Its the Thought That Really Counts...

Christmas Day is over.  I am officially 55 years old.  Today has been a day of thoughts and emotions...and most of them have been beautiful in ways that only a parent would find.

Did I get gifts I wanted?  No.  Did I get gifts from my children that were thoughtful and so much a part of them and how they relate to me?  YES.  So much yes.  This year, especially, I found so many things that just made my heart warm and my pride in being their mom...just explode---I LOVE THESE KIDS!!

This.  This made my heart sing.  She is so talented with words and paint...if only she had the confidence in herself!

Michael's gift to me--he prided himself on getting something he thought I would love--and a Complete Set even!  The fact that he remembered that I loved Fraggle Rock, that he remembered the various characters (well, he has a great memory for those things, so...that doesn't surprise me...)

But the REAL Gift from him...seeing him cuddle with a stuffed velociraptor I gave him. 

Just seeing him happy and affectionate.  It was the BEST.

And Snickers! (Bluey)

And more stuffies!

Dim Sum on Christmas Eve!

And they even gave us a gift card for next time!

Michael got this for Brad--the weird thing--I had this when I was a child!

And then--it was Hanukkah!

Last bits of 2024 --Last bit of being in 54 years...

Trying to post more here...I still am working on a summary of the summer....sigh...

But, predictably, miraculously, inevitably...the year is drawing to a close, the Holidays are upon us, my last birthday to say I am in my "early 50s" is here....

So, time for reflections and bittersweet memories...OR...

Time for a photo dump from the last few weeks!  

How quickly the chocolate fudge was eaten...and I did not even get a chance to photograph the Peanut Butter fudge!

Kif playing with a cat nip toy...

Baragon dressed for the season.

Aha! The cat nip toy is a SANTA CLAUS!

Meanwhile, Delenn is just being cute.

First round of Holiday Candy...

They Might Be Giants concert!!  Yay!!

Meanwhile, working...

Second round of holiday candy.

Brad working, Kif overseeing...

We made clay snowmen!  (in a very Polant way)

Making The Memories...

Last night was going to be just an ordinary night...but then she actually was smiley and energetic...and wanted to make Grammie's Fudge.  She wanted the Holiday Music and she wanted to participate in stirring...she wanted to BE part of it!  

Considering the last few months---I took for what it was--an opportunity to make a memory...a good, wonderful memory.  

So, we made fudge. At 10:30 at night.  When I was tired from a long day.  When I started to grumble at the thought of it (internally)...and I was surprised what energy I got from it.

This evening---we put up the tree...it was a new tree that I bought at the end of the season last year, and I did not even open the box, just put it down in the basement.  So, it was like unwrapping a gift!  Also, in a bag I found some new ornaments that I had bought at the end of the season!  Score!

Its a pre-lit tree!!

I found someone in the box!  (Lennier ending up kicking her out!)

Decorations!

The new family ornament - Yetis!