New Year~ New TV Shows!

 

I am all about the holidays, as you know. October, November, and December are my favorite months of the year, full of special days and holidays. I am always sad when New Year's Day ends, as I know we have to wait another year for it all to begin again. One thing that makes me feel better is the fresh new start to a brand new year and knowing that we are settling in for a few months of calm and cozy. 

January means the start of some of our favorite television shows too. Here are a few I am looking forward to watching as I am snuggled on the couch.

The Bachelor

January 3, 2022

Is this a ridiculous premise for a television show? Yep. Would I want my daughter to go on television to find a husband in a man who is also dating thirty other women? Nope. Do I enjoy watching it every single season, knowing it is more likely scripted entertainment? You bet.

Ozark

January 21, 2022

This is a great show, mainly because I am a huge Jason Bateman fan. At first, I wasn't sure about it, but I got sucked in very quickly. The first three seasons are out on Netflix, and the new and final season starts in a few weeks. Cannot wait.

Servant

January 21, 2022

This one is a bit strange. I got hooked when I was down with the stomach flu, binged the first season, and waited for the second. It is creepy, but I cannot figure it out, and I am excited to see where it goes. Servant is on Apple TV.

The Amazing Race

January 5, 2022

Finally! After a long wait, this favorite is back. I am sure there may be some adjustments because of Covid, but I am excited to see Phil at each and every stop. By the way, this is the only one of the shows I listed that is family-friendly. 

How about you? What are you watching? I'd love to hear!

Happy Wednesday!

Billie Jo

Christmas 2021

 Christmas Eve 

Madison and Nicolas hosted all of us for a traditional Danish Christmas in their beautifully decorated home on Christmas Eve. Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve in Denmark, and Nicolas and Madison shared those lovely, festive traditions with us. The meal was delicious! We enjoyed several traditional Danish dishes with a few of our regular favorites as well. Nicolas and Madison served roast duck with gravy, red cabbage, Frikadeller, or Danish meatballs, ham, broccoli casserole, green bean casserole, and potatoes. For dessert, we enjoyed Peyton's cookies and a special Danish dessert called Risalamande, a delicious rice pudding topped with cherry sauce and one almond hidden somewhere inside. Whoever finds the almond wins the almond prize! Madison and Nicolas did a fantastic job of preparing a delicious meal. 

In between dinner and dessert, we exchanged our Secret Santa gifts. We chose names way back in November and kept the secret until Christmas Eve. I am always amazed at how thoughtful each person is choosing a gift for their person. Nicolas had me this year, and I could not be more thankful for his gift. He put it all in a burlap Santa sack tied with jingle bells! Inside was a beautiful ceramic evergreen tree I can keep out all winter and a white gnome, or nisse as they are known in Denmark. He also included vintage Christmas albums and a festive pillow for my couch. 

We also joined hands and took turns choosing a Christmas song to sing as we danced around the Christmas tree. I love seeing the joy in the faces of my family as we share Nicolas' traditions. We also played a Danish exchange game called Pakkeleg. It was so fun!!!! We finished the evening with the reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, a tradition we have had forever. I offered for Nicolas to read it as we were celebrating in his home, but I was overruled, and tradition won out. And I was happy to oblige. After a lovely, festive evening, we headed home to set out our stockings, cookies for Santa and head to bed. 

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was just as lovely. Steve and I awoke to the sound of...silence. Once upon a time, we had four little ones clambering for us to get up and go see if Santa came. We have two remaining, and they are older and like to sleep longer. Steve and I enjoyed a quiet morning, turning on the tree lights and Christmas music. Soon the kids were awake, and Madison and Nicolas arrived for brunch. Per tradition, we open stockings, enjoy brunch, and then check under the tree for presents. 

It was a cozy, relaxing morning as we enjoyed kringle, coffee cake, muffins, fruit, and tea, coffee, and juice. We took our time opening gifts, and before we knew it, Peyton and Chris arrived to start opening their presents. We had a pleasant visit with them while Rhett and Kyrstin headed to her house for Christmas dinner. Peyton and Chris also had dinner with his family after leaving our house, so the rest of us enjoyed leftovers from the night before and some fun new games to end the night. We called my mom, who was happy and content, and suddenly, as quickly as it came, Christmas Day was over, and new memories were stored in our hearts.

My friends, I hope you had a happy, healthy, cozy Christmas.

Thank you for visiting!

Billie Jo

The Week In Between

 

Merry Christmas, my friends! I hope your Christmas was everything you dreamed it would be. A "Merry Christmas" means something different to each of us, and I pray you enjoyed Christmas in your own way. We certainly did here with family, fun, food, and home. Now we enter my most favorite week of the year. This week in between has always been a chance for us to spend time together, play new games, watch the Christmas movies we didn't get to yet, nibble on cookies, wait for Daddy to get home, and look forward to a brand new year. 

This week has changed of, course, as my children grew. It used to be we spent days in our jammies, playing with new Barbie houses or assembling Match Car garages. Now, two of my children have their own Christmas homes, but I am sure they will be here often. My Rhett goes to work, but he joins in on the fun when he gets home. Flynn and I will spend our days in our cozy clothes and open some of her new Legos and games. I have one appointment, and we are resuming our annual visit to my sister Margie's house for pizza and presents, after skipping last year because of Covid, but other than that, we will be home here together. 

Then in the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve will be here, and we will celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. At home. With food, fun, and family, of course. I will check in here this week and resume posting again next week. Until then, thank you for your friendship, visits, comments, and blogs, which bring me so much joy. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friends!

Enjoy!

Billie Jo

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry and Blessed Christmas, my friends. 

May this wonderful time of year bring you joy, peace, and love.

May you spend your days with those you love.

And may you find time to rest in the glow of twinkling Christmas tree lights.

Billie Jo