Christmas eve "with the family"

This year I'm in London while my family are in Arkansas. Sad, I agree, but with modern technology, I can still be there. Mom and Dad called me earlier this eve, and then I had a Skype call with Mom, Madi and Cheryl.

Madi singing Jingle Bells:

Madi sneezing on Mom during "We wishhhhhhh you a Merry Christmas"

Home made Christmas cookies - tis the season!

Last night I made chocolate mud cookies and sugar cookies that I decorated with green Christmas trees (I don't have any Christmas cookie cutters or I would have dug them out too) to share with my neighbours and work colleagues. How domestic am I?!

Last night my kitchen was bursting at the brim with cookies!



This evening I plated them all up for the neighbours


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Christmas tree trimming

It's been my tradition since arriving in England to get a tree and put it up the weekend of Thanksgiving, and I've always managed to. Some years I just buy the tree and it gets put in the stand for days or sometimes a week or so before it's decorated but I always get my tree up Thanksgiving weekend. With the exception of the year I came to England (1999) and 2004 (when I was away for 1/2 of December) I've always (even as a child) had a real Christmas tree. So this year didn't quite go to tradition. As I only got back from a visit to the States the second week of December, my tree was late going up. And since I'm broke and I was late, the fake tree of 1999 (I keep everything!) came out of storage this year.

Andrea putting up the lights

This picture is for my seester ... recognise the ornament I'm putting up? (It's a Sister ornament you gave me in 2002.)

The tree angel was a bit to big for this 3 footer, so she's sitting on the table, but all in all I think it's a might fine tree.

Our flat, in Christmas glory (take note of the ornaments recorded...)