It's Just Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Comments for a Cause
  • Tea and Teapots
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Recipes
  • Products
December 26, 2013

Twas The Day After Christmas and All Through the House….

31 Comments/ 3693/ 0

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house …….that’s as far I as got.

Posts between now and the New Year may be a little sparse but of course there will be the annual 3 Words and a Song post AND the new January Comments for a Cause post coming up!!! So stay tuned for those!

Our holiday has been wonderful.  Time with our sons is always the perfect gift and the bonus this year is  actually spending a whole week at Aaron’s place together.  He is the perfect host, we have eaten well, slept well and played together well which is always a good thing.  I have missed being with the rest of the family but look forward to warmer months when the travel logistics to places of snow are much easier.

Every family has different traditions when it comes to celebrating the holidays and ours is no different.  In my family growing up stockings were a BIG deal.  Years ago Chris got me a different stocking because my original from when I was growing up was long and skinny and nothing fit in it.  For years I had a “stocking annex” because stuff just did not fit.  I have carried the “stocking is a big deal” tradition over to my own boys and they humor me when it comes to the stockings.

P1160167

Aaron asked me why his stocking has lace on it.  I have no idea.  I imagine it sounded good at the time in 1988 when I made it. (Toothbrushes are ALWAYS a stocking staple and now with fancy toothbrushes toothbrush replacement heads are included.)

P1160172

P1160174

We take the laid back approach to opening gifts these days.  The pile is smaller and maybe not too exciting but it works.

I did have an epic fail this year in the gift category.  Micah needed a lamp and I found the perfect one.  Obviously I did not read the description well enough and when said package arrived at Aaron’s house it was in a box 7 feet tall.  Sigh. What was I thinking?  How is he going to get that back to NYC?   The answer?   Aaron is getting a new lamp.

P1000005

P1000009

I think I made up for it with Micah’s favorite gift below.  Or so he says.  A very cute bulldog mug.

P1000006

I outdid myself with the meal this year.  A lovely ham, the mandatory green bean casserole, bread, salad and a fabulous roasted cauliflower and cranberry dish that is going to become a regular addition.  P1000007

Post meal found everyone in a state of various relaxation poses.   Micah with his ever present video gaming, Aaron with his napping like a cat in the sunshine and Chris—reading on his new iPad mini with headphones in listening to podcasts.

P1000004

P1000001

P1000003

All in all a great day to spend with the ones I love.  Hopefully your day was a good one in every way.  Looking forward to 2014 and all that it has to offer and to meeting more of my bloggy friends in person.

1387938437-f4dc7421-7888

Can you believe I got them to post for a picture in their Christmas jammies?  They really do love me.

43.152457-93.237147
Share:
Tags:
Christmas fail Christmas stockings Christmas Story Christmas with the family
← Previous My Favorite Christmas Video Forever
Next → Driving a Manual to Go Drink Tea While Listening to the Messiah While Petting My Tiny Giraffe

Related Articles

  • Distracted

  • Moving On

  • Randomness

  • Good Riddance, January!

  • A Week Off

31 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Jeanne Spear Ritchie
    December 26, 2013 at 07:23 am

    I didn’t even notice you all had on your PJ’s when I first saw this picture, then read the blog.I think you all look great, the smiles are what I saw!! Love reading your blog. Wishing you all a healthful and wonderful 2014. Love Arron’s cat napping, wish it would have been quite enough here to do that!! We started out with 7 plus Darrel and I , one left and 7 more came, then 5 left and 2 came, then those 2 left and around 6:30 Leslie and family headed home. Then it was tea and cookie time. Family gatherings are the best. And I thank the Lord for them and for friends new and old!! God’s love to you and yours. Jeanne

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 07:34 am

      Thanks so much, Jeanne. That was a sweet comment and I love how busy your house was. We are still a quiet house with just the “boys” but that will pass someday. I hated not being with my mom but it just was not to be this year. I called her and she had a quiet day but will be going to Paula’s tomorrow for a few days with them. We are all so blessed. Thanks again and hope 2014 is good to you.

      Reply
  2. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    December 26, 2013 at 10:39 am

    I love these snapshots of your Christmas. Just being all together is the BEST Christmas gift, isn’t it?

