Merry Christmas from the DeCourseys...a few days late.

I want to thank everybody
for sending us
such lovely Christmas Cards
I didn't get any sent this year
Most all of the cards we got
were from our
Friends
and
Family
that blog along with us
Please accept this as our belated Christmas Card

Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

The presents have been opened.
Stockings were pillaged.
Breakfast was breakfasted, delicious too by the way.
Ham and potatoes are in the oven and the rolls are on their last rise.
We'll be putting on Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas in just a minute too.
All is well.

It's Christmas Eve!!!

Just waiting for Jeff to get off work and then we can set off for home.
We have an evening full of fun planned.
We have Christmas movies to watch,
delicious food too eat,
Christmas eve presents to open,
treats to hand out to friends,
cookies to make,
a gingerbread house to decorate,
and stockings to put out for Santa to fill.

What are you planning on doing tonight?
What are your traditions?

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go!

Well, we're all ready to head to the Tri-Cities for the week. Jeff's gotta work on Christmas eve, we'll be heading home after his shift ends. We have a big family party on Monday. Then for the rest of the week we'll be spending with family.

I'm back and I'm better

I'm healed and happy. I, for the first time this year, feel the full spirit of Christmas. I took my complete sadness and depression to my savior and he lifted them off. I tell you, I feel physically lighter.

Anyways, I'm feeling better and I feel ready to fully celebrate Christmas. I think I'll start with some cookies. :))

Today

Jeff comes home today! I'm so excited. Yes, I know it's only been a week, but every Friday feels like this now.

We're going to have dinner together at the table tonight. Then we're going to take the girls to go see Santa. Maybe take a free carriage ride through the park, and then come home and have some coco and read Christmas stories.

While I wait for Jeff to get here I've decided to take myself to the temple. I can't tell you how tired I am of feeling sad. I just can't stand it. I don't like to feel this way and I've done everything I can think of to fix it. I think when I really examine why I'm not feeling happy during the holidays, it' cuz I'm depressed. Well, I'm going to try and fix that today. The temple is peaceful and serene. I hope that I can feel closer to my savior while I'm there too, which is the whole reason we have Christmas to begin with.

Christmas Cookies and Candy

I wish that was my book because I'm making cookies and candies today. I'm not going to be super fancy this year. We've got sugar cookies and gingerbread boys on the menu. As for candy... I'm not sure yet. I did make some popcorn balls. Maybe I'll make marshmallows too. Don't you think it should be spelled marshmellows? Like, they're mellow marshmellows. Just me? OK. :)

What do you like to bake for Christmas?


I would also like to say thank you to everybody that left such sweet and kind comments on my Blue Christmas post. I wasn't expecting them, but they were just what I needed I think. I feel a whole lot better, still not very Christmasy, but I feel happier.

Blue Christmas

I'm having a really hard time with Christmas this year. I feel like I'm just going through the motions. I just don't feel any Christmas spirit and it really bothers me. It could be the middle of March and I don't think I could tell the difference. I realize why, Jeff's not here.

He's gone in the Tri-Cities all week long and comes home on the weekends. I just feel half gone all week. The weekends a far too short too.

I'm trying to fill my days with all of the things I'm supposed to do. I'm also trying to do a few extra things that would be very Christmas like, but to no avail. I've watched all of the movies and specials, holiday baking, holiday parties, service, shopping, music, and gone to church. It just feels like it shouldn't be Christmastime yet I guess. Hard as I've tried, I just don't feel it.

My mom told me she's felt this way about the holiday for years. I can't be more clear when I say that scares the crap out of me. I don't want to feel like this! Last year I couldn't wait to start celebrating Christmas. I'm missing the important piece I guess, Jeff.

I wish our house would sell. I wish Jeff never lost his job. I wish things would just go back to the way they were. I don't want to be refined.

Sorry if this post isn't upbeat and happy. I'm looking forward for this week to be over. We will be spending next week with Jeff and I'm sure my blue Christmas will take a turn for the better.

What to do with a pound of hamburger?

Last night I was really exhausted. Thinking of dinner didn't help my condition either. The only meat that wasn't frozen solid was a little boring pound of hamburger. I know that it is really quite a versatile meat, shouldn't be too hard, right?

You must understand that my brain was almost at critical shut down. So I was stumped and unmotivated. Meatloaf? No. I'd have to get out the mixer and I think we're out of ketchup...no I don't mix my meatloaf by hand. Stroganoff? Nope. No mushrooms and I wouldn't have enough milk the next morning. Goulash maybe? That takes a whole lot more work than I'm willing to put in right now and I'm running out of time, Lindsay has ballet at 6. So what was left....tacos.

Tacos, great! Abbey and Lindsay love tacos. I open the fridge, believing that I have everything necessary for them. I know I have the meat. I had a bit of shredded cheese, sour cream, and some taco sauce. I didn't have any good lettuce or tomato, but the girls don't care for those items and I could do fine without them. I was just searching for the last ingredient, tortillas. No tortillas. Nada. Not even crunchy corn, or soft corn for that matter. Dang it!

Not to worry, not to worry. I turn to the modern day housewife companion, the internet. I look up a flour tortilla recipe, I have everything, let's get started.Lindsay offered to help by cooking the hamburger. She really did a great job. I'm very proud of her and thankful to her. I need to let my kids do more in the kitchen.They were delicious and easy. The girls loved them and thought they were fun and very impressive. Needless to say, I was praised the entire time for the miraculous culinary achievement. Not bad.I'm now looking forward to breakfast. Breakfast burritos. YES!

