Scrabble, Popcorn, and Lot's of Love

Card from Frugally Challenged all the way from the UK!

I've been missing a few days from the blog. I was mentally not there as we lost A this week. She passed away Thursday, and the service was already yesterday. 1,000 plus mourners packed into a shared universalist church that is also used by A's synagogue, hearing stories about her early days, her advocacy, her love for her family and friends and commitment to leaving the world better. There will be several more days of mourning with her faith community per Jewish customs. I spent the rest of the day with my family.

DH and I went out for a late lunch and then finished the last of the Christmas shopping for food, drinks, and treats. I still wanted to pick up one thing for DD2 and that was taken care of. When we got home, the girls and I played a game of Scrabble. I've never liked Scrabble, but we played with our own modified rules. In attempts to build out the board, we looked at each other's letters, and helped each other come up with ways to use out tiles. We nibbled on popcorn, hot cider and cocoa. The game used to be my mom's, and there were some old score pads in the box along with a small dictionary. Once we got stuck on letters, we first looked up creative words in the dictionary just in case but then decided to allow made up words. It was more fun than traditional scrabble! DD1 came up with a 104 point word this way.

DD1 and I are going to make a few more treats and a batch of jam today. She wants to bring some back with her to Wisconsin, and I want to supplement a few gifts. Otherwise, we are pretty well set for the holidays. DS arrives late tonight. The kids are trying to figure out where everyone will sleep. It should be a lovely family filled few days. 

I'll end this post sharing a few pictures. The Santa's, an assortment of toys and ornaments, has been dubbed "drunken Santa party." Ten years ago my son came home from college and seeing all the Santa's by my wine rack asked, "what's with the drunken Santa party?" and it's stuck ever sense. If you are preparing today, good luck with the last of your work. I'm focusing today on just being with those I love, enjoying these moments. 

The Santa party.

  

My Christmas village-mainstreet and the community square.  

Simple table.

Ready for Santa

30 years of memories.