Serving up Sunday

[CathyS]

Hi everybody!!

I came to see if Kathryn had posted about the weather in her area. My dd insisted that she had to go to a city close to where Kathryn lives. She drove up from Toronto on Friday and texted me she got there safely even though it took 2 hours longer.


The mommy in me is trying to not freak out. I just need to remember that she has been driving for almost 10 years (she is 26) and she was specifically (sp) taught how to drive in the snow. (Her driving instructor called her on the first snow day that year and told her that he still owed her an hour and insisted that she go for an hour that day.)

I guess I could do laundry to take my mind off of dd.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm assuming your dd took the 401, Cathy, no idea how it is. I hear you guys don't have any snow. It is amazing how we've gone from a dusting to full banks of snow in just 48 hours.

I'm up from my nap. It is still snowing but much lighter now.

Next challenge is to figure out the hours at the grocery store (possible they close at 5) and my grocery list. I think I'll press dh into service with the planning since I need to get his opinion on things. I can't go shopping with him tomorrow (I still need to finish shopping for him) but he can help me with this much.

[Twins' Mom]

Has been a good day....I left at 8:30 for a temple meeting which we held at Cracker barrel this morning, read the paper and napped when I got back home, and dh and I went out and did some shopping for my nephews, mother and dsis today.

DH is driving me crazy (again) with the TV so loud. I need to write something for the temple bulletin and I can hardly think straight right now. I think my tolerance for noise has decreased since dkids have been away at school these two years.

[ellyphant]

Hi everyone! Sounds like things are falling into place for all of us, as they always do!

Cathy S., my DD is also 26. She is driving 10 hours to get here today. No snow to worry about, thankfully. I have about 2 hours before she should arrive. Still need to do a quick cleaning touch-up.

Finished a successful run to the grocery store. At this point, if I don't have it, we don't need it! DS and DDIL will arrive on the day after Christmas. They did a long drive yesterday to DDIL's parents' house. They will only have to go three more hours to our house on Wednesday. Church was so good this morning. Would like to go back tonight, but that is when DD will be arriving.
Would like her to see our church, but the timing may not work out tonight.

Recovered my wits about me yesterday by reading for 3 hours. I needed to relax before this whirlwind of a week begins. There were other things I should have been doing, like paperwork and housework, but those are never-ending and will still get done.

Let me say "Merry Christmas" now, since I may not be back for a few days!

[Ivy]

Between Ddil on the phone, me talking to her and DH at the same time, DH decided to go to the grocery store to get a tray of meats, cheeses, get tomatoes, lettuce, pops, and Ddil/Dson are bringing chips from Costco. It's good to have the food figured out.

I fell asleep after breakfast, then got up and wrapped hats, gifts for cards, and got that job done. So the gifts are all taken care of. Now, to clean and I just had lunch and feel like falling asleep again! I've been staying up too late at night and last night we watched SNL until midnight. I need to get back onto a good schedule of being in bed BY 11 - 11:30 p.m. and up at between 8 - 9 a.m. or earlier, if I'm quiet and don't disturb DH. He's up a few times in the night to cool off, since he sleeps hot, to fix the fire, and he checks obits and death notices and sports news, too. He's generally up for 10 - 20 min., too. So in the morning, he's tired from his up-down-up-down night and I guess I get tired after a full belly?

We're going to baby step cleaning house. I've put away things so toddlers won't get into them, which were on my end tables on either side of my chair. You know. Scissors, row counter, Chapstick, and things little hands would love. Ddil is on medicine to keep her from having contractions. She was 4 min. apart for a few hours the other day, but is not dilated. If she starts contractions again, she'll need to stay home for Christmas Eve while Dson/6 grsons come. She also told me the dr. said they're trying to wait until the end of Feb. before they take the baby because the baby's due the first of March and taking it later will be better for the baby. On Jan. 2 she's going to have a special ultrasound, which will show how big the baby is that day, but Ddil said they can be off by a Lb. or 2.

It'll be exciting to see them all, to see the little 2 get their afghans, stuffed toys, and hats from G'ma, too. I'm so proud that I didn't even need to go buy yarn for their afghans. It was all "stashed" here. I have so much, which is why I'm thrilled, too, to crochet for baby girl and a BFF sent me more baby yarn. Sorry to go on and on like this. I'm just excited about the baby, seeing our family again and the toddler ones, too.

"Merry Christmas" if I'm not back.
TTFN.

[helia]

Hello all! I had a short nap this afternoon, but I slept so hard i had no idea what day or time it was when I awoke.

Today: We went to church, out for lunch to a favorite eatery, and then we picked up a Cmas tree -- finally. We are relaxing this afternoon; dh went for a run.

Our dusting of snow has persevered w/ bare ground showing through in many spots. I don't know if this will be considered a white Christmas or not.

Sinterklaas was fun yesterday! I'm SO glad the kids all pitched in to help with wrapping and everything else. I ate too much, but the food was yummy. We finally finished opening gifts a little after 11 pm. Well, we started the surprises and gifts late, after 9 pm.

We're definitely in the laughter, chaos, and conversation camp for celebrations in general. I think this can be overwhelming for my parents who are used to a quiet and calm house; with the 3 teens, we can bring a lot of energy with us.

