As always, Christmas will be here before I feel like I am ready! With Tara's help I finally got a few cookies baked and decorated. Caramels and Opera Creams are done...now if the shopping and gift wrapping could magically complete themselves it would be fantastic. For some reason everything took me longer this year, I felt like I was in slow motion.

Grace and Tara were home today to get Grace's photos taken. She was tired and like a deer in headlights when we got there, but after she warmed up a bit she had her usual bright smile. I hope that she got some good ones!! I think that we took more stuff with us than we did for Tara's senior pictures !

Kelsie doesn't get off until the 22nd and goes back January 3. That certainly isn't enough time for me to get my fill. I miss having her around, but I'm sure that she will be ready to get back to school. She is studying for finals and I haven't spoken to her in a while...on the weather map it looks like they got quite a bit of snow, and she has a long walk to class...hope she is staying warm!

Carli is at the half-way point of PT school already! The time is flying. She had an appointment with Dr. Stallings in November and everything still looks good! He always discusses what chemo side effects to watch for, which puts the damper on things for me. I don't think that it bothers Carli, though, which is good. I always tell her it's my job to worry about her!! Hopefully now that she isn't in school I might see her from time to time. She wants to learn how to make caramels...we'll see how that goes :O)

Doing a musical for Christmas Eve with my choirs at church. The kids are so cute and learn things so quickly. They look so cute dressed as lambs, shepherds and angels.

Our kids will all be home for Christmas. Tara has to work the day after, and this is our year with Carli and Jeremy. I can't wait. Christmas morning is the most special time, opening gifts and having brunch together. I feel like a little kid when I think about it! THat is the thing that makes me sad when I think about getting older and my girls wanting to stay home with their families for Christmas morning.

I think often about those who have lost loved ones that they miss even more during the holidays. I miss my dad and baking him goodies. I am so thankful that we had great holidays when I was growing up. I don't know how my parents did it, but they made them really special. My dad would dress as Santa and hitch up our pony to the sleigh and take kids for rides. What fun!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!