Shakin' Up Some Christmas

There's just about nothing better than Christmas time.  And it never fails, the couple days that follow, I tend to get the "after Christmas" blues...Same blues you get when you get home from a really great vacation.  Four weeks of enjoying and basking in Christmas bliss...comes to a screaching halt on December 26th.  Which is probably what makes the Christmas season so special, it only comes once a year.  But enough Grinch-ness from me...Christmas 2010...wonderful.  And Santa...He was good to the Schambergers!

We spent four glorious days with our family...first with Kevin's dad, followed by my family in Oakley.  It wasn't long enough, but then again, time with family always goes by too quickly!  Here's just a glimpse...

We ate too much...my mom is the best cook and the queen of the "Christmas Eve" spread...too many appetizers to count, too many pots of delicious soup, sandwiches, cookies, dips, veggie trays, crockpot, after crockpot after crockpot, new recipes, traditional recipes, desserts, oh yes, lots of desserts.  And of course, it's all homemade from scratch.  She's been planning and cooking for weeks.  But the spread on Christmas Eve is only a small prelude of what's to come on Christmas day.  Even the leftovers from Christmas rock.  And coming from a girl who doesn't like leftovers...now that's saying something.  Needless to say, I know why "New Years Resolutions" come after Christmas... the workout train is calling my name... but not for at least another week. :)

We laughed...reminiscing about the past, telling funny stories, blonde moments, and using all the tricks in the book to pull off the last minute holiday "surprise".  We had all of the above.

We celebrated my dad's BIG birthday...he turned the big 5-0 on Christmas day this year.  He rocks.  And of course, we sang "Happy Birthday" to him on Christmas Eve, my mom made him his favorite pie, and he blew out the"pseudo" candles we put in it...aka 2 lit matches that we stuck upside down.  Because whether you wish on 2 or 50, lit candles or lit matches, all the really matters is that you make a wish...or two.  I made him tell me what his 2 favorite things were of his 49th year of life...and wouldn't you know it...getting his daughter married was one of them...building their new house was the other.  Like I said before, my dad rocks.

We celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas Eve mass...we sang Christmas carols before church (even though I can't sing I pretended like I could)...we heard the Christmas Story and were reminded once again of the real meaning of Christmas...and we thanked God for all of our blessings.

We stayed up late..watching movies, playing games, talking, enjoying the time together, because no matter how much you try to take it all in and enjoy every last moment, it's over in a second.

We pretended Santa came...and we talked about the times when we were little and he really did come to our house, read our letters, leave presents under the tree and eat the cookies and milk.

We took family pictures...and we took more than one because getting everyone to smile without laughing so hard your eyes go shut is hard.

We drove 706 miles up and down I-70 but it was worth every mile.  And every mile traveled this year was leaps and bounds better than last year's adventure in the crazy blizzard of 2009.  And 12 hours plus of windshield time with my husband is actually pretty darn fun...maybe except for the last hour back to KC on Sunday when I was having myself a little "grinch-tantrum".  I love him for loving me, even when I get a little grinch-ness in my bones. 

We enjoyed all the small things about Christmas.  Every last one of them.  We were filled to the max with happiness.  Something about Christmas that leaves a person feeling...fulfilled.  satisfied.  100% blessed.

So Cheers...to Christmas 2010!

Here's to you and yours...hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!

Raise Your Glass

This past weekend we did just that at the WireCo Christmas Party.  It was a celebration of all the great things we accomplished in 2010, a toast to our spouses, families and significant others for putting up with us when we came home exhausted from a long day at work, and an appreciation of all the people that make a great company tick.  And let me tell you.... It.Was.The.Most.Fun. 

This year's theme was a Hawaiin/Cariibean party.  The invitation, pink flamingos.  The pre-dinner entertainment, hula dancers and a ukulele.  The center pieces, tropical flowers you only see in Hawaii. 

Everything was fabulous.  Great venue.  Delicious food.  Impressive martini ice scuplture.  Best band.  Good conversation.  And a night full of dancing.  I had the sore feet the next morning to prove it.  We also woke up to this little gem on our kitchen cabinet.  That's right, we were given one of the centerpieces to take.  You can imagine how fun this was getting into the car on the ride home.  It deserved it's own little seat.

Unfortunately, since the flowers weren't in water, I had to dismantle the centerpiece on Sunday morning, flamingo and all, and put the flowers in water.  Four days later, they're still alive...sitting by the piano, adding a little festive Christmas cheer to our kitchen...that is Christmas cheer Hawaiin style!

  

It's Christmas Time

 With the exception of hanging the stockings by the chimney with care, it's Christmas time at the Schamberger house.  I've been decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, and playing those classic Christmas carols on our piano since the day after Thanksgiving.  And finally, Christmas is so close I can almost taste it!  I absolutely love this time of year!!

Of course, I patiently waited until the Sunday after Thanksigivng to "Christmas-tize" every corner of our house possible...garland, ribbon, lights, pinecones, cranberry wreaths, santas, Christmas-y scented candles, bells, and of course one big ol' green tree.  One by one, we hauled every box from the basement marked "X-MAS" upstairs.  And finally, the last box, the mother box of all boxes, the box marked TREE (as if it isn't obvious what box the tree is in...) :)  All the while, I'm singing, "O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree..." , making up all the words I didn't know, and then busting up in laughter.      

And there you have it.  Christmas in the Schamberger house.  Merry Christmas to all and to all...a goodnight!

Tis the Season...

For giving and helping others, because after all, that's what Christmas is truly about. 

Kevin faithfully listens to the Johnny Dare Morning Show on 98.9 the rock, and recently was telling me about this program that Johnny Dare does for the holidays.  Apparently this is a 15 year tradition...It's called Hope for the Holidays.  They are giving people in KC a helping hand up.  People can write in and tell their story.  Then they pick one of the stories and read it and get listeners to call-in and donate money.  After Kevin told me some of the stories, I was impressed at all of the generosity.  College kids, stay-at-home dads, sales guys that have made great money this year, single moms, all walks of life, calling in and giving a helping hand to those that need it.

So, for a quick reminder of what Christmas is really about, go visit the website...download the app...tune in to 98.9 the rock...Listen to the Hope for the Holiday stories and be thankful for all you have, reminded about what's truly important in life, and be touched by all of the random acts of kindness and generosity.

http://www.989therock.com/pages/8585862.php?