It’s that time of year… and something I love getting… and enjoy sending…. Christmas cards!
But there’s a little problem–although my cards have gone out to my readers, I’m getting quite a few back! Apparently I don’t have current addresses for some of you. (Or even a mail address at all!) Have you moved in the past year? Are you on my mailing list? (You would have gotten my She’s Gone Country excerpt, bookmark, recipe card for Grandma’s Lazy Day cake, and pen mid Summer if you were.)
If you didn’t get it, or you’re new to my JaneBlog I’d love to make sure I have your current mail address. Please send me a private email with your snail mail address and I’ll make sure you get a Christmas card this year, which includes a couple more of my favorite She’s Gone Country recipe cards. I have 7 recipe cards total so keep an eye out for chances to receive all 7.
And now that I’ve got that bit of business handled, let me wish you all–particularly those in Australia and New Zealand–a Merry Christmas as its already your Christmas Eve. I’m currently sitting at the New Orleans airport with my boys waiting to catch a flight to Houston where we’ll connect to a flight to Seattle. It’s going to be a very busy few days as we head back for a fast Christmas at my Bellevue house and then on Christmas Day sons Jake and Ty head to Arizona to join their dad, and Mac, Surfer Ty and I head to Hawaii til early January.
New Orleans was amazing. Lots of adventures–some good, some not so good–like the 6 hours Mac spent in ER being stitched up for a fall he took in the hotel room. He leaves New Orleans with a special souvenir–a big fat scar in his chin–but at least there were no bones broken and he’s back to being as busy as ever.
And what would the holidays be without a chance to win something fun? I’ve got two festive Christmas boxes with Christmas themed novels and treats for two of you. Tell me what you’re doing for Christmas and you’re entered. Contest runs through Christmas morning 8 am PST and I’ll announce the winners Christmas Day.
Happy Holidays all! Thinking of you and sending love.
For the actual Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, we will cook lunch for my 85 year old Dad like always and get him to open one present. Then we will have our son, DIL and new granddaughter with us on the 27th and celebrate with a special meal and presents. Really, the best part of Christmas is being with loved ones no matter the calendar date. And, I know on the 25th and the 27th and every other day my hubby and I will get up early and walk our neighborhood saying the devotion for families out of the Book of Common Prayer, praying for all of our friends and family with Thanksgiving!
PS Both of our sons had chin accidents as small boys and the good thing is that with growth the scars moved under their chins. Hope Mac is doing OK and you too!
I got my card in the mail, thank you! I will be going to my mom’s for Christmas dinner and spending the day. Hope Mac is feeling better. My nephew did that when he was about 3. He jumped on a box and fell to the hardwood floor and busted his chin. He had to get three stitches. They wrapped him like a mummy so they could do it. I also have a scar on my chin, from hitting the end of a table at my grandma’s house. I don’t remember getting the stitches, so hopefully Mac won’t remember either. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas. My cousin is taking me out for brunch and then we’ll probably go to my other cousin’s house to hang out for a while before the big holiday dinner.
I’m so sorry to hear about Mac and his stitches. My guess is that it’ll be the first of many. When Joey broke his arm it nearly killed me. He was such a tough guy, but I knew he was hurting and I couldn’t do a darn thing!!
For Christmas I will have nearly every family member I hold dear at my table. It brings me the greatest joy!! My brother has to work (he’s in law enforcement) but his wife and my sweet baby niece (just shy of her first bday) will be there. We’ll have a Honeybaked ham and all the wonderful side-dishes that we can’t live without.
I can’t wait to see some Hawaiian Christmas photos. Wishing you safe travels and a Christmas filled with joy, laughter and peace!!
Hugs from Tustin,
Shannon
P.S. less than a month till we see each other. ((o:
Glad Mac’s ok. That must have given you a scare.
I’m spending the day with my family. Christmas brunch at my parents.
Hope your family has a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy Hawaii!!
