Final Friday Of 2022

And just like that, we are at the end of my favorite week of the year. The hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation are over, and we can relax and enjoy the lights on the tree, the soft music in the background, and the leftover cookies. Flynn and I spent our days reading new books, watching old shows, and wearing new socks and pajamas. We did venture out to go to my sister's house for our annual pizza and wing party, which we look forward to every year. On our way, we were treated to this amazing sight...

Wonderful memories with my people! And back home, the pups got all fresh and clean to ring in the new year.

Happy New Year, my friends. Thank you for sharing your lives with me here. May your new year be happy, healthy, and filled with the things that give you peace and joy! See you Monday!

Billie Jo

( Pinterest for the New Year wishes. )

 

Christmas 2022

Hello again, my friends! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have come and gone for another year, and we enjoyed them immensely in the very best way: together. Christmas Eve in our home was cozy and quiet, thanks to Madison and Nicolas, who hosted our entire family, as well as my sister Margie and her husband, Chris, for a traditional Danish Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve.

Our hosts for the evening! They worked very hard to share Nicolas' beautiful Danish traditions with us. We enjoyed delicious hors-d'oeuvres while visiting and listening to Christmas music in their beautifully decorated home. I offered to help if needed and was happy to assist with the gravy! We enjoyed roasted duck, Frikadeller, which are Danish meatballs, red cabbage, broccoli cheese casserole, Caprese salad, baby potatoes, and crescent rolls. Delicious!

After dinner, we exchanged our Secret Santa gifts. This year I was thrilled with the gift my Secret Santa gifted me! Christopher made me this beautiful sign for my kitchen! I absolutely love it! And promptly found a perfect place to display it the minute I got home!

After the gift exchange and a super fun game, we were treated to dessert, courtesy of Peyton, of course! She surprised us with the most delicious, beautiful dessert I could only dream of making! It was as good as it looked!!!

After dessert, we bundled up and braved the colder-than-cold weather to head home and relax before bed. And just like that, it was Christmas! Madison and Nicolas joined me, Steve, Flynn, Rhett, and Kyrstin for a brunch of nut roll, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, and fresh fruit with juice and coffee. After brunch, we settled in the family room to relax and open presents!

The day passed in a blur of cookies, music, games, and naps. Peyton and Chris joined us later for dinner. It was snowy and cold outside but cozy and warm inside as we enjoyed the evening together. Mocha summed up the feeling perfectly.

Christmas Day was beautiful, and we continue celebrating with dinners, games, and visits because I strongly feel that Christmas is more than just one day. 

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Billie Jo

 

Merry And Blessed Christmas! And Stay Warm!

Hello, my friends! Here we are! All our planning, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, and baking come to fruition this weekend. Sit back, relax and enjoy, knowing you have created magical memories for your loved ones. Whatever your plans, I wish you the peace and comfort that only Christmas brings. Stay safe and warm, and cozy. And remember to take a moment to listen for that magical sound of sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. 

Merry and Blessed Christmas, my friends!

See you next week!

Billie Jo

 

Christmastime Is Here

Christmas Tea with my girls hosted by Madison

Cozy time at home with my family

And simple additional ways to bring joy and peace this Christmas.

~ Calling a friend who is alone to wish them Merry and Blessed Christmas

~ Drinking a cup of cocoa or Twinings Christmas tea by the tree

~ Playing a cozy Christmas scene with music on YouTube in the evening

~ Making Chef Boyardee pizza or ordering pizza in for an easy dinner

~ Watching lesser-known Christmas classics as a family before bed

 

Images from Google

Have a cozy Wednesday, my friends.

Keep an eye on the weather, and be safe!

Billie Jo

Christmas Week Monday Morning Coffee Talk

Good Monday morning! Well, here we are at the start of the last week before Christmas. This is the time I wait all year for. These next two weeks will look different to each of us, as we each have different traditions, plans, families, and dreams. For me, this time of year is my Superbowl, Fourth of July, and summer vacation all rolled into one.

I look forward to spending extra time with my family, eating too much food, playing all kinds of games, wearing matching shirts, taking cozy naps, and watching even more movies than usual. I like to think of this time as a chance to leave the chaotic world outside and spend these few days cozy together. 

My To-Do List is dwindling, but a few things remain. I plan on wrapping a few more gifts, giving the bathrooms a quick clean, swiffering the floors, placing one more grocery order, and watching a few Christmas movies I haven't got to yet. If it all gets done, great. If not, Christmas will still come, so no worries! ( Middle age Billie Jo here. She has become much more relaxed through the years. )

Another favorite this time of year? Afternoon coffee with a favorite holiday treat. These are the cookies I always had for our special afternoon treat time when the kids were little. Peyton surprised me with them a few weeks ago, and made my heart so happy. 

Well, I need to wrap this up and get going. Flynn and I are going to do school and then Madison is hosting Peyton, Kyrstin, Flynn and I for an afternoon Christmas tea. I always thought I would be sad when my littles were not so little anymore, but God is good. Grown up children are a whole new kind of wonderful!

Tonight, after I wipe the kitchen counter, and while Steve watches yet another football game, I plan on sitting by the fire and visiting you all! 

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

So happy to have you here.

Billie Jo