Christmas

Here are some pictures from the 23rd, from Christmas Eve, and from Christmas day itself. We had a lot to celebrate this year.

My mom has more Pinterest wins than anyone I know!

The gingerbread house did not get much farther than this. The kit was a fail. Next year we will try royal icing. 

This cranberry bread, which a friend made, was a delicious treat.

The 23rd and 24th were very stormy warm days. The sun came out a few times on Christmas though. 

Present for his Uncle J (Legos!!)

My brother and sister in law's tree. 

Christmas morning. 

I meant to post this yesterday, on Christmas day, but forgot. 

So many reasons to celebrate this year. To be honest, 5 months ago I did not expect to be here during the holiday season. And to be feeling so well. Well, if we are being honest, feeling well in comparison. I had horrible stomach cramps and I ran upstairs to vomit three times during the opening of presents yesterday. Cancer and chemo side effects have great timing.

And here I am. I am venturing out of the house. On Wednesday Brycen and I went to lunch and shopping with a friend! Of course, I am not ready to go out with him one hundred percent solo. I don't know if I ever will be. Going to Biltmore on Tuesday, and shopping on Wednesday and to my brother's on Thursday left me exhausted. The pattern seems to be 3 days of small adventures and 2-3 days of rest. Walking around, especially in jeans, irritates my stoma but I know it is good for my overall health. I said above I am feeling so well, and in comparison to a year ago, or to last July, I truly am, but I have a long way to go.

I have no idea what 2016 will bring, but I stopped living like I am about to die. For the longest time I didn't buy a lot of things because hell, I will use it for a few weeks then my loved ones will have to figure out what to do with it? I have needed a coffee table for over a year now, and I have finally decided yes I am going to get one. (Actually I am  only going to get one IF we move the train table to B's father's house, but that's a different story). I have been living day to day, which is sometimes necessary, but very often it is depressing as hell. So, even though it's a week early, here is the beginning of my goals for 2016:

1. Organize downstairs living area, which also double as Brycen's playroom.
2. Organize my scrapbook supplies
3. Read 50 books
4. Teach Brycen to read
5. Take at least one trip
6. Be more optimistic
7. See Brycen enter pre-k, make him a bagged lunch everyday

Speaking of reading 50 books, I read 36 in 2015 - and haven't read anything in November and December. 36 books in 10 months. I will have a post about it soon. Any recommendations for 2016?

What did you get for Christmas? I received a lovely hat, scarves, mittens, 2 new vests, a fleece - all will do me well in this 75 degree weather! 5 gift cards to Barnes and Noble was a lovely treat. Actually one is from Books a Million. That should help get me started on my 2016 reading. I was also given a paper trimmer for scrapbooking - I will have a post about that soon too.

Brycen's biggest wish was to have the collection of Paw Patrol Pups - we found all but one - oops. And he knew exactly which was missing! He was still a very happy boy.

I hope Santa was good to you too, and I hope your post holidays treat you well.