It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

December bas been whirlwind of activity. Well, the entire Christmas season, really, starting back in early to mid November.

The Christmas season always starts with the craft fairs. As has been tradition since she was in kindergarten (she's now in gr. 7) my cousin J and her mom help out with her school craft fair. It's pretty much the major fundraiser for the school. There are so many vendors they hold it in the gym of the high school they feed into, because it's bigger.
This year they ran the coffee cart/table. It's where they have the bake sale, too. As usual, the cupcakes were divine.

The first real 'celebration' I took part in was an open house at a friend's house. It was an appy evening potluck/games night.... no pics; I'd never been there before and i just wasn't sure about bringing my camera. We played Pictionary and it was a blast. Then a week later I had 5 wonderful women in for a cookie exchange. It's the second year I have done it. Made Peanut Butter Blossoms, because they're yummy, and frankly, fool proof. I'm not sure there is much else I can bake from scratch successfully. My hope is that this event becomes a full fledged tradition. We all had a wonderful time chatting and eating. Was so grateful to my friend C. in particular, because she thought to bring crafts and colouring for the children to do while the adults had a visit.
Attended 4 school related Christmas concerts; only got pics at 3, as one school is very strict about photography rules.

Dear sweet 'Z' - daughter of a friend - as Mary in her school's concert. Yes, this is a public school. They were allowed to have this scene because of the context it was placed in - how various people celebrate holidays at this time of year. They also had a Hanukkah song and some other components. It was a great show. Her older bro was also performing, but my pics of him are all lousy. The same friend's eldest child at her band concert, performing her solo. There's my buddy 'S' up in the top left corner. Doesn't he look handsome?

On the 13th a couple friends and I took their kids and went to the Bethlehem Walk in Parksville. I'd never been before. Now I want to go every year. It was amazing! Santa came to the school where we run our floor hockey program. It's one of my favorite days of the year. Love watching how the kids react to him.

I ended up having to bake another batch of Peanut Butter Blossoms because when I made them earlier in the month I only ended up with enough for the exchange. I think I made them too big initially. This time I remembered more clearly how big they should be and I got enough..... almost 6 dozen, if I recall correctly.

Had not one, but two, Christmas parties this past weekend. On Saturday I had my family over. Aunts, uncles, bro and sister in law, parents and a few very close, long time friends.

The next afternoon I had a group of friends from church.

And now, my intention is to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday. All the gifts are bought and wrapped. Most have even been delivered. There is nothing left that must be done between now and Saturday. It's incredibly freeing to knoow I can just relax for a few days until the whirlwind of Christmas Eve visiting and church, Christmas Day festivities, and Sunday's Boxing Day shopping. Gonna need my energy for all that!