Shall I Play For You, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

Long post today.

I just got back from So Cal to visit my family for Christmas.  I wasn't sure if I'd make it to the airport because it was snowing and the roads were icy and slushy.  But my driver got me there, and my plane flight was on time.  While I was waiting to depart, I looked outside the airport window, and it was a cloudy day.

Jess said that I would surely get my fill of the grandkids, as I was there for a week!  And I did.  I spent the first part of the week at Nel's house.  She was such a good hostess, and made her mama feel so comfortable.

My mom made these fabric ornaments many years ago, and Nel still has one of them.

I watched lots of Hallmark shows during the week, and animated shows with the kids.

Nel always wraps her presents so pretty using festive bows and ribbons and tags.  I've been wondering what's inside this one.

The other part of the week I spent at Jess' house.  She was also a good hostess, and went out of her way to make my time there memorable.

Jess always puts these lovely red poinsettias all around her tree.   It looks elegant and very nice.

Francesca's room.

This is the cup I used every day while I stayed at her house.

It's been a long time since I braided a child's hair.

We went to the mall and did some shopping and went to Olive Garden and also a really cool New Orleans restaurant.

We had some wine and chocolate while we watched my favorite Christmas show, White Christmas.

This is Jess' favorite nutcracker.  I bought it for her years ago.

We went to see the production of The Nutcracker one night at the theatre in Jess' town.  It was magical, and it was the first time the kids saw a live show.  Their dresses were so cute and Christmassy.

When I was by myself at one part of the day, I sat down to watch a Christmas show, and The Little Drummer Boy came on.  It's always been a favorite of mine, and I get emotional every time I watch it.   While I sat there still, the real meaning of Christmas filled my heart with peace.

My week was over, and it was time to fly back home.  My brother-in-law picked me up at the airport, and while it was in the 60's in So Cal, I came home to this.  He went a different route, and we drove through Mt. Lassen, which is a well-known mountain with the elevation of 10,457 feet.

I wish all of my dear blog friends a Merry Christmas.  May joy fill your hearts on this very special day.

~Sheri

Going on a little journey.

Be back soon.  ; )

~Sheri 

Some Christmas Cheer

Our first big snowfall was on Saturday, and it's always a magical sight for me, as I've never lived with the snow all these years.

The sunlight came through the living room one morning, and it looked so pretty, and just made me feel warm.

My neighbor made some homemade cinnamon rolls and brought me over a couple.  They were really good.  These are my next-door neighbors, and always cooking up something good, often bringing me over a sample of what they made.

Met up with my brother-in-law for breakfast one morning.  It was nice to catch up.  He made a bunch of cookies, and sent me some in these cute Christmas containers.  There was oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, and peanut butter.  I think the oatmeal raisin was my favorite because they reminded me of the ones grandpa made.  He would make a BIG batch of oatmeal raisin cookies from time to time, and they were the best....I really miss them.

I love this picture that Jess sent me.  Francesca, are you going to like red roses like grandma?

Jess made some sugared cranberries for her wine, which was a nice idea.  She said they were so pretty sugared.

And then they enjoyed!

My little white corner looks magical at night with the lights on.

As I think back on the Christmas' when I was a kid, there are a few unusual memories that come to mind.  One of them is the neighbors across the street used to put up a string of red lights on their house.  Not colored or white lights, just a string of red lights that went from one end of their house to the other.  I thought it was pretty cool, but I'm not sure what the other neighbors thought about it.

Another memory I have is going to my friend, Tina's, house around Christmas, and when she opened the front door, there were presents piled up around the tree that extended out almost to the front door!  It wasn't an unusual thing, more of an awesome thing!  There were five kids in her family, so I understand all the presents, but it was an amazing sight!  I had some fun times over her house, and I'll always remember that.

Nel told me, "my memories are of us going to a Christmas Eve mass and coming home to a dinner of festive hors d'oeuvres and opening a present.  Then getting up super early Christmas morning and having hot chocolate opening the rest of the presents.  One funny memory I have is that even when we were celebrating Christmas as adults, Jessi would still make me set up the presents after she went to bed on Christmas Eve because she wanted to be surprised in the morning like a little kid" haha.

Now it's your turn, any unusual or dear Christmas memories that you had growing up?  I think our blog friends would love to hear.

~Sheri