Holly Jolly

Christmas flew by and now we're in that lull before New Year's. Nothing seems crowded - even Target. There's no presents to get, but you do have to decide plans for New Year's Eve. Resolutions haven't set in, if that's your thing, so people eat cakes and stuff, I guess.

We had a terrific Christmas and I'm enjoying my break with many great bits of life:

• B made sugar cookies for Christmas Eve. He makes amazing sugar cookies! I helped ice them -- orange for the Illinois cookies, white with colorful sugar for the Capitol buildings, stars, hearts. Yum!
• I did some gross-cleaning -- and now it's done!
• My BFF Julie flew into town for the big holiday weekend. She was in town for the holidays and I'm going to visit her in Los Angeles in January. We picked up Julie on the way to a suburban Christmas Eve party on the way to Christmas at my parent's house. Julie enjoyed the babies, food, silliness and joy of Christmas in Illinois.
  
• We attended a stellar Christmas party on Christmas Eve -- pulled pork, family galore, lots of love, a book exchange and candy bags to take home. Yum. We got to spend time with some awesome family members -- including our new nephew who thinks Christmas is a bit of a doze. We got a memory foam bathmat from B's mom -- no matter how that sounds to you, let me assure you -- it's awesome. As the party winded down we headed west to my parent's house and we got there in excellent time.
  
• When we arrived at my parent's house on the Eve, Christmas was in full-swing. My dad was jolly'd out in a reindeer tie, a vest and a santa hat. My mom wore a santa hat too! My brother is too cool for santa hats. We enjoyed Tom & Jerry's and the Christmas ambiance of my parent's home: a 12-foot tree all lit up, Dickens villages, candles and even lit-up wine bottles (a Criner craft! Want one?). A cocktail with family after shopping busy-ness, driving and partying is just perfect.
• We did the holidays up in the traditional Criner manner this year. Mimosas & cinnamon rolls, opening presents, then an afternoon dinner. My mom really knows how to make a meal! The holidays winded down with football, reading and gift-enjoying.
• After celebrations aplenty we are home and settled back into life. Julie and I visited with friends. I took a terrific run in the abnormally warm weather today. Mostly I've been taking it easy with Netflix, cleaning, organizing and reading. Tomorrow we have a pizza party with some family.

Phew! Just enough time to get ready for 2012!

This is from the big February 2011 blizzard -- we haven't had more than a dusting of snow so far. But I like the doors in this photo anyway.