It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas…

Good evening ladies!! I hope you all had a wonderful Saturday. I had a very BUSY but also a very PRODUCTIVE day. I left the house around 9:0o this morning and picked my Mom up to go shopping. And I am proud to say, actually started my Christmas shopping. Believe it or not, I actually got the majority of it finished today.

Nothing like some major power shopping the Saturday before Christmas with all of the other “crazies” to get you in the Holiday spirits! LOL!! But it really was a very enjoyable day with my Mom.

Then this evening my husband and I spent some much needed QT together. We went to Historical St Charles, MO where we had some dinner and strolled down Main Street. It was SO pretty!! COLD but pretty. But the cold just gave me an extra excuse to pop into my favorite Prim shops. LOL!!

Anyway, in the town of St. Charles, they celebrate an Old Time Christmas that is just the neatest thing. I will try to share more pictures tomorrow...but for know, there is more things to check off that list!!

Hugs!! Carrie♥

He's She's Making A List...He's She's Checking It Twice!!

Making a list...checking it twice!! Ok, I admit it, I am a self proclaimed list maker. Just ask the hubby. It drives him CRAZY at times!! But being a working Mother of two teens, you have to try anything and everything to stay organized. And notice the emphasis on try!!

So it is only natural that I have a been making my own list and that I have been checking them twice. But I think I can cross most of the items off...or at least I hope!!

DECORATE HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS

MAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS Yeah, don't ask!!

CALL THE IN-LAWS AND TELL THEM WHAT TIME WE WILL BE EATING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

SHOP FOR PRESENTS

WRAP PRESENTS

CLEAN HOUSE

CATCH UP LAUNDRY

MAKE MENU AND GROCERY LIST FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

GROCERY SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

MAKE A TRIP TO SAMS CLUB FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

BAKE COOKIES AND PIES

COOK CHRISTMAS DINNER

CLEAN UP HOUSE AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY / DINNER

TRY TO GO BACK TO WORK ON FRIDAY WITHOUT FALLING ALSEEP

Christmas Ham Anyone!?!?!?

This is how you make a Christmas ham right?!?!? LOL!! Seriously, this Christmas will be the first year we will be having ham for Christmas in our home. Normally, my husband is not as fond of ham as the rest of us are so when he come home from visiting his Dad one evening and asked me to make a ham for Christmas, I knew something was up.

You see, this year is the first year since my husband's Mom passed away and we are trying to make Christmas a little extra special for my Father-in-law. So when the hubby asked his Dad if there was anything special he would like to have for Christmas dinner, he asked for ham. So, if ham is what the man asked for then it will be ham the man gets!! Which is perfectly fine with me because unlike the hubby I LOVE ham!! LOL!!

Sorry Mr. Turkey, our menu will be changing quite a bit this year...so there will be no turkey, mashed potatoes or dressing for us. This year we will having the following on our table...

APPETIZERS

**Sweet and Sour Meatballs**
**Veggie Tray**
**Fruit Tray**
**Spirals**
**Fiesta Dip with Tortilla Chips**

MAIN COURSE

**Ham**
**Broccoli Rice Casserole**
**Hashbrown Casserole**
**White Corn**
**Green Bean Casserole**
**Deviled Eggs**
**Pasta House Salad**
**Rolls**

DESSERTS

**Cookies**
**Pumpkin Pie**
**Apple Pie**
**Brownies**
**Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip with Graham Cracker Dippers**

I hope this is OK. Sounds weird but I am a little nervous changing up the menu. (Hi, my name is Carrie and I am a little bit of a control freak!!) But I thought these sides went better with ham. So I ask you all this what will be on your Christmas tables this year?

Shop Til We Dropped!!

This is what the hubby and I did today! Ok, Ok...I guess that is what I get for totally procrastinating and not going before today. But in my defense after working all day and trying to keep things up and running around the homestead, I am just to gosh darn tired lazy to go out at night.

And anyway, technically I hadn't totally procrastinate. I think I had 3 presents bought before today but honestly whenever you have to get as much as I did today, really what's the difference between 3 and 0!?!?!?

So this morning my husband and I decided to get up early and head out to the stores before all of the other shoppers procrastinators got out there. OH.MY.GOSH!!!! Were we ever so wrong!! Honestly, it wasn't too bad up until about 8:00 or 9:00am, then all heck broke loose!!

By the time we got to Kohl's the lines were halfway around the store. I know probably nothing for all of you brave ones that fight "Black Friday" every year. But this girl is NOT one of those girls. Usually, because I don't rank the seniority at my job (Even though I have been there nearly 11 years. Seriously, don't some people know when to reitire!?!?!?) to get that day off but mainly because with age I have lost the abilty to shop til I drop!!

Even though back in the day, I could out shop the best of them. I even had the classic 80's "Shop Til I Drop" sweatshirt to prove it! Don't laugh, you all know you had the too. LOL!!

But seriously, it wasn't that bad. And I think we got a lot accomplished, even if we tried to do a major power shopping trip and do it all in one day. I think all we have left to do is get my Mom and my Father-in-law's gifts. And maybe a few filler things for the kids. And all of the grocerys for Christmas dinner that we are hosting for the in law's. And clean house. And....And....And....

Ok, maybe I am NOT close to being finished!!! UGGHHH!!! Calgon take me away!!!!!!!

A little Inspiration

Here's just a little inspiration I picked up this past weekend...