Survived Black Friday (babysitting), now on to Saturday (babysitting)!

Good morning sistas!

I hope everyone is doing okay.  My Black Friday was spent babysitting and it went pretty well.  We bought some board games for the little ones in anticipation of this weekend, and Benny absolutely LOVES Monopoly Jr.!  We just play it over and over again.  It's just right for a 5 year old.  And I am so impressed with Benny's ability to do math!  I'm sure I was no where near as proficient in addition when I was five.  

We also took the boys to the movies.  I was a bit nervous about taking Budder, but as I suspected, he was rather awed by the size of the screen and the darkened room, and he settle right down into my lap and was so good through the whole thing!  Of course, we had a giant tub of popcorn and I also brought his favorite candy, a roll of Mentos, with me, so he ate his way through the whole thing, but still.  It worked!  

Today the boys are coming at 1 p.m. again, and we're going to do Christmas crafts.  I spray painted the pine cones green yesterday and they've been drying in the garage.  Carrie and I are going to spray them with spray adhesive and sprinkle the green glitter over them before the boys arrive.  They will get to do the decorating.  I bought little multi-colored beads for ornaments and some small tip glue bottles.  I'm sure it will be messy, but I hope it's fun.  I have some red, green and white modeling clay to make bases for some of the pine cones to stand upright.  Others we'll tie gold thread around them and hang them as ornaments on the tree.

We also have those pre-cut strips to make paper chains for the tree.  Those are going to be simple fun, especially for Budder's little hands.

I know I have to babysit tomorrow (Sunday) as well, but Chris thinks it will only be about a half day.  Thank goodness.

Last night I finished listening to The Martian on audiobooks.  I have to confess, I didn't understand half of it.  All of the technical/science stuff went right over my head.  I mean, I have no frame of reference for all the chemistry and physics and such.  But the story was absorbing and I enjoyed it.  I think I would like to go see the movie, but you know? I have never gone to the movies by myself, not once in my whole life.  I'm not sure I can do it, but I may have to try.  Butch wouldn't hardly ever go to the movies.  But there are often movies that I think I would like to go see.  Hmmm.

I have to go back to Waco on Monday.  It will be childbirth class #3.  I'm looking forward to this one.  We get to do a tour of the hospital.  Things have changed so much since I gave birth in that teeny tiny hospital in Nacogdoches 33 years ago.  But I won't get to stay but one night in Waco.  I have to be back here and on babysitting standby all week.  Both Mike and Chris will be working crazy insane holiday hours from now until Christmas.  They won't know what time they'll be getting off any day, so I'll be on standby to pick up the boys every afternoon.

I need to try and get some of my Christmas shopping done on-line this weekend.  I really just don't have the heart for much of it this year.  It's hard to get excited about Christmas, but I will try for the boys' sakes.  

Well, I'd better close, get a shower, and get ready for the invasion!  LOL!  It's cold and rainy here today, so we won't be going outside to play.  That's too bad, because a little fresh air and outside time really do help make the babysitting go by more quickly.  Oh well, we'll just have to hope the crafts keep them occupied and happy for a few hours.

Love you all!

Good morning Vic and those who are just getting adequately caffeinated,

Vic, I am so happy the baby did well at the movie theater; we love taking our grandkids to the movies and now that they are getting older, we can actually take them all to see movies that we like too.  My DH took the boys to see the Martian movie while I was gone and they really enjoyed it.  I am like you about going to the movie theater alone; hell, I don't even like to eat out by myself.  But, I am doing it more often.  I went to the movie by myself by accident. I was supposed to meet a friend and she had a flat so I went in and got situated and right before the lights went off, I checked my phone because she wasn't there yet and she had texted me and said, I am waiting on my son to come fix the flat and will probably skip the movie.  I actually did fine...once the lights go out, there's no talking anyway and there are a lot of folks who come alone so I felt okay about it. But, I think if I had known earlier that she wasn't coming, I would have left.

