sigh of relief...and some christmas cheer!

(my little tree)

I finally feel like I can just sit and relax and start enjoying christmas!  I had the most wonderful night last night and day today - even though I've been tired.  The surprise party was so lovely, even though I could only stay for a few minutes.  Then I ran off to my co-workers house for a cookie exchange with some of the moms from our preschool class.  It was SO nice to be out of the house without a child and get to just sit and enjoy other ladies.  And I brought home tons of cookies (all of which are in my freezer now, so I'm not tempted to eat any of them).  I had some very good white wine and cheese and crackers, and we had an ornament exchange.  I stayed until about 10 - which is usually later than I go to bed!  It was worth it though.

Then today I went to a Christmas breakfast and gift exchange for work.  It was also so cheery and fun!  The same co-worker who had the cookie exchange got my name, and she gave me lots of Starbucks VIA instant coffee packets (which I haven't tried before), a starbucks card, and a years subscription to Food Network magazine.  Such fun!  I got someone I didn't know very well, and gave a homemade tote bag (wish I had taken a picture, it turned out so cute!) a warm red fuzzy blanket, mug from Starbucks (I wanted to keep it for myself, ha) and a Starbucks card.  And I got a completely unexpected Christmas bonus!  Giving gifts and laughing got me in the Christmas spirit and I'm ready to finish up my shopping and sewing this week now.

Anyway!  I got a lot done today too!  I cleaned the kitchen, finally cleared off our dining room table (It was piled with shopping bags and gifts from the kids from school), vacuumed, made an enchilada casserole for a potluck we went to earlier this evening, wrote thank-you notes to all the kids in my class (I could not believe how spoiled I got!), bought stamps for our Christmas cards (still need to get toner so I can print the labels though!), decorated a little, and finally folded the laundry thats been in the dryer all week.  I still need to bake some cookies for my sisters fundraiser tomorrow, but other than that, cleaning the rest of the house can be put off until tomorrow.

Here are some pictures of our little apartment, now turned cheery and warm:

still need to make Shea's stocking...

told you it was little (its sitting on a table in the corner so Shea can't get at it)

I just took this because I cleaned off the shelf.

flowers from one of my preschoolers

a Christmas cactus from a little girl in my class - I put it in the guest bathroom.

I am so happy to be off work!  I am excited to just be home with my son and be able to keep the house clean and visit friends and family over the next couple of weeks.