Favorite Memories of Christmas

A week ago today we were anticipating the arrival of Melisa and John, and today we're reflecting on how wonderful it was to be together for Christmas, oh how time flies by so fast!  We do want to share some of our favorite memories of this Christmas, they're in no particular order, so here we go:

• All the baking fun on Wednesday, my kitchen looked like a war zone, even Melisa commented.
• Packing and travelling to Carin's, it was somewhat of a challenge, and five of us, plus Rascal in the truck was a bit cramped, but only for 3-1/2 hours.
• Dylan meeting Melisa and John, he was a bit shy, pretending to be a ghost; but after a few minutes he really warmed up to Melisa.
• The anticipation of Santa's arrival, a special moment was Dylan's personal call from Santa.  Carin had the phone on speaker, it was a good thing as Dylan was so quiet and shy we had to make some noise in the background so Santa would know Dylan was still on the phone.

And then, Christmas Eve, after dinner Don and I were told to sit on the couch and we were presented with a card ... Melisa and John standing near, Carin with her video camera ... we weren't certain what to expect.  As we opened the card, and began to read, then I noticed on the inside of the card was a piece of paper and on that paper were the results of Melisa's ultrasound from Monday.  I shouted and cried out, "It's a BOY", so Don and I were honored and excited to be the first to know and announce that Baby BOY W is on his way.  Melisa and John asked the technician to circle the results on the card and seal, so our family found out together, that was a most special moment!

Christmas morning, oh the packages, and Dylan's eyes about to POP!  The opening of gifts went rather quickly, but that's okay for this year as we feel certain Dylan has never experienced anything like this, he was such fun to watch!

There are so many more memories, probably too much to write in this space so I'll conclude with the thought it was wonderful for our family to be together once again.  We were supposed to have Christmas together in 2004, but the airlines reservation computer crash that year prevented Melisa and John from travelling at the very last moment.  So, it was a blessing to have our beautiful daughters, their husbands, and now Dylan together in the celebration of fun, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  A very special Christmas indeed!  Until next time ....

Since last update ....

Christmas is HERE, and I'm glad to report that:

• Cards are all addressed and mailed.
• Yes Carin, tamales have been ordered.
• Presents, with the exception of stocking stuffers, are all wrapped; and stocking stuffers won't be!

All the above is good, however, the baking frenzy starts in the morning, with apple pie, chocolate pie, coffee cake; and that's after we pick up Melisa and John at the airport tonight at 10:00p.m., we should arrive back home around midnight! However, the dust bunnies will have to wait, did vacuum but there's no time for serious dusting, bathrooms are clean (not sparkly clean, but clean), the ironing that needed to be done is also done, there will be no more of that nonsense until next week!

So, even though I was sidelined for several days with the "sinus stuff" we've made up some time and we'll be ready for Santa at Dylan's house! It's going to be so exciting for all of us, to think that a year ago this time there were NO grandchildren in the family and now we are blessed to have Dylan; and Melisa and John expecting Baby W in mid-May. Life is precious ...

Speaking of Melisa and John, guess I shall post this little update and head out to the airport! Until next time ....

Another night in the recliner ...

Well, with all the medication thought I would have slept like a lamb, but guess it all didn't "kick in" until 3:00a.m., so it was another night of sleep in the recliner! However, even though the hour is very early, I can say I am feeling 100% better than yesterday at this time ... ahh, the miracles of modern chemistry!

So, that being said, I have cards to finish, presents to wrap, tamales to order and the list goes on ... but at least I'm feeling as though it will all be accomplished ... until next time ...

Sicker than I thought ...

Well, it all started last Thursday, you know with the "pressure around the eyes", it was bearable so didn't pay much attention. By Monday, according to Melisa, I sounded like Marge Simpson; Carin thought by adding my Mother's "whine", I sounded like her ... hmm, it was slightly painful to speak, but thought this would all pass.