If you want a craft idea that might be fun for the boys but also will be something their mom will treasure forever, you might try crocheting a simple wreath and cutting a cardboard or a felt circle for the back and letting the boys glue pictures of themselves on the circle and then you can glue or sew the picture to the back of the wreath.  I have always just free handed crocheted the little wreaths but I just looked on line and there are tons of patterns for crocheted tree wreaths.  I do mine in green, of course, and then put a little red strand of yarn through it to give it color.  

I also stayed away from Black Friday.  DH had to go into work today because his company is putting out some new software updates and he has to do a final testing on it before Monday.  He has already found like twenty glitches.  So he will have a very long day.  I plan to sip coffee and do some online shopping and maybe a little sewing.  

Ladies, I hope your day is restful.  

I know I just posted but I wanted to share a conversation I just had with DH through texting:

Me: hey, on your way home, will you stop at the store and get some fresh veggies like cucumbers, bells and carrots. 

DH: Okay, and maybe some snacks.

Me: Those are our snacks.

DH: but I thought I'd get some healthy unhealthy snacks.

Me: that would be an oxymoron.

DH: you don't have to be rude.

Me: just pick up some fresh vegetables...if you must have sweet, pick up some fruit...like apples.  

I'm no fool...he will bring one or two unhealthy snacks through the door and will hide them by his chair and just when we are settling in for a movie, he will say, sure would like some chips, and I will say, that would be good, then he will say, well, too bad, I didn't pick up any, and I will say, yeah, too bad, and he will say, look, I did get us one small bag....and we will eat the chips and watch the movies....I should just say, yeah, get a bag of chips...but then he will get a huge bag and dip and maybe candy....give him an inch and he will take a mile; tell him no and he will sneak a little treat and be happy with the little.....big baby he is. 

Love the oxymoron comment... You sound like acute couple!

Good Morning Vickie and OFF,

Wow, I love the craft idea you have for the pine cones.  I have a bag of pine cones that Izzy gathered for me.  They're those baby pine cones, and I want to do something like you are doing with the kids for Christmas.  That is something I can do, even with the knee walker.  I love making messes with the kids doing crafts.

I'm glad Budder was able to enjoy the movie.  That is awesome.  After my divorce, my therapist gave me an assignment to go to the movies alone.  I didn't want to, but I did.  I chose Monsters Inc, because I figured that would be fun.  I got through it fine, and turns out that is one of my favorites.  I know divorce and losing Butch to cancer do not begin to compare, but I really did not want to go alone.  Just pick something different, when you are ready.  Do not rush yourself.  And, I would not even try to do it during the holidays.  

I wanted to respond to some of the posts yesterday but never got back to it.  I don't remember what all I did yesterday.

I'll be watching football today, especially the Michigan State/Penn State game.  Turns out Lincoln is going to the game.  One of his buddies parents has season tickets.  He is psyched.  For the first half, I'll be wearing my Penn State Mom shirt.  Second half, Michigan State shirt.  I have to be Switzerland, coz Colleen got her Masters here at Michigan State.

I'm doing a lot of my Christmas shopping online Monday.  Plus, I am having the Usborne cyber Monday book party.  If anyone wants to get some really good quality children's books, at a very good price, I suggest you check it out.  They have a slew of books on sale now, and more will be added for Cyber Monday.  The good prices end at 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.  They have everything from board books, to adolescent books, fiction and nonfiction.  Some are only $5.  I made a vow that every gift giving occasion, I would give the kids books.  

Here is the link for the Facebook party.  https://www.facebook.com/events/948988568470897/950433718326 382/

The link to my party is on the page.  

I hope that wasn't pushy.  That wasn't my intent.  Just being a retired teacher, I love getting books into kids' hands.  It helps that Colleen is a reading specialist, and an adjunct professor, who teaches future teachers how to teach Reading.  It's just my hobby horse.  Sorry for sounding pushy.

Must scoot.  Need to load the dishwasher before the game later.  Then I have yarn calling me.

Love,

Trish

You don't sound pushy at all Pat. I agree about giving kids lots of books.  I still have one of my first books called Miss Pattie about a cat that could talk. It is precious to me. 

