A day in the world around me!!: A week before Christmas and the cooking has started!!

Ok, last Wednesday, my son Jay, my youngest daughter Madi and her soon to be fiance Tim came over and put up the tree for me......yippee! My DH Terry calls it a Charlie Brown tree but I think it is just right. After all once "Santa" comes and leave all the presents who notice the darn thing anyway!

Jay, Tim and Madi

This is Tim's first Christmas with us, his birthday is the day after Christmas and he collects Nutcrackers I gave him this one as a thank you and welcome to the "Nut House"!

I think the tree is beautiful......

At Christmas we all get together here and have "finger foods". I tried cooking a big meal once but it just didn't work out to well. I have everyone bring something and well I do the rest. In fact I am kinda enjoying it, my arm isn't hurting so that in itself is a blessing.

Well, my daughter Shayne and I went to the grocery store on Saturday to get the bulk of the "stuff", but Thursday I will get the balance so everything is fresh. (Oh yeah we took Hayden too!)

Hayden and Santa on Santa's Bike

Thank goodness Shayne was with me, I had 2 cart fulls! Can you believe that is only 2/3 of what I needed!!!!!! Oh well, like the say Christmas comes but once a year! (Thank God!)
Shayne's husband Richard had to bring all the bags in.......I just love all my son in laws!!

Now for the rest of the shopping (Santa!!) I, like always, used the Internet. But this year my middle daughter Sami and her husband Joey got the "local" gifts. Hell, they are in the mall way more than I would ever be. (thank you Sami and Joey.......love you guys :)!!)

Now, the wrapping......ugh, I hate it, always have, but I hate gift bags too! They seem so "lazy".....so, since Shayne spent the night Saturday she did most of the wrapping Sunday, although I did help.......some.

So today I started cooking. I made homemade caramel sauce, BBQ sauce and some Pinot Noir butter. Doesn't sound like much, but it keep me busy much of the day.