Christmas Preparations at the Pond

I sent out my Christmas picture postcards.

Got Laura working on the Christmas table favors. 

Talked Mike into putting up the Christmas lights.
This has never been his favorite job but he is much more receptive now.  My brother introduced us to the Star Shower projector lights last year but we were unable to buy them anywhere.  They were all sold out.  This year I grab a box early in the season.  Then, the kids bought us one and a Secret Santa bought us one.  The lights from the Secret Santa dance.  Those are on the shed so I can enjoy them from my office window.  Mike looks smug now every time we pass a house that has all the old-fashioned string Christmas lights.

Finished my Christmas shopping.  

Most of it I did online or locally but still I had to go to the big city- St. Louis.  Laura and I went together to one mall that had all the stores I needed in one place.  This was very efficient but stressful as it was crowded.  She suggested we stop to pick up lunch but avoid all the people and the cold.  She has become an expert at this.  

Laura suggested Chick-Fil-A because we could see it from our parked car.  I suggested we just walk there but she said no.  It was cold and beside we would have to walk up a hill.  This from a Cross Fit expert.  

Note the temperature on the top right.

She had us place our order and pay for our items while we sat in the car in the mall parking lot.  Then we drove to Chick-Fil-A and parked right in front of the store.  

Then we notified them we were there and confirmed that our car was a gray sedan.  All this was done via the app on the cell phone.  

Then we waited a bit which she said is highly unusual.  This goes to show how often she has done this.  

Our food was brought out to the car while we remained warm and seated.  Of course, we messed up the efficiency of the operation when we made the Chick-Fil-A employee pose the food for the picture.  She laughed a lot.  

However, what really made me feel like Christmas was coming was the arrival of this box.  

It is Uncle Roger's box of popcorn.  He sends it every Christmas.  Not only is it a tradition but it is delicious too.  The whole family looks forward to this popcorn.  Now that I have included the picture in the blog I am pretty sure my children will show up for Christmas.