Today, talking with Carin, she insisted that I see the Doctor or miss our first Christmas with Dylan ... well that threw me into action! Dr. Franz walks into the exam room, greets me and says, "you sound terrible" ... opps! I can actually talk today, you should have heard me on Monday. So, twenty minutes later, which included a shot, and not in the arm, a steroid pack, cough syrup, and an order for a chest X-ray off I went to the hospital. Next stop was the pharmacy to pick up the remaining prescriptions and home for dinner.

I can hardly wait to take the cough syrup (contains codeine) since for the last two nights I've slept sitting up in my recliner, located in the living room! Ahh, sleep will be sound and good tonight! Sweet dreams everyone, until next time .....

OH, more of I'm wondering ....

Okay, here's more ....

* Why is it the Red-Winged Black Birds are eating all my birdseed when they're not even supposed to like this mix?

* Where have the Roadrunners, deer and cardinals disappeared to .... think the deer are in the State Park to avoid the "hunters".

* Why are my daughters making fun of my "Marge Simpson" voice ... hmm, Santa may put them on the naughty list!

* Wonder if it's going to snow again, the clouds this morning remind me of Iowa snow clouds!

That's enough wondering for now, until next time ....

I'm wondering ....

It's one of those mornings when everything left to do before next week is running through my mind, plus, just other random wondering thoughts .... like:

* Will I ever finish my Christmas cards?

* Will I ever finish my Mother's cards as well?

* Why do men leave dresser drawers open? Isn't it just as easy to close them?

* How do 3 adults in one household create so MANY loads of laundry? No children here!

* Why do we receive so many catalogs from the same company, only the cover is different?

* Do you suppose I should cancel my Dentist appointment for Wednesday since I think I might have "Hill Country Cedar sinus crud"?

* Will I ever start wrapping presents?

* Why do I spend time on the internet when I should be addressing cards, wrapping presents, creating "to do" lists ... you know, I had a life coach several years ago, she said the above are considered "shoulda's" and "tolerations" ... hmmm,

* Well, this is my "wondering" list for now, I'm logging off and getting started ... until next time ...

The Distance Grandparents will Travel ....

well, 270 miles round trip, in less than 24 hours! Oh yes, we hit the road about Noon on Tuesday morning and we were on a mission to see our Grandson Dylan perform in his first Elementary School Christmas Program! Of course, and this is unusual, before we got a half-mile from home, had to turn around and get Rascal's bowl ... Carin would have supplied a couple of bowls I'm certain, but it's just not the same and Rascal is our 4-legged child :) Then, as I looked at the gas gauge, yup, very close to empty, so a stop at the gas station to fill up!

Okay, we're finally on the road, and according to Gertrude Garmin it's a 3 hour and 6 minute trip ... well, have you ever travelled with your 94 year old Mother?! We did have to make at least one more stop for a small lunch, and then within 20 minutes of Carin and Rusty's we're detoured due to a major wreck on the clay-based road that gets you to their house!

We arrive safely, but at least 45 minutes later than anticipated ... now, Carin and Rusty have Shetland ponies (they weren't the problem); then there's Bo, a very energetic puppy that stands about 2 feet tall (head level) and 2 cats that really want inside because of the mist and wet ground! Okay, we're finally all in the house .... and, of course, there's Remmi. Now Remmi is known as, excuse the words, "the dog from Hell" as he's a min-pin, need I say more. With some luck, he's not feeling well and is not as eager to fight us off as he might have been since Carin and Rusty are at work, and Dylan is still at the babysitter.

Being a good Mom (had to throw that in, we sometimes don't get the credit deserved), I brought one of my favorites from Schwan's Home Delivery, including corn meal muffins and a tossed salad so dinner could be served immediately when everyone came home and then it was off to the performance of "Survival Santa". OH, Christmas cookies too for desert ... well, picky-eater Grandson Dylan didn't like anything, except the cookies. Well, we're still learning his likes and dislikes, you know this Grandparenting experience is that ... a learning experience.

