And I've Never Been to Boston in the Fall

It's true!  In all my trips out East, I've not yet flown into the Boston Logan Airport when it was fall.  My rights to sing the song of The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything remain intact.

As we are all aware, it is Christmastime! And Christmastime means a trip to visit my Knight.  It snuck up on me, but in the last few days it's started to sink in that I'm going to see him again very soon and I am so excited!  We are hosting an annual family Christmas party at our house tomorrow then I'm off bright and early Monday morning, so my bags are packed and waiting in my room.  (And not just waiting to depart for the airport, but waiting evilly to trip anyone who dares walk through our room at night.  No matter where I stick it, someone falls.)

As far as packing goes - I am curious.  When you pack, do you pack an extra outfit (or two, or three)?  If so, what's your reasoning?  Dating back to... whenever the first time I packed my own clothing for a trip, I have always packed an extra outfit just in case I fell into a river, a lake, pond or some other body of water.  I never have (at least, not yet), but I know that if I don't than I will.  You can never be too careful!

Merry Christmas!

The great thing about being Catholic (though I would assume there must be some Protestant denominations that do this?) is that I can write up a Merry Christmas post today and not be late.  Because as we all know - Christmas is just getting started!

If you are wondering whether or not Christmas began to feel like Christmas after my last post... yes, it did.  Not as much as what could be hoped for, but it did enough.  We had a wonderful time with family on both sides and while the absence of my grandfather was keenly felt, we had plenty of laughter to get us through the day.

Christmas really is my favorite holiday.  It's so festive and beautiful, and as a gift-giver in both my receiving and giving love languages, there is no better time of the year!  I did get some great gifts, including the last photo that was taken of my grandma and grandpa that you can see up above.

So please tell me! What is your favorite part of Christmas?  Did you get any particularly awesome gifts this year?  I'd love to hear about it!

Merry Christmas!

'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Or, Christmas Eve Eve, as my siblings and I like to refer to it.

The cookies are baked, the gifts are wrapped, our tree is brightly lit. Christmas is just around the corner.  I'm putting the finishing touches on a secret Christmas project for family members who shall not be named (but of which you will hear about later because I'm really quite proud of it).

And yet in spite of all of that, I'm feeling like the first few verses and refrains of the song "Where are you Christmas?"  Christmas just isn't Christmas this year.  At least not yet... I'm holding out hope that things will change and tomorrow night when we get together with my grandparents and I sing for Midnight Mass, everything will feel more joyful and alive. There's supposed to be such a thing as miracles, right?

Christmas must be here somewhere.  I guess I just haven't found it yet.

Photo a Day Challenge December: Family

Today's challenge is "Family" and tonight my family was all at home for the evening!  With everyone growing older, going our separate ways and our increasingly busy schedules, getting together doesn't happen as much anymore.

But tonight we are all home and enjoying a movie, Arthur Christmas, in fact.  It's an absolutely delightful tale, and if you are searching for a film to add to your list, consider checking it out!

Photo a Day Challenge December: Green and A Beautiful Sight

I ended up skipping on Tuesday, because it was wrapping paper and there was no wrapping paper.  And then I cheated a little and ended up taking (unintentionally) yesterday's photo today and today's photo yesterday.  Let's start with "Green"

Last night I got together with a college friend that I'd somehow managed not to see since last Christmas.  We met up at the local Starbucks and had a lovely time catching up and chatting over a white hot chocolate (hers) and a caramel brulee latte (mine).  There was a sad lack of anything green during my day yesterday, but luckily for me that's the color of the Starbuck's logo!  (I ended up taking this photo this morning because no, I hadn't gotten around to throwing out the cup yet.)

Today was "A Beautiful Sight".  I always love pulling into my driveway, no matter what the season.  I suppose I'm biased, but I think I have a really pretty home.  There is the line of trees, and when you pull around to the back there is a small pond in our neighbor's back yard.  We got a fresh layer of snow that morning and with it being so cold my siblings hadn't gone out to play in it much, and it was all smooth and perfect.