Where Were We?

I believe I finally made it through Christmas.  Next on list was New Year's Eve.  Since Bean was born we've been available for New Year's Eve caregiving.
Cots are ready.

 First we went to the movies. Pap and Bean watched Star Wars while Bugg and I endured  enjoyed the latest Chipmunk nonsenses.
Then it was home for fireworks.

We watched the ball drop.

 
Toasted with sparkling cherry juice.

 Bugg still finds this drink rather ticklish.

 Rae's family joined us for the New Year lunch.  Usually it is supper, but my team was serving supper at the soup kitchen that evening, so we switched it up.

Here we're giving the traditional blessing gems, or balls as Bugg insists on calling them, a shake.

 Whoa, look at that, we have a blessing chicken.

 I love thinking and discovery, so when Bean wondered if Nestle Quik added would make chocolate blessing balls, I said, "Give it a whirl."

 Wise young man who noted that added something did not add to the enjoyment of the original.

Next, untrim the tree.

 Bugg and Giddy-Up spent much of the morning with playdough.

It was time for traditional cabbage, corn beef and black-eyed peas and thanking the Lord all all the good we've enjoyed and asking for His blessing in 2016.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Not A Good Sign

Not a good sign when I've been back in school for a week and still haven't wrapped up Christmas.
Yesterday before I got home, Handy Man put the final pieces in the Christmas puzzle.

 That is all that remains of this Christmas past except for the kitchen tree.
So, Christmas Eve, Tish and SuZQ and I cooked a bunch of stuff added to by different ones as they came to see Mom.
The social center on her floor is just outside her door, and you can  reserve it, so Christmas Eve at Granny's went on again.
Mom wasted no time in trying out all the good food.

 Most all of the kids made it for a visit.  I got Laurie Lou's crew, but was detained, probably playing the marble game with the little ones and didn't catch Amie and her group.

 There was some picking and grinning.

 And this little one was all about the dancing.
When my little brother got married, the Captain was two and all dressed up in his suit jacket and short-alls. He danced (jumping straight up and down on the floor ) to every song, till I wondered if is little legs were going to just drop off.  Later I said, "Son, you danced and danced!"  He gave me an odd look and explained himself by saying, "They singed and singed." They did at that.

 All of my chicklets were there as well, but since I've already posted all of them and theirs, they won't be repeated on this post.
Turn around twice and time to clean up the mess.  Mom was worn to a complete frazzle.  As I mentioned earlier, Handy Man and I headed to mass.  So very beautiful and peaceful.

Thank the Lord for another  Christmas Eve with Mom and most all of our people big and small.

Pushing Through

So, after the kids went home from the sleep over, I took a big nap, but had lots more to do.  I needed to make the caramel and get it and the fudge on their way to New Jersey the next morning.
I did some last minute shopping and went to Mom's early to get the "Shower Hour" out of the way before our last Christmas Tea.  She actually didn't try to talk me out of it this time. It was another warm balmy, weird December day, so after the shower we strolled about  outside and came in to listen to some music. She was not impressed so we headed upstairs to await our visitors.
Wednesday was my traditional Black Bean Omelet Christmas with Ol' Mother Hubbard's cupboard.



 They've outgrown their little aprons and chef hats I fear.  It seems like such a short time ago they were huge.

I barely finished their gifts in time to wrap them.  

Whilst Antebellie entertained us her talent on the recorder, Baby Boy and Miss Linnee served us tea and cookies.

 Then it was time for a piano recital.

 Mother Nature, not to be outdone, put on such a show of pounding rain and hail, that we had to watch.

 The hail piled up like slush.

 We snuggled on the couch for "The Light Before Christmas." The girls wanted to dress up in their fancy scarves, only the fancy dress-up get ups fit them like a glove and nearly takes my breath at how old and grown up they look.  Time just keeps moving right along.
Up next, Granny's Christmas Eve in her new digs.

Let the Good Times Roll

One of my students asked me to tell her my favorite thing about Christmas break and why.  I responded that I love when I have a minute to hang out with friends.  It seems from day one of the new school year, my days just disappear into the mist.
I didn't waste any time this year and headed straight from our last day of school to the coffee shop to  meet up with a friend. Yesterday friends came for soup and sandwiches and today I had not only breakfast with one group, but lunch with another friend girl.  So happy for that sweet time.
No time for rest after that first friend meeting as much had to be done for our children and grandchildren's Christmas on that Sunday.
Lots of good food and song, and laughs.  It must be a twin thing, because even  though their lives are no longer much invested in one another, Rae and Drummer Boy will inevitably fall back on a sarcastic humor they share, that still makes me laugh.  I love when someone pulls out the guitar and someone else sings.  We like songs that are not in keys we sing in I fear, but it is still music to me.
Drummer Boy questioned why I wasn't yet accomplished on the guitar myself.  I told him there needs to be a few weeks without a crisis of one sort or another and I will happily get right on that.

