Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

Christmas unveils the deep giving spirit within all of us. This Christmas showed me that I am incredibly blessed by my family and especially Doug.

We had a chance to celebrate sans others and really spend some time together at his house. Doug always decorates so well, and he is such a phenomenal host. I mean he has the house all decorated and the outdoors is full of lights and sprinkley sparkles.

Well, I arrived early so we could chat, and he had the grill already to start grilling. He went to town on our choices! Tenderloin, shrimp and chilean sea bass. Yes, all of it for our little tummies.

Isn’t that pretty!?

And some of my favorite wine

The dinner was ready with a nice salad and some delicata squash I broiled.

We are ready now to open some gifteroonies!

We decided to multi task and open while we eat.

He wrapped every little gift with perfection, and me? I did not. I was a bit haphazard with mine. (My little folded creation is on the top) (eek!)

We did lots of little gifts (which he wrapped each and every one), and then the big one.

It was so funny because we both got each other a concert experience at the MIM (Musical Instrument Museum (SO FUN!) and he got me……are you ready for this…… A LAPTOP.

Yes, a new MacBook. Are you kidding me??

I was going to buy one next year out of my savings and now!?  My sweet guy.

I think the best part of the evening was just cooking together and laughing.  After three years, I continue to see the beauty of this man. I can’t way to see what 2018 holds. He incredibly blessed me; He is truly an angel in my life. I love you, Douglas Hay.

Today, we were planning to see Ferdinand. It’s a wonderful children’s book which we have read many times.

Before this, however, we had to unveil Day 9!

 

Well, would you look at that? Thank you and gratitude notes.

And so, after the movie, we made a list of who we would like to thank and voila.

Kelly got a Wonder Woman card

Such fun today. What will be in store for tomorrow?

 

We awoke to both feeling ourselves again after at least one of us feeling not so hot.  Yahoo!! It was time to unveil the wonderment of Day 8.

Oh boy! We get to visit the Police/Fire headquarters. It was to be a fun day.

We headed to Trader Joe’s to pick up some treats. I was unsure about making homemade goodies since there are many crazy people who may want to poison our fine officers. And…well, I was out of eggs.

Upon decorating our basket and making a card, we drove to the Police/Fire headquarters in Scottsdale.

Now, they have a nice lobby which doubles as a museum. The man up front took our basket and asked us if it was for Police or Fire? I was not particular, so I said either one.

After a quick run through the museum and a kiss to the pony,

we went back to our car.

As we got into the car, this lady from the office knocked on our window and asked if we could come back in. She told us that the Chief of Police wanted to say thank you in person. (Serioulsy!?) (I’m guessing the Police fought for received the goodies).

We went into the REAL office of Police and were welcomed by this man:

He wanted to give Tatum a backpack full of trinkets (like a light up key chain, badge, pencil, eraser, cup..) and a cool hat. He also wanted a picture with us.

We were in shock. The kindness! And Tatum was a bit speechless. Yes, no words.

The assistant came over and asked if she could take a picture for their newsletter and if we’d be OK if they could write about our generosity.

I did not want to be in the newsletter (as you can tell, I was not quite as lovely as my adorable Tot). So I scooted out of it.

They were so grateful, and yet, I was the one with all the gratitude. Finally, another office wanted Tatum to come into his office so she could see his treasure chest. This I gotta see.

She picked ONE. (I tried to convince her of the KitKat, but she opted for a Hershey’s milk chocolate).

As we walked out, they continued to express their thanks, however I was the one boiled over.

Tatum wanted a picture with the statues out front.

What a great lesson for all of us. When you give from your heart, with no expectations, it comes back to you ten fold.

We celebrated by drawing a doggie and painting it. Wouldn’t you?

We sure appreciate our law enforcement officers.

When I came into get Tatum this morning, she told me her tummy felt “empty.” She was really complaining, and I assumed she was just hungry and just a tad grouchy. Therefore, it was not taken seriously.

I gave her her milk, and she didn’t want to go out with me to take Coti. That was odd.

Then when I got home, she had thrown her milk up all over the counter. I proceeded to make oatmeal, but then I decided not to give her any.

She then threw up again and again and again. My poor kiddo.

The day took a different turn. We had many plans, but these would not be happening. I gave her toast instead, and then she ended up throwing that up all over the place. Ugh. She felt better after this. We are now on her third change of clothes.

So, we still proceeded to find out about Day 7. Pointer stick poised and ready.

Well, a cheery picture should be for Tatum since she was the one ill.

