Holiday fun

After a brief hiatus (Christmas shopping and Christmas movies called...tis the season!), I'm back!

Holy mackerel...how is Christmas already over?! I felt the shorter time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, did you? I crammed a lot of holiday fun into a short period of time. In the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my life revolves around Christmas. We start to decorate our house the night of Thanksgiving, I stop listening to my regular radio stations and listen to the stations that play Christmas music non-stop, Eric and I watch Christmas movies or listen to Christmas music each night, I shop for Christmas gifts in free time...it's like Christmas threw up all over my life - and I love it!

I have some favorite Christmas decorations - basically all of my favorites are decorations from my grandparents that they gave me or I inherited (sentimental anyone?!). I have some pics of these items below:

 Two parts to this picture: The red elf was made by my Grandma Hjort when my mom was young (there is a matching green on on the other side of the window). I loved playing with these when I was young visiting my grandparents at Christmas. The village houses were given to me by my Grandma and Grandpa Hjort knowing how much I loved my Christmas scenes. (Side note: Yes, that is a green army man on the church steeple. My dad would hide it somewhere every year and wait for me to find it so I've carried on the tradition!)

 

My Grandma Larson gave this to me before she passed away. It was in her home growing up as a child. The writing is my Great Grandma's. It's one of my most treasured Christmas decorations along with...

 

This was in my Grandma and Grandpa Hjort's home. My Grampy was full Swede and this is a Christmas wall hanging in Swedish.

 

Again, I love my scenes. This is actually my parents though they gave it to me because as a child I would sit and turn the ornament around and around forever imagining what this family was doing. It's always at eye level so that I can easily see it.

 

Eric and I got this ornament in 2010, the Christmas after my Grandpa Hjort and cousin Allison passed away. It was the tree topper to our tree until we got my Grandparents star. Now, it has a special place on our tree.

This ornament was made by my Great Grandpa Larson. Like all of favorite ornaments, it's always at eye level.

Eric and I are on a very busy schedule around Christmas. We celebrate the holiday with both of our immediate sides of the family, with both of Eric's mom and dad's sides of the family, and my mom's side of the family. Needless to say, by the time the holidays are over we are in need of some down time and sleep. Eric and I were able to take some much deserved and needed time off this week. It's been nice to be home with him and the cats these past two days.

It seems that the end of 2013 has brought joy to many of my family and friends which makes my heart happy! Congrats to all those that have recently gotten engaged or are expecting! 

I have some additional time off next week and I plan to reflect on the past year and think of some resolutions for 2014. More to come on that for sure, but one that I know of immediately is to blog more - ya'll better be in for some more regular blog posts from yours truly! Joy to the world!

Until next time...

Coffee, Cats, and Wine and I'll be Fine ;)