Silent Night

I was looking out at my backyard this evening with the light snow falling and it seemed so calm and peacful. It made me think that is how our life is right now very silent and especially in the evening. Today we went to church came home had dinner and we both our on our laptop then I wander to go read and then Scott goes down stairs to rummage through the channels on the TV.

Life is very quiet here at the Nielson's. Yesterday it got down to -9. We stayed in all day cleaning, and working on projects. Checking every so often to see what the other one was doing. We decided to go get something to eat around 6:30 and all our favorite spots had a 30 to 40 min wait. Wound up at the Firehouse Grill and then over to Best Buy, looking at a laptop to maybe get for me at office, to a TV to replace in the exercise room, to a new cell phone. I won't let on which one we walked out of the store with. It seems every year we go shopping one day and pick out something for each other or something that the whole family would enjoy.

3 days before Christmas and the gifts are all wrapped, treats for neighbors and friends are ready. No I didn't do any baking, I bought see's candy through the office. I just need to get some groceries for the cabin. Make the crepes and some bread and thats it. Christmas eve we have about decided to go to a movie and out to eat.

Friday we celebrated our 39th Anniversary. I didn't remember it till noon and called Scott and reminded him. We had an office party at Mountain River Ranch. It was cold for a sleigh ride but was dressed warm. Last weekend we had two more nights at our timeshare so we went to Sun Valley. There was no snow until the day we left and the ski hill was all manmade and only a few runs opened. We decided not to spend the money so didn't ski. Walked around town, ate out saw the movie "Austrailia" and hung out at the condo. Scott did work and I started the "Twilight Series". Yep I liked the movie so I borrowed my nieces books. This is why I don't read as I will stay up all night to read. I started them on Friday and read the first three books by Tuesday at 6 am. I am going slower in the last book and am half way through.

I am looking forward to Christmas Day and 4 out of 6 kids will be here and were going up to a cabin in Island Park till Sunday. So snowmobiling, cross country skiing, sled riding, playing games and eating lots of food with the kids should fill my cup up for a few weeks.

Trying desperately to get into the spirit

Usually I am one who is so excited about Christmas. But this year I am struggling. I am not sure if its my age, no snow or maybe because no kids will be here. Oh let me rephrase that, 2/3 of my children will be here sometime on Christmas day. I have always made a big deal about Christmas Eve. So this will be the first year that we won't be doing anything. No basket, no last minute gift buying, no running treats to neighbors, no candy or cookie making, no hoagies, no movie. I knew that this tradition would come to end, but maybe I wasn't ready for it.

We did rent a cabin in Island Park for 3 nights from Thursday till Sunday morning. We will snowmobile, cross country ski, eat, play games and just enjoy each others company. I had to do something to keep them coming. I know they will all say move to Utah. I don't think so, I love Idaho.

So the debate was why decorate? I think maybe so my neighbors won't think I am scrouge. Oh yes we have Geoff still at home but he is leaving on the 9th till the 25th to visit Clint and besides he has other interests. Geoff did get the lights on the roof up before Thanksgiving. I did put a few things up outside, but haven't even pluged in the tree and snowman. The reindeers are not up and haven't decided if they are going to get put up. This is the first year the cheerleaders didn't come selling a fresh wreath.

Yesterday I thought I need to get in the spirit no matter what. So I put on Christmas music, lit Christmas candles to get the aroma and started wrapping gifts. Ok that got me to thinking how much harder it is to decide what to give. Money is sure easy but as my son in law Justin says thats no fun. I was thinking on how I have given everyone Christmas ornaments for years now, even the grandchildren. Do they really like what I choose and do they feel obligated to put it on their trees. Then I really got thinking about the grandchildren and their future spouses and maybe they want a theme tree or don't want to put those old ornaments on (if they even still have them). So I am going to throw it out to my kids and see if that tradition can be broken. I always buy them after Christmas for the next year at 75% off.

I am a sucker for those after Christmas sales on Christmas items. Save them all year and then forgot what I had bought. I have so much wrapping paper that I am good for at least 3 more years. I notice that I don't think about what paper I have and buy ribbon that doesn't even go with the paper that I have. Then there was paper I was using that was so cheap that it kept tearing. I then realized it was some of Grandma's that we found in her house. Sorry Jeralee, you might just have to rewrap. Growing up we would save the paper and ribbon and used it the next year if it didn't tear. So here I am skrimping and I think what for. So I threw out the cheap paper. This year I am not saving any ribbon. My kids can tell you how careful I am to save the ribbon.

So if this is the year for change I thought how can I do my trees different with what I have. Yes I put both of them up. The one downstairs I put in a different location. The one upstairs I put ivy, pinecones and red berries on it. Downstairs who knows what I am going to do.

We are getting rid of all of our old VCR tapes except the disney movies. Just in case we have a grandchild come and visit us. I know we still have a VCR to the big screen. We don't watch them and I have alot of CD's and their only taking up space. I hope no one will be offended if I get rid of something you gave me in the past. I just hope you all are not hanging on to things I gave you that you don't like. I can assure you if I haven't forgotten that I gave it to you I really don't care.