Final Thursday of 2013

[Nancy]

I have been working on the kitchen and got stuff for soup in the freezer, deboned the tky. DGd is here today.


DEE CONGRADS!

[lucylee]

Congratulations to Dee & family on the new arrival!! (And the newly engaged couple!)
(((HUGS))) and prayers for dd and dh as they visit w/dgd.

Our Christmas was fine. I was sooo exhausted after breakfast at dmom's, and dmom is NOT feeling well, so I am still quite concerned about her -- but dbro & his girlfriend had helped out a LOT. We managed to eat and open gifts before 12:30, which is a HUGE accomplishment. The gag gift idea from dbro was a hit -- but I got my own gift, LOL, b/c I was next to last and I knew dh couldn't wear it -- so I am sitting here in a Three Stooges/Star Trek shirt right now. I'm very pleased. I love the Stooges & I love Star Trek. Dmom didn't manage to buy a gag gift, but her own presents waaay outnumbered ours, so she kept opening other stuff while we did the gags. The Christmas Crackers complete w/paper crowns that ddil received and made us all wear were quite fun, too. I know we all missed ddad, but we didn't dwell on it, and having dbro's girlfriend back in our circle -- she has not visited w/us for several years now -- really helped take up that empty chair, IMHO.

THANK GOODNESS -- everyone came between 2:30 & 3:00 to our house, and I even managed to get a tiny nap in before they got here. Our house was just packed to the brim, (I think 28 people) but ds said he thought everyone seemed to enjoy it very much, I managed to give dcousin the tour w/out showing her the cracked floor in bathroom 1 and the peeling wallpaper in bathroom 2. Boy children (from ds down ) spent some time playing basketball, other younger boys went out and played football for a while, little dcousin4 was so sweet w/dgs -- tried to color with him a little, enjoyed chasing him around the house, etc.
Dmom called me later to tell me how nice the house looked and how well she thought everyone enjoyed it.

Now. Errands... errands... errands.
Must s2s and hit it. Cleaners, drug store, bank, post office... Must get busy!!!
When I get home, I need to start ironing Mt. Ironmore... which is more like a complete mountain RANGE.

Sounds like a really nice girl for ds, Kathryn! I'm so glad he had a good Christmas so far from home.

(((HUGS))) and prayers for you, Twins --

I will need patience in spades today on the road herding the two of them.

I can imagine!!! So often now, my dmom gets on my nerves soooo bad, and y'all KNOW I have ALWAYS described as a saint, and my best friend in the world, and just sooo wonderful... but oh my goodness... she is sooo slow to do anything, and so distracted all the time, and so forgetful about things, and sometimes she just drives me CRAZY. Dbro is still convinced it is all the meds she takes. * sigh * I need to find time to take her to see Saving Mr. Banks.

Speaking of returning gifts... dbil got dh a beautiful B rooks B rothers polo shirt... which apparently sized incorrectly. Normally, dh wears an XXL and ds wears a L... but we took this shirt to ds and he said it fits him PERFECTLY. So dh's loss is ds's gain. WAAAAAY too far to a BB store to try to return it, and don't want to bother dbil for receipt anyway.
I do have to return an iphone dock/charger that doesn't fit my phone. That's okay -- I've decided I don't really want that sort of charger anyway. I'll just stick w/the ac cord and get a regular clock-radio. (I do need a new clock! My bedside clock gains about 5 minutes per week! It keeps dh in a rush all the time, and he's prone to rush anyway, so this is NOT good, LOL!!!)

Waving to BookSaver... thanks for starting us off this morning!

Lynlee -- so glad you're sleeping better.

(((OKay))) -- hope you and LO feel better soon!!!

Works so the hens got more gifts thst we did LOL!

LOL, Nancy!!!

(Oh -- btw -- I fell asleep during Perry Mason last night and didn't wake up till halfway through Alfred Hitchcock. And I had no turkey yesterday! Probably ate lighter than usual, really.)

[helia]

Quick hello! Cmas was nice. S, R, baby J, and one of S' ex-students came as well. We ate, played a fun game, opened presents, and had dessert. Before they came, I did 3 loads of laundry, changed sheets on our bed, got the main bathroom and MBR toilet spiffed, gave living room a decent dusting/wipe down of horizontal surfaces. Dh and kids helped tidy living areas, which weren't in bad shape to begin with. Dh and girls also helped with the potatoes and brussel sprouts. Dd15 helped me wrap gifts for this go-round.

I slept very well last night! I was so tired.

First thing this morning, dh and I took my van in for an oil change and some work. As we did last week when we brought in the kid car, we went to nearby coffee shop for coffee and a chat afterward. Then, I tidied the kitchen, worked on photos/videos still on memory cards. Unfortunately, my laptop does not have enough space for all 4 videos I took of dd15 and GG's band concert last week. So, later, I need to figure that out. Dh says we have extra hard drive storage, which I could use. Also, I have a youtube channel where I store all the videos online - but I still want a copy in my personal possession. I have sent off forms so GG can travel with us tomorrow and ordered some mock turtlenecks online for dh. I have also been participating with dh a little as he has just booked tix for Europe this summer (they are expensive! But I think he got most as frequent flyer or through cc points), and we are working on tix to FL over girls' February break.

