Howdy everyone!

I hope the holidays were good and filled with lots of memories. It was wonderful here. I did get a cold but I nursed it with lots of orange juice and chicken noodle soup. 🙂 My grandma always treated a cold that way. Thank goodness it lasted only a week.

We had a house full. The daughter was able to spend a little over a week with us. She also brought her two cats along. It was fun watching our three cats mingle with them. Of course, the cats favorite person was my hubby. He has that way with animals. He gives them lots of attention.

The oldest son made it for a week on leave from his Navy training. His oldest friend from high school joined in the fun and stayed as well. It seemed like old times. 🙂

I did not get any baking done for the holidays though. Bummer. I think I missed that last year too. Hopefully, this year will be different. Though the boys did say they would give up gifts if we could go somewhere for Christmas. Cool. Though that will be more expensive than the gifts. We don’t give expensive gifts normally.

Normally we give a few things that they want, money, and some fun childhood gifts like foam dart guns. LOL. We like to bond and laugh more than give expensive stuff. Plus, it takes the pressure off of spending more than the budget can handle. 🙂

We leave those expensive gifts for during the year so the kids can learn to help save up and pay for them. I know all their friends got these cool gifts but I’d rather them work towards them than be handed them. Plus, we have had Christmas’ where we could barely afford a fifty dollar gift let alone the high dollar ones. I don’t want them to be disappointed from Christmas to Christmas. I’d rather set the tone for a low key Christmas than bounce from high dollar to low dollar. I’ve tried shopping early, it don’t work. I’ve tried saving up, it don’t work. LOL This way works for us. I’m glad other families can do what they want to do, so I don’t look down on those that spend a lot. This is just what works for us. 🙂

Most Christmas’ hubby and I do not exchange gifts especially when the budget is tight. We usually get something we want a few months later. 🙂 Hubby spoiled me. I must say it is also a gift for him. He bought me a new used car with low miles. Our other one was starting to have issues beyond what he wanted to repair. He was worried about me breaking down with him on the road a lot. And with all the dings and dents in the old car the value was declining for a trade in. I will just need to do some creative cutting back on the food. No problem! Two growing teenage boys. LOL

He also got me a lounge chair for my Creative Cave! Best gift ever!  He now has a place to sit when he bothers me. LOL  It worked nicely for a bed for the daughter while she was here too. 🙂

I really love how it turns to a lounge chair. Reading chair! 🙂

He also got me a pretty glass item for my curio cabinet. I didn’t take a picture. Too many stairs to run up. 🙂

I promised him his big TV as soon as we can. 🙂

I hated seeing everyone leave but we must all get back to normal routines. 🙂

I will say I’m ready for Spring now. 🙂 I got my first bulb and flower magazine in the mail the other day. Ready! Where is Spring?