Final Thursday of 2013

[lucylee]

Happy birthday, Norma!!!

I did all my errands, talked to dmom on the phone * Hooray for db's dgf!!! Dmom said she came in last night and had everything in the kitchen spic and span before bedtime!

Ironing now. Y'all would not believe how big this pile is.
It is probably a sin for a man to own this many clothes.
I am dividing it in fourths and taking a break. Half the jeans & khakis are done now.

[DeeClutter]

Forgot to wish NOrma a Happy Birthday.

DD and I are just getting ready to go out for an evening of Trivia. It's her escape and I know the people she plays with and I enjoy their company.

Her trip to see gd was not great but ok. Seems gd is now on Phase 2, BUT has strikes against her and could go back to Phase 1. And with no 'carrots' in front of her now, we'll see.

[OKay]

Time with GGD21days old was very enjoyable. OHhhhh - she is just soooooo precious. I enjoyed every moment of the cuddling and rocking. DGS18 continues to live in his own world ...... he was a no show today. He later apologized for over sleeping. He didn't wake up until 2pm. Yesterday he hung the phone up on me when I encouraged him to take responsibility for his choices and stop expected other to continually rescue him.. ***VBSigh*** I'll be glad when he gets through this phase, so we can look back on it and smile that is is behind him!

This month has been a wild one. I was thinking about going through the b*rest biopsy and the lung cancer screening in the same month. But then I realized on the way home today that something VERY unusual happened when I became a Great Grandmother and a Mother (again) in the same month!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Exhausted and I still haven't watched Finding Nemo.

Party was low key with everyone in the kitchen the whole time. CM and family stayed for dinner along with Surfer Dude. It is so great to see him, it has been one full year. He stayed until almost 9, just chatting about his plans for life - he wants to move to Europe. I love having him around so was thrilled he would choose to spend the time with us, even when my kids aren't here.

The boys were really good at dinner, so good that we even forgot they were at the table and the conversation was shifting toward more adult themes. They also were good about cleaning up the Lego room (it was actually cleaner after they finished than before!)

Dh washed the kitchen floor for me and almost everything is put back now. Just realized I should pull my purse out of the shower in the powder room (easiest place to put it with some other things!

Dd and dsil arrive tomorrow. We have to find a present for dsil. I should also copy out the recipe for dd and wrap her gift up.

[Harmony]

Hello everybody. I've enjoyed reading how all of the holiday celebrations went. OKay, sorry your DH had to spend most of Christmas Day repairing. And Nancy, your Christmas Eve sounded rather stressful. Sorry.

Happy belated birthday to Twins and Norma!

Well, our trip 3 hours up the busy highway was ok, and the only white knuckle part was by the theme parks. It's often like that up there. There were 16 of us at DD1's Christmas Eve for a delicious dinner and we exchanged gifts with those who wouldn't be there the next day. The next day it was 11 of us for most of the day and another nice meal and lots of gifts in the morning.

DD1 was quite the hostess this year. She and her DH seemed very relaxed and happy this year. None of the stress of other years was present, and we enjoyed every minute of the whole holiday. DH got up and made everyone breakfast, and we had a quiet morning, then packed up and left.

Trip back was alright except for being pretty worn out. I won't try to make that trip again on only half a cup of coffee! DH drove half way and I drove the last half.

There was a lot to do here at home, unpack and put away all the presents, make dinner, do dishes, sort mail, water plants. I helped DH with some paperwork he'll need for tomorrow. It's sorta hard to get back into work mindset, after such a nice holiday. We've had quite a run of stressful holidays but I think this one made up for all of them.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Off to bed now.

I'm still decompressing for the day. It has been very busy.

I'm worried about the undone sermon. Don't really know what to do about that. I have videos and so it was suggested the kids go downstairs to watch videos. I'd rather keep them up for an intergenerational service, if possible.

[Harriet]

Thinking about Harmony's comments on a stressful holiday (glad to hear your dd1 and dsil are stress-free and also glad that translates to less stress for those around them).

Had so much going on today I never even got to shower, things were just crazy.

This has been, even before today, one of the most stressful holiday seasons I've had in a long time, and we haven't even gotten to our own family get-together(s), slated for tomorrow. I have SO much to post to my future self in the holiday thread. I just can't put this many burdens on myself every year. How in the world I did it all while also caring for my parents, I'll never know.

