Taking Christmas Away.

My daughter Hope accused me of being the Grinch today (which she must have watched 10 times this holiday season). I was packing up Christmas and she accused, ' Mom, you're taking away Christmas.' Of course it didn't help that she put on her most sad, eye watering, lip-quivering demeanor as she played Cindy-Lou Who to perfection.

'I'm taking the Decorations back to my workshop - Dear. And with my luck it will take me 2 - 3 weeks to clean up this mess. Don't worry Christmas will be back next year.'

The Big Thaw has begun and the UPS man finally made it to my home to deliver my Home for the Holiday's Christmas Swap Package.

Here's my late Christmas Present.

My swap partner Michelle knew exactly what Magazines and Books I would love spending my time gleaning ideas from.

I just know I'm going to love trying some of the re-purposed crafts mentioned here...

How did she know I'm still battling the Clutter Monster?

And she was very wise and instead of sending fattening goodies she gave me a ubber healthy cookbook. My husband has his eye's on it and since he's the main cook in the house I may have to turn it over to him.

So one of the rules of the swap was to post what we sent as well as what we received. Of course we filled out questionnaires for each other so we could better understand who we were getting gifts for.

Here's what I sent Michelle...

I luckily scored a lot of my gifts for 75% off on Black Friday.

I love sales.

In wrapping up Christmas I just have to tell you that our 12 days of Christmas Elf did deliver days 10,11 and 12. I'm just late in posting.

So Day 10 went like this...

Ten Lords a Leaping would be an awesome gift.

But they got stuck while jumping through a white snowdrift.

We had to be content, you see.

To watch the Kettle Corn Fly

So we added a sweet topping to it for you to try.

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

Those eleven pipers piping remind us of our plumber,

To leave him on the doorstep would really be a bummer!

Now make your water piping hot and fill your cups with care,

We're giving you hot cocoa we know you'll love to share!

We simply can't believe this game is almost through,

We have had a jolly time bring these gifts to you.

With only one more night, don't you wish you knew,

Just exactly who we are and why we're doing this for you?

I just love Hot Chocolate...

I didn't actually get a picture of Day 12, because um the kids raided the goodie cookie plate. But included in a sweet red Chinese take out box was chocolate drizzled fortune cookies, and a poem that goes like this.

Christmas Eve has arrived and on this our last night,

One dozen drummers would be a spectacular sight.

But the noise of the drums would really hurt your head,

So eat all these yummy cookies we've brought you instead.

And so we wish you a joyous Noel.

We know that you're hoping our name we will tell.

But our names stay a secret, we just can't simply share,

If just wouldn't be right, no it wouldn't so there

Merry Christmas to each and everyone one of you tonight...

Doing this for you all has brought us much delight!

Thank you 12 Days of Christmas Elf. We have no idea who you were but our holiday memories from this year will be much sweeter because of you.

Yes our holiday was simple but also very delightful. I'm glad it's over because I so need to shed the holiday pounds that I gained this year.

To bad I can't be a snowman.

A couple days of over-indulgent stuffing followed 2 days of above freezing (so I can come out of hibernation) temperatures. And our plump and happy snow man has turned into the Skinny Snowman. It look's like he's sporting a pompous hair-do, beard and doing his best to sing Christmas Carols to our passing neighbors.

O.K. I don't want to be a bearded singer. Just skinny.