The past few days have been busy with family telephone calls, e-mails, cooking, shopping and trying to rest in between. Having spent Christmas Eve with our friend Ilona, then returning her back to the Retirement Home, Michael and I spent a very quiet evening enjoying Christmas Carols and Holiday-type movies. Christmas day was spent with our daughter, Kathrina 
doing all the "christmasy stuff" that happens on this special day. Cooking too much food, eating more than you can hold and tearing wrapping off presents in a hurry to see what Santa brought you! After I took her home I took some pictures of her decorations for the Holidays.
Now that the BIG DAY has come and gone, I'm trying to adjust to relaxing and doing what I like to do best: crochet and play with my computer. Lots of other things I should be doing - but I "need" this time to unwind and relax and just "do nothing" for the day.
Receiving presents from friends are more precious than the ones family gives each other. Picking gifts for some people is not easy, but friends always know what you like and they take time in choosing just the right one. I collect teddy bears of all shapes and sizes. So this year - I got a wonderful "bride" bear that also sings: "Going to the Chapel of Love..." - what a sweet gift from a wonderful friend. Her daughter is just as sweet, she presented me with a "valentine" bear holding a small heart-shaped ring box. Thank you both for being my friend.
I have a lot more pictures to share with you, but you will have to visit my 2006 Christmas Album to see them.
I hope that each and every one of you had the opportunity to spend these special days with loved ones, if not in person, then in memory. It is sometimes difficult to see that some members of one's family are no longer with us, but then you see the faces of new babies coming into your family and there is time to rejoice and celebrate new life.
Until Next Time,
Hugs,
Nanabear.
