Merry Christmas!

My "JOY" tree in the hallway.

Winter Wonderland with my snowmen on top of the TV.

My big tree in the living room.

My little tree in my 'craft room.'

Merry Christmas to All!

Are you all ready for the holiday? I have everything that I bought wrapped. I have a couple of things to pick up yet and then wrap and then I'm done. Or I'm quitting!! I'm also hoping that the weather will treat me nice so that I can get to my daughter's and son's for the holiday. I keep watching the weather channel and it keeps changing so . . . guess I'll wait and see what happens between now and Wednesday morning!

My house looks pretty good. All my decorations are up that are going to be up. We're having Christmas here in January so I'll enjoy my trees and decorations for some time. But I love Christmas so it won't be a hardship.

It's jeans week at work. Always is just before the holidays. We have an all-agency staffing on Wednesday morning. The agency is providing a breakfast buffet (we pay $5.00) and then a meeting following. I guess they aren't providing the complete meal, but the better portion of it. We have a number of awards to present and a little housekeeping to get done before the first of the year. I get my 25 year plaque. It was 25 years in September, but our October meeting was cancelled so . . . we'll try for Wednesday morning. It's at the Mid-Way here in Dubuque. It's a nice place to gather. My hopes are to be able to leave around 1:00 or 1:30 for my childrens'. I don't want to drive in the dark this time of year, especially with unpredictable weather. Getting old!!

I have a friend coming over Tuesday evening to help me pack up my gifts and get them in my car. I can pack the suitcase later in the evening and finish on Wednesday morning. I'm looking forward to spending some time with my kids. I'm especially excited to be spending some time with my granddaughter Charlotte. She's growing so fast and I want to get to know her a little better. Have a few packages for her . . . but grandmother's can do that. Spoil the kid!! I'm sure a lot of pictures will be taken.

I'll miss my sister and her family. Told them to take lots of pictures too. Jackson is such a little goer right now and so much fun to watch. I'm sure he'll enjoy the holiday very much. There's some packages under my tree for him too. My sister's birthday is in December so there's some for her too!! January 16th should be fun.

I see my Colts are still undefeated!! Go Colts! And the Saints got beat so the Colts are the team to beat. Hope they go all the way to the Super Bowl. They have been my favorite team before they left Baltimore! I'm a die hard Colt fan.

Here's Christmas wishes to all. Hope this is the best holiday ever. Take care in your travels so that you get where you want to be safely. Enjoy the times with your loved ones. Make wonderful memories and take lots of pictures.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanksgiving

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is over and done with . . . well not quite for my family. Because we are all growing with more children and more places to go we didn't get together before or on Thanksgiving, but decided December 5th would work fine. It did, and it didn't. Jim & Mandy found they had something on their calendar, my sister didn't check her calendar and it was opening day of deer hunting season and my daughter also forgot something on her calendar and wasn't able to be with us. The rest of us made it!!!

Mark & Sandie, Beth, Karsten & Jackson, Mike & Callie, myself and Ron & Glee spent a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon together. I actually got there on time! Jackson was at the door to greet me. Ron was taking a shower. Mike & Callie pulled in right after me so Jackson and I went and greeted them at the door. He's such a sweet little boy. And he loves his Uncle Mike!!! Mark and Sandie weren't far behind. It was good getting together with everyone. We really have to do that more often. I spent the weekend with Glee and never took a picture. We were just commenting on that this afternoon before I left for home. Duh!!!

Mike had a basketball game Saturday night so all decided to attend. Well, most of us. Karsten decided he better head home and work on his truck. He hopes to have it done by Christmas. And he hasn't graced the gym in Postville since he graduated. He didn't want to break his record! Mark and Sandie came with and that was nice. They didn't stay for the whole game as they were heading back to Cedar Falls yet Saturday night. Mike's game was supposed to start around 6:30, but they were just in the first period of the girls' game when we got there. They had a double, double header! JV played first, then the varsity teams. We were still home before 10, just barely!! Postville played Ed-Co. Mike has a young team but some of the players looked pretty good to me. Unfortunately they lost in an overtime game. There were some officiating calls that were pretty bad, but Mike's team just wasn't ready to play and Ed-Co was out for a win!! It was exciting, but not one of Mike's more favorable moments. They play M-F-L Mar-Mac Tuesday night and if it wasn't supposed to snow I probably would go up and watch the game. I'm afraid I might get there and not get back!! It't been a long time since I've watched high school basketball. Was fun!! I enjoyed it very much.

Jackson kept us all busy. We found out he can jump from the bleachers into someone's arm (mostly his grandparents) and has a ball doing it. He finally settled down by the 4th quarter. When we got there he was looking for Mike immediately and got really excited when he found him. Mike happened to be sitting on the stage just watching the game and as soon as Jackson spied him and got down from Papa's arms took off. He loves his Uncle Mike!! He's at such a good age right now . . . he's really fun to watch and be around. Kids are great, aren't they?

Got home around 5 or so tonight. Cold in my place. I shut down the termostats before I left. Now it'll take a little time to warm everything up. That's what blankets are for!!! I have my suitcase unpacked and put away and a bunch of Christmas gifts laying all over my bedroom floor. Guess I should start wrapping some.

I have a friend coming Monday evening to help drag all the Christmas boxes back downstairs. My kitchen will look much better when that's finished. Maybe I can talk him into bringing up my wrapping paper box!!

Sounds like snow for our part of the world. Some tonight (heard 2-3 inches) and more heading our way on Tuesday. Winter wonderland. Isn't that what everyone wants??? Not!!