Tidings of Comfort and Joy

It seems impossible to me that I have not posted since November, but alas it is true. My desire to post and desire to read battle it out quite frequently and you can see for yourself who wins. Tidings of Comfort and Joy are what I want so badly at this time of year. It is like I crave to recapture if only for a short time, internal peace and spread that goodwill to others.

I want to wish (albeit a tad late) a wonderful holiday season to all and best wishes for a Happy New Year! Our Christmas was wild and wonderful and a bit sad too. The holidays make me wistful for those not here and everything just seems more emotionally stocked around the holidays. That is not JUST a tea towel it is THE tea towel and that sort of thing. Many great bloggers have posted wonderful Christmas stories and it brought me a lot of comfort knowing that I am not the only one who finds this time of year so loaded with emotional weight. That is to say that not everything people are posting about IS wonderful, just that we are all struggling with something amidst this joyous time of year. I find it reassuring to know that behind closed doors there are other people like me.

We have been so busy! For real life as Rosebud would say. In the last week - give or take a day or two we have:

-Celebrated Christmas Eve in the way we used to when my Dad was alive
-Celebrated Christmas Day with both of our parents in the same day - and found time to visit an Aunt as well!
-Found the time to bake shortbread and spritz cookies - they were so yummy!
-Found the time to make the cool applesauce, cinnamon and glue ornaments and let me tell you it took some time!
-Made two trips to the coolest house ever to look at their Christmas lights (including one on Christmas Day)
-Had Boxing Day dinner with my in-laws followed by ice-skating for everyone
-Took the girls to see Enchanted and out for dinner for Papoosie Girl's birthday -cute movie by the way, actually poke me in the eye cute, but little girls will eat it up (note scary scene at the end though)
-And, because we obviously feel guilty for saddling her with a holiday birthday we went to High School Musial on Ice for Papoosie Girl's birthday (with tickets purchased impulsively by Hubby on Boxing Day) and out to dinner AGAIN
-Went to Niagara Falls to see the holiday lights, this was fun and the Falls are always inspiring but lots of walking across lots of muddy grass.
-Finally, we roasted real chestnuts in a real open fire (well fireplace) and nearly smoked the house out, but they were declared delicious by those who ate them. Ahem, that would not be me eating those scorched little balls.

I am so tired just reading this list and I have probably forgot ten things. I wanted to include some of the dozens of lovely photos we have taken, but the dear camera battery died today so nothing until it gets its juice back.

I hope everyone is enjoying their time off and using it to recharge their batteries.

Peace to all in 2008.