A wise list from a wise lady

I received this in the good old email today. I'm sure it's probably making it's rounds , but I'm going to share it anyways.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, columnist for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. Thank you for being my friend

Treat plate or not to treat plate?

I'm making some Christmas goodies today. I don't know if I'm going to hand out a cookie plate, marshmallow bag, or ice cream toppings...or nothing. Do you hand out goody plates? I love to get them, but I'm not very good at handing them out. I'll figure it out I guess.

So, I remember doing a give away a few months ago. The winners will get something homemade from me and I have a year to do it. Well, I'm ready to send those things out and somehow my post was deleted. I need everyone who remembers winning to speak up. I remember most of the people, I'm just missing a couple.

Giving Tree

Do you participate in a giving tree? If not, you should. It's a great family activity, especially for the kids. Nothing can make you feel better during the holidays than to give to others.

Lindsay picked a 15 year old girl this year. I think it's because on the tag, the first thing you notice is the sentence " Likes Tinker Bell". This girl would like a shirt and a pair of jeans.

Abbey picked a 12 year old girl. She was drawn to the fact that this girl wants slipper socks, just like Abbey. She also wants shampoo and conditioner, hair stuff, and a pop/rock CD.

I hope you will consider getting one of these tags yourselves this holiday season. You can find them at just about any grocery store. These kids really don't ask for very much, but what it gives back to you is immeasurable.

Can you guess what I made?

On Saturday we made the trek to our corner tree lot and picked out our Christmas tree. It was so cold. The whole time I was thinking about how soon I could get my hands on some coco.

And yet, I was left thinking about something else. Something that was made for coco, among other things. So, I made some...

Did you guess marshmallows?

They were actually pretty easy to make. They tasted better than any marshmallow I've ever eaten. You can find the recipe for the coco here, but I suggest using all milk chocolate chips. That is, unless you really like the semi-sweet taste. The marshmallow recipe is here. You could add any flavor you want in the end. I think peppermint or coconut would be yummy.

Thanksgiving dinner

I know, I'm behind. I'm just having the hardest time getting myself jump started into the holidays. I was all gun ho for Halloween and then it just kind of petered out. I just don't feel the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe when I get the decorations up this weekend I'll change my mind.

It might also have something to do with having Jeff gone during the week. He's only home on the weekends and it's a mad dash to get everything done that we need to. I think I'm just feeling a little bit blue. I'm going to try to make it a little better though. I think I'll make some treats today... or take a nap. NO! No nap! Fight the urge!

OK, here's the pictures from our Thanksgiving meal. The plates use to be my moms. I was able to complete the set though. Lots of searching and thrift.

I didn't get to use all of my pretty serving wear this year. When we were condensing the kitchen, that was the fist stuff to go. So, the table isn't as picture perfect I like it to be for Thanksgiving.

The girls also got a gift. They were such big helps the day before, they totally deserved it. They wanted fuzzy socks and could talk of nothing else for the last two weeks. I found a great deal at Walmart. Lindsay stayed in her PJ's the whole day...everyday. She didn't wear regular clothes until school started back up.

Hmmm, where have I seen those before?

I was looking for interesting Christmas photos on Yahoo and I came across this picture.

It made me think, "Now why are these so familiar?" Then I remembered where I saw them first.

I think we'll be going traditional green this year, the wooden type. I'm sure if Lindsay were to see any of these she'd strongly disagree with my choice.

What kind of tree are you getting?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I'm thankful for my family and the fabulous food we'll be eating all day.

I hope you all will have a wonderful and thankful day too.

*HAPPY THANKSGIVING*

Final Thanksgiving Prep

Well, it's after 10 and I'm all done. The kitchen is clean and ready for tomorrow and everything that needed to be made in advanced is.

There is one casualty. I'm opting out of fruit salad this year. I know. It's sad, and maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow.

I got all of my pies done and I think they are going to be wonderful. Especially the banana cream pie. My aunt Janice came to the rescue and gave me grandma's tried and true recipe. I got a little taste of it and I can tell you it is DIVINE!!! I strongly urge you all to try it. You'll find it in the comment section in one of the posts below...ya, I'm too lazy and tired to tell you which one, sorry.

So, here are the remaining pictures of my prosperous day. I feel very accomplished.

This is for the stuffing tomorrow.

These are for the vegi platter. I cut up other stuff too, but didn't photograph it.

Ya, it's u-g-l-y. It does have an alibi, it's yummy! Ya ya it's yummy!

I made a cheese ball for tomorrow and it's killer yummy. I didn't have a recipe, maybe I'll put it up if anyone's interested.

Finally, the miracle of it all...the kitchen is clean and ready for tomorrow. {sigh} It was a good day.

Thanksgiving Prep Part 2

I've finished with a bunch of stuff on my list. I don't have the list with me, so you'll just have to take my word for it. : )

Georgia Pudding stuff all done and ready for the oven tomorrow.

Went a different route with the cherry pie this year. I thought it would be fun to use these and make it closer to scratch.

I'm hoping that they look better after they're cooked.

It looks pretty now. :)

Pie shells for the pumpkin pie. They were a pain to get into the pan. Then I remembered my little trick with wax paper...on my last crust of the day.

Loverly.

The natural light is gone, so the pictures aren't going to be as nice looking.

Jell-O ready for the white stuff.

I'm still not done. Man, I'm wishing I'd have skipped the nap. I'm way behind. Jeff couldn't come home yet. He's going to be late because someone called in "sick". I would've made them come in anyway.