Thanks for the card Jane – great picture! Sorry to hear about poor Little Mac’s stitches. We’ll be spending Christmas Eve at church and then exchanging gifts and eating snacks. Christmas day is the sit down dinner cooked by my wonderful mother. Merry Christmas Jane!
Well, we are doing the same thing we have done for the past 3 years…nada 🙂 It’s hard being so far away from our family during the holidays, for the last 3 years. Flights home for the 5 of us are hard being on one income and a drive through 3 states and several passes covered with snow isn’t worth the risk. So, it’s just us. I remember several years ago my husband and I complaining how we would like to spend one holiday at home, just us. Being split between his family and my family (Which is doubled being my parents are divorced and both remarried) made the holidays crazy with lots of driving around. Now that we got our wish we realize how much we miss being pulled in a million different directions. It’s just my husband and I and our 3 kids and 2 dogs in sunny Cali. Which is also hard because I’m use to snow and cold this time of year. Sigh, I did decide to make my grandma’s Enchilada’s for Christmas dinner. I know it’s outside the norm, but it’s what we grew up with and I’d love to bring a piece of home here. Merry Christmas Jane
I am spending Christmas at my grandmothers house with the family! I was thinking earlier how it’s hilarious that my sister and I live in the same city as our parents but we still spend the night at our parents house on Christmas Eve! 🙂
I did get your card and thank you so much! We are going to my sisters for the day and it looks like it’s not going to snow until after Christmas so I am thankful for that since we have a long trip. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
Hola Jane. Feliz Navidad to all from San Antonio. Wishing you a safe trip back home. To bad you weren’t able to go thru S.A., would have love to have treated you to some great Tamales! Getting ready to do some baking for Xmas Eve with my in-laws and Xmas day with my side of the family. Will do some traveling to a small town 1 hr west of S.A.
Merry Christmas Jane!
For Christmas Eve my mother’s side of the family is coming to dinner and we are exchanging gifts. Then on Christmas Day we are going to my father’s for dinner. It is quite a busy weekend, but I am looking forward to it!
Hi Jane.
For Christmas, I will be heading home to visit my family. Those times are so much fun.
Happy Holidays!
Melinda
I got your card and your family is lovely. Thanks for the recipes too. Poor Mac…it’ll heal, he is so precious (little hellion on wheels..lol). My ‘boys’ and us will have Xmas around New Years. Good thing we’ve all become flexible over the years with them serving in the military and etc. Until then, my husband and I will have a very quiet regular day on Xmas, but will be savoring up all the anticipation for when the family comes together with good eats, holiday cheer and us all together. Best wishes to you and your family Jane…you are a treasure to all of us and Best Wishes to all who post on your blogspot….Ruth
On Christmas Eve, my side of the family is going to our church’s candlelight service and then opening presents at our house. Christmas morning we drive a couple of hours to my in-laws for a big family dinner and presents. Then next Tuesday my brother and his wife fly in, and we have another Christmas!
Jane, I wish you and all readers here a wonderful Christmas!
On Christmas day we go to some friends where there will be 8 of us; I’m bringing baking.
On the 27th we go to my brother’s farm where I grew up from the age of 10. Everyone but the Calgary 4 will be there.
There will be toboganning, skating, ski-dooing, etc. Fun for the kids.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Mac, so sorry!
Oh no, poor little Mac. I hope his boo boo is better really soon. I loved your Christmas card. Everyone looked like they were having fun. Have a wonderful time in Hawaii and I hope the boys enjoy visiting their dad. We are going to my husband’s family tomorrow night and Christmas day we go visit my parents. it’s just us and them since none of my other sisters live close enough to come. Merry Christmas, or should I say Mele Kalikimaka (since you’ll be in Hawaii).
Jane,
Thanks for the card. It was very thoughtful of you. You have a good looking family!
