Merry Almost Christmas!!!

It actually feels like winter here in southern California! It's in the 30s or 40s at night sometimes, and highs in the 50s or 60s during the day. Okay, so that's a light winter, but I'm getting to wear some of my winter clothes, so that is fun (most are in storage, but I have a couple of things!).

The family Christmas festivities have begun, as last night was my grandmother's 91st birthday at a British restaurant in Corona Del Mar called Five Crowns. There are carolers who come and sing at the tables, so it is always a hit with the gramma and the kiddos. It's a fun way to celebrate my gramma, and an annual tradition for many years. Yay for a wonderful gramma who is so cheerful and enthusiastic!

My parents arrived on Thursday, so my mom is racing around buying presents since she doesn't bring too many with her. The family Christmas Eve party will be at my gramma's again, then we'll do Christmas with my sister's inlaws on Saturday. Everything is spaced out this year over the whole week; in years past it's been 3 days in a row, so the less-than-frenzied pace is a welcome change.

I'm working the next 2 days, which is kind of a bummer, but I need the funds, so I'm game. Then I'll have 5 days off, and since I set my own schedule anyway, I really can't complain!!

I took the kiddos shopping for Toys for Tots last week (they each got a $10 bill to spend & I kicked in a little extra), and hopefully tomorrow afternoon we can go drop off their treasures. It was fun watching them pick out presents for other children. All 3 kids (even the 4 year old who wanted everything for herself) picked out great gifts and seemed to truly understand how important it is for us to share our resources and blessings with children who will have very little to open this Christmas, if anything at all.

I dropped B off at LAX last night for a red-eye to Tallahassee so that he can see his Dad & Stepmom & Sister & Brother in Law & Niece for Christmas. I know they will have a great time...I wish that I were there!!! They are all a great family and I love spending time with them. Brandt will enjoy relaxing and sleeping in!! Since he won't be around for the holidays next year, we spent Thanksgiving with his mom & stepdad and now he has Christmas in FL, so he is getting in lots of great family memories.

This is Brandt sleeping in the car on the way up to Monterey for Thanksgiving....it was supposed to be a 7-8 hour drive, but it ended up taking us FOURTEEN. We had to pull over twice to sleep in the car. That's what we get for leaving at 4 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and attempting to drive THROUGH Los Angeles. Big mistake. We finally got there at 6 a.m. and B had to write a paper for his class....lovely. But the rest of the weekend was delightful!

B's shipboard deployment is likely pushed back to September 09 from July 09, so I'm happy about that! More time for us to enjoy together before he leaves!!!

I hope that all (well, really both) of you who read this have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Happy December!

Isn't it fun that it is December, and the whole world is preparing to celebrate Jesus' birthday?  I love this time of year, and it is great to spend the ENTIRE month with my family, instead of just a few days.  However, I must admit, I am missing DC, because this is a wonderful time of year there (winter is just setting in and not depressing yet...plus everything looks pretty!).  But I am appreciating the fact that it's 70 degrees here, not 15 like DC!  Blessings!!!

I am flying solo these days, as Brandt is gone for 2 weeks at sea until Friday.  That just means more time for me to get together with friends.  I'm having a Present Wrapping Party on Wednesday night with some San Diego friends, which will be great (thank you, Real Simple, for the idea!).  I'm plugging away  at the shopping, and have ma

de some great progress.  Only about 5 more to go.

Things have been great here; I have a job now, so that is a HUGE weight off of my shoulders.  My boss is a Christian, so we pray every morning before we start plugging away at work.  He's a solo attorney who does only Child Support Enforcement, meaning that we go after dads (mainly) who have not paid child support in years and make them pay.  It's difficult yet rewarding, and I'm learning so much.  Plus in this economy, I am just grateful to have an income!!!

Here's some pictures from our high school reunion--such a wonderful time to reconnect!!!