I need to run 2 errands; I think I'll do them first thing tomorrow a.m., like I'll plan to be at the stores when they open. It would be ideal if they opened at different times. Errands: (1) PJ pants for everyone and (2) tamales from TJ for Cmas Eve dinner. Someone once told us that eating tamales is a Mexican Cmas Eve tradition. I don't know if that is true or not, but it is a good excuse for a quick, easy, and yummy Cmas Eve meal!

[Lynlee]

Waving from Christmas Eve Monday - needing my skates on here - not that it would be safe for me to have skates on.

Nancy - If you leave the rooster/s in darkness they won't crow until you cue them to do it switching on the lights. Neighbours here put theirs in a dark garage overnight and too them out at about 8 when neighbours were past complaining. (a complaint would mean council closing down their hen keeping.) In summer here the sun rises at 4.30 so first light before 4 - not a good time for crowing.

Harriet - I had forgotten that RLS had such an interesting/at times difficult life. I just searched an index on goals to start - they didn't have one on preparation

Cowinkle - dd.1 is going for simple christmas dinner. Going for roast so she can leave the kitchen and not bother w a heap of salads.

My day theme - lots to do. Keep it simple. Just do the essential.
I want to have things wrapped and travel today.
Got a list of things to bring from dd.1 last night so need hit the shops as well.

[Nancy]

Thank you everyone for your good input. H. is going to put the one too loud roo in freezer camp in the morning. I've decided to keep the other one for now. Have been thinking about how to keep the one in the dark as Lynlee said lovely idea. Harriet thanks for your perspective!

I did not sleep well but it was not the roo's fault I was up late and woke up before the chickens.

We have groc. shopping done yea glad to get to that, h. fueled up the car too finally, I think that was something on my mind that was bugging me; he did not get to it this week like he said.

H's bro. is coming, dining out is the plan so glad we have that a bit more worked out and trying to be flexible enough to go with the flow.
Happy we found an oriental place that's open tomorrow.

I wanted to melt ch. chips and mix with coconut & peanuts for a candy like treat to send w/ h. to work told him about that. Harriet thanks for that perspective!

I got more ice cream the family likes it year round, me only in the summer but heating up cherry pie filling to go on top of it would be a great treat w/out the crust that no one would turn down.

Found another thawed turkey breast and hickory chips so h. will be smoking those tomorrow too. It is going to be interesting to see how we get done in time for Christmas eve service tomorrow just after dusk.

I got a turkey ham and pep. jack cheese and had the deli slice it so it will be even pretty and go farther. Dang just realized I forgot olives.

They were out of the grey color of yarn at the store to go on the team colors project.

Hoping I am in better spirits tomorrow with a good nights rest got more cough drops so that should help.

It was busy over town but not too bad not so overwhelming like I thought that it would be.

Got three eggs today, two lt. beige the other a green one they all lay in the same box it was busy all morning! One of the eggs needs cleaned I was going to get egg wipes but they were like $8.49 apx. at the store so wondering what I can do about making my own. Never thought I'd hear myself saying that!

[OKay]

Trip went well and DDad did well. We had one area where we got on each corner of his wheelchair and carried him, but otherwise went smoothly. DParents were very grateful for taking them.

Next up....order egift card after verifying whose email addy the device is registered to

[Ivy]

Good Evening, Villagers!

OKay, It's so nice the trip went well and your DDad did well, too. It sounds like your DParents are very thankful.

Nancy, Have you been staying up too late lately, during this season? I ask because I've been going to bed around midnight - 1 a.m. and it's messing my morning rising up.

Lynlee, When you refer to Harriet's RLS, are you talking about Restless Leg Syndrome or something else? I heard caffeine can cause restless legs syndrome.

Helia, I'm glad you got a short nap in. Mine was 1/2 hour long, which I guess I needed or I wouldn't have accidentally fallen asleep.

How many inches of snow do you have?


My Ta Da/To Do so far:
- Devotion, Our Father, Novena, and prayers
- Put away baby crochet items, button jar, pin cushion, row counter, scissors, etc...(Have 2 toddler grsons coming tomorrow. Must keep them safe.)
- Had coffee twice, am currently drinking iced tea, am so tired today.
- DH did the shopping of trays of cheese, meats, bought extra to have, too, got buns, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pop, etc... Dfamily is bringing chips.
- DH used the pumice stone on the bathroom toilets and I thought this was so smart on his part- he used a rubber glove so his hand didn't get wet!
- I scrubbed the bathroom sinks, the backs of toilets, and counters, garden tub and put up fresh towels.
- DH vacuumed, I'll dust a few places that need it and I worked on my calendar reminders.
- I ordered a book, which I have the companion book to, so I wanted to get the mate. It's from Christmas money.
- I wrote in my journal some more, stripped the pub table, so now DH and I will open it up all the way and I'll put place mats on it with Christmas napkins.
- I sorted the laundry, started 1 load and will do towels next.
- I put to do lists away, will clean a kitchen corner basket hot spot of mine, then we'll clean the kitchen counters and dish drainer pad.

Then we'll be all done. I plan on writing letters, reading, and doing not much of anything this evening, since we're getting everything done. I'll be putting away laundry, of course. It's nice how well DH and I work together, too. It's time for the news before the Seahawks come on, so I'll sign off now.

Have a Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone and a Merry Christmas to you, too.