Christmas Countdown Monday PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

Not feeling any better, although I've made some cards today. I'm really feeling tired.

The dog is walked. Clinic called dh and scheduled his MRI for 2 January with a follow up on 9 January.

I'm heading downstairs to start supper soon.

[blessedw2]

d twins I hope you can rest soon!

it sounds crowded d Nancy!

enjoy your nachos d cathy.
your dh will love the root beer! ((())) praying too that next year is very good

d lady the tamales sound very good for Christmas Eve! The BBQ - I am jealous! enjoy it!

[blessedw2]

I don't know why but I am feeling a little sad - no reason except I honestly don't feel like working. Maybe the best thing to do is to get going on getting those christmas gifts together in the family room now that it is clean.

mom is not thrilled still - she is coughing. I hope she stays healthy for Christmas Eve. I had a feeling that my getting ready so early meant something would happen. I don't believe in it but it seems I might be staying home this Christmas Eve.

dd younger is feeling better - yay.

[Lady Maverick]

Will you miss the chaos?

I don't think so. I am thankful to have the experience and memories of the many decades of busy Christmas with large family gatherings and multiple meals back-to-back in different locations. But I recognize life changes and that is perfectly normal.
This is most likely DS17 last Christmas living here. He is counting down the days until he turns 18 and can do adult things. He is dreaming about graduating, becoming legal age, getting a "real" job and moving to a place of his own.
DD14 doesn't do social gatherings well so she would absolutely hate if we had big family gatherings like we use to.
Who knows how much memory DH will have next year. This might be the last Christmas that he knows who I am. I fully intent to soak up the experience of doing Christmas with him this year.

This afternoon we took a drive to check out a couple of homes known for their spectacular displays of lights and music. One of them is about 9 miles from a tiny town of fewer than 1,000 people, but its remote location doesn’t stop the steady stream of cars heading out to see the Christmas show.

DS17 has 3 friends here to watch his back while a FB Marketplace buyer comes to check out the pickup he’s selling. DS17 has never had a bad experience with buying or selling online, but he is cautious just in case something goes wrong.

[Twins' Mom]

We decided to order in and dh will go pick it up, but it will be awhile. This is a busy week for restaurants. I'm going to straighten the kitchen a bit.

I texted massage therapist about tomorrow a.m. He is immune impaired and I don't want to expose him to anything unless he's aware. There was the Hanukah/Christmas when I realized that dh might have COVID a three or four days before - he was supposed to cook latkes that week also - and sure enough he did. He had exposed people at his office and we didn't go out at all for a few days. Maybe that was quietest Hanukkah/Christmas?

I think I need three more cards? How is that possible?

[blessedw2]

d lady I am so glad your ds has such good friends! I love that he is thinking about getting a "real job" when he turns 18! When does he graduate high school?
I bet the decorations are worth seeing!
fun!

[blessedw2]

helper and I helped d mom with her gingerbread house. Her dementia was not great today. physically active but off on remembering stuff. her sister to her is alive - same with her parents - dad too. she asked if her one sister was coming over and I said no she isn't - if she asked if they were gone I would tell her but she didn't.
she did not like the soup - normally she likes it.
vacuumed the family room.

I am looking at taking up the presents as a big job - I know it won't be - I will bring up my brothers presents as he is stopping by tomorrow.
dd's leave on the 27 and 28th. I have to drive dd younger to the airport on Saturday at 3 pm and dd older will stay with mom. we don't have a helper in the afternoon on Saturday. dd older will be back the 12th - dd younger?

I am a little nervous of caring for mom at night for two weeks. I will have helpers until 8:00 most nights
She does get frustrated with me more than anyone.

The present that I was waiting for has arrived. The Etsy seller was great!

[Harriet]

Love that poem!

Hmmm... tamales for Christmas, lasagna for Christmas, nachos for Christmas. Yep, we've got the traditions down, that's for sure!

Twins', this made me smile :

I've finished another card, still have a birthday card to do, and I'm having a great time

Shoulder rotator cuff surgery chat - I'm hearing often lately that this is not the "given" it once was, and many do better waiting, watching, and maybe not having surgery after all. Always the dr knows best, of course. I hope your dh is not in much pain.

Mystery, I'm sure whatever you got your quiltmaking friend was cheerful and fun. How could you be wrong, lol, It's all smile-making.
I can't help but know what HRH has gotten me for quiltmaking, and that's alright. Very difficult to keep secrets from each other these days. He nagged me to make a wish list, and I believe the first three items have appeared and disappeared quickly onto/off our porch, lol.

Nancy, you look spiffy in your Christmas vest!

Cathy, nice that you found a small favorite treat for dh.

blessed, happiness has a habit of sneaking in and disrupting worry and caution! I hope you have surprising smiles. Btw, it's tough to finally make a hard decision to throw something away and then have it resurface, isn't it? Sorry 'bout that.

Ds called while in the midst of being the "dispatcher" for 3 teams of Christmas deliver-ers for children in his municipality. I could hear them reporting in on the radio - what a joy. He chatted at length about his own delivery to the assisted living center, including the part that is HRH's gift from ds this year, complete with photos. Can't wait to see that.

Some frustration that lawyer for my dear aunt's estate/bequests doings has finally gotten around to things we asked for weeks and weeks ago, and that I myself called and tried to hurry up 2 weeks ago. Sigh. So now I have a phone conference meeting at 10 in the morning, the day before Christmas Eve. I really needed tomorrow to be a prep day for my own family and hopes. So did everyone else, probably.

[Lady Maverick]

It appears we will have a tiny bit more activity here on Christmas than I expected.
I just got this text from DGS28

Even if it's just peanut butter and jelly, I'm gonna come have lunch with you on Christmas

I called DD49 to let her know about DH memory loss so she wouldn't be surprised. I can't remember the last time that DD49 came to visit us, but I thought she should be aware. Then DD49 told me that they would be coming to our home on Christmas.

Best as I can tell, we might have 8 around the table for Christmas lunch. However, it works out will be A-okay.

[Lady Maverick]

I'm hearing often lately that this is not the "given" it once was, and many do better waiting, watching, and maybe not having surgery after all.

This was a topic we discussed recently. DS52 closest friend is a orthopedic spinal surgeon. His biggest frustration is that patients insist on having surgery immediately even when his first recommendation is waiting (rest injury) and/or doing physical therapy. Then he said, "And don’t even get me started on the damage chiropractors can cause."

DS17 has sold the vehicle that he bought to flip. I so hope that he is done with buying/selling old vehicles.