I’m really working on getting better about traditions because they are what make holidays special to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t even get in the mood to decorate the house AT.ALL. this year. It was a difficult fall & winter, but things started turning around with Christmas. One of my few traditions that I do have is making blueberry muffins on Christmas morning. Since we were leaving for Puerto Rico, I made them a few days early and enjoyed them all weekend. They aren’t anything super delicious, but I love them & they bring back fond memories.
The other tradition I have been working on is baking a batch of Oatmeal scotchies since I always remember helping Brenda bake them every year and eating them at Grandma’s house for Christmas. Plus it’s also a good excuse to break out my fancy mixer once a year.
I loved the long weekends- it’s so rare that I ever use a vacation day to stay home & not gallop around the globe. I think the pups also enjoyed all the hanging out time & the unusually warm weather as Mia stalked the backyard squirrel.
The cookies came out delicious! hated both oatmeal and butterscotch growing up until I started getting hooked on these fabulous treats. I’m still not a real oatmeal fan, but they are pretty darn good in these cookies.
Although I usually celebrate with mom on Christmas day, we had an early flight out to San Juan. I tried to spend some extra time hanging out on Friday and Saturday. Her Dickens villages keeps growing every year & I love how pretty it looks at night.
This is the girls! This is how we sit around the kitchen. Yes, both of my dogs have a place at the table! No they don’t sit there while we are eating, but it is their spot to hang out when we are all chit chatting.
Not so successful with the family photos this year- the dogs had no intention of cooperating with me.
We went to Christmas Eve services at our church & then went out for Mexican food for a late night dinner with some friends. Ended up by the fire, snuggling with the dogs & opening our presents. Hubby gave me a beautiful jewelry set & he received an Xbox with Kinect so we can play games & dance while laughing hysterically. We decided to keep things low key this year & take a mini-vacation over the holidays to Puerto Rico.
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Dinner & a movie tonight as we are checking out MI4.
