Good morning Monday!

Good morning my darling sistas!

Monday again?  How can it be?  One last trip to Waco today for the last Childbirth class.  I'm happy that I am able to be my daughter's coach, but I'm also happy this is the last trip!  I have a lot of things piling up here at the house that need to be taken care of.  Somehow these one-night-a-week weekly trips are messing up my whole week!  

Carrie and I went shopping yesterday and it was so nice, just the two of us.  No drama with Carrie, you know?  We went to Michael's and that's always fun.  We looked at everything!  And we had fun picking out some little creative gifts for her to give the secretaries in the Chem Dept.  It's always fun to be creative.  

I bought a big book of scrapbooking papers that are so pretty.  They're all glittery and sparkly.  I decided I would use my paper cutter and cut them into strips and make paper chains for my own tree.  Silly thing to be excited about, but I am.  We had fun making those paper chains with the boys over Thanksgiving.  Sometimes simple pleasures are the best.  

I think I figured out how to hang my Christmas stockings here in this house.  My dining room has these columns, and I'm going to run a sparkly red and gold cord up high between two of them.  I bought the cord and some Christmas clothes pins yesterday.  I can hang the empty stockings up there (out of Budder's reach!).  Empty stockings don't weigh very much.  I'll have to take them down to stuff them, but that's not a problem.  I can just place the stuffed stockings at the base of the tree on Christmas Day.

So, little by little, I'm being drawn into the Christmas preps whether I want to or not.  Nothing motivates a grandma's heart like little ones at Christmas.

I bought the cutest patterns for fleece caps, mittens and booties!  I have some camo fleece and I'm going to make the boys caps and mittens.  I already bought them new houseshoes, or I would also make them the booties (they aren't like baby booties).  I want to do my sewing this week!  Haven't done ANY sewing since before Thanksgiving.

Well, I'd better close and get moving.  That trip to Waco doesn't happen without some effort on my part.  LOL!  Love you all!

Good Morning Ladies.....

Vickie - glad you're getting into the holiday spirit "bit by bit"... it's true, Grandma's want to make the little ones happy - it's "our thing"!  I've started my shopping, but I'm having a difficult time to figure out what to get Taylor - she has everything!  I did order some rubber stamps/stickers/crayons/colored pencils, and I've picked up some small stocking stuffers and I got her a "Frozen" bath towel poncho and wash mitt, and I want to get her some costume jewelry, and maybe a jewelry box, but I'm stumped on what to get for the "special gift" - I'll have to ask Maura for guidance.

BTW, my Mom went to my Childbirth classes with me because my husband worked nights, so she and my husband were both with me during delivery.  She came up from NY and stayed with us for about six weeks prior to and six weeks after Maura was born.  She and Mick were not really comfortable together in the beginning, but by the time she left they were best buds.

Maura came over yesterday and spent about 3-4 hours helping put up blinds and curtain rods -- didn't get them all done, but got the higher ones taken care of - I can handle the remaining ones.  The place is looking better....still has a long way to go, but progress is being made.

I called the Food Bank this morning and left a message about volunteering.  They're open tomorrow so I'll drop by and talk to them.

Hope you all have a good day - prayers and good wishes to all.

Mary

Mary,

your mom sounds like me.  My daughter only wanted her husband and me in the labor and delivery room and it worked out really well.  Her husband, of course, passed out but other than that, we did well.  

I volunteer at our university but only by taking up food donations.  I wish I could do more, but I just don't have any time...but others dispense while I collect. 

Hi Vickie and Mary and my OFF family to come:

I have been reading but not posting much. Been too busy with work. Yesterday I got up at 12:30 p.m., which is uncharacteristic for me, but then I went to bed at 3 a.m. ... didn't get home until after midnight. It was a busy night at work Saturday with the late Big Ten football championship. 

Today's my Friday and I'm looking forward to my weekend. I need to get some Christmas stuff up, although not sure how much stuff I will get up in the main living space because Gary doesn't like a lot of my stuff. So some of it will end up in my room. 

I liked Jeannie's idea of stories of our childhood Christmases. I have so many memories of going to Grandma Delort's for Christmas Eve. That was our tradition. 