My sister will come over for Christmas Eve and we’ll open presents with my family and call my out-of-state sisters. Then we’ll go to the candlelight service at church. On Christmas Day we’ll drive 3 hours to my in-laws for a big family dinner.
Merry Christmas, Jane!
Jane,
Loved your card and the photo especially, and thanks for the goodies! I am behind and made a mess of your card (upside down address, too dark, etc..) but I do wish you and yours the best Christmas ever and a great New Year!
Christmas Day we drive over the mountains to spend the day with my husband’s family and then home again that evening. Sunday my family is coming here for turkey dinner and a gift exchange/swap and more fun times.
Our son is visiting from Toronto and I am still busy baking cookies and wrapping, and when all that is done, cleaning, but it is so worth it! HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and all your readers!
Merry Christmas, Jane! Thank you for your Christmas card. I also love going out to the mailbox for those holiday cards and pictures during this time of year.
I will be with my family on Christmas Day at my oldest brother’s house. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone together.
Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas. We will be spending the day with my sons and their families which will be memorable. We are preparing a feast for this special occasion and the warmth and close family means a great deal to us.
Sorry to hear about Mac’s “souvenier.” Like you said, at least it wasn’t broken bones.
We are doing our normal thing for Christmas. Heading to my parent’s house for Christmas Eve. This is when my family is use to opening all of our gifts. Then on Christmas morning we will have a big breakfast here at home and enjoy the kids opening their gifts from Santa. After that we’ll head to the in-laws house. I’m looking forward to it. My husband and I both work at a hospital, so we always feel blessed to not be stuck at work. Family means more than anything and I just enjoy spending these special moments with them!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jane!!!
Oh Jane, poor little Mac. Being little is so hard.
I just got my computer reformatted. I was hit with the Blue Screen of death since last Wednesday and I haven’t had a computer for a week.
Everyone will be home Christmas Eve night. We will spend it at my moms house. Christmas Day we will visit the other relatives take a ride around town after dark to look at Christmas lights. We will finally top off the evening watching the new Dr. Who Christmas Carol Special at 9:00 that evening.
Merry Christmas!!
Thanks so much for the Christmas card-it captures your family beautifully! We love spending the day at home with our family. We usually stop at my inlaws and bump into someone (my husband is one of 11kids) so it can be cirazy at times:-) our kids have lots of cousins to play with so they love the holiday get togethers? One of their favorite things to do is sing and dance to “Dominick the Donkey”- very cute!
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Many hugs!
Meg
We are having Christmas dinner here with family on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas morning we are having a Brunch with family. Our anniversary is the 26th and we are spending part of it in seatte
Get up for 8 or 9 am (depending on what our kids decide). Open presents. Call relatives and friends. Quick lunch. Turkey in oven at 1:00. Leave house at 1:01 to visit DH’s two brothers and their families 20 minutes away or so. Back home between 4:30 and 5:30. Put rest of supper on the stovetop. Eat around 5:30 to 6:00. Do dishes. Change into jammies. Play on computer. Go to bed.
Rough life.
Thanks for another great blog, Jane. I really enjoy hearing what all you’ve been up to (and am glad Mac is okay), although I’ll admit I’m usually tired thinking about what all you accomplish (and what I DON’T accomplish, LOL). I hope everything this Christmas is all you want it to be and more.
I got my card and loved and the recipes! My hubby is hot on the trail to try the BBQ one and double the batch for the gal who swims our boxer. SO sorry for the bump on the chin. They are no fun but Hawaii will be. I remember one Christmas there a long time ago…This Christmas will be shoveling snow in Wyoming. We found out it will be the last one with our beloved 9 year old boxer so we shall relish it and love he lots. Frosty Paws for everyone! (that’s ice cream for dogs!)
wow- can’t believe its christmas already! it works out perfectly that my husband’s side of the family always gets together christmas eve. my side will get together christmas day.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones Jane. That is a lot of travelling in such a short period of time. Remember to relax and enjoy. I will be flying out tomorrow afternoon to spend 10 lovely days with my family (and hopefully some snow). My sister’s little guy just turned 1 on the 15th, so my best Christmas present will just be to spend lots of time with him. Otherwise, it’s turkey, reading, knitting, visiting, skiing, and snowshoeing. I can’ wait.
