Countdown to Christmas - Day 22-25

22 - Friday

We finished going through the 30 comfort bags to make sure they each had 23 items in them.

Sophia and I worked on doing this; and then labeled each bag with the appropriate age, gender, and hospital destination (e.g., young boy oncology, teen girl oncology).

 We made two fleece blankets.

The last one we did was very easy to cut and took less than a half hour to complete.

We loaded the car with the bags and brought them to the Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. The bags are for children who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy.

It was an impressive project that Sophia coordinated; and was able to do thanks to a grant from YSA and Disney as well as donations from individuals and businesses.

Afterwards, Sophia and Olivia deposited money they have been saving into their bank accounts. At home, I worked on Christmas stockings for Danny and Scooby

23 – Saturday

- Made cookies:

   - Triple chocolate cookies

   - Cookies with marshmallows and chocolate frosting on top that my mom made

   - Peanut butter swirls

- Made the white cake that I cut into candy canes

- Made brownies that I decorated like Christmas trees.

- Sophia, Olivia, and Paige visited Dan and had dinner with him.

- Wrapped Christmas gifts.

- Transplanted aloe vera plant into five individual plants.

24 – Sunday – Christmas Eve

Sophia, Olivia, and I went to Christmas Eve service at church at 9:00 a.m. Afterwards, we dropped gifts off at Mary and Art’s home.

Came home and wrapped presents. For one of the gift cards for Sophia, I put a gift card in a cardboard toilet paper holder, I placed it in a mason jar and then filled it with M&Ms. It looked like the jar was filled with candies and nothing else.

I finished sewing Christmas stockings for Danny and Scooby. I still have to put their names on them with red fabric paint. Danny's is the penguin and Scooby's is the reindeer.

Their stockings joined the rest of the stockings by the woodstove. The number of pet and horse stockings now greatly outnumber stockings for people.

Sophia made the rest of the chocolate Bundt cake.

We had a pizza dinner by the Christmas tree.

We had cheese bread; a sausage and pepperoni pizza; and vegetarian pizza.

The leftovers are what we eat on Christmas morning and/or lunch since we have a big meal in the afternoon with extended family.

We opened our "Night Before Christmas" gift boxes.

Each person received one which included:

   - Pajama Set or pajama pants

   - Fuzzy Slipper Socks

   - Body Lotion

   - Makeup Towelettes

   - Hot Cocoa Mix

   - Christmas Mug

Sophia and Olivia put a plate of cookies, candies, water, and notes out for Santa's visit.

Each year, Santa writes back to Sophia and Olivia; and answers their questions. The girls are coming up with questions that require Santa to do some research before answering - such as "What is the current temperature at the North Pole?" (Interestingly, it was 12 degrees below zero on Christmas Eve which is comparable to some temperatures we have in Minnesota.)

 

The cookies were ones that I had made using two of my mom's recipes and a new one. The cholate cookie with marshmallow, frosting, and sprinkles on top is one; and the peanut butter swirl cookie is the other family recipe. 

Carrots, oats, and sprinkles went in a bowl to be put out for his reindeer.

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas!

As in past years, Olivia and I were the first ones up. After letting the dogs out, we looked at the table where Santa's food  and water were; and read the response to Olivia's questions.

We went to the family room. The dogs wanted to join us.

This was Scooby's and Danny's first Christmas with us. Even though Scooby is ten years old, he was fascinated with the presents and wanted to help open them. 

Santa brought a variety of things - including panda eye masks for the girls.

Cooper was a bit excited to get to his treat left by Santa.

Aspen was happy with what Santa brought her.

Olivia was surrounded by Aspen, Scooby, and Cooper as she helped them open their gifts from Santa. Danny was resting on the couch in the other room. Sophia helped him open up his gift later in the morning.

I created the Saran Wrap gift ball game.

Sophia woke up and opened up some of the gifts for the pets. She's surrounded by four dogs and Eenie, the cat.

Lucy was taking it easy on the Christmas quilts that were on the chair. Olivia opened his treats.

Eenie was interested in what Santa brought him. Danny was trying to get some more treats.

We opened some of our gifts then.

The dogs wanted to help. Scooby got right in there using his mouth to open some of the gifts. You could tell he felt like he was being a good helper.

Olivia received several puzzles.  This one has a Frank Lloyd Wright image. It's called saguaro...a nice reminder of the trip we took to Arizona in July 2017.

