Can't believe it's over....

Is there a "condition" for Post Christmas Let Down? If not...let's make one up. Let's call it PCLD. Ok? And, I am afraid that I have it. For some reason...I am simply not ready for this wonderful season to be over. I truly noticed...even in the midst of us packing up our home, leaving our family, quiting my job that I loved with all my heart, leaving my dearest friends, leaving my home town of 42 years....I found Joy this holiday. True Joy. Maybe it is because I slowed down this year. Doesn't sound like it with what I just mentioned does it? But I did. I took time this year to enjoy it. And, it really felt lovely.

Our Christmas began with traveling to Indiana to see my in-laws. We had the nicest time! On the way there, I saw this little red barn. The main door was open and inside, I saw this. I asked my husband if he would please stop so I could take a picture of it. After all....isn't this the true meaning of Christmas?


Now onto some silliness from our Christmas day at my parents. We also had a wonderful day with them. It began with our traditional sausage and egg casserole for breakfast and lots of coffee was needed. Then we went onto gifts. Even that got scaled back this year by all of us. I am just so proud of us this year! :)

My nephew wanted a Nerf Dart Tag game. Here are two of the three monkeys in their gear getting ready to shoot each other. I believe a dart got fired off at my kitty. Nerf darts are a toy he can't stand in the least. :)

Santa prints in the house. Believe it or not...my 14 year old daughter asked if they were going to be there this year since this is a tradition my parents started with my sister and I some 40ish years ago! So, I HAD to make them since she asked.

Toe socks for the 11 year old.

Simon Peter with his catnip mitten. He was zoned out after sniffing it to much. :)

Taylor excited to get her Crayola Crayon Maker. She wanted this thing so bad! I was afraid it would not work or be cheap like an easy bake oven...since it melts the wax with a light bulb...but it really works and she loved it.

She also wanted a pink camera. She is getting into scrap booking like her Nanny...so she wanted a camera to take pictures. She was very happy with it. It takes great pictures. I may have to borrow it when she is not home. :)

Shelby with her Rock Band she wanted. This kid loves music. She could not wait to get back home and try it out!

Shelby and her silly hat. I wish I had hair that would not look terrible after wearing one. They are so cute!! :)

My sissy and her vintage Santa that her thoughtful son bought for her. We took the kids to an antique store when they were visiting last weekend and he bought this for her there. We thought he looked a bit like the vintage one I still have from when I was a little girl. She loved her Santa. See...I told you she got over that fear of the big guy and she likes him now. :)

Sophie with her little sock monkey she got in her stocking. She was all tuckered out after playing with him that morning.

We went to the nursing home to visit my grandma after lunch. She was having a hard day...but I still got her to smile for me. She is going to be 98 years old in January. Bless her heart!! I love her so much. She looked at my girls and did not recognize them this visit. When we told her who they were, she could not believe it. Made me cry!! Then I made my sister cry! We were a mess. My sister and I got her a digital photo frame with lots of pictures of our family on it. She was very interested in it. She watched the pictures and laughed at them. I hope she gets hours of pleasure watching them and remembering those who love her so very much.

My parents gave Grandma this cute panda bear. It was the cutest thing to watch Grandma with it. She likes stuffed animals on her bed in her room. I hope she has fun showing it to her visitors and the people that work in her home that take care of her. She is very caring and sweet. I know she has probably already showed it to everyone that comes into her room.

And, that is it for our Christmas. I wonder if there is a cure for this PCLD Syndrome (Post Christmas Let Down) I am experiencing? I guess I will just have to eat another candy cane and see if that helps. I am quite sure that it will. :)