I’m usually really good about putting up all the Christmas decorations before the first day of the new year. However, that just didn’t happen this year. As I write this my living room is still Christmas.

I went to the basement to get the boxes to pack away the Christmas stuff until next year. Boxes were falling over and I could not even get to what I needed! What started with moving a few boxes around turned into an all day cleaning and reorganizing event. After hours of cleaning it was time to fix dinner (or should I say reheat some leftovers because I was just too dang tired!). At least the first day of the year was a productive one!!

Speaking of Christmas, ours was very nice this year. My step-son and his wife were able to come home this year. He is in the Air-Force and living in Texas. It was great to be able to spend time with them.

My daughter made a really nice gingerbread house this year. We’ve never had one that worked out so great. Every year by the time we are putting the roof on the walls are falling down.

I made a bunch of cookies this year (and unfortunately nobody ate any but me!). While I slaved over cookie baking my daughter and Leroy (the Shih Tzu) hung out at my feet.

A few nights before Christmas Eve we celebrated a Japanese Christmas. Since I homeschool I wanted my daughter to learn about traditions other countries have. She chose Japan so we researched their Christmas. We made Japanese lanterns and learned that the traditional Christmas meal is Kentucky Fried Chicken! For dessert they have a Christmas Cake, which is similar to strawberry shortcake.

Christmas Eve night we went to my mom and dad’s house for dinner. After we all stuffed ourselves on ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, crock-pot mac and cheese, rolls and lots of desserts, we opened our gifts. We visited for a little while longer and then headed home so we could wait for Santa.

Once we were home my daughter made Santa some hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane to stir it with. She had decorated him some cookies earlier that day and left them out for him. I should have probably left him some heartburn medicine after all that icing and sugar!

Christmas morning came way too early for me. I dragged myself out of bed, fixed some coffee, and turned on the Netflix fire. We opened our gifts and then had cinnamon rolls.

My husband made me a necklace with Sam on it. For those who are new here, Sam was my cat who passed away last year (you can read about that here). I still miss him so much. When I opened the little black box holding this necklace I got all choked up. It was so sweet!

My daughter and I went to visit other family later that day. My step-son and his wife came back over to our house so my husband stayed home to spend time with them. Also, to put together my daughter’s huge surprise – a trampoline!

When we got home and she saw the trampoline in the yard, her mouth dropped open and her eyes were huge! It was so funny! She stayed outside and jumped until dark.

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Never miss a thing! Sign up to get new posts sent right to your inbox!