A Bag Full of Gifs...

"Christmas was on its way. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved." Ralphie

Yes, Christmas is on it's way and like all kids in the Santa Claus believing world, I am soooo excited! Right now I've been sent to my room. My incredible selfless husband has sent me to my room because he has to wrap my presents. This morning he was up before the sun because evidently there are many stores that open extremely early this weekend. He (with the suggestion from his glorious wife) decided to head out before the other last minute shoppers awoke from their slumber. And evidently it was a success because he currently has Christmas music blaring on the sound surround and I can clearly hear the tearing of tape and folding of paper. Oh Santa would be so proud of this spirited elf!

As for me, well, all the shopping is done, the Christmas tree looks magnificent with gifts of assorted sizes and colorful wrapping all tucked perfectly under and around it. Christmas lights are on all over the house, even the outdoor lights because it's a cloudy day and IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME! Right now is the hustle and bustle point. Everyone is scrambling to get their gifts bought and wrapped. The highway was packed with out-of-town license plates and packages stuffed in the backseats of cars/suvs. And there's a cool chill in the air this year! Around here, no one wants a warm Christmas...that's not Christmas!

And to top it all off, our baby girl is on the road heading HOME to us! She's our nostalgic one and loves when the house is all decorated and Christmas music is sounding throughout the house. Our other two currently live with us so Christmas morning will be just like it was when they were little...only no one fights to wake up early anymore lol. And, just like when they were little, no one fights to get out of pajamas after all the Christmas gifts are opened and breakfast is all cleaned up. Our family celebrates Christmas with our extended family on Christmas Eve which will be at our house this year, but Christmas Day is a more "relaxed" day for all of us. And of course our traditional "Chinese" dinner will end the celebration on Christmas Day...even though it's changed from Chinese to Japanese since the family adores hibachi and sushi!

And before you know it we will all be saying goodbye to 2018 and welcoming 2019 with hopeful hearts for a year of good health and opportunities to make fun family memories. I, personally, have been working on my "Encourage To Try" list. Top of the list is YOGA!😂 I laugh because anyone who knows me knows I have the flexibility of a dead branch. I have a couple other items and am pretty excited about them...How about you? Do you make New Year's Resolutions? If you've followed along on my other blog posts, you know that I gave those up and substituted them with the "Encourage (yourself) To Try" attitude/list. For me it's like vegetables. I hate them, but will 'try' them. If I like it, I'll stick with them. If I don't, well...I tried.

January is also a wonderful time to catch up on all the television mini-series I haven't been able to watch since autumn! It's normally cold and icy and/or snowy in these parts so it's perfect for staying in and reading or even Pinteresting for spring flower and yard ideas...🤗 I like to start making my list of "projects" too!! But, right now it's a Marshmallow World in the Winter and I'm still the kid who looks out the window Christmas Eve in hopes of a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer...and thanking God that my family is all under one roof peacefully sleeping with visions of money trees shaking non stop filling their hands and wallets😂

With that being said I will close for now. It's off to the grocery store I go...🤦🏻‍♀️ May your celebrations, however you celebrate, be filled with LOTS of laughter, delicious and continuous food, and a heart full of gratitude. From our home to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy 2019!

#Christmas #gifs #travel #Santa #ChristmasStory #Elf