Bingo

One of our Christmas Eve traditions has been to play Bingo for prizes. Mom started this when the girls were small to help them learn their numbers. We started to play it on Christmas Eve a few years ago, and now it's expected. The prizes are always fun - lottery tickets, candy, and a few gag gifts. This year Jenny and Randy will stay overnight Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, Julie, Travis, and Natalie will be with us; and we'll play Bingo after the gifts and the big Christmas meal. If Mandy and Shane are able to get home after Christmas, I imagine we'll be playing the New Year's Eve version as well.

Christmas countdown

My daughter Mandy and her husband Shane live in Ontario. She has posted pictures of her Christmas decorations in their home, and I think she's done a beautiful job! Mandy and Shane live about 8 or 9 hours from our place (depending one how long it takes to cross the border and how many stops at Tim Horton's). They will be spending Christmas in Ontario this year, but we are hoping they will be here for New Year's Eve.

Audrey, Melissa, and I stitched yesterday afternoon. If only we could stitch as fast as we talk! Audrey made me a beautiful small quilt which I promptly put underneath my Christmas centerpiece on the kitchen table. We let someone borrow our camera, and I will post a picture as soon as it is returned. She made spiced apple juice for us to sip on and had chocolates on the table for snacking. I'm glad we are not sticking to the "no snacks" rule!

We are now in the countdown mode for Christmas - 10 days to go! I have just a few gifts left to wrap and some stocking stuffers to pick up. This is the first year I think I have ever been on top of my game plan for the big day, and it feels good!