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Exactly!!!! You know it!

      Reply
  3. myfemalepersuasion
    December 26, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Great post! Nice family pics. Love the stockinh idea, the seven foot tall lamp (its really nicr) – and that plate of food looked delicious. Happy holidays!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 10:49 am

      The lamp is hysterically large. I have no clue what I was thinking. No–I do know! Micah said he needed a lamp and I went into Mama mode to provide for him. 🙂 Happy holidays to you, too!

      Reply
      1. myfemalepersuasion
        December 26, 2013 at 10:50 am

        Lol. Definitely a conversation piece. Thank you!

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann
          December 26, 2013 at 11:06 am

          🙂

          Reply
  4. Pix Under the Oaks
    December 26, 2013 at 10:56 am

    How fun! Sweet post.. 🙂 I love to sleep in the afternoon on the 4 seasons porch with a bit of sun and Coffee House on Sirius. Hmmm, I think I will look forward to that today cause we FINALLY have SUN! Your green bean casserole looks just right.. 😀

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 11:07 am

      The green bean casserole was perfect! As was the cauliflower. Yummmm. Leftover time.

      Reply
  5. joyweesemoll
    December 26, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Looks like a terrific day! Thanks for sharing with us.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 11:56 am

      Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. I really appreciate it!

      Reply
  6. Darlene
    December 26, 2013 at 12:47 pm

    I love the picture of all of you together in your PJs. What a happy, contented family you have. The cauliflower casserole looks fabulous. Any chance of getting the recipe?

    Reply
  7. Helen Brown
    December 26, 2013 at 01:21 pm

    I enjoyed the pictures so I could see all you on the day after Christmas. My meal looked nothing like yours but Saturday we will have our Christmas for the Ohio family. I am looking forward to being with them,

    Reply
  8. benzeknees
    December 26, 2013 at 01:32 pm

    I love looking in on other people’s celebrations! Pics of our celebrations here are non-existent as we just enjoyed some quiet time & I spent some time on C4C Christmas Eve & Christmas Day where I met some fabulous new bloggers!

    Reply
  9. Gretchen O'Donnell
    December 26, 2013 at 01:49 pm

    Stockings are a huge deal for us, too – and we have Stocking Annexes as well – and even call them that! We are kindred spirits, Bethann!!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer Flaa (@JeniEats)
    December 26, 2013 at 02:47 pm

    That lamp made me laugh. It’s as tall as a tree-really beautiful but impossible to take on a plane:) Dinner looks great and that bulldog mug is quite a find.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 03:24 pm

      The lamp is ridiculously big. I suspect it may end up on Craigslist but that is fine. The meal was perfect and I found a yummy new cauliflower recipe. :-). Hope your holidays have been great!

      Reply
  11. Debbie
    December 26, 2013 at 02:54 pm

    Aw, Beth Ann, I almost felt like a fly on the wall, peering over your Christmas festivities! Thanks for letting us share. Our Christmas, too, was rather laid back and low-key. Sometimes that’s a good thing! But I’ll bet that sunshine felt GOOD!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 26, 2013 at 03:22 pm

      It has been perfect. Today we cleaned the townhouse which was much needed after we have all flopped here! I didn’t document that. 🙂

      Reply
  12. My Odd Family
    December 26, 2013 at 06:05 pm

    They really do love you! What a wonderful holiday recap….The lamp was too funny. I would have challenged him to take it home :-D. I love napping on a cold day in the sun–If I can beat my furs to the spot. Bullies are cute! I keep on that is a favorite camper.
    Carry on and be Merry! As I know you will! (Odd is being naughty–on the way to nice I hope)

    Reply
  13. bocafrau
    December 26, 2013 at 08:08 pm

    So glad you are having a great time! I love that you guys got together and spent this time together. I always feel it’s the best time when it’s just the 5 of us hanging out, relaxing together and laughing!!! This year was the first year I didn’t put any toothbrushes in the stockings – the kids all got new water bottles instead! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Carol Cassara (@ccassara)
    December 26, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    The ham. I am riveted to it. It looks delicious!
    Carol
    http://www.carolcassara.com

    Reply
  15. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
    December 26, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    Merry Christmas Beth Ann! Keep enjoying your time with your family!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 27, 2013 at 09:16 am

      Thanks, Val. We are loving our time together. Oldest son leaves today to go back to NYC so I will be sad for a bit.