I absolutely love me some gramerlings in their Christmas best, with their hair spiked up or fashioned in some little springerly curls.  It was my joy to dress up my kids for the holidays.  So. Stinkin'. Cute.

 Someone must have shown this boy how to squeeze a bag to pop it open.  So instead of saying, "Help." He is squishing the daylights out of his fruit chews and saying, "Squeeze!"

 Lands, next year this boy will be as tall as his Dad.

 Giddy-Up looks like a ventriloquist doll in this picture.

 They felt the need for a little dance party, complete with the Limbo.

They were happy to find a new kind of building material under the tree.

Michael and the rest of us enjoyed his new beard game.

I thought this little Missy needed something monogramed. I know what it is like to be the caboose of a bunch of girls.

 I often find Bean with a kid or two and a book.  Ahhhhh.

 The kiddos are welcomed to spend the night. It is Jiffy-Pop, chocolate milk and my favorite Christmas movies.
  Giddy-Up is, well excitable and so thrilled to be having a sleep over.   Bean found knitting needles and yarn in his stocking. I told him that would be our winter project for later.  Bean wanted just a little lesson, so I showed him and in a few minutes he was knitting. Gee, wish it went that way in my classroom.

When Ceece arrived the next day, Giddy-Up said, "We're still having the sleep over." Mr. Smiley is snuggled up with his Chex mix and all his remotes and telephones that he packs around.

Of course, I always miss whoever is not present, and this party was no exception.  Life, amazingly wonderful with a splash of heartache don't ya know.

Rest

Rest, what a novel idea- NOT!  Wouldn't you think if the God of the universe commanded you to rest one day out of seven that you would get the hint.
I often wonder if all the stress related mental illnesses and diseases have been exacerbated by this lack of resting the mind and body.
I'm guilty. It is hard for me to do.
I didn't find it so hard Saturday when I wasn't just running low, I was empty. I slept until almost nine. Something that happens about two times a year. Handy Man was off and we just hung out, ate leftovers, read, worked a puzzle. I colored in my new coloring book. I'm still five when it comes to new crayons and colored pencils. Love. Them.  And I got the biggest box of crayons with color names I haven't heard before. I journaled in my new Bible.  We took a big nap, and I actually slept for a long time.  We watched The Hobbit, again.  We had popcorn for supper. I never got out of my pajamas.
Did you know when my tank is empty, Tolkien is my lovey.  I don't know why.  Movie or books, doesn't matter, that's my go to.  What's your go to?
Before dark, the guilt horse comes galloping through my mind and I determine that I will do something productive the next day.

But the next day, today, rides in with black clouds and pouring rain, another good reason, after church, to find my book and another long nap followed.  More leftovers.  But as dark came on early I knew I couldn't let this day slip by without some work to show.  I put all the Christmas shirts in the washer, ready for their long year's rest.  Since there wasn't one more spot to cram anything anywhere, I cleaned out the frig. I will have some happy chickie girls in the morning.  I spent some time perusing creative writing sites to see if there is anything I haven't tried with my students.  I tried to delve a little deeper into the mystery of how red dye affects the brain.  Enough work to make me feel better.

In my red dye search, I felt frustrated, as I often do when I read about the vaccine/autism situation.  To my knowledge, none of my children were adversely affected by  red dye.  I have twelve grandchildren and only one is affected.  When he has red dye he is so out of sorts, it is pitiful.  Research doesn't show a definitive correlation between red dye and behavior.  I. Don't. Care.  I know. I have made kids my business all my life and it is not a figment of our imagination that he reacts poorly to red dye. It is always fascinating when the research doesn't show something, but suddenly thimerosal is removed from vaccines and now companies are taking notice of the red dye situation.  Did you know farm raised salmon swim in it so they'll look to you as red as wild salmon?  Did you know it is in biscuits and vanilla cake mix?  Ground beef?  Ugh.  It is very hard to avoid.
Gee, a long way from the rest situation.  We need rest.  God said so. I believe Him, but it surely is hard to make it happen sometimes.
Wishing for you some good rest.