dark december mornings...

 ...the days will be getting longer soon, and shh, I rather like the darkness.  The sun is just rising now, and I've been up for a few hours.  (The cat.  He likes to go outside during the night.  When it's 3:30, I can usually go back to sleep, sometimes there is tossing and turning involved.  But this fine morning it was 5:30, and why even bother?). 

My water aerobics class is an hour earlier for the next month, because the elementary kids are using the pool, we like to get out of the locker room by the time they get in.  So I have to get moving earlier anyway.

This dog knows she isn't allowed on the couch.  She jumped up there and looked at me.  Paul thought it was funny.   

Orange Guy was on my chair with me, Old Kitty jumped up and tried to get closer.  She is his mother, and he is very disrespectful.  He is the king of the back of the couch, in the background, the couch the dog IS allowed on, and if his mother is there, he just hisses and swats at her, growls a little, and she jumps down.  She is so sweet, Ms. Purrer.   (He is a hunter though, a keeper, he always has a mouse out in the driveway, I hope he's keeping them out of my camper)

The cake that Camille made for cousin Linnea's birthday party, three layers of chocolate with buttercream.

Our church Christmas party for the kids, Camille helped me at the cookie frosting table...she has Jamie, then Maeve with Grace, and Rhys.  

The kids loved it.

Ruth and Rhys with presents

Ophelia

Me with Maeve at Achilles' birthday party.

With Jamie and Maeve...Maeve was tired, I think I could have rocked her to sleep, but when Jamie heard me singing to her, he had a No Fair face on, and wanted UP.  

Achilles, such a sweet boy.

Auntie Evelyn holding Blythe, and Uncle Sam holding Jamie

It's always a little sad for the other kids when the birthday child opens gifts, but it's good for them, right?

A triple batch of chocolate chip cookies with M&Ms....it didn't quite fit in the new mixer, dang it.  

Ah well, it's going to be a busy week.  I have two different things to pick up from Marketplace today, then tomorrow I'm babysitting for Sam and Grace's kids.  There are presents to wrap, presents to buy, cookies to make and bake, and frost, and and and.  But.  I will not stress.  If I could do Christmas back when I had sixteen kids in the house, along with three December birthdays, I'll be fine.  I'm just a little older and creakier, ha.  (and let's not forget a bit more forgetful, but then I was always good at hiding a present and forgetting where I hid it, or forgetting something for my own Secret Santa after helping seven other people with theirs...)

There are stockings to stuff and a Christmas Eve buffet to plan, along with a Christmas dinner...I have to get cracking, don't I?   I actually have to hurry up and get out the door, pool time!  Have a good day!