Visiting Santa

Is this not sweet? Cate wants a drum for Christmas. I think Santa will oblige.

We are having such a marvelous lead-up to Christmas. Last night we went to the Dairy Queen before we drove around to look at Christmas lights. That was an extremely popular outing. We are also baking and cooking and visiting. 

Claire & her mother RaChelle are on their way to Olympia for a sleepover tonight. I made this soup for the second time and I am telling you, it's the best vegetable soup I have ever tasted. I do use homemade chicken stock though and add just a little bit of butternut squash as well. Who knew parsnips are so delicious?

I am just luxuriating (word?) in the plans for the rest of the week. RaChelle will be here, I get to go to a movie with Sherry, we are going to have some of our favorite people over for dinner on Friday, open presents with my girls, watch our annual viewing of Love, Actually and then drive to Richland on Christmas Eve to spend several days celebrating Christ's birth with the most marvelous people I can possibly imagine. Sounds pretty great, no?