Christmas All Year Long

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays — let them overtake me unexpectedly — waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: 'Why, this is Christmas Day!'" ~David Grayson, from “A Day of Pleasant Bread,” Adventures in Friendship, 1908.

The Christmas tree has been put away.  Finally?  Nah, sadly.  It was put away yesterday, right up till the very end of January.  So it was my Mom who was ready to finally put it away.  At one point I joked that we should at least have it up till February.  Push the boundaries a little.  Really, I just like the Christmas tree lights all lit up.  But she said if the tree is up all year around it would cease to be special.  She has a point.

(I should note that my Grandpa, who lived in Ventura before living with us until his passing, always had his tree up.  It was little.  Ornaments warn.  Still, the lights were never turned off, nor the tree ever put away.) 

It's funny, leading up till Christmas I'm always like, "Must enjoy the moment!  Must enjoy whatever particular holiday we're in!  Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet, I'm not ready for Christmas.  I'm not ready for snow. 0_0"  But once the tree is up I don't want to take it down.

There is something to be said about keeping Christmas all year long.  The spirit of it, not the commercialism.  The kindness.  The service.  All the getting together with loved ones.  There's a special spirit about the holiday season that really should be spread out.  

Earlier this week I was talking with my sister-in-law Krista.  Had a little get together with the fam eating frozen yogurt, and while I was enjoying soft serve blackberry with chocolate chips and strawberries--now I'm craving one--she was telling me that she and Michael with the kids are planning on still doing Christmas the normal way, but also having a personal celebration on April 6, the estimated true birth of Christ, to remember his birth.  That's a nice idea.  Honestly thinking of doing that myself.

So whatever you believe, I hope we can all have the spirit of love and kindness all year long.

Disneyland and California Adventure During the Holiday Season and other Doodads

Last November I visited Dinseyland and California Adventure right at the start of the parks Holiday Season.  My Mom and I were there two and a half days.  On the first day, a half day, my Mom and I drove down from Las Vegas and headed into California Adventure around 5 pm.  We choose C.A. as our half day because we visited the parks last May and spent a considerable amount of time there, and single park tickets vs hopper tickets are cheaper.  I would have loved more time in C.A., but I'm lucky for anytime at all.

In California Adventure they had the park decorated and booths lining the street all the way to the new Pixarland serving food and whatnot.  Nice festive atmosphere.

 Before heading to Pixarland we had to eat.  It's a long drive from Las Vegas.  One of my favorite places to eat is Flo's V8 Cafe, but they changed the menu!!!  They used to have this roast beef sandwich with horseradish aioli sauce and caramelized onions.  Sooooo gooooood.  But they don't have it anymore.  Other menus around the parks have been changed up as well, and not for the better.

Radiator Springs Racers was shut down while we were eating, but it opened up when we finished, and the single rider line was completely open.  We practically walked onto the ride, which was awesome.

 So glad Pixarland didn't remove Mickey.  That would have been tragic.

 I didn't ride the updated Incredibles roller coaster.  Not enough time, and I get motion sick on more intense rides.  There's this bracelet band thing that presses against a pressure point on the wrist that's suppose to help with motion sickness.

I should look into that.

 That night we rode Radiator Springs, Little Mermaid, and Soarin' Around the World.  The line for Guardians of the Galaxy was pretty long, so next time.

 I was in California around the time the fires were going on Northward.  When I saw this pin I had to do a double take.  Is that a magnificent sunset?  Or a wildfire going crazy?  Well, Mickey seems happy.

 Love this tree.

 The Rain Forrest Cafe and ESPN is permanently closed to make way for a new hotel.  We stayed in a nearby hotel and walked over.  The security lines are light up this way, and taking the monorail into the park avoids the lines at the park gates.  The monorail is a fun way to enter Disneyland.

 Must admit, the Storybook Land ride is one of my favorites.

All the tiny things are so cute.

 Out of all the pictures I took around the parks, it's sad that this is all I have of New Orleans Square.  Still one of my favorite areas.  Love listening to jazz music or that pirate band that sometimes play.  Kinda makes you want to do a little soft-shoe.  Not kinda, it does. :0)

 Festive It's a Small World all lit up and the projection show.

 The new(ish) Fantasy area is peaceful at night.  It was fun cranking the Hunchback of Notre Dame music box, which I didn't get a picture of.  But it's a fun little thing you can check out.

 The Music Cabinet in the Penny Arcade off Main Street U.S.A.  When I was in Germany last October we visited a music cabinet museum, and it was amazing. A serious highlight.  It's nice that Disneyland has a music cabinet that plays Disney tunes.

 View of the Matterhorn from the monorail exit.

 I may have ridden Big Thunder Mountain Railroad three times . . .

 Bryce Canyon at Disneyland.

I've never been to the real Bryce Canyon.  Need to change that sometime.

 My favorite ride when I was a kid: Splash Mountain.

 Found on the path between Frontierland and Fantasyland.

You can hear the clinking of a miner.

 It was hard finding sweets that were pure chocolate.

Jolly Holiday Bakery.

 Changing History on the Pirates of the Caribbean.

 Where I saw the Holiday fireworks.  A little far from the castle, but I was right in front of a walking path and just ahead of Main Street, so I could turn around and look at the animated light projection on the buildings.

 Vintage postcards on the Christmas tree.  This one looks familiar.  I think I've mailed this particular one in the past through postcrossing from a vintage postcard book.

Now it's January 7th, so this is all finished.  The first Monday in 2019.

Seeing Beautiful Trees at the Festival of Trees in Sandy, Utah

A few weeks ago I went to Sandy with my Mom and some of my siblings.  We looked at the Festival of Trees, which happens every year right at the end of November going into December.  I've never been, but have heard so many wonderful things about this festival.  It's so inspiring!  Individuals, families, businesses decorate trees and provide gifts from their own pockets, then people come bid on them to buy the trees and gifts in each package.  All money raised goes to the Primary Children's Hospital.  So cool.  And there were so many festive trees.  Here are some of my favorites.

 My brother Steven's work did the above tree.  He wrapped the gifts.

Merry Christmas!! :D