Christmas 2011.
It’s done.
My goal had been to have very special gifts for as many of my family as possible.
Mission accomplished.
Husband actually cried when he opened his gift. “Just a little bit”. “You don’t have to point that out”.
Son and Daughter-in-Law were surprised and very touched by the gift for the granddaughters. “There is one for each of them!”
Daughter is in Oregon. They are two hours behind us and were opening gifts late in the evening. We haven’t heard from her about the gifts, although we talked to her by phone yesterday. It was the first time that one of the kids wasn’t here for Christmas. I really missed her.
I had a painting made for Husband. It was done from a photograph he’d taken on our vacation to Glacier. He has always wanted an original oil painting. He has regretted agreeing that his brother could take an original oil of a scene in Glacier that his parents had. My daughter-in-law helped me choose a frame, and we had it framed and wrapped for him. He had absolutely no idea what the gift was, as it had been stored with son and daughter-in-law.
Last fall I took a writing class. I wrote a story for my granddaughters which was about them. I used the snapfish.com website and made the story into a real storybook for them. It included photos of them and drawings by my oldest granddaughter. They haven’t read the book yet as the toys they received took priority in the Christmas rush, but I am looking forward to hearing if they like it. I think they will.
My daughter and her significant other joined us on our vacation this past summer. Again, I used snapfish.com where I made a book for her of the photos from the vacation. I hope that she enjoys that.
Over the past few months I have spent a lot of energy and time planning these gifts, making them, and anticipating the gifts being received. Now that it is all over, I feel a little a bit lost. I don’t have another project in the works. I’m not sure what to do with myself.
My gift from my husband included some nice luggage, which had been on my list.
I think I’m going to have to start planning a trip.
There must be someplace that is warm and sunny in February.
Just My Life 
What wonderful gifts. I got a plate of baklava — which I greatly love! My stocking these days are full of sticks and coal.
By: Kay Dennison on December 26, 2011
at 3:47 pm
Awesome! But where are the pics of the painting? *pout* I’ll bet it is gorgeous. And what a wonderful idea for the grandkids!
Warm and sunny is relative (do you consider 60-65 warm?), but you could come visit us here in SoCal … I’d love an excuse to take a few days off work. 🙂
By: dragonfae on December 26, 2011
at 6:27 pm
Very nice!
By: Sank on December 26, 2011
at 7:54 pm
In my family, if no one cries happy tears, it was not a successful Christmas. Ya done good and are a really neat gift giver.
Florida is nice in Feb.
By: Arkansas Patti on December 27, 2011
at 7:21 am
These sound like great gifts! I’m sure they appreciated the thought you put into it 🙂
P.S. Arizona is nice in February…usually sunny!
By: jannatwrites on December 27, 2011
at 8:59 pm
That’s really a great gift for your husband.
And I’d vote for somewhere tropical.
By: secret agent woman on December 27, 2011
at 9:29 pm
Such thought and love you put into the gifts. They are priceless.
By: yearstricken on December 28, 2011
at 8:07 am
I’d forgotten about the gift to your husband. How wonderful. Also, I may just have to steal your idea about writing a story about a special little one or two. I just love it.
By: Rose on January 5, 2012
at 9:26 pm