it's a wonderful life

am blogging soundtrack: HC, Jr's When My Heart Finds Christmas
am blogging sustenance: Stonyfield Organic Greek yogurt


I'm a lucky girl.

No work today until 1pm. Woke up early and spent the hours so far making teeny tiny butter cookies that I will then lather with the most heavenly lemon glaze. After they cool and set, it's into some super retro jelly jars that I picked up on my last visit to the 'Burg. Then: tie 'em up with a pretty ribbon and spread some Christmas cheer!

After a (very) brief work day, I think I'll go out and pretend that I haven't been done with all my Christmas shopping for weeks . . . It happens every year. I'm all organized with game plan in mind sometime around my birthday. Then execution and the occasional small change in November. No wrapping until the tree is up after Thanksgiving. A few days of busy prep work. Then I just sit back and admire the bounty for the weeks preceding the big day. But now that we are firmly in Christmas week, I'm getting itchy! I kinda want to start all over!

Tonight we meet up with Clayton's parents at their favorite restaurant for tasty, tasty prime rib and Madrigal singers. Fun, right?! The annual family outing already took place but we missed it trying to get out of DC last weekend. So they took pity on us and tonight it's Lawry's: the sequel. Already salivating just a little:)

Tomorrow, another short work day - love me some pre-op clinic! - and then dinner and drinks with two of our favorite people, Brad and Lisa. Brad's birthday was last week so we're going to do a little combo celebration of both him and Baby Jesus. Yay!

Wednesday, a little bit longer of a work day but still likely to be ridiculously easy. And then, my Clayton Christmas. We're making a special dinner - rack of lamb with a creole mustard crust and a rosemary jous, lemony maple sweet potatoes, and fresh berries with cream for desert. We'll wake up Thursday morning, pretending it's Christmas, and tackle our stockings and previously mentioned under-the-tree-bounty. Our first Christmas in our new house. So sweet:)

The airport and Missouri follow. And then it's Haller Family Christmas and I can't WAIT! Sisters and smiles. Grandma and goodness. Parents and presents. Nieces. Nieces. NIECES!

Did I mention that I am one very lucky girl?