We decided to make a horse for Ms. V. She colored in the one I made.

And then we wrote a note on the one she drew.

We are going to make the best of today. Plan B is God’s plan, right?

Thank you Jesus that she wasn’t sick for Christmas.

 

Did Santa come last night? Tatum was sure she heard him. She also knew he ate the cookies. (He or Coti!? We will never know).

Today she got to put Baby Jesus in the manger, but first she had to kiss Him.

Tatum could not wait to go downstairs, but I still made her closer her eyes while we walked past the tree and headed to get Snuggle Bug (for his walk).

When we returned, I made coconut flour pancakes, so mom could decorate them. Tatum couldn’t help it!

We munched down our reindeer, and headed to the living room for openings.

This little remote control jeep was a hit. Of course baby needed to go for a ride. (she was not interested in decorating it with all of the stickers it came with.

Coti got a bit spoiled too.

An annoying, loud, adorable little rubber cow. The squeaker needs to be a few octaves lower for our ear’s sakes.  He also got  cow the size of his body, and a little mouse which was destroyed in about a minute of his squeaking it.

I’m sure he was pretty content as he watched Tot.

Tatum continued to open.

More magnatiles (these are for me since I think they are the bomb)

Pointer sticks (She wanted these from Santa).

And they came in handy the rest of the day as she pointed to everything and sang the days of the week and the months of the year.

Lots of new games (as you can see by Tot)

Mom got a “5” charm from Tot.

And I made mom a FAMILY book of five years of memories.

I got a warmy towel. My name is on it so I won’t lose it I suppose.

Many more presents were unveiled, but he piece de resistance was this little baby. Santa brought her this too.

 

The scooter was scooted for about two solid hours. She said, ” I CAN do this!” I love her attitude.

Later, we went to Kelly’s house to hang out with the family. Kas and Kell made a charcuterie platter which was exquisite.

We had such a fun time. Sadly, I was a bit under the weather so I left early. Tatum scooted a bit more when we got home. That lasted until she collapsed at about 9pm!

What a Merry Christmas. A time with family.

 

Christmas Eve this year was a Sunday. This means that the morning was a tad bit different than usual. Every Sunday, we head down to breakfast in our jammies then get ready for church. This Sunday, we headed down to breakfast in our jammies, and did NOT get ready for church, Ha!

That is because we’d be going at night for Christmas Eve service. So it was a bit odd today just being “un”fancy today for a while.

Mom was out of biscotti, so I surprised her with a box of Shelley’s Biscotti flown in from Santa Cruz! She used to love this stuff when I lived there, so I like to surprise her with it.

And it was a hit!

So, after brekkie, we did the usual: draw a wreath, play with random stuff, read many many books, snack a bit. AND we journaled. Yes, I decided we need to start writing more, so why not start today.

AND, this was the kicker: She expected to see Santa at church tonight since he had been at Hillsong every year prior. However, we don’t attend Hillsong anymore, and I knew Scottsdale Bible would not have Santa present, so……how would she tell Santa what she wanted? A conundrum for sure. (for me too!??)

Ok, so I figure we’d write it in the journal, and then we’d leave the journal in the mailbox. That way, Santa could check it before he headed down the chimney.

I helped her write her two desires: A scooter and a pointer stick.

OH, and the next page, she wrote, “I have been a good girl.” I sealed it with my approval.

Later on that day, we got ready for church and headed to Scottsdale Bible for service. So good this year. The candle lighting and singing are always exquisite. And to top it, the message about the REAL gift being our Savior made us all ponder our blessings.

Dinner? I made salmon, sweet potatoes, delicata squash and salad.

The faces were smiling from ear to ear, so I am pretty happy about it all! Tatum and Coti especially!

Doug, once again, read Twas the Night Before Christmas to Tatum,

and we readied her for the reindeer and Santa to come. Cookies were out, and we were all in bed on time.

What will come tomorrow?

 

Today, we would head to Target to buy materials for our Homeless bags. Often, actually daily, we drive by homeless people on the street corners. Now, we usually carry granola bars and waters to hand out, but since it’s getting colder out, it would be nice to give something a bit more substantial.

After Target, we dumped out all the items and made piles. Time to bag them up.

Socks, wipeys, deodorant, sanitizer, granola bars and toothbrush/toothpaste.

Now we will load them in our car and hand them out as needed.

We celebrated by drawing a gingerbread house and coloring.

It’s going to be a beautiful Christmas. May HE be in the center of it all.