Off to school in the fog and mist, Carin, Dylan and I riding in one vehicle, ooohhhing the few Christmas decorations along the way ... not everyone's in the spirit just yet! Don, Rusty and Great Grammie following ever so slowly. We're now at school in the High School gym, the bleachers are only 4 rows high and fortunately we arrive in time to sit on the lowest level so 94 year old Great Grammie doesn't have to climb the stairs to the top! Dylan is now with his class, in his Christmas pjs as all 1st graders are, we're in the gym waiting. Rusty wondering how long an elementary school program could last, he's thinking 30 minutes .... sorta remembering Carin and Melisa's programs, I look at him ... in your dreams, this will go an hour! And, it did! Of course as luck would have it, Dylan was at the other end of the gym and it wasn't convenient to get up and walk in front of everyone to take pictures! Hmmm, however, one young woman with 2 young children paraded enough for everyone! We did manage to get several long-distance shots of him, and he had a good time. Carin was a little challenged in getting him to sleep since Great Grammie slept in his bed, and Dylan slept on a cot for the night ... but all went well.

Morning arrives early in the country, 5:00am I believe is what Carin said; time to feed horses, Rusty getting ready to leave, and then Mr. Dylan getting up at 6:00am. We all held our breath, he's sometimes not a morning person ... but as luck was with us, or maybe a Guardian Angel, he woke up fairly happy, ate some breakfast and then was off to the bus stop with Carin. She came back and finished feeding horses, we cleaned up the kitchen, packed the truck (dueling again with Bo and the cats), a door that wasn't cooperating and then hit the road once again arriving back home at Noon, exactly 24 hours!

So, that's the distance Grandparents will travel ... was it worth the trip, ABSOLUTELY!! Until next time ....

Thanksgiving .... and only 21 more days!!

I can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone, to say nothing of what happened to Halloween, and now ONLY 21 more days until Christmas!! I really think working full-time and having two young children I seemed to stay focused more than now .... hmmm!

So, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Fredericksburg with Eli, Sharon, their daughter Erin and husband Stephan. Friends Dan and Jackie were also there! Lots of great food and conversation, the weather was nice, it was an enjoyable day!

The real fun began on Saturday when Carin, Rusty and Dylan arrived for a visit .... I'm beginning to remember why God gives children to the young, and now have huge compassion for Grandparents who find themselves raising their children's children! As Carin told the story of their journey to Grandma and PaPa's house, Dylan couldn't get here fast enough and told Rusty to drive FASTER DADDY!!! Dylan is so full of energy and curiosity! Within twenty minutes of their arrival we were on our way to the park, we found a great playground near an elementary school in Kingsland. It was a castle set, and it was huge ... when Dylan tired of the castle, it was then on to sorting the rocks and gravel looking for anything unique, he found sea shells that were, of course, collected for future use. He soon tired of the park, so it was back to the house where the adults regrouped, regained some energy and then a visit from Eli and Sharon. After some cookies it was time for a walk which lasted close to an hour, I stayed at the house with Great Grandma Holmes ... good thing as Dan and Jackie stopped by for a visit and to meet Dylan as well.

About 5:00pm it was time to head out to Tamale King for Mexican food, driving through Inks State Park we looked for deer and other creatures, not too many ... the golfers were still on the course so the deer were waiting for their chance on the greens. After dinner it was back to the house with a side trip to the grocery store ... suddenly Dylan decided he wanted marshmallows, roasted! Luckily PaPa had built a fire pit during the summer, so it was time to fire up the pit, look for something long enough to roast marshmallows and the fun began. Poor Carin, mostly smoke in her eyes, but she did a great job and I believe we all enjoyed some fun around the fire!

Sunday morning I offered to make pancakes with holes, better known as waffles, Dylan has some unique descriptions of foods; the offer was turned down by Dylan, so we adults enjoyed. Carin was looking for yard decorations, so after I made a quick trip in to church to help with altar guild, we took off seeking decorations. Success at Lowe's, in the meantime there was another trip back to the "castle park", a short bike ride, and then the Ponder family had to pack up and head back to tend the horses.

We were so excited to have them visit, and Dylan was very well behaved for his first sleep over at Grandma's and PaPa's house. We are so blessed to now have grandchildren, what joy Dylan is bringing (he's adjusting well, and his adoption will be finalized in February 2010), and Baby W will be here before we can blink an eye ... we are truly blessed! Until next time ....