be amazing. True heroes.

Here are a few pics of the party so you can feel like you were attending. I know it looks like J wasn't there but I am pretty sure I saw him at some point.

SOOO many people and yet such a perfect house to entertain in!

Food galore and almost everything was GONE by the end of the evening.

Gdma and Rande

I told J about 4 days ago I could not imagine having to take down all the decorations so soon and thought I would wait until I felt ready. Yesterday my brother Ron left, my mom went home and I took Ky to the airport. Today Rande flew to Denver to move the rest of his stuff back to CA. For some reason having everyone leave left me craving a return to normal. I still had a cup of coffee in my hand when I started taking down this morning. I didnt get it all done but a very good start. Isn't it crazy how much more spacious one's house feels with no xmas clutter? I am always surprised by the starkness of normal.
T and J decided they didn't want to come over this year but we had R and K plus my bro who is usually in Mexico by now. The most difficult part of Timothy not coming is how many have asked why not, he lives so close.  At the same time we all want our kids to be happy so if staying home was impt, so be it. Being the parent of adult children is so different from what I expected. Our 3 boys are all so different I am amazed and bewildered they had the same parents and upbringing. I was hoping we would all be grownup friends and look fwd to spending time together sharing adventures.  "Life is a box of chocolates and you just never know what you are going to get." So true.

Uncle Ron and Ky

Vetterlis

Ky and Grandma

Cannot have a Vetterli get together without a little Mexican Train. I lost and Ky won.... as usual.

R and I made fresh spinach pasta one night and it was one of my favorite nights. I thought I simply had to have a pasta maker and yet managed to talk myself out of putting it to use for 2 months. R said lets do it and we were off...Yes it is quite a bit more work than picking up a package at the store but oh man it was heavenly! Really light and airy tasting...kind of pleased there is some in our freezer for another go around!

Next time I will clear and clean the island for this part...who knew it made so many?

Oh so delicious!!

Here is a cute little pillow gift I made for a friend who has a scottie dog. I could probably start a business making pet pillows right?! Everyone LOVES their pets.

I still have 2 trees and 3 dept 56 villages to take apart today and I am finishing this post on day three of take down. Who the heck thought 3 trees and xmas villages in every room were a good idea!?!?! lol... me of course!
It was so weird last night as I was removing ornaments from a tree I had the strongest sense of deja vu I would not be here to put them on next year. It was so strong it brought tears to my eyes and this feeling of doom.. I know, I sound crazy. I choose to believe it was a sign for me to let go of the unimpt conversations in my head and make a difference in 2014. Make every day count kind of thing. We dont know the future so live each day gratefully and continue to follow dreams. I will end here with yet another adorable photo of the coolest kitty ever!

Buster practicing not peeking at Santa or his gifts!

 Love this boy so much! Thanks for dropping by and I wish you all blessings, joy and love in the new year. Lets all go make a difference...

Its beginning to look like Christmas...

We have had a week or two of really nice winter temps! Even had to cover the citrus and pots because it dropped to freezing! I love lighting the fireplace, candles, and wearing thick fuzzy socks...even if its all short lived.

Gracie enjoying the ambiance!

Today was a balmy 61 degrees when Grace and I got up and its already 70 at 1030 am. Not complaining mind you...our morning walk was heavenly.

I have spent most of my free time the past two weeks working on Emily's stocking. It was a big sigh of relief to pop it with some gifts into the mail and be done. Now I am free to do some fun projects and no pressure.

It really did turn out cute!

If you see the other two you will understand why I had to make one more.

Now Philip's girls having matching (yet different!) stockings made by GrammaCher. I hope they treasure them always and one day know me well enough to understand I made them with love.

 I feel ready for Christmas, shopping done, house completely decorated, wine rack full and a few treats out. I just cant help feeling like Christmas is just not as much fun without little kids. The magic of believing and all the sweet programs, projects and parties truly made it amazing for me. As I said before I am saying yes to everything but its just not the same. Christmas is family and dreaming of Santa wish lists...I think this is where grandkids come into the mix. You can continue on with the fun and yet take a nap when you are tired! I am going to have to give up FB again because everyone posts these big happy holiday family scenarios. You have to know its not perfect but still looks like great fun to me. We will be having a sweet low key holiday and its just fine.  It just doesn't feel like Christmas to my heart.