Merry Christmas, Jane!
Sorry to hear about Mac’s scrape. I have one crash & burn daughter to whom I lecture about our insurance deductible rather than the usual, “Be careful!!!” 🙂
We are staying put and, by the looks of what I see outside, will be shoveling.
We are just having a relaxing Christmas Eve at home, cooking for our children and grandchildren. I can’t wait to see the little kids’ faces when they open gifts!
Christmas morning we are off to my neices house for Brunch. Can’t wait, I love this time of year! So much to be thankful for!
Merry Christmas everyone! Have a safe and Happy Holiday!
Hi Jane,
I hope Mac is better! You sound like you’re having alot of fun this Christmas! So am I! I will be spending it with my family having a delicious dinner (I love ham!!) and opening presents!
I hope everyone has a wonderful
Christmas and New Year!!!!
Poor Mac… chins take such a beating when you’re a busy little person.
Christmas Eve we have my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (and one of my daughters’ new boyfriends) coming up for supper. Leg of lamb on the menu…
Christmas Day we’re at my sister’s home with my parents, her husband and kids. Traditional turkey supper, all the trimmings.
It has been butter tart central this past week at my house… it’s just not Christmas without them. I’ve baked 10 dozen and given most of them away to friends at work and people I do business with (whom I’m grateful for). Tomorrow’s batch is staying home!
Merry Christmas Jane! First item on Christmas morning is opening presents with some coffee for the adults. Then dinner at my sister’s house with her family, our dad and another sister. Maybe a hike in the afternoon. I have so much to be thankful for this year.
Christmas Eve I will spend with my mom’s extended family. Christmas day will be spent with my parents and aunt and cousins. There will be way too much food eaten both days… and there is talk of snow on Christmas day which is extremely rare in coastal NC. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and safe travels!
Merry Christmas! My family is scattered – FL, TX, WA – so I’ll be on the phone talking to everyone. Happy New Year, too.
Jane,
Today we are having hosting dinner at our home with my parents. Tomorrow will be spent at my younger sister’s house and back there again on Sunday to spend some time with our cousin and her family. Last weekend, we celebrated with my husband’s family and since he’s the 2nd oldest of 9, it’s loud, festive, and fun!!
Merry Christmas Jane!! Travel safely and enjoy every moment with your family!
Cindy
Hi Jane,
Dont’ enter me in the contest as I received my box and your Christmas card yesterday. Thank you so much, loved everything inside and can’t wait to start my Christmas reading.
Your family is absolutely adorable. My girls could not stop watching the card. They are in love with Mac and the dog!
Have a great Christmas and get some sun in Hawaii even for us in frozen Canada.
Hi Jane, Sorry to hear about you little man….growing up scars.
Our family will be getting together at my sisters house this evening, that will be a house full and then tomorrow we will host Christmas for my husband’s side of the family another large gathering since their are 4 kids and their kids on each side but always fun and great to spend some family quaility time together with everyone. Enjoy your Christmas with your family and some nice warm weather in Hawaii!!!
I, too, got my Christmas card and loved it, Jane! That was an incredibly thoughtful thing to do for all of us. I loved the family picture!
I am spending Christmas with my family. Last year, I didn’t get to do that because of a big snow storm, so I’m especially thankful to be back with all those that I love.
I hope everyone has a very blessed and wonderful Christmas!