      Reply
  16. TBM
    December 27, 2013 at 04:55 am

    Sounds like all of you are having a great time! That’s awesome. I love the bulldog mug! Love it! Happy holidays from my family to yours!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 27, 2013 at 09:15 am

      The bulldog mug is awesome. I got Aaron a Corgi mug—he loves them . both boys want us to get a bulldog and corgi and raise them for them…….don’t think it will happen.

      Reply
  17. Jackie
    December 27, 2013 at 11:16 am

    Sounds like a perfect Christmas, having everyone together is always a mama’s dream. Love your Christmas picture all cozy in your jammies!

    Reply
  18. Rorybore
    December 27, 2013 at 09:14 pm

    I love the jammies!!
    And I think that is the right idea there — finding a nice sunny spot and taking a nap! I could definitely do that after all the excitement of my 3 kids. they have finally stopped bouncing off the walls today. but, it is such a joy too.
    Glad you had a wonderful Christmas. Will we be seeing that cauliflower recipe? because that looks amazing!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 28, 2013 at 06:40 am

      I think I need to share that recipe—I also just made a fabulous honey lime chicken enchilada recipe that was yummy. I need to do those—stay tuned!

      Reply
  19. Come Take Me Away – It's Just Life
    January 23, 2014 at 06:00 am

    […] me also remind you of the huge Christmas fail when I purchased the seven foot lamp for my son to take back on the airplane to…(you can read about it if you click on the link above but the picture pretty much sums it up). The […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Subscribe To Rss Feed
  • 2,256 Followers
  • 2,272 Fans
  • Followers
  • Subscribers
  • Subscribers
  • Follow It's Just Life

Comments For A Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Weirdo Style

  • Ringing in 2023 with Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Conservation at Work

  • Comments for a Cause – A Hand Up. Not a Hand Out

  • Comments for a Cause- Operation KeepSafe® 

  • Comments for a Cause – September 2022

  • Comments for a Cause – More Literacy, Please!

  • Comments for a Cause – July 2022 Edition

  • Comments for a Cause- Giving to Uvalde

  • It’s May – Time for Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Reece’s Rainbow

  • Comments for a Cause – Help for Ukraine

  • Powering Up with Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Cats, Cats, and More Cats

  • Comments for a Cause – Alzheimer’s Association

Check Out My Past Posts

February 2023
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728  
« Jan    

Text

Follow

Pinterest

Visit Beth Ann's profile on Pinterest.

Beth's bookshelf: read

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
5 of 5 stars
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
by Guy Kawasaki
As always Guy Kawasaki has a great book with great information about all things social media. I highlighted tons of places in this book and it is definitely one that I will come back to time and time again to help me in all of the socia...
Old Girls in Low Cotton
3 of 5 stars
Old Girls in Low Cotton
by Helen Childress
This short book was one that looked like it would be a fun read. I honestly did not enjoy it all that much---it was a lot of characters bickering and while some of the writing was witty and funny it was not that kind of book that made m...
The Good Girl
5 of 5 stars
The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
I loved this book! It had my interest from the very first page and was my "airplane" book on a recent trip. Author Mary Kubica created believable and interesting characters that the reader learned to identify with and care about. Mi...
All the Light We Cannot See
4 of 5 stars
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
This is quite a book! I had it recommended to me by several people and while I thought it might be a little dark and depressing it made me have a better understanding of what life in this time period was like. The strength of the huma...
An Abundance of Katherines
5 of 5 stars
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Another great book by John Green. I have become a huge fan of John Green since my reading of A Fault in our Stars and this book was another that did not disappoint me at all. It was a story of a child prodigy, a lot of anagrams, and a b...

goodreads.com

Professional Reader
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2015 It's Just Life, All Rights Reserved.

  • Media Kit, Advertising and Disclosure
 

Loading Comments...