Getting in the Christmas Spirit

This weekend I finally feel like I'm getting in the Christmas spirit. Yesterday Chuck and I put up the tree and this morning I sent out our annual holiday letter. I've been singing along to my vast collection of Xmas music and during out trip to Carrefour today we bought a large selection of cheeses for all that celebrating we'll be doing with friends. So, things are looking up.

It was especially fun, as I took out each ornament to think about the person who gave it to me or made it for me--there are cross-stitched ornaments from Mindy, Ukrainian eggs from Dy, a Lenox angel from my mom... Then there are the ornaments we bought in Thailand, Bethlehem, and New Zealand. There are others I've had since I was a kid--a mane-less rocking horse, a mouse (or is that a cat) in a little wooden chair, a ceramic toy soldier. Chuck humored me and took a walk down memory lane with me.

I called my folks a few days ago, had a nice long chat with Carolyn yesterday, and got to talk a little with Dee Dee this evening. I expect we'll be catching up with more friends and family in the next couple of weeks and that, of course, is the best part of the season!