Gary already quit his job driving veterans. His back was bothering him and trying to pick up vets and put them into wheelchairs aggravated the back. So he's looking for something else. 

Vickie, you are certainly busy enough, much more than I ever have been. Good for you. That's got to help a little bit. 

Same for you, Mary. Volunteering's a good idea. 

Anyway, I should think about getting in the shower. Have a good day. 

Eileen,

I cannot wait for us to get the stories on the board and read everyone's experiences.  I don't put decorations up at home, but I do provide a ton of decorations for the tutors to pimp out our center and believe me they do decorate it to max.  They are all so creative and what I don't buy, they make.  We actually have a razorback tree on the file cabinet and an almost 7 foot tree that is just beautiful...this year, we are sure to win the best decorations...we included everything you can think....

Good Afternoon Vickie and everyone.....

I am happy that you are Carrie's birthing partner!! At least now the classes are done. YAY....one thing off the list. 

It sounds like Carrie and you had a great time shopping. It is fun shopping with no children now and then. No stress or drama!! Is Carrie due in March?? You know me the info leaves my head as fast as it goes in!! I can't wait to see that little princess, Carlee!!!

I can't wait to see all the fun Christmas things you sew!! You always have such great ideas!!

Have a safe trip to Waco. Hugs to Carrie and Carlee for me!! 

I love you Vickie!!!  Have a good rest of the day!!

As for me.... I am doing okay. I needed my neighbor to drive me to the government center this morning. It is 1.5 hours round trip. I am in pain from that on top of the other. I am going back to bed when I finish this post. 

I hope later to start putting out a few Christmas Decorations. Just a bit at a time. I definitely want to put a wreath on my door!!!

I need to work on Christmas cars too. I am not sending out as many as last year. I will do the best I can. 

Have a really good rest of the day!! I love you all!!!! 

Of all thinks I have a chip on my front tooth. I can't get in to see my dentist until the 22nd.  They put me on their cancelation list. I guess I won't be smiling a lot! It really isn't that bad. I will be okay.

Prayers for our loving OFF Family and their families. Special prayers for those that requested some. 

You all mean so much to me....loads of love and lots of hugs...connie d

Connie,

Did you fall again?  Are you having dizzy spells?  Does your family know?  Or, am I overreacting?  

You stay indoors as much as you can and when you go to shopping, use one of those mobility scooters.  

Hello Jeannie....sorry I didn't get back to you. I didn't see this post until morning and then had to leave to grocery shop.

No I didn't fall...thank goodness!! My balance is always off some, but that wasn't it either. I was in a big rush and needed a cold drink of water. My glass drinking glasses are heavy. I went to take a drink and my had jerked like always. The glas**** my tooth pretty hard. It isn't much of a chip but it is driving me crazy. My Fran (driver) looked at it today and said she could hardly see it so it really isn't that bad. My appointment is the 22nd. I am on a cancelation list. 

I did let my daughter Carrie know about my tooth. She is even more avid about me moving closer!!  She said then family could take me and I wouldn't have to worry about how to get to appointments!!

I always use the scooter at the stores. I couldn't walk the stores anymore.

Thanks for being concerned about ...I know you really care!!

I love you too...HUGS.....connie d

Vic,

I was my daughter's birthing coach for all three of her kids and, of course, before the career change, I was an RN and worked Labor and Delivery for years and years.  My son-in-law passed out with the birth of number one son, so after number one, he sat at the top of the bed resting his head on the bedrail...the man is a farmer but couldn'****ch his wife birth their children...how messed up is that?  

I love to go to craft stores and can always find inspiration for some project or another.  Enjoy your at home time...soon there will be a newborn babe in the house and that always makes for happiness and planning for the future.   

OK -- Just about 9:00 and I will not eat anything else tonight - P.e.r.i.o.d.  This is the time of night when I get in trouble.  Totals for the day:  Calories 567, Carbs 20, Protein 60, Water 72 oz.  I am not going to ruin a good day.  Right now I'll be getting on the recumbent bike and will pedal during Major Crimes, a series I watch.  Every good day is one less bad day.  Have to keep in mind that I am the one who controls my life, no one else.  Cannot blame anyone else for problems I may create.

Mary