Merry Christmas!!

Uncle Brian entertained the nephews while waiting for Christmas Eve dinner.

Grandma Cutlan and Mom helped me collect Spode Christmas dishes for many years. Now I love to serve my Christmas dinner on these special dishes. Both of my grandmas and my mom were such excellent examples of hosting memorable Christmas celebrations. My hope is that my nephews will always have fond memories of Christmas Eve at Aunt Kristy's and Uncle Brian's.

We have had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Everyone came to our house on Christmas Eve and I did the Carlson family traditional dinner -- Grandma Carlson's "Beef Straganof." The first year we were married and I wasn't able to go home for Christmas, I cried on Christmas Eve when I realized my family was having the traditional dinner and I wasn't there. It was that year that I decided I would start my own traditional and make the dinner myself for the Walker family. I thinking they are finally starting to get used to such a unique dish! We had a festive time; everyone enjoyed the evening.

Christmas Day was quite relaxing. We opened our gifts from each other this morning and then went to my in-laws for dinner around 1:00 p.m. The Walker Christmas is quite chaotic with 6 little boys, but lots of fun! We are tired but what fun to spend the day with loved ones. We hope you have had a wonderful day as well.

Tomorrow Brian has to go to work. I'm going to go with him and work on my final exams and grades. My goal is to have everything done by the time we leave for North Carolina on Friday!! I will post more pictures tomorrow. Now it is time for bed!

Sorry! I've Been Kind of Busy!

We are almost done with school!! Yeah!! We had a Christmas program last night and a Christmas breakfast this morning!! One of the activities this morning was a "Teacher Wrapping Contest." My class succeed in immobilizing me, but did not strategize as to how to do it creatively and win the contest. I guess the thought of incapacitating me was so exciting they forgot to devise a plan first! Well, it was fun and a special time for the students to realize their teachers really care! Sometimes I think they wonder if we are just around to make life challenging! We have three more days of exams and then--freedom!!

I am printing my Christmas letter, applying the mailing labels, making chocolate covered pretzels for goodie bags, fine-tuning exams and loving the Christmas bustle. Hope all is going well with you!