I know that every family now has a crazy, hectic Christmas, so we’re not so special or different from others, but I will say that we have a lot to do over the holidays. What made our Christmas so hectic this year was not the number of family obligations that we had, but the number of major get-togethers and events that we held at our house this year, beginning right after Thanksgiving.
First, I had a Small Business Saturday Open House here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. As I said in an earlier post, my sisters and I are starting up a business. (You can check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mommyinbonlee or at one of our shops: etsy.com/mommyinbonlee or mommyinbonlee.storenvy.com. ) We had several local vendors and craftspeople over to sale their things and it was a big success. I really live in a great community. This was just the beginning of a busy month.
A couple of weeks after that, we were part of another vendor fair at a local school. This was to raise money for the 8th grade students to take a trip to NYC. This one, not so successful. That night, we had Jason’s office Christmas party at my house (along with my mom’s and step-brother’s offices). I will admit, by this point I was a little stressed and Charlie was watching a lot of TV! All of the cute Christmas crafts I had pinned were getting pushed aside!
The next week, I had a cookie exchange at my house. This was the 3rd annual one, and it is always fun and everyone leaves with lots of great cookies.
In the midst of all of this, I am doing tons of stuff at my church right now. I am on the pastor search committee, teaching 2 classes, helping with youth, working on the bulletin, and helped decorate our church for Christmas.
Then there was just all of the normal Christmas stuff-buying and wrapping gifts, cooking and cleaning, looking at lights and visiting Santa Clause. Not to mention Martin, our Elf on the Shelf, who had to magically fly to the North Pole every night and show up at a different spot in our house the next morning! There was more than one morning when I would hear Charlie’s bedroom door open and have to jump out of bed to make a mad dash to move Martin to a different spot.
Anyway, Christmas has come and gone. We did have to cut out Christmas Eve in Mt. Airy, which was kind of bitter sweet for me. I enjoyed being home on Christmas Eve and it was much easier on all of us, but I kept looking at the clock that night and imagining what my family was doing at that moment.
Charlie was so much fun this year. He was in his Christmas play at church and was absolutely hilarious. Charlie was a shepherd and had 2 lines: “Mighty God” and “Amazing.” If I never have to listen to “Census Time in Bethlehem” again I won’t mind!
Superstarrrrr!
He loved Santa this year and the only thing he asked for was a reindeer and sleigh. Santa ended up bringing him a smaller version of his reindeer and sleigh. He also got some pirate stuff and some construction things.
A new pirate ship from Santa!
Maddie is a hot mess:
Jumping off her new stool….
Maddie’s new earrings…
She got a new kitchen and tons of stuff for her bebes, as she calls them. She is a good little Mama. The girl thinks she is grown. She won’t be 2 until February, but she decided yesterday that she wants to use the potty. I really look forward to the day that I don’t have to buy or change diapers, but the girl takes forever on the potty! She throws a tantrum if I don’t have half an hour for her to sit on the potty. It is crazy!!!
Anyway, Christmas is over and, while I did really enjoy Christmas this year, I feel very unstressed right now. I always love January and the new year for the cleansing power that it always seems to have for me. I just love a chance to start over and feel new.
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to write in this blog more. I really have enjoyed looking back at the little I have written over the past few years and I look forward to this new venture with my sisters. If you do read this, please keep us in your prayers that we are doing God’s will and that everything be used for His good!
One thing I do want to share (for the few who will make it to the end of this long post:)) is this yummy soup recipe that I have simplified and perfected. I made a huge crockpot full for a soup dinner at my church a few weeks ago, and it is so good. I always double it and freeze the leftovers for later.
Cheeseburger Soup
1 bag of matchstick carrots
1 onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 bag of frozen potatoes (either hashbrowns or southern style)
3 cans of chicken broth
1/2 pound of hamburger meat
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Brown the meat in a large pot. While it is browning, add the onions and celery. Cook until the meat is done and the onions and celery are clear. Drain and return to pot. Add the potatoes, carrots, and the chicken broth. Simmer until the potatoes are hot and the carrots are tender. While this is cooking, melt the butter over low heat and add the flour. Stir until thick and set aside. When the meat and veggies are done, add the flour mixture to thicken the soup. Stir well, then add the cheese cut into blocks along with the milk. Stir until the cheese is melted. Add the sour cream right before serving.
This is really great with some toast with butter on it or some good bread! Maddie loves this soup so much that she just tips the bowl up and drinks it!
Cheeseburger Soup-so good!
Here’s me, the survivor:
Wearing my new shirt-thanks Mama!
I like your shirt! Now bring me some soup.
It was a wonderful Christmas season. I am thrilled for every event you include me in. Each of you are a blessing to me. I too, am ready for this new year. I know 2013 is going to be filled with wonderful adventures for our family. Mostly, I hope we survive my upcoming hip replacement surgery. That will give us all lots to blog about!
Now bring me some soup.
Mama, your surgery is going to provide us with TONS of new material to blog about! Thank you in advance.
Let’s see…Christmas eve night at grandmas began with hallie pulling one of her front teeth out. Then kellan playing football against himself in the living room. Then we left. I don’t remember much since that was my fourth Christmas (we have 6) and I was a little sleepy from the mimosa’s at mama’s that morning.