Christmas in Destin

This year was a different kind of Christmas for me. I am one who likes traditions. I like to put up a tree, driving around on Christmas Eve to look at houses that are lighted up, waking up early to make Banucaco, opening up stockings, eating the Banucaco, opening up presents and then having my mom come up and have a Christmas dinner with us.

This year that did not happen and I was kind of sad. We left on Saturday, December 20 to go to Destin. We did some sight seeing, bike riding and shopping at some of the outlet malls. I read quite a few books while I was there. They have a library where you can check out books. I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Christmas Box, The Timepiece, The Letter and The Last Lecture. They were all great books.

We had to check out on Christmas day around 10:00 so we decided to get up early and do Christmas. It was a light Christmas this year as things are quite tight. We didn't have a tree so we found a fake potted plant and placed that in the middle of the coffee table and placed the gifts around it. I have a picture but that will have to wait for some other time.

The hardest part for me was not having Christmas dinner. On the way home we thought we might find some restaurant open. Nothing, not even a McDonalds was open. So when we finally got home I made a grilled cheese sandwich. Andrea and I just sat laughing. I think sometimes when things are bad, you just need to laugh about it.

On Friday I went up to school and got my Charlie Brown Christmas tree - it's only 3 feet high. It's a beautiful little tree though. I brought it home and spent the day decorating it. I felt like I needed to do that for my mom who was coming up on Saturday. My family couldn't believe I was doing that. I spent the rest of the day baking cookies for the sisters that I visit teach. Later on in the day I got the stockings, filled them up and then we opened them.

My mom came up on Saturday around noon. We played Pictionary and just hung out together. I made a turkey dinner with potatoes, green beans, stuffing, rolls, cheesecake and apple pie. I usually make a ham but we didn't have our traditional Thanksgiving dinner either so I opted for a turkey dinner.

It was beautiful where we went but I like to be home for the holidays. I like traditions.

Weeds or Flowers?

Today was one of those days when you ask yourself, "Did I sit down once today?" When I began to make a batch of Christmas cookies around 4:00 I was a little touchy. I sort of got on Taylor for not having the floor swept yet. While I was putting all the ingredients into the bowl he came in and set something on the counter and walked away. I glanced down and noticed he placed a flower on the counter. Was he trying to get me out of my bad mood?
A little while later he came in from outside and Andrea walked through the kitchen. I said, "Look, a flower from Taylor." (I wanted him to know that I saw it). She replied, "It's a weed." I said, "No, it's a flower." She said, "It's a weed." I then said, "It's all in how you look at it."
Things were not going well and the floor still was not done. He must have sensed that I was in a bad mood again. He said, "I think I need to go out and get you another flower." I just smiled.
Now I have 2 flowers sitting in my kitchen.