It's Beginning To Feel a Lot Like Christmas

This is such a busy time!  How did I ever do everything during the Christmas Season when I had two active boys at home and I worked a full time job?  Youth has more energy I guess, as much as I hate to admit that.
I'm actually doing pretty well, though.  Mom and I went Christmas shopping yesterday.  I try to do it all in one day and that's what I did.  We were going to go to Westmoreland Mall in Pittsburgh, about two hours away, but I woke up not feeling very well and yet still determined to stay true to my schedule we decided to stay here in town to do our shopping.  Our mall is very small, but there are enough stores to get what was on my list.  We headed into town at 11:00 am, and by 5:30 pm we were picking up pizzas to take home for dinner.  The car was packed full and for the most part, both of our lists were checked off.  I was tired, but I started wrapping presents about 6:30 and continued until 9:30 last night.  I wrapped the last few this morning and what a good feeling. DONE (for now)
Now I have my annual Christmas letter to write to put into the Christmas cards but I don't think I feel like doing that today.  I have the outline finished, though.
Here are some more pictures of my Christmas decorating. 

This is my outdoor tree on the front stoop.  It has a grape theme to it.

The front of my house with the poinsettias in the window boxes, lights and garland around the door and lights in the rhody bushes.  I have lights in the bushes on the left, too, but I can't find the right adapter for the plug.  So frustrating!  Notice the snow - it's still there but now with ice on top of it.

This is the view from my back deck.  More poinsettias in the boxes with tiny wreaths hanging below them, and my wooden trees next to the bird feeders.  Cold, but pretty.

Now back inside where it's warm.  Here's my fireplace and mantel.  My mother bought me this Christmas angel a few years ago for my birthday.  I hang it above the mantel each Christmas, but I move it to hang in a corner the rest of the year because I love it.  The fireplace screen was done for me by my design by an artist friend that does beautiful stained glass work.

This is my Thomas Kincaid village that sits on my wine cabinet in my dining room.  A few years ago I bought this by sending for one  building each month for five months.  The grandsons love to play with the little people, car and sled. 

I think if you click on the pictures they may enlarge.  I'm also putting up pictures on my other site of my Christmas quilts and pillows that I've made.  Take a visit over there in a little bit for a look.

Well, I'm still not feeling great, so I think it's a good night for tomato soup and grilled cheese.  Oops, it's 4:00.  Time to turn on all the Christmas lights!