I really do not know where I got this crazy idea that Christmas has to be perfect.  I try so very hard to make things perfect.  In my head I’m recreating what I remember the holidays were like.  BUT am I recreating MY holidays of past?  I really don't think so anymore.  I think I really am trying to recreate the crap I saw on T.V. all those lovely holiday specials with perfect cookies, trees, and carolers sipping hot coco.

My quest to make a perfect Christmas started getting really out of hand the week before Christmas. 

I used to bust my ass making cut out gingerbread and sugar cookies that we would decorate just so.. this year there was NOT a single cut out cookie to be had. I was beating myself up over this.  This is what my gingerbread cookies looked like this year.

cookies My fatal flaw for the cookies this year was the fact that I simply had to over do it.  In an attempt to make up for the lack of shape and frosting I made far too many cookies.

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yeah that was just ONE freaking platter !  Towards the end I sort of went nuts and started to see things.  creepy things..

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7 hours of cookie making and I lost it! the cookies were in shock I guess.  lol

My sister bought a gingerbread sleigh set for the kids to decorate and they blew through that in about 10 minutes.  Ate off all the candies and left the carcass to rot.

 IMG_0019 IMG_0022 This picture tells the true story of the gingerbread sleighs..

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I guess I should not complain having to round the kids up and pull them in to the house kicking and yelling, just to do the stupid things. The entire time was spent telling them to quit eating the candies, licking frosting and throwing things.  BUT as it all fades into memory… I hope the memory of the frustration passes and all that's left is something good.

I also spent 5 hours wrapping presents on Christmas eve. 5 freaking hours!  Its partly my fault.  I really love the presents to be wrapped so pretty.  In my head they all need to look like this at their worst.  WHY do I do this to myself?

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Christmas Moring the kids blew through the presents in 10 minutes.  There were land speed records set!  I couldn't snap pictures fast enough!

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NOT one kid commented on how lovely they gifts were wrapped.  SIGH

 

So anyways, as Christmas 2009 fades in to memory, I truly hope at some point my kids look back and are thankful for the fact I run myself ragged to make it perfect..With any luck they will be doing it to themselves when they have kids.  Then I can sit back and laugh. As the cookies mock them!

My family has a small group of movies we watch every year.  A Christmas Story,xmas_stroy

 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

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I so adore the above two.  I have to watch them at a minimum of two times each!

We also love to watch

Jingle all the way , Elf, and The Polar Express,

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I have the kids watch Rudolph and all that fun stuff on TV as well.  There is nothing more fun than these movies on the tube and baking cookies in the kitchen.  AHHH that's what Memories are made of,… are they not?

The TARP Christmas party was a blast as usual.  This year Mark and Landon were best buddies.  It was so cute.

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ahh so fun all the kids sat on Santa's lap an there was not one tear.

Markie and Landon were getting down to the live music it was just the best!  Those two were having such fun.IMG_0818 IMG_0808 IMG_0809

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ahh such fun was had by all :D  I'm so thankful we get to share this with my Dad and his AA group.  It really is something I look forward to every year.

So this next week will be full of cookies and movies I can not wait. 

 

Well, its quickly moving in on us.  I feel really in the spirit this year.  All the Holiday lights are up.  I had that started before Thanksgiving. Here is a Cell phone picture from the corner.  We live in a town home but have quite a bit to decorate.

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Here is the newest addition to the lights Scotty picked it out.  Big lots 25.00 woo hoo!

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Sorry for the cell pictures but It was on me at the time.

 

This Sat the 5th is the TARP Christmas party!  EEEK I can not wait.  TARP is my Dads AA group and every year they throw a Huge Christmas party.  It’s so fun .

I made a few little things for around the house but have not had a lot of time to scrap.

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Cousin and I made these cute little jars.  She found the idea here…

http://wendyrago.typepad.com/bad_girls/2009/11/a-home-for-the-holidays.html 

But we decided to kick it up a notch and light it.  I bought a drill bit for glass and we had at it.  Its much more tough to drill thru glass than one would think but It was really worth it when you see it light up.

I showed my husband and he tells me “Hmm that's a waste of a really good pickle jar.”   Which really made my blood boil.  I told him he was quite rude!

 

But later when my Middle son, Scott  came home  he stopped in his tracks right through the door  and Gasped “MOM that's the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!”  Needless to say that made my day.

 

OOh and my oldest son David,  has wood shop.  He made this and its just perfect for my Glimmer Mist EEK I was so happy when he gave it to me.

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I did manage to make two door cones.. that’s what I call them anyway.  I used the Cosmo Jolly by Golly line.  I thought these would be fun to place on neighbors doors.  HA in a perfect world.. my neighbors would prob. think it was poison or something.

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I had a super fab. Thanksgiving.  Loved being with family and having great food.  It was really nice this year. I hope this month goes smoothly for everyone I  know and love.   It can get hectic this time of year.