The Christmas 2013 Pictures

The house is all cleaned up, and Christmas put away. It looks so bare and empty, and dark. I always hate the "right after Christmas" days. It does feel good to have a clean house again, but you know what I'm saying. We have also had a lot of sickness in this house, starting with Mom and Dad Stafford, then Kent (his fever got as high as 102, with croup cough!), and now Jeff has it, and he has to go back to work tomorrow. So sucks. My poor little family. I'm trying my absolute hardest not to get this thing, and Samantha is the other one hanging on. It's the season, I know. Considering Mom and Dad Stafford were sick, while they were here, for Christmas, we did have a nice Christmas, and one tasty dinner of prime rib! My once a year Christmas dinner, and it was a success! Jeff and I just had the last of the left overs, last night! Talk about getting a bang for your buck! Christmas Eve, was just how I like it, sitting by the fire, tree on, "A Christmas Story" playing in the tv, laying out the presents and filling the stockings, then off to bed! The kids were up on Christmas morning at 5:30. Fortunately Dad hung out with them, until I woke up about an hour later...then Jeff and then Mom. I put Christmas music on, turned on the Christmas tree, brewed some coffee, and it was time for the stockings, then gifts. Samantha first, Kent, and so on. We take turns, so we can all appreciate what each other had received for Christmas. Even Curly got to open his two gifts, a rawhide bone and his new favorite toy, a long, flat skunk that squeaks. So funny how he took to that immediately! I put my prime rib in the oven, closer to 11:00, and dinner was ready at 4:00. A very busy, exhausting, fun Christmas, and it was nice to get to have Mom and Dad Stafford here, to enjoy it, and experience what our little family does for Christmas. After our company left, the day a after Christmas, we decided to make an afternoon trip to the Canyon. It was so stunning and beautiful. It was also very busy with people, but it felt so good to get out, get some fresh air, and enjoy God's country. 

A Christmas Eve

We have Dad and Mom Stafford, here for Christmas. They arrived yesterday evening. I feel so bad for Mom, because she is so sick...cough, fever, chills, so not good. She arrived getting sick and she's been in bed ever since. It's just not fun being sick, especially at Christmas time, and when you're not in your own home. I get it. So this means...I'm praying we don't get this bug, and that Mom gets well soon. Now today, the boys had their Christmas Eve steam up day, and it was just beautiful out there! A great day for a ride. Come dinner time, Dad took Jeff, the kids and I out to dinner, so Mom could continue to sleep. We ate at Chili's and it hit the spot! Afterwards, a stop at Starbucks, for some eggnog lattes. It's now just after 8:00, and we placed the cookies and milk out for Santa, and the kids WANTED to get to bed! Gee, I wonder why? To be a kid on Christmas Eve. Wonderful! I think it's now a good time, to watch "A Christmas Story," our Christmas Eve tradition...so until Christmas...have a pleasant Christmas Eve night! 

A Bit Of Christmas Cheer!

Let's see...this past week we've had a rental house we had to get back in order, 12 inches of snow, Samantha sick with a 24 hour flu, Christmas with my folks and grand folks, a quick visit with a long time friend, Gena Runnels (aka Green), and her family, and an evening with Jeff's good friends, Vaughn, Dy, Keith...It has been a jammed packed week...almost Christmas, oh my!  We have Dad and Mom Stafford arriving tomorrow evening, and they stay until after Christmas.