Merry Christmas Everyone..

For the first time in I think ever...I am all ready for Christmas.  The house is clean, clean sheets on the beds, laundry done, cookies baked, groceries bought, gifts bought and wrapped, and twinkly lights and Santa's all over the house!  Today we can just relax and enjoy the holiday!!

We started off the holidays last night at my son Zach's.  He invited everyone over for a fish fry.  It was so much fun sitting back, visiting with my Grandma, Mom, brother, and sister in law while two of my big boys, Zach and Jordan were busy in the kitchen frying fish and making french fries.  AND OH MY GOODNESS they have inherited Grandpa Marvin's knack for frying fish.  It was absolutely delicious.  Zach is also a bartender (really a bartender, lol).  He made us the BEST Old Fashions I have ever had.  After dinner we all sat around talking and laughing.  Again..I say..it was so much fun!  The ladies retired to the living room and watch...and sobbed during 8 seconds.  It doesn't matter how many times I watch that movie...I still absolutely sob!  Zach came in for the end and joined us all sobbing.  The guys all discussed how that movie made them all cry like babies!!  It does a Mama's heart good when she sees that side of her boys...and helps her realize she accomplished much of what she'd hoped when she raised them.  THAT in itself is a wonderful Christmas gift.  It was so much fun listening to Jordan, Zach, and my brother Pat in the dining room discussing hunting..and getting out pics of deer from the deer cams and trying to figure out if one of them was one that was shot during hunting season.  Then they were all planning doing a 3D hunt together...It was an absolutely perfect evening.  PERFECT!!  And guess what..it even snowed!  It's going to be a white Christmas after all!!!

Today it's relax, make my food for tomorrow and a quick trip to the grocery store (apparently Seth felt the need to bring our only bottle of shampoo to Chicago with him).  I also got a recipe for Grasshoppers from a girl at work that I've decided must be tried!  Then I'm making Chicken, Mushroom, and Wild Rice soup for dinner with three of my boys and the Grandmas..and later church.  Tomorrow morning the jolly ole elf himself will have arrived...then it's off to my sisters to celebrate with all the rest of the family!!  I don't go back to work until 11 pm Christmas Day night...so I have all day to celebrate!!!  It's always rather magical to work on Christmas Night.  I love driving by all the homes and seeing families together in the window. 

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. I am so glad I have met each of you!  Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog.  I sure do appreciate it!! Katie