The Final Countdown. . .

Wow.  Here we are at the final countdown!  Can you believe it will be Christmas in 2 days?  How in the world did that happen???  Fortunately, I am better prepared than last year, and even better prepared than I thought I would be a week ago.  I've made some cookies and plan to make another batch today.  I have some Cranberry cakes in the oven right now (yummy gifts for some neighbors), made some homemade Irish Cream and have most of the wrapping done. 

We're off work now until January 3rd!!  Yippee!!!  So, today we're going to head out early and have breakfast at Anitas and then go do some last minute shopping at the Outlet Mall.  Then, we'll head over to Wegman's to pick up the Christmas Eve Prime Rib Roast and the rest of the necessary groceries and then home to do the final wrapping and baking.  We're having a late lunch/early dinner with the in-laws and then tonight we'll just kick back and relax (finish laundry and ironing) and watch hockey--Go Caps!!!

Whew!!  It's been rough to stay on track this year--Aidan and I came down with colds a couple of weeks ago that have turned into Sinus Infections--but we're on the mend now with antibiotics for both of us.  Funny how you don't realize how badly you are feeling until you are feeling better!  I think by tomorrow evening we will both be around that corner fully toward mending completely. 

Tomorrow will be good.  I'm not sure what Pat has planned, but I will likely hang out in the basement with the dogs while Sofia cleans the house (yeah Sofia!!!) and then Grandma and Grandpa are coming over to spend the night.  I'll be roasting the Prime Rib, making some potatoes and a Ceaser Salad for our Christmas Eve dinner.  We'll be having Pumpkin Mousse for dessert with homemade gingered whipped cream and chocolate shavings.  Then, off to church for Christmas Eve services. 

After church, we'll come back for some warm toddy of some sort by the fire (hot chocolate for Aidan), get the plate of cookies ready for Santa and then read Twas the Night Before Christmas (family tradition going back to before I was born!) and then hang our stockings with care. . .I hope I will have pictures of this. . .lost them last year!!  Aidan will then place the baby Jesus in the manger and then. . .

And then off to bed to await the arrival of Christmas morning. . .

Christmas Day, Pat's aunt and cousin will be joining us for Christmas dinner, which I have had catered this year.  Thank goodness that big coastal storm isn't coming that day afterall!!!

Some funny sidenotes:

Mosby has been on steroids for an allergy problem for a while.  Because of this, his interest in all food has intensified.  The other day he ate a plate of sugar cookies and then drank an entire beer. . .thankfully without getting sick.  Then, he and Maggie ate an entire box, box included, of tissues as well as a ziplock baggie of chocolate chip cookies (the only thing left was the zip lock portion of the baggie).  I am keeping the rest of the foods and goodies under lock and key and close supervision. . .

Aidan came up from the Rec Room while I was baking M & M cookies the other night and dramatically sniffed the air and said, "I'm smelling something really good!  Smells like cookies!  What are we going to do with these?"  We'll give some to Santa and then eat some.  "Okay, Santa can have four of them."  : )  That's my sharing boy!

And so, on that note, if I don't talk to you all before then, Have a very Merry Christmas!!!