I’m spending time with friends and family! 🙂
This Christmas I’m staying home. One of our Shih-Tzus fell from his groomer’s table and fractured his jaw – he just came home yesterday from the hospital. So tomorrow I won’t be going anywhere, just taking care of my little guy.
so sorry to hear about baby mac…so glad to hear he’s back to his busy self…thanks again for the Christmas card! love the pic! on Christmas Day we my kids will be going to spend the day with their dad and relatives, so i will use that time to remember the reason for the season, and give myself a relaxing day. we are celebrating today with a late lunch/early dinner and opening of gifts later on tonite. spent alot of yesterday cleaning and baking! hope you have a wonderful holiday…be blessed.
Well sadly enough I won’t be with my family for Christmas. I have a bad stomach virus and I’m staying away from everyone so they don’t catch it. I’m very sad that I won’t be able to watch my grandkids open their presents, but I wouldn’t risk them getting sick.
Gee I envy you and the warm weather. Of course it’s raining here in Seattle. Having rack of lamb tonight, Christmas morning breakfast tomorrow and prime ribe for dinner. Sharing with mom, Chris, Keri and friends.
Merry Christmas friend. xxoo
Our Christmas day will be spent with my children and my 1 year old grandson. This will be “his” First Christmas to really understand opening the gifts etc. Seeing things through his eyes is a blessing in itself. I have a ham dinner planned for later in the day. Merry Christmas to all.
Glad Mac is ok! A friend told my son when he split his chin open playing basketball, “Scars are chick magnets!” Mom was not thrilled to hear that!
Christmas morning will be just our immediate family, then my extended family will join us at lunch time for ham, italian beef, and lots of other good food. Sunday we spend the day with my husband’s family, so we have a whole weekend of Christmas with family!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Poor little Mac on top of the pain having to wait 6 hours to be stitched up. You must admit he looks like a little dare devil and such a happy one in the photo of him on the skateboard. Christmas will be a day full of visiting with loved ones and enjoying a wonderful tasty meal that we all prepare together.
A blessed and merry Christmas to you, my Friend. Great big hugs to you and the boys. 🙂
We’re going to my friend Rene’s house for Christmas breakfast, then home to open gifts and have dinner with just us 6. It’ll be a nice day. It’s snowing here right now- we’ve got about 2 inches so far and it shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. So we’re getting a white Christmas here 🙂
Hi Jane!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I received your Christmas card and shared it with my family. They all laughed and loved it! I also received my Ty shirts which were eyed by one of my daughters. I had to remind her that it was MINE! I love it. Thank you again for being so generous.
We had our Christmas last night with the kids and this morning. It was a wonderful celebration. My son received a Kinect game and he and I played beach volleyball this morning. What a riot! I loved being on a team with him and actually playing. Too fun.
My husband and I are planning to play golf tomorrow. Isn’t that crazy? We have at least six feet of snow in the rockies and we’re playing golf in Denver!
Have a very Merry Christmas. Take care and hopefully you’ll be on a surf board in no time!
Hugs,
Michelle
Today is my sons 8th birthday so we’ve celebrated that and opened some presents. Tomorrow we’ll j ust hang out and watch A Christmas Story. My hubby’s favortie. I’m not feeling well and haven’t all week so i’ll be hanging on the couch i think and taking it easy.
Merry Christmas and safe travels!
Lisa B
Thank God Mac is okay !!
since we’re not celebrating Christmas, we are only stay at home. This long holiday makes my hubby can spend the day at home 🙂
I just spent Christmas Eve at my sister’s house having dinner with the family and opening gifts. Tomorrow we go to my husbands parents house for dinner and opening gifts.
Christmas Eve was spent with the grandparents. Christmas Day the girls and I will have a fun filled girls night in…complete with Cajun food, lots of sweets, apple tv and mani/pedi-a-thon.
Thanks also for the t-shirt and water bottle I received yesterday in the mail. You and Ty rock. Merry Christmas!
Gibb
It’s Christmas Eve and we spent the morning with our family. We have started a tradition with a morning breakfast then we open up our prezzies. My son couldn’t be here because of work. It was the first Christmas without him. We surprised him this afternoon by going down to see him before he went to work. The smile on his face was priceless.
