Let the Christmas Season Begin!

I'm one of those old-fashioned people who does not like to see any Christmas decorations or hear any Christmas songs, or see any Christmas sales before Thanksgiving!  I think Thanksgiving is the most lovely of all holidays, so why spoil it with all the commercialism that invariably surrounds Christmas.

Just a few days after Thanksgiving, Rusty and I drove to KC and had some fun time with Pierce and Reece.

Reece is drawing his letters.

Pierce likes to keep it physical.

The next day we flew to Philadelphia to be with the Caviezels.

Ruby, Papaw and Frannie.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art had a special showing of Winslow Homer's paintings, so Rusty & I hoofed the 3-mile-each-way trip to see it.  The showing was called Shipwreck! Winslow Homer and The Life Line.      It was very interesting to see how Homer, as well as his contemporaries, painted the drama of rescue at sea.

Before beginning our long walk home, we just sat and relaxed at the gallery.

Rusty--chillin'

We were fascinated by what appear to be swastikas both outside and inside the gallery's elevator.

The inside of the elevator had the original elevator operator's chair and hand-crank door opener.

There was an elevator much like this one in Omaha's old WOW building where my Grandpa worked in the penthouse.  When we went to pick Grandpa up after a day of shopping with Grandma, we always saw a black person working the elevator.  Grandma never spoke to the operator on the way up.  When Grandpa was with us on the way back down, he always carried on a short conversation with the operator.

Rusty & Di on a brisk, sunny day.

Lucky for us, Felicia and Sam held off Ruby's birthday so that we could be there with her.

We made both lemon and chocolate cupcakes.

 Ruby was so good!!!! She seemed surprised at all of the attention, but she also reveled in it.

Happy Birthday to our beautiful 2 year old!

Now that Ruby has a princess helmet, she's ready to try out her bike.

Felicia had a nice quilt made from Frank's old t-shirts.  December first was 6 years since we've lost that wonderful husband/father.

Felicia and Ruby are feeling the love.

 On our last day in Philadelphia, we went to the coolest coffee shop in center city!  Thanks, Felicia, for taking us there.

Ruby was a perfect little lady eating her snack with all the big people.

Coffee was followed by the Philadelphia Orchestra's holiday concert for children.

During the first half, Ruby was mesmerized by it all.

Indeed!  It is an incredible experience to be in this space!  Thank you, Sam!

Once back in Lincoln it was time to take down the fall decorations and begin on Christmas.  I packed the "Fall Leaf" plates and brought up the red and white "Winter Song" plates.  I dug my poinsettia napkins out of storage; they were a Christmas gift made by my beautiful mother several years ago.  I also brought up Grandma and Grandpa Williams' red plates that were a gift to them for their 40th (Ruby) anniversary.  One of the best things about Christmas is all the traditions and memories.
Rusty climbed the ladder and put the lights up on the house.

Last weekend was the annual Christmas tea, hosted by my dear friend, Chris Denicola.

As always, Chris has the traditional tea and finger sandwiches and a gorgeous spread of cookies!

 We were all a little surprised when Chris told us this was our 20th year of celebrating the Christmas Tea together.

It's such a special time for all of us!  We wear our hats and chat like the life-long friends we are.

Lorraine begins the reading of The Carpenter's Gift.

One of my favorite things about the tea is that each year we share the reading of a special Christmas book.  It's not uncommon for some of us to get a little choked up as we feel the special meaning of Christmas.

This book is a story about the Rockefeller Center Tree.

The watercolor illustrations were fabulous!

I know!  It says "copyrighted material" at the top.  So, you MUST go out and buy this book!

Thank you, Chris, for giving us the chance to reunite with long time friends and feel the magic of the season!



Today I finished composing our Christmas card, so we'll see if I can get it printed and mailed in time.  Most of my shopping is done, so now it's time for wrapping and mailing.  Oh, and then there's the tree to put up...