Goals for today:
- finish some laundry
- quick run to TJ for fixings for pasta for tonight
- optometrist to see if I can pick up my glasses -- from my June appointment.
- gym
- paperwork?
- simple supper
- maybe show GG a Cmas video tonight. We'll have to see what is available.

[Dove]

Hi everyone! After breakfast I dove into some much needed housework chores. When dh & I opened gifts on the living room floor Christmas morning, our pants got covered in dog hair. I clipped ddogs nails before vacuuming, then put fresh sheets on the bed, started a load of towels, & sharked the kitchen & bathroom floors. I'll clean the bathrooms after lunch, but right now I'm cuop & drinking tea. I'm also enjoying some delicious dark chocolate covered cherries that Santa brought me .

Hi Bookie -- We're still celebrating Christmas around here, but I'm definitely thinking about 2014!

Hi Lynlee -- Sounds like you had a nice dathering at dd house. I'm glad you are sleeping well.

Hi Dee -- Congratulations on the engagement & on the new addition to the family!

Hi OKay -- I'm sorry you & LO are not feeling well. Darn your MPB for breaking on Christmas Day; I hope your dh can find a quick, easy & inexpensive fix for it today.

Hi Twins -- Praying for an easy travel & family day for you, dbro, dmom & dsis.

Hi Kathryn -- It's wonderful that you can be in such close contact with your ds both in talking with him & through the F acebook pages of his friends. What a fun adventure he is having!

Hi Nancy -- Your post about deviled eggs makes me think egg salad would be perfect for lunch here today

Hi Lucylee -- It sounds like everything went so well at your Christmas dinner & that everyone had a wonderful time. Congrats on a job well done! Now you can relax a little .

Hi Helia-- I hope you find an easy solution for your video & picture storage.

I saw an ad for a travel crockpot a few months ago & had been thinking of buying one. The one I have is almost thirty years old but still works. While in Sam s the week before Christmas I found this one. It was $10.00 cheaper than anywhere else I've priced them, & was a seasonal item only so I bought it:

http://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-SCCPCTS ... B007K9OI52

It worked so well! The locking lid alone was worth the price when I brought mashed potatos to dbro & dsil house for dinner, plus I didn't need to use the oven which had a big turkey in it. It also automatically switches to a "keep warm" setting after the programmed cooking time is done. I used my old crockpot to bring the yams & had to tuck towels around it & over the top to keep the lid in place.

I thought of you Harriet, when I was making the mashed potatos. I pulled the beaters out a little too soon & sprayed my shirt with spuds. I immediately thought that if I had been wearing an apron like you do, I wouldn't have had to change .

I'm off to move towels to the dryer, wash sheets, & make egg salad for lunch. Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

[DeeClutter]

DD and dh went to Bradenton to visit gd15 and for a family therapy session. GD has "earned' a 2-hour pass so they are taking her nearby for lunch. Took what Christmas gifts there were for her. Some will have to come back here as she can't have them at her residence. I only bought her 1 top, a pair of gloves & 9 pairs of socklets. Dsisil gave her a card with $20 (which dd plans to keep for her until she can go shopping at some point) and a couple of pair of ceramic 'shoes' for her collection -those will come back here. DD had a top for her and a shark pillow. She can have very little there and not knowing if/when she'll come home there was not much sense in looking for much more. She did get some gifts there from a Secret Santa and they had lots of fun things planned yesterday. So, she didn't want dd to come until today. Her 2 hour pass would have been pretty useless yesterday.

Expect dd and dh will be coming soon. They had to be there by 11am and with the therapy session and 2 hours, I figure they'd be done by 2ish and it's nearly a 2 hour drive home. Just about 4 now, so figure that door should be opening any moment.

I snoozed away a good part of the day. Guess I was tired. Just finished doing up the odds and ends dishes. Do have a load of laundry to fold and put away. Already folded the 'outside' clothes, now just have undies, etc. to do. The main living area has stayed pretty nice with little picking up and running the carpet sweeper. DD is loving it!

When we were at dbil/dsil's last night one of their guests (and friends of ours) asked dd where gd was. So they began to chat. DSIL's sister (who has been quite vocal about gd just needing understanding & more love) was 'stuck' listening. Friend mentioned how gd seemed like such an angel when she saw her. If only. Conversation went on for a while and I think dsil's sis heard lots that she had not heard before. DD finally said to her, I know you have never seen this side of her, G, but this is all why she is where she is. Lot of it is pretty scary. But in comparing stories with other parents at the residence she realizes she is certainly not alone. Each one's story could belong to the next.

Guess I'll get the clothes and get them folded.