Christmas Day is at my sister’s house with our parents and siblings. It’s always an interesting time and I mean interesting because you never know what is going to happen. Christmas evening we all head to the local theater see a movie. It’s a fun way to end the day.
Merry Christmas Jane! I hope your day is wonderful and the new year is just as wonderful if not better than this year and years past!
Merry Christmas to everyone here on Janeblog! Happy New Year too!
Many Blessings, Lisa
Merry Christmas Jane and family!! :0) We’ll see how good my fat fingers do on my itty bitty tiny phone keypad, lol. I am actually on the mainland now. Both of my sisters and family (- neice) went up to New Jersey to spend Xmas w/ my brother-in-law, leaving my mom to rough it on her own. So I decided to surprise her. Started leave last Friday and finally caught a flight Sunday out of rain-flooded Hickam AFB to flooded-out March AFB in Riverside CA; then played taxi’s, rental car & Air Tran flight through Atlanta, GA. The surprise finally went off without a hitch Monday when I showed up on my mom’s doorstep via an impromptu ride f/a good friend who grabbed me last minute at the airport. I think what helped put the icing on the cake was my “early a.m. call” from the Starbucks in “Hawaii” (Jax Intnat’l) @ 10a.m. telling her I’d call her when I “got off of work”. It has been a great birthday and Christmas!! 🙂 Hope Mac’s booboos heal soon, and that you all have a Merry little Christmas too!! … safe travels <3 J
At my parents’ down in VA Beach. Woohoo! Christmas on the beach
My children came home early and it was such a treat. We will have a quiet Christmas with family. It will be a day of relaxing, baking, and playing games…my favorite way to spend it.
May all of you have a very blessed Christmas.
Hi Jane,
Merry Christmas!
My first baby(she is 21 years old now)she had to have stitches around 2 years old.
Glad to hear Mac is okay!
Haven’t been able to post for a while since our internet has on & off, mainly off! Right now we have a temporary fix!
I have someone coming out next week to go through everything, & fix us up for the new year!
My children need their laptops to do their homework.
We have had a wonderful day!
Wrapping presents, visiting, eating, wrapping….
the opening of presents in the morning, after the visit from Santa!
Everyone is taking a bit of a break and watching ‘A Christmas Story’…
so I thought I would see if the internet is working??? and see what Jane Porter is up to… as Christmas is approaching…
Thank you so much for the Christmas card, you have a Beautiful Family Jane…
I am a little late on our cards!
You are so Great! To do all these awesome contest for your readers!
Wishing all the magic of Christmas! and the Best in 2011!
P.S. Two Christmas eve’s ago we were in the ER after my daughter fell ice skating breaking her arm. We still talk about it and it has become one of those unexpected memories. Life, what can you say!?!? Glad to hear Mac is okay.
Hi Jane,
Merry Christmas to you too.
We opened the Christmas presents yesterday evening so we got a chance to sleep in this morning.
Hey all, Jane left for Hawaii today and asked me to announce the winners she picked for this contest:
#7 – Jolene Allcock
#31 – Sandra Lynne
Congratulations! Please email me at lee@janeporter.com with your mailing addresses so we can get the prizes in the mail to you! 🙂
Thanks,
Lee
Thank you!!! I’m so excited to be one of the winners!!!!
I sent my info in an email.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas!!!
Ya, hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, so excited 🙂
I know I am too late for the contest. Just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and let you know that I did receive my Christmas card.
Thank you!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!
Hi Jane,
I wanted to let you know that I too received your darling Christmas card and the recipies. Thank you so much! I put you right up with everyone elses. I hope you had a great Christmas and a very happy new year! I can’t wait for your new book!
In searching for web sites related to web internet hosting and specifically comparison internet hosting linux plan internet,
your internet site came up.
You are a pretty intelligent Individual!