I have had a couple of things happen this week and I am trying to process them and learn the lesson being taught. I had a friend I have known since 3rd grade decide something I said or did a couple yrs ago was not worth staying friends over. I guess I dont care enough to ask so we have just let the relationship go into the trash bin. She has made a point of emailing me to let me know she was here visiting friends which I have not understood. Why tell me if you are not wanting to see me? Well I received a Christmas card this week telling me she went to the LQ Museum with friends and saw my work.  She was complimentary in her words but why did she go to the trouble to send me a xmas card to tell me? Did she have to drive by my house to get there? Yes. Is she trying to hurt me? I still dont understand.
So last night I was just getting ready to curl up on the couch and turn on a Christmas movie. The doorbell rings and its a neighbor I know casually but we are not bfs or anything. She proceeds to tell me another neighbor I invited to our xmas party is not a nice person. Last year she asked this neighbor if my house was decorated inside as tacky as it was outside. She continued to tell me more bad news and said she just thought I should know. Hmm...let me think about this. Who is worse in this scenario, the messenger feeling a deep need to tell me someone talks trash about me, or the person that supposedly did the dirty deed?  I couldn't wait to close the door, pour a glass of wine and remind myself I am 60 and no longer in high school. I dont have to play this game and basically dont feel a need to be friends with either.  Just cant help wondering what is the truth here but also reminded myself not to get involved in neighborhood catfights. I forgot how much I dont enjoy living in tight hoods. As for my other long time friend I decided the best reply to her is nothing. She will simply have to wonder if I received it and how I felt reading it. I am only sharing these because it made me feel sad that with so much going on in the world there are people that need to hurt others to feel good. I now feel like I cant trust either one enough to be friends and really wish I didn't feel so disposable as a person. That's life I guess.
On a brighter note I just had a neighbor deliver a big glass bowl with holly, cranberries and a floating candle. For every mean spirited person out there you will also find someone that is a blessing to you. Look for them. They are people of worth and we all need to surround ourselves with joyful hearts.

Well hello December!

I have continued to say yes to every invite or event I possibly can this month knowing  how I get overwhelmed without down time. I feel a need to make new friends and broaden my life by stepping out of my comfort zone. I have joined a book club and a local womens art group. We are golfing more with new people and I joined a women's putting group. I didnt want to because I am a terrible putter but I ended up winning the money! Go figure!  I am still going to yoga and loving it. I had an instructor ask in the beginning if I was allright and yesterday an instructor passed by and said beautiful Cheryl. I feel I am improving and gaining flexibility, strength and confidence.

My form definitely needs improvement but I was so excited to be strong enough to do this!

 There is such a calming peaceful feeling when I get done I wish I could bottle it. Our instructor told us to take the feeling with us to share with others...by the time I got home I had already lost it. WTH! I dont know why but J and I have had the cranks this week trying to work on our Christmas decorations. I am hoping to finish the villages today and sit back and enjoy the joy of the season and feel the love. Well and have another eggnog!
Remember us making our xmas tree last year? Well we had bought everything we needed to make one more and ended up stuffing the branches and walking away. So this week I decided it was time to be a tree maker again. Honestly this one is soooo pretty! I have been given a crystal ornament from my aunt since 1998..sometimes two. I have always wanted to do a tree just for them and now I have.

Speaking of trees....check out our lemon trees!

Can you say lemon meringue pie over and over?! We are loaded! No oranges though so maybe next year. I am also hoping they all get taller and offer shade to our train yard.

Before I forget here is the latest photo of newest granddaughter Emily...

While she definitely doesnt look like a Kamolz she is one adorable happy baby! I am working hard on making her a Christmas stocking to match her sisters. I hope the next one I make is for a grandbaby I get to enjoy, spoil and love endlessly. Jerry just said the other day we would really be good at being grandparents. I am so envious of all my friends that get to enjoy their grandchildren. I haven't given up hope but have begun to entertain the idea it might not happen. That's life~ we are not in control!

We had a nice family gathering for Thanksgiving at my mom's. Way too much food and I made 3 pies people were too full to enjoy. When will I learn? They were really good the next day tho so no worries!

Shawn, Stacie, Kaleb, Zackary, and Jacob!

My nephew Shawn and family came from Sacramento area and it was a delight to spend time with them and get to know their boys. A wonderful family for sure and we hope to see them more often.

The boys deep fried a turkey and grandma baked one. We had enough leftovers for an army!

Timothy and Jammie...we got to try some home brews and beers from Timothy's work.

Shawn and Gdma

Rande, Timothy and Jammie spent Friday at our place and the boys worked on the railroad. It was so fun to talk to Timothy about it because his mind was overflowing with creative ideas of what he thought would look good. The sad part is he rarely has the time or desire to come over so they probably wont happen. We continue to grow and improve the set up so who knows where it will go.

Timothy adding rock base and cleaning tracks

The train team!

I had to include our inside train and Buster holding down the track waiting for Santa...

 

I will try to post again in 2013 but meanwhile go out and enjoy the day~ find that calm peaceful feeling one gets from being loved and having a grateful heart. Thanks for dropping by. Love you!