The Christmas crafts sound really fun Vickie. I am planning to do some with a couple of my Special Day Classes this month. I usually do an hour and a half rotation with a craft at one station, a story at one, a language game at another, and something musical and interactive at the fourth station... This month it would be holiday activities. The kids love it and I love it too. I do miss the children since I retired so this is my way of giving back plus staying connected to the teachers and children...a win win.

As far as Christmas grief goes, it is definitely an issue. I can remember doing Christmas shopping and feeling like I was in this huge fog...looking at people laughing and happy and thinking "How can anyone feel happy?" Then there were times when the tears just flowed...I still have periods of sadness at holidays...I think that is going to happen from now on. There are too many loved ones missing to not feel it at Christmas.

And about the movies... Go go go. I go as much as I can in the next few months. I go alone quite frequently. There are so many great movies out at this time of year. I like to see all of the critically acclaimed movies so that when awards are passed out I have my own choices and know the field. Going alone is great...very relaxing.

Julia

Good morning Vickie and everyone........

Vickie...WOW have you been busy!! Those boys sure keeping you going. That is good for the fact that you are keeping busy through the holiday. You sure have plenty of craft ideas to work on. It sounds like you had a greatThanksgiving too!  Budder did great at the movie...eating and all! Enjoy the childbirth class. That is such a great time for you and Carrie! I love you very much!!!

As for me.... I am awake....doing nothing today. I wasn't alone on Thanksgiving. I was with most of my family. I missed having Gracie there!!

Oh my that car trip to Carrie's best friend Heather's place worn me down!! No more car trips for me until I feel much better. Christmas I will be alone as I can't do the traveling.  

They had an amazing and gorgeous Thanksgiving. Everything was decorated so beautifully!! The food was great!! They did one turkey in a deep fryer and the other one in a smoker. They were so tender and so juicy...unbelievable!! Tons of other food. Lots of appetizers. Way more desserts that we could ever eat!! Many good people and plenty to do. Playing games and such. Thy sent a ton of food home with us. I will have to freeze some!

My Nic went out to eat dinner with Tom, of course. Nic ended up spending the night at Tom's.  It was okay because I could hardly move at all yesterday and today. Nic got food poisoning. I spoke with him earlier. He is sleeping for a while and will then be coming back here. He won't be going back up north to see my ex...his grandpa. He is just too sick. He plans on leaving for home in the morning. All his things are here.  He just got back. Drinking Gatorade and going back to sleep!

I am took more meds and it is time to take a nap soon. 

I will check back in later....have a good rest of the day.

Prayers for our OFF Family and their Families. Special prayers as requested.

Loads of love and bunches of hugs to all....connie d

Hi Vickie and my OFF family:

I think those little ones will keep you so busy ... I couldn't handle it. I know when my nephew was little, he ran circles around me, and I was younger then. 

I usually have gone to movies alone. Even when I lived in the Chicago area and close to friends, I went by myself because there were movies I wanted to see that my friends didn't, so if I wanted to see a movie, I'd better go by myself. Then, when I moved way out west to Montana, etc., well, I didn't have anyone to go with most of the time. I've quit going for the most part because it's uncomfortable to have my leg down for 2-3 hours. But with Gary here, it's a social thing ... something we can do together. There will be movies I want to see that Gary has already seen (Bridge of Spies, for instance). BTW, I saw "The Martian" and loved it. Gary is reading the book, too ... we saw the movie together.

I can't imagine what you're going through with all the holidays. I know the holidays after my dad died, I felt sad, too, remembering Christmases with my dad, looking through photos with him in them. But the photos brought up good memories, too, and that made me happy, knowing he was with me for that time, however short. At some point, you may feel like that, too. Not saying you will, but maybe you will. I also had dreams about my dad after he died and still do to this day, usually when I'm troubled about something. 

Well, I have to get ready for work. Busy day and it's pouring rain and chilly here (in the high 40s). Have a good day.

It's me again.  This time it's something that I'v always said: it may take a long time for the memory of your loved one to cause a smile and not a tear....then Joe Biden said this: "There will come a day, I promise you and your parents, as well, when the thought of your son or daughter or your husband or wife brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will happen. My prayer for you is that day will come sooner or later.. But the only thing I have more experience than you in is this: I'm telling you it will come."