We made the frosting for the chocolate cake and frosted it; put cookies in containers to take to Mary's condo; and then got ready for an afternoon with extended family.

There were 17 of us at the community room at Mary's condo. She said a prayer before the meal.

There was ham, cheesy potatoes, and a variety of salads, fresh and cooked vegetables, and rolls.

The kids were having fun together and liked being at their own table.

After the meal, they kids played the Saran wrap ball game.

Afterwards, they swapped items they won with each other.

Then the adults played the game.

The kids played a game of Skip-Bo...a game they were taught by my mom.

Sophia, Myrna, and Olivia were playing a game with a dictionary that Myrna wanted that belonged to my dad. They would open up the dictionary and point to a word without looking; and then read the definition. They had fun doing this.

Eventually, it was time to go home. Below is a picture of my sister, me, and my brother.

When we got home, we opened the rest of our presents. One of the interesting ones that Sophia received was this lipstick that has flowers in it. Although it is clear, it turns pink when she puts it on. Apparently, body heat activates the color.

We had a great Christmas this year. It was filled with lots of good memories and laughter.

Countdown to Christmas - Days 16-21

16 – Saturday

Las Posadas begins. Although we have done things in the past to celebrate Las Posadas, we did not this year. There are still several days left of Las Posadas, so perhaps we'll do something at a later date.

We went to Joanns to pick up Olivia’s framed puzzle. It turned out very nice. She will officially receive it on Christmas and can hang it up after that.

We went to my nephew's college graduation.

My nephew and sister.

Jordan is the first grandchild of my parents to graduate from college

so this is a big deal for our family.

Mary's other son will graduate in 3 1/2 more years, and

then it's Sophia's and Olivia's turn to go to college and graduate.

 Sophia, me, Jordan, and Olivia.

Afterward the graduation ceremony and reception, we had dinner at my sister's condo. Before dinner, the cousins were braiding one another's hair.

Then it was time for dinner. This is the meal that my sister had in celebration of Jordan's graduation. There also was pulled pork.

We looked at Christmas lights at night on the way home. There were some very pretty and creative displays.

17 – Sunday 

Sophia played the harp at two services at church. She is playing here during the prelude - before the first two pews were filled with the adult choir singers.

The church's photographer got a close-up of Sophia playing the harp during the second service.

Paige took Sophia shopping and to White Castle for dinner. (He took Olivia shopping and to Taco Johns last week.)

18 – Monday

Finished and mailed all Etsy orders that have come in to date.

I went Christmas shopping and did errands for many hours. I was tired when I came home.

19 – Tuesday

Sophia played the harp at the assisted living facility at the nursing home.

There were about 50 people attending the event.

Tia sang along with some of the songs that Sophia played.

Olivia talked with some of the residents and helped with the set-up and clean-up.

I took photos of the residents with Santa. Some residents had just their photo alone with Santa; and others who had family and/or friends visiting them, I took group photos of so everyone could look back on the day.

One of the residents said that she wanted to kiss Santa. She was so excited and happy to be there.

I had the girls stand with Santa by the Christmas tree.

 

20 – Wednesday

I finished Christmas shopping and did more errands which was a huge relief. Went to the post office, bank, Family Pathways, Music Connection, White Castle, Walgreens, Kohls, Michaels, Maurices, Fleet Farm, Goodwill, Mr. $6 Large Burrito, YMCA, and Wal-Mart.

During the upcoming year, I am going to shop during the year rather than the week before Christmas. I used to be much better with planning and preparing for Christmas. The past few years have been a challenge.

Source

The girls went shopping with a family friend; and they spent an enjoyable afternoon together.

21 – Thursday

Sophia and Olivia played the harp and piano respectively at the nursing home for an hour in the morning.

In the afternoon, Sophia and I made a fleece-tied blanket and started going through the comfort bags to make sure that each one had all the items it was supposed to have for the children and teens who have cancer.

There are 23 items in each bag.

Sophia received donations and a grant to be able to create 30 comfort bags

for children and teens with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Olivia had gymnastics. While she was there, Sophia and I went to Target to print photos that will be given as gifts. We enjoyed looking around at different departments in the store that we normally don't go to - like children's toys, the line of items by Chip and Joanna, and shoes/boots.

Made sesame chicken in the wok and served it over rice for dinner. We haven't had that since September. It's one of the girls' favorite meals.