CHRISTMAS EVE

Our day with the kids, grand and great grands. Love those children.

It was a great day for surprises, excitement, and laughter.

I just wish all could have been here at the same time. James and Amie was late but the boys was here. We had so much food of all kinds.It was so much fun the kids could not wait until time to open gifts. They kept asking when it would be time to open gifts. I did not put names on my gifts under the tree, I knew who they belong to they did not. They hate it when I do that. Sometimes I wrap in different paper that I can hide a name in. It is so much fun when kids are excited with anticipation.

We ate first and then had gifts and games. Plenty to eat, everyone fixed plates. Had a wonderful time.

Hard to get organized, My gifts was opened first, by each child. I got the girls robes, pj, socks,and booties, Kelsey I got footie PJ.

Kiefer got arrows and a small flash light I bought in Canada. The rest money. Did not have much money to spend so I used, you guessed it, plastic money, pay in January.

Fell in Do-nut hold and medicine so high in Dec, but Coy had to have his. Thank goodness for samples for me. Drug companies dont give many samples anymore, Going to order from Canada.

Next we had our game, get in circle as best you can, with 20 people that was hard, we did it. Everyone selected a gift out of pile and we begin story. Right and Left game. I had electric knife's, money seperators, towl, dish towels, wraps, package of colored pens, car vac , insulated cups, throws of different kinds, and many more items. It was so much fun.

It was a wonderful day at our house and I enjoyed it very much.

We had so much food all took plates home with them, don't want it left here for us to clean up.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

A DAY OF PREPARING.

Up at 5:17 drinking my coffee.I just know it is going to be a good day.

I usually do not feel like this on holidays but I purposed that this year was going to be different.

I was going to make it as good as I could, who knows there might not be another one where I can do for my family.

The day before Christmas and since we was eating at noon instead of in the evening, I have lots to do today. I got my pecan pie made, fruit salad, made some more oyster crackers, almond Roca, "Vi recipe" that is so good. Cooked my corn bread for dressing, got my chicken on to cook in my favorite cookware "Miracle Maid" cookware you put on at night and turn on Low and cook all night, It is wonderful for that. I have to make me a list of all the things I am going to fix or I might forget something.

I already had a turtle pie in freezer. My family seem to eat more food than sweets. Pecan Pie always eat.

I also candied some sweet potatoes they will be so good, have not done that in a long time.

Got my rolls done and put in refrigerator to rise a little will take out in the morning and let them finish rising. Love that "Secret " recipe I found. Just cant wait until tomorrow, excited as a kid I think, I have really enjoyed cooking, planning this year.

I have also got presents to wrap for our game I know that will be fun.

God Bless

BEAUTIFUL DAY

There has been something special about today, I got a lot done and felt so good about it. I haven't felt about a holiday in a long time like I have about today.

Got up early , baked a breakfast casserole, drank my coffee and enjoyed every cup. Baked orange brownies for a special friend, fixed a bag of cookies for another friend. Nothing like a feeling like you are doing something special for some one.

Today has been such a good day. Fixed lunch called Chris and told him to come eat with us, although he did not like the meat loaf.

He took a shower, I helped him wash his clothes, he just stuck around up here today .We talked about his hygiene, told him he needed to fold his clother neatly and why. He has just been throwing them in a basket , not good.

Deanna called and I kept kelsey for a while, she is such a joy. That is Rocky little girl.

Got all my gifts wrapped for our Christmas game. That went very well. I want this to be the best Christmas ever.

Coy has not acted very well the last few days. He was confused all day yesterday, everywhere we went he thought we should go the other way. He did not realize we spent the whold day at LR. He told me he made 3 trips to town.

Today he wrote a note to put in his truck that says, " Passengers Creed" GISDHOSU, G I S D H O S U

Tried to write Get in sit down hold on and shut up and line it up like he did on a peice of paper, actually a paper plate.

He said he was going to hang it up in the truck.

I ask him why he made it he said he didn't know.

I have talked to him several times today and he has been far away . Strange.