For the first half of today, the big news was that ds28's new schedule had to change our plans. (Ds has had a promotion - he is now a Captain in the municipal fire dept. and we're very happy for him.) They can only come at lunchtime tomorrow and will miss our evening get-together, which is the only time dstepson and dstepdil could come, since they both work tomorrow. Also, I'd invited HRH's brother and our little niece5, who can only come in the evening (his wife can't get off work until too late). So after assuming we could all be together at once, ds' schedule change meant 2 big meals to prepare, not just one, and no chance for everyone to see each other at once. Sigh!

Like I said, that WAS the big news.

Then dd33's family arrived.

With photos in an envelope.

Two of the photos were in black and white on very thin paper in a separate envelope, and she only had one copy of each and needed them back. ... ... So WHY the second photo? Because it clearly shows that it's a boy. A fourth boy for her. Fifth grandboy in a row for us, in an eight-year span. Where is that fainting icon...

[Lilac]

I have been wiped out all day. I laid on the couch and slept until 9:30 after dh left at 6:30, this morning.

Dd1, dsil and dgs19 came over for lunch to help eat the leftovers. We had leftovers for supper tonight and dh will take the rest of the ribs to work for his lunch tomorrow.

Dd1, dgs19 and I played F arkel. Dd2 has invited us to her house Saturday for game day.

Dd2 keeps saying what a wonderful Christmas this was and she is right. 3 years ago I woke up with the stomach flu on Christmas Day. I was suppose to have them there that evening for a meal and gifts. The girls took the kids to IHOP that night to eat. We had our get together a few days later. 2 years ago the 2 older granddaughters were fighting and it was very uncomfortable, because no one said much and many dirty looks were being given. Last year dgdthen16 dd of dd2, was at the emergency room after complications from her surgery. She went home that night but ended up in the hospital for a few days over New Year's. So this Christmas really stood out after the last 3 were less than normal.

Dd2 sent out cards and made cookies and 3 different candies. Her dsis was impressed because she didn't manage to do those things. Also, dd2 had her gifts bought earlier than normal. Christmas Eve day she went to T arget to buy toilet paper, milk and a few other routine things. She said people were rushing around her and she said it felt so good not to be rushing with them like normal.

Today dd2 and her dh went to their accountant. Dsonil always goes the day after Christmas to find out his financial situation, so that he can spend more money if needed before the end of the year and not have to pay out as much in taxes. With dd2s business loss, they are in great shape. Seems funny that it worked in their favor. The business will be closing on the 29th.

Last night we were all sitting around talking and I was telling them that I had seen one of dh's friends on FB and he had made a wreath out of beer bottle caps. With a straight face dd2 said that for her next business adventure, she thought she would do creative things with bottle caps and sell them. The look on her dh's face was priceless and we all got a laugh out of it.

Today I told dd2 that if she gets bored staying home after this school year, then she should try writing books or short stories. That is something she wanted to do when she was a child and let me tell you, she does have an imagination.

I need to run some errands in the morning. Then I will meet dh at the financial adviser's office at 1. He is now talking of working until the end of 2014 but we will see. He brought home papers for his raise and I think he is thinking it is hard to walk away from that.

I am missing MT and I am hoping nothing is wrong.

[Lilac]

WOW that was some big news today, Harriet. That is wonderful news that your ds28 received a big promotion. I don't know about you, but I was surprised to read that your dd33 was having another baby and that it is a boy. That was a creative way to give you the news.

[Ivy]

Harriet, Congrats to you about your DD33 going to have a dgrson for you and congrats to your DS, on his promotion, too!

I've been tired today. Only washed sheets, helped make the bed, and took a little nap. Am currently writing the last 4 things down on my "to do" list for tomorrow. I managed to write down book titles and authors of books DD's loaned me, of books I've bought, and books unfinished or not started yet. I didn't write down all the books, I don't wish to re-read, nor free religious books or books from DH's parents' library. But I've nevertheless a lot to read.

Tomorrow showers will come, then the weekend through New Year's will be dry, at the last forecast.

I'd better answer DH's cousin's email and DDIL's email, too.

Happy TGIF or Conga Day (whichever you want to call it) tomorrow.