Christmas Time Is Here

I've finally started my Christmas baking!  Okay, so I baked one thing only, but still, better than nothing, right?  Of course, I made the easiest thing on my list, the ultra fattening, clog- your- arteries- with- one- bite cheesecake.  Just think about it.  Among other things, 7 eggs, 24 oz. of sour cream and 32 oz. of cream cheese.  Sounds kinda rich, no?

This year I think I'm going to put blackberry pie filling on top but I'm still not sure.  I did the cool swirly thing with red and green food coloring.  It looks ridiculous from the top, but when I slice it open it'll be gorgeous!

 I wasn't very happy when the first brand new cream cheese I opened looked like this.

Didn't expire until March, so WTF?  That's what you get when you buy your baking supplies at Wal-Mart, I guess.  Lesson learned!  I sent an email to Kraft and am waiting to hear back from them.  Gross.

We finally got our tree Saturday night!  Of course, we had to pick the one day of the week where we'd had nothing but rain.  A usually empty dirt lot, plus lots and lots of mulch, plus lots of rain = yuck.

Here's the tree lot.

Everyone walking ahead of me as usual.  Look at how wet and boggy it is!

So, we did a bit of looking around and just as Jimmy yelled that he found the one, I stepped in a deep, squishy, muddy hole of water.  Ah, that sure did feel good!  NOT!

But look at the attitude I walk into, both Mikayla and Jimmy.  Lovely.

Well, that's the tree we got, and with soggy, cold feet (although it was in the 60s that night) I took some pictures of Charlie (hey, I like to know the name of the person I'm handing over $100 to!) as he worked his magic with a large power tool.

Too bad he has no ass to speak of.

 

Yippee!  Now we could leave and pick up our pizza next door.  But first, we must look at my feet ensconced in my ugly (wet) shoes.

I have no idea what Jimmy was pointing at here, but I figured if I could get a picture of him in a Santa hat I'd better take the opportunity and just snap.  See how big the tree is?  We (he) actually had to snip some off the top to be able to put the star on.

I'm a white lights kinda girl, but the kids love colored lights, so that's what we go with.  Mikayla was testing all of them for us.

Am I the only one that thinks the star should go on last?

 

And here she is, all decked out.  I would so love to use tinsel... we haven't done that in years, but with Strudel I don't think it'd be such a great idea.  Heeheehee!

Nope, this is definitely not a designer tree.  Sure, there are some beautiful ornaments on there like Lenox and Murano, but mostly it's stuff the kids have made, stuff I've made, and stuff that my '97 email loop have made over the years.  Lots of memories on that tree.

This is my very favorite ornament.  A Lenox moose.  See Cindy, told ya I love the little boogers!

My one Murano ornament that Jimmy picked up in Italy while on business.

Gotta love a red coffee mug, right BJ?

I love this next one, made by my good friend Janet who is part of my 1997 email loop.  Look at all the work she put into it.  Awwwwww.

This is our newest edition.

Here's a pic of my lower banister.  I never did get around to doing the other, but it is decorated with a stuffed elf and Santa that Jimmy stuck between the rails.

That's my little kitchen tree, decorated in black and gold.

Close-up of the berries I got at Hobby Lobby for only .50 a bunch.  Love these things!

That's about all I have to report, Christmas-wise but I do have one more picture to share.  Our good friend from Tampa, Adam, was in the area on business last week and stopped by the house one night.  I haven't seen him in three years and it was great to clap eyes on him and catch up on life.  I actually got Jimmy to take a picture with him, knowing full well I'd post it here.  Adam was very excited to become famous.  On my blog.  Yaright!

Nice.  Strudel is licking the kitchen table.  What is with this damn dog?

Anyone want a golden retriever?