[Ivy]

Dee & Dfamily, CONGRATULATIONS on the new arrival! When DD was born, DH was laid off, and was hoping she'd be born by the New Year, so he could claim another dependent on our taxes! She was born Dec. 30th. It's so nice to have a new baby born during the holidays. Oh, my! I bet she's adorable, too! I'm so HAPPY for you and your family. This is so sweet to hear this new news.

DH decoded the spur of the moment to rush out to Costco, with all those shoppers returning things! He'll be gone quite awhile, he was afraid. He's getting my Mega Red Joint Care with krill oil in it, for the arthritis I've got. It works wonderful on me, I ran out 1 1/2 weeks ago and OUCH! I sure feel the difference without it. I'm so happy it's going to be here, so I can get started on it again.

I stripped the flannel sheets off the bed, am washing them now, and am getting ready to write down book titles/authors in my master steno pad of things "to do", so I can get myself more motivated to getting reading done. DD brought me 23 books this trip, many are classics, and I even have "The Egg and I," to read! I've seen the movie, the book will be wonderful, I bet.

Our thick fog's worn off, sunshine's showing now, and Friday we'll have showers, but then it'll dry up for a few days.

Everyone, have a nice day after Christmas. I wonder if any of you are worn out or tired? I am. I plan to baby step the day. I think baby steps are best when we're tired from the end of a holiday. We need to rest up for New Year's Eve. I can hardly believe this is the last Thursday of the year! Good lead-in, too!

[Sunny]

Hi everyone! It was really nice reading posts from yesterday and today. Everyone's celebrations were so nice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORMA!

Congratulations to Dee and dfamily for your new dsggd. Averi Mae is a pretty name!

We had a nice holiday also. We had a quiet morning then left at noon to see dfam#1. With ds, ddil, ddil's dmom, 4 dgkids, 3 ddogs and 1 dkitty it was anything but quiet. But it was fun! We had time to see all dgkids gifts and exchange gifts with everyone before a traditional turkey dinner. Afterward we played a couple of games with dgsons and their new games. We took cupcakes, an apple pie and a tray of our cookies for dessert. We were home just as it turned dark, had a bowl of turkey soup, fed ddogs and settled in for the evening. I never had a chance all day to turn on my computer!

We will still have Christmas with dfam#2 this coming Sunday and my dcousin and her dh on Jan 11th. Dcousin's ds and his wife will be there also. This will be our first time meeting with d2ndcousin's wife.

Supper tonight will be soup, salad, an orange and a cookie.

[Nancy]

Back from One errand had to stop by the bank. It is such a nice day one of the hens did not even go in the hen house but just laid her egg in front of the doorway!

Babyn was a no show.

I have 30 min. On the gazille done still to do 10 mi on the ex. Bike x.

[Lynlee]

good morning from Final Friday.
Its my going home day today.
Also maybe final sleep over at dd's for a while as they will be renting rooms to students to help pay for the renovations. The spaces do work very well. ( I hope they still do with students added.) Certainly dd is very sociable and takes thing in her stride.

Its cooler today, and cloudy. So far.
first up
dress
start breakfast cooking. (I brought my own seed cereal and such that suits me.)
(I did slightly eat off target last night so hope I can get back to what works easily.)

[helia]

WTG nancy! You seem to be so consistent with your exercise.

Congratulations on the new little one, Dee! How wonderful! I hope the visit with dgd15 was good for dd et al.

Glad to hear you were sleeping decently at dd's, Lynlee.

Dh has booked flights to FL! I've always wanted to go to FL during midwinter break, so hopefully this will be a treat, a fun trip for all! January will be a very busy month for me, so I'm looking at this as a reward after busyness and likely stress. Dh has also gotten a car. Hotels are next; we're going to check with dfriends who go more often than we do. Well, we've never gone so almost anyone has gone more often than we have. We will split our time btwn. Miami and Orlando, the Disney Parks.

Dh has also sent an inquiry re: ski-in /ski -out condos at our favorite Michigan ski place. That would be a weekend late in January; the girls will have a Monday and Tuesday off after final exams the previous week. *phew* I think I will be traveled out by spring break. Maybe we'll just stay home that week. GG is a lot of the impetus behind the travels. Europe this summer is the regular bi-annual trip - plus we will be celebrating dfil's 90th birthday!

I have done 1 lol. And printed out forms to renew dd15's passport. I've also browsed tourist events in Chicago and the possibility of buying tix ahead of time, which I think we'll do as we can. I ran some errands, finally picked up my glasses from my appt. last June. And then stopped by TJ for some basic groc. so we can have a simple pasta dinner tonight.

Dh picked up my van. It's all set now. He went out again and dropped off dd15 and GG at a shoe store since they both need shoes. He went to HD or some other sort of store for things around the house.

I need to get dinner going. I don't know what we're doing this evening; dd15 needs a winter coat since she's been wearing dd18's as dd18 has refused to wear it. However, I think they both need coats in Chicago, much as dd18 might protest. I also need to wrap gifts for Cmas with dfriends E and C tomorrow.