Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Greetings friends,  Well almost all of our gifts are wrapped for family and friends; this year I am not baking because I am gluten free~it just wouldn't be right to have all these cookies around the house that I can't eat.
The next few days will be relaxed with visiting some friends and enjoying the blessings of the season.  Usually our family caravans to see Christmas lights but I'm not sure whether we will this year or not. I am so very pleased that we are having dry weather here and that alone puts my sweet hubby in a very good frame of mind.  For Christmas we will all be at our youngest daughters home for the day; no fancy sit down formal dinner but cold cuts, salads, munchies and desserts-this will be so easy for all of us. There are several games that will be available to play and we will just relish our time together. 
Do you have a formal Christmas meal and if so, what is it?  We used to have turkey and all the trimmings but I think this year will be wonderful.  Does your family have puzzles or games that they play throughout the day?  Since we've moved here we've gotten into jigsaw puzzles and will probably start one after Christmas; it helps to break up the long days of winter, though this year we might not need one. 
Are you enjoying this week or do you find yourself running around like crazy?
Wherever you are today, I'm sending big warm Christmas hugs your way.
Blessings to you and yours,
Noreen

12 comments:

  1. May you have a wonderful Christmas and fantastic new year!

    Appreciated the hug...I needed it. Am feeling better today, because I slowed way down and relaxed.

    Have a lovely Holiday,
    d

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  2. Hello My Friend!! I'm so sorry that I've not been able to leave comments because of blogger/computer problems. I think my issues are kind of resolved and I hope this comment makes it through...But this evening, at the end of my day, I've so enjoyed reading about your plans for the holidays--Your 'Grands' are just beautiful and precious and how you'll be spending Christmas sounds wonderful!! My husband and I love putting puzzles together and have done it for years--But we haven't the last few...Maybe this will be a year to start it again; thanks for the idea!!

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  3. Hi Noreen,
    Your Christmas sounds simple and relaxing which is a really good thing to do sometimes.
    We are winding down, still have some wrapping to do. Have been working on Christmas cards for the family and am about finished. Have 2 left, the fronts are already designed just got to get the words in there, and put them together.
    We usually have a brunch in the morning after we open gifts and then we have dinner in the evening.
    It is a sit down dinner. I have learned to simplify it over these last years. I make most stuff the day before and just pop it in the oven. I make a dish called party chicken, and it has a rice pilaf that goes with it, and then my SIL is going to make a 24 hrs. salad,
    and if I have time I will make a cranberry jello type salad with pineapple and nuts, and cherries and cream cheese and Coca cola. It is delicious and is called coca cola salad, hope I have time!! lol
    I am making myself hungry here.
    Since you are gluten free....if you are interested I have an easy and I mean easy recipe for peanut butter cookies that are to die for!!
    Only pb, sugar and eggs (I use eggbeaters myself) We love them!!
    So if you want to know email me and I will send you the recipe, I mean you can have them made and cooked within 10 mins..... seriously!!
    Hope you all have a simply delightful and Joyous Celebration of our Lords birthday!!
    Love ya, Nellie

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  4. Christmas hugs to you as well Noreen!

    We have our own tradition - prime rib for Christmas. I love my husband's prime rib and so I am committing him to making one. We thought about doing the prime rib the night before and having sandwiches on Christmas day. And while it is a great idea, I can't give up my mom's tradition to do a seafood soup for Christmas eve.

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  5. Your day sounds wonderful...relaxing and easy and full of family. We used to do our Christmas just like this when our kids were young, complete with paper plates and plastic forks, but in the last several years we have sat up the tables, got out the china and crystal, and all sit down together for a big meal. It isn't often we get the opportunity...We keep it easy though. My hubby prepares and totally handles the cooking of a prime rib, and I throw in bake potatoes and one of my dil's tosses a salad, another prepares a veggie of some kind, and the other brings some dinner rolls. The girls all bring part of their baking and I put out some of mine and we all eat WAY more than we should, haha...The rest of the day is spent opening presents, playing games (our family is HUGE on games) and just enjoying one another.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours Noreen. May the Lord richly bless you all. I look forward to MANY visits in the new year.

    HUGS, Debbie

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  6. Hi my friend, I came by before getting off line for some time; to wish you and yours a beautiful CHRISTMAS!

    I've enjoyed our friendship on line in the LORD and so look forward to blogging with you in 2011. Love you!

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  7. Noreen..Wishing you and yours a most joyous Christmas and abundantly blessed 2011!

    Big Christmas Hugs!
    Jackie

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  8. I am glad it is dry too (o:
    I think it is a great idea just to have cold cuts and salad... sure takes a lot of pressure off of the day.
    We have always had a sit down dinner. Turkey usually. It is at my DIL and Sons house and I don't know what they are doing for meat... todd likes to smoke things...so it will probably be ham or turkey. the rest of the 8 families will bring sides (o:
    We have never been able to do games...I like them...but lots of others don't. I hate puzzles. I think that side of my brain is broken (o:
    Have a great Christmas.

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  9. How wonderful to be with your family for the holiday. Cold cuts and munchies sounds wonderful to me. We are having our Christmas with the family on Christmas Eve, then I will fix a Prime Rib for us and one of our sons on Christmas Day. The day is usually spent with the guys watching games on TV. Great fun all around and so wonderful to be near family. I hope you all have a very Blessed Christmas. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Oh how I have loved coming by here reading and seeing your precious pictures...how beautiful your grandchildren and family are.

    Merry Christmas my dear friend. You have been such a blessing to me this year. I still see you with your hands in the air on the beautiful beach praising the Lord on my behalf...a site that is ingrained into my mind and heart...that meant more to me than you will ever know my friend.

    You have such a beautiful and loving heart for the Lord and all that come across your pathway. You are certainly one of the many who shine brightly for Him here on this earth. I am privileged to call you sister and friend.

    Love you,
    Alleluiabelle

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  11. I did not go crazy this year either. I am not able to do it all because of my chronic health issues. We have a little table tree that is already decorated and a manger scene snow globe and a wreath. That is my Christmas decorations this year... We also live in a travel trailer so we do not have the space to clutter with decorations. We will go to my mom's for Christmas dinner. Christmas Eve my daughter and family will come over and will have Mexican food. Buffet style since we don't have space for us all sit together. It's all about celebrating Him and being with family.

    God bless you. Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

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  12. Dear Noreen ~ Sending special Christmas blessings and hugs to you!

    May the Lord richly bless your precious family at Christmas and in the new year!

    In His wonderful love,
    Sharon

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