Watched a movie The Road To Christmas, it was so good. Coy went to bed, he never wants to watch a movie with me, all he likes is westerns. He want even watch the news. Have a weird feeling about the things he says and the things he don't say.

The Dr. said his heart is great, he didn't find any problems yesterday.

Oh I forgot to tell you we got a knock at the door and One of the Lady's from Heritage Manor came and brought us a fruit basket, told up how much they looked forward to our home baked goodies every year and they loved us.

I did not expect anything just love doing it. One of them has saved me some flower seed to plant this spring.

That is a ways off who knows what this winter will bring. So far good.

God Bless

CHRISTMAS FOR THE ELDERLY

Have been baking all day and fixing their baskets, I think I am happier when I am doing for someone else than any other time.

Home made Granola mix, Pear Butter, Amish cookies, Almond Rocha, Almond bark cookies, Oyster snack crackers and orange brownies. Will try to post a picture of my baskets.

It is a warm and glorious feeling to know you have done something to bring a little joy to someone. I do not know if Coy will be Santa or not, maybe. Love doing this. Maranda and Briauna will be helping us out. We will all have on Santa hats.

Dress up day for us. Won't that be good.

It was a wonderful day

We all dressed up, Maranda was santa claus, she made a wonderful Santa, walked right up to the door and said Merry Christmas and handed them their goodies. Briauna would not she said she could not stand to look at the old people. I thought she was going to cry when whe saw one who could barely walk to the door, she stepped back and Maranda went in side and heanded it to her. It was so good and a good feeling. I told Briauna an old person was the best friend she could ever have. The love little children and will cherish anything she can do for them.

There was two that was not home. We will deliver later.

God Bless all

SISTER VISIT

It seems like a long time since we done this but it really hasn't. Have been trying to get up there for a week and things keep coming up.

We really enjoyed the day, nasty weather but it didn't dampen out spirits. Shopping, mostly looking. Had some things to take back. Went to kirkland's and looked, Rosie said she had never been in that store. It is always so nice the things they have. They would not fit in my house but I love to look especially at Christmas time.

We both was getting hungry so we went to target and really found some buys of baking good we needed so we got that first. I found the perfect little baskets for my goodies. They was sorta christmas but could be used after maybe for a letter holder or just set on a table for odd and end stuff. I always have odd and end stuff on my tables. everyone leaves something even if is nothing but a nail or screw. I have to clean my nick nack things out often.

Then we went to eat at McAlisters, it is a sandwich shop in the shopping center. Coy and I have talked about eating there before but never did. Rosie said her and Rodney had ate there several times. While we was there our other sister, Sue called so she had lunch with us too. It was so nice. Hoping we all three can do that sometimes. Need to carry something of Jeanette with us when we go also.

Every thing we talked about she would say she needed to do this or that for Rodney and then reality would set in. After 42 years she will always remember the things she made for him or that he liked. Lots of memories.

We got to talking about food and making things for people and I said us southern girls always thinks of what we need to cook or make.

That is just the south in us. Don't you just love the south in us.

We went home to her house and the delivery truck was there to deliver her TV table. Hit it just right.

God Bless All

SERINATED ON 53 ANNIVERSARY

I'm sure it does not happen very ofter that anyone gets to be serinated by 3 bands and 2 choirs. It was amazing. One great grand daughter in choir and a grand daughter in band playing the flute. The auditorium was full and people stand ing all around. More people there than I expected. Parking lot was full , streets full also all around the ball field also. We had a wonderful time. Got home about 9:30 . Weather was nice and all the bands and choirs done so good.

They do not dress like they did when we was in school. Band uniforms consist of tan shorts and white shirt, in summer and black pants white shirt for winter. They also have a cumber bun and scarf which makes it look a little better. No color to them.

But they looked so good and did a great job. Love Christmas music.

Cember has a beautiful voice. Briauna is doing great on the flute also, better than I thought, didn' think she would stick with it.

Love my Grands and Great Grands.

God Bless All