12-23, Christmas Get-together

As I post every year, we have an annual tradition of inviting our next door friends over for a celebratory, holiday dinner at Christmastime.  It's so fun to mix family with feels-like-family.  This year Sven had the wonderful idea of brotzeit:  a traditional German meal consisting of meats, cheeses, bread, pickles, etc.  The meal was a hit and the festive air was soaring.  Our resident bartender was in action keeping the merriness flowing.  For me, personally, it was the happiest I've been since before my concussion.  It was so wonderful to be surrounded by these loved ones in our home during the holidays.  At one point, while sharing stories around the table, I looked outside and it was snowing, really snowing.  It was beautiful inside and outside.  I thank everyone who traveled many miles-- or just to the house next door-- to spend this beautiful evening with us.  We are truly blessed to have you in our home that night and our lives every day.  💕

12-15, Christmas Preparation

It's always busy before Christmas.  This year was a strange sort of busy.  Sven was busy with work and the kids were busy with school.  I, however, was laid up sick with what turned out to be a sinus infection.  If you haven't experienced a sinus infection on top of a concussion, man, you're really missing out.  My balance was so bad that folding laundry seemed like an Olympic sport.  It was definitely interesting.  Thankfully I'd gone to the doctor just in time because the last of my antibiotics ended the day after mom and dad arrived.  It still took awhile to recover, but I was grateful for each day of feeling better.  I feel like I missed out on a lot of the Christmas preparation since I slept most of December.  It was funny to think that I had started getting ready for Christmas in October (I never, ever do that!) and I couldn't figure out why.  It became clear to me after my 20th Hallmark Christmas movie that had I not had that strange urge to prepare for Christmas in October that we could never have pulled it all together.  Funny how things work themselves out sometimes, isn't it?  Anyway, here are some of the fun memories along the way to Christmas.....  

I made each of us a metal ornament that had 2 special memory photos from 2017.

I don't 'think' I'm one of those crazy oogling pet owners,
but you have to admit Abby looks quite chic.  =)

A friend of ours gave us this star ornament from Bethlehem.
Em loved it and it will be forever cherished. 

Color?

Or white?  This beautiful tree made listening to my audio books with my morning cup of coffee much more pleasant.  I still don't like the idea that I have to listen to my books, but hopefully that recovery is coming along as well.

The perk of feeling badly is that you let things go that your OCD self might not otherwise let go-- like letting your kids make the sugar cookies.  Watching them work together and enjoy this pastime was SO much better than striving for the perfect cookie.   They did a beautiful job!  Hmmm..... I guess I forgot to take a photo of the finished products.  =(

The day my parents were due to fly in was my first day of vestibular therapy at the hospital.  Who else should arrive in the clinic but Santa?!

And I think Santa liked me.  He surprised us all with a kiss on my cheek.  Superstitious me thinks this has to be a good sign about the results of this new treatment, right?!

A little game we have around the Krauss Haus is to try and get the teenager to offer an authentic smile.  This shirt did it!  I, however, did not capture said authentic smile, so we had to reenact the moment with this 'come on, mom' fake smile!  But, the shirt is a hoot, right?!

Abby's favorite spot to hide and observe during the holidays.

Hmmm.... how to arrange everyone's sleeping quarters.....
Welcome to my studio that has been converted into a 2-bedroom suite!

Kind of crazy looking, but totally effective!

Now, for the Christmas festivities to begin!