Christmas Eve Family Dinner

The Menu:

• apricot meatballs
• honey baked ham
• roast beef
• Bruce Lee wingettes
• macaroni & cheese
• green beans
• deviled eggs
• shrimp salad
• herb & parmesan monkey bread
• garden salad

      Dessert

• red velvet cake
• a variety of cookies
• a punch bowl of egg nog & vanilla bean icecream

      Beverages

• a variety of sodas
• Moscato wine
• Rum egg nog
• lemon iced tea
• and a special holiday punch (made with Pinnacle Vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry juice, orange juice and a little lemon juice)

And presents under the tree:

(And that's only half the gifts. More arrived after I took this picture)

Christmas Cards

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards.

It's Christmas Day

From my home to yours,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!       

Christmas Vacation

Today at exactly 4:30 p.m., I began my Christmas vacation.  I am off until the new year. Whoohoo!

I was so excited. The only thing on my mind on the drive home was slipping into my pjs, pouring a glass of wine, turning on some Christmas music and relaxing on the sofa watching the Christmas tree spin around.  {Sigh} All I managed to do once home was put on my pjs. The shower made me a bit too relaxed. So much so that I am laying in bed, under the covers, knowing that soon and very soon I will be in dreamland.

Guess my origianal plans are on hold for another evening. Maybe tomorrow.

Exhausted

Sunday I spent the entire day baking cookies.  This morning when I got out of bed, I could barely stand up. My body was so sore and my feet hurted terribly.

I made 9 different kinds of cookies:

• oatmeal raisin
• chocolate chip
• butter pecans
• almond/cinnamon
• gingerbread
• cream cheese
• peanut butter
• egg nog
• oreal balls

 I started around 8:00 in the morning. When I finally laid down, it was midnight.

I'm glad I only do this kind of baking once a year. 

I probably could have finished earlier, but my Baltimore Ravens were playing the Indiannapolis Colts (by the way, they kicked the Colts butt), but I kept taking breaks to keep up with the game.

Anyway, since I've come home from work today, I have just been relaxing with my feet up. 

Hope I feel better in the morning.

So Many Hats

I started collecting Christmas hats about 5 years ago. I wear a different one every day in December.  I'm up to about 19 hats now.

This is the latest hat.  One of my co-workers surprised me with it a few days ago.  Can't wait to wear it for "Purple Friday", representing our Baltimore Raven's football team.  Now if I can find some Raven's socks.......

All A Glow

As I sit here at the lap top, I hear the timers go off in each room throughout my little palace. It's the Christmas lights coming on....

A Visit to 34th Street

Last night some friends and I decided to go into the city and see the lights on Baltimore's 34th Street.