Christmas 2009 : Part One

Well I for one am glad that Christmas has come and gone. It is now another whole year away. There were parts of it that I enjoyed.

 Like the grands!!

The Shopping..I was glad when it was done. Far Guy was a saint..he hung in there..I could not have done it without him. He was also the driving force behind gifts instead of my preferred gifts of cash. I figured if I procrastinated long enough, they would all be happy with cash versus no gift at all.

The Wrapping of the gifts..I went into hibernation mode upstairs and finished it all..Far Guy has finally learned how to gift wrap..after forty years! Between the two of us working as a team..we got er done!

The House Cleaning.. Far Guy vacuums..I scrub and dust..I could have dusted more..but no one probably noticed. I did clean the downstairs bath extra good..Far Guy said "I don't know why you are doing that bathroom again..it will just be a mess in a little while." Sometimes I can be a bit anal about cleaning..probably part of my OCD...I am trying to overcome it..and let me tell you I have come a long way toward total recovery..but the holidays get me every time.

The Christmas Cards went out on Christmas Eve..many cards were sent by email for the very first time... some still had to be mailed..and notes written. I do like writing special notes to long time friends. My pencil in hand is still a comfy feeling.

The Cooking..I called one of my cousins, Geraldine for her Baked Beans Recipe, thanks to her phone tutorial I was able to successfully cook up a batch of baked beans that taste way better than Famous Dave's. I have never attempted Baked Beans before. I did have one small problem as I boiled them over several times during their first cookings...then when I packaged some for the deep freeze..I may have been a bit sloppy..Far Guy said I looked like a bean. I do make a mean Green Apple/Snickers/Cool Whip Salad..never fail! I did remember to put the sugar in the Pumpkin Bread..and it only took two hours to bake because Far Guy shut the oven off. Son In law Andy cooked the ribs and a delicious ham and cornbread. Jennifer baked candy and cookies..calorie free of course. My Parents joined us for a late evening meal on Christmas Eve. I was going to use real plates..but Trica said "Mother, paper will be fine..less dishes to wash.." Sometimes she just hates it that we have no dishwasher. Yup, we still do dishes the old fashioned way..sometimes we even talk to each other while we wash and dry.

The Church services.. my ONLY request of family members this Christmas was that we all attend church together on Christmas Eve. I really don't care much for all the commercial hoopla that surrounds Christmas..but the church part is important to me. Oh Yeah and before I forget, the sermon ( I would have said "Happy Birthday Jesus" Amen) was way to long..I fell asleep, the print was way to little in the handout..and Madison and I prayed that the cute little things three rows in front of us in the thinly strapped black dresses got some sweaters for Christmas...all that uncovered skin made me chilly even though I kept my parka on for the entire service. Paige and Noah almost got the giggles once..a little tap on the shoulder by their Grandma worked well to quench those giggles. Four kids and four adults..we almost filled a pew. I was extremely thankful for the family members that attended with us, sometimes you just have to let go and be thankful that someone was there..after all we could just be two old cranky people sitting by ourselves in a pew.

The weather..we got some snow..a whole months worth in just a few days. But hey people it must be warm to snow..for that I am happy!   Everyone made it back home safely..that is what counts:)