It's Symphony Day!!!!

Well, today is symphony day!  I am so excited.  We go this afternoon....what should I wear?  Hubby asked this question, and I told him since we have orchestra box seats, we have to dress as though we can afford them.  (No one needs to know I got them with a coupon!  LOL.)  Hopefully, hearing the beautiful music will put us more in the spirit of Christmas.  I will report back later and let all who care to know, how everything went. Fa la la la la........

Sleep? Not me....

Well, it's Friday, the first morning of my children's Christmas  vacation from school.  It's 6:50am, and they are sleeping soundly....cuddled under blankets, enjoying their slumber.  So why, you ask, am I not in bed?  Oh, I was.  I was sleeping soundly, in the midst of a lovely dream (something about sugar plumbs....) when the phone rang.  It was my husband.  Did he want to wish me a "good morning" from work because he missed me?  Did he know he would wake me up, but just couldn't stand not hearing my sweet voice saying "I love you" ?  Nooooo, he needed to tell me he forgot his "secret santa" gift for his holiday party today, and what did I think he should do.  Well, the first thought I had involved placing (shoving) the gift somewhere that the recepiant would never think to look....so I nixed that idea. I knew he couldn't come home to get it, because the bossman wasn't in yet....so that left one option. I must go sometime before noon and deliver the gift.  I really shouldn't be surprised that this happened.  This is the man who at about 8:30am on Dec. 24, will grab our oldest dd, and tell me they are going out to "run errands". Two hours later, they return and say, "Don't go in the garage!"  Of course, I shouldn't fault him.  He does have that condition that makes it hard for him to remember things like consideration, common sense, Christmas, and gifts.....he's a MAN. (sorry, couldn't help that one!)  Actually, he is a good man and his gifts, though purchased last minute, are always thoughtful and pretty much what I would like. He always gets me a Hallmark card that either pops-up or moves in some way, and his wrapping never fails to make me smile.  I call it his "man wrapping".  He will use a gift bag, but always forgets to buy tissue paper.  He  substitutes with his shop towels, which are white and surprisingly absorbant. So, I suppose I will forgive his forgetfulness and take him his gift.  Right after I take a nap!      

Nuttin' honey....

I feel so accomplished right now!  The entire house is clean *sparkle sparkle*, and right at this moment there is absolutely nothing I need to do.  I am just going to sit in a state of zen for a moment and enjoy.....ohmmmmmm.....ohmmmmm.....okay, enough of that.  Now I need to figure out what to get my parents and mil for Christmas!  They are so hard to buy for.  We were going to get tickets to attend the Gaither's Gospel Hour Christmas concert for our parents and my family, but Dad is just too weak this year to go.  I am so glad that we had the chance to go last year, because they absolutely love the Gaithers.  I remember them listening to their albums as a child.  So, now I'm not sure what to get them.  As for the mil, I was thinking about getting her (now, don't laugh), a membership in a local Florida "monthly fruit club".  I know, I know, it sounds corny....but the woman loves oranges.  She is a nurse and is a health freak.  She has yogurt and an orange almost every day for lunch.  Her idea of a sweet delicious snack is an orange.  (Mine, of course, is a Snickers....and we all know Lanny enjoys cookies!;)  So, I think my idea is a very good one.  I mean, if I didn't like her, I'd send her "pork rinds from around the world" along with "booze of the month".  I'm actually suggesting sending her something healthy and nutricious.  I told my husband of my idea and he liked it.  Okay, one down, one to go.  I'm sure I will think of something wonderful and moving.  Something they will talk about for years to come.  (Hmmmm, clapper or chia pet....)

Good morning....(even though it's afternoon)

Good morning....although technically it's afternoon.  I was a naughty girl this morning.  I got up at 6:15, took my dd to the bus stop, came home and got 2nd dd ready, took her to bus stop, came home, vaccumed and windex/armour-alled my van, ate waffles, checked my e-mails, then....went back to bed for 2 hours!  Oh, I am a bad girl!  Dh called and woke me up, so I tried to sound "awake".  He has not been a happy camper lately at work, and I didn't want to make him feel bad knowing I was lounging in our soft, big bed....when I should be cleaning, ironing and baking for dd's class party tomorrow.  Actually, my throat is rather sore, and I hope I am not getting the STREP dd just got diagnosed with last night!  (She's on an antibiotic, and was allowed to go to school because she didn't have a fever).  She told me that it is terrible at school, that everyone is sick.  She said in gym class yesterday they were all standing around, feeling each others neck glands....oh what bored teens will do these days!  Anyhoo, I have made up for my lazy morning by cleaning, mopping and doing some wash, and when I get off the computer, I will bake. My girls only have two more days of school before Christmas vacation.  Where did the time go?  I can't believe it is almost Christmas once again.  Is it just me, or do the holidays sneak up on everyone? Okay, enough lolligaging....I must bake....here I go....yup, I'm getting up right now....here I go....I'm really going....riiiiigggghhhttt nooowww..... 

Moment of Happiness....

Well, it's Monday which is my official "cleaning day".  So far I have dusted, windexed, mopped, swept and done 2 loads of laundry.  As I was walking back into the house after letting the dog out, I had one of my "moment's of happiness".  I get these every-so-often and wonder if anyone else does.  I can't really explain where it comes from or why it happens.  I'm not usually thinking about anything in particular or doing anything out of the ordinary when it happens.  I just get this feeling of warmth and happiness that washes over me.  I look around and am so happy to be in my house, cleaning and being a mom.  I'm filled with thanks that I have a warm house to step into out of the cold.  My kitchen, messy with breakfast dishes and objects that I have told the kids to put away hundreds of times over the weekend, is comforting in some strange way.  In reality I know that I've only got $150 left in the checking account after all the Christmas shopping, yet I still have to pay for a doctor appointment tonight, and two grab-bag gifts.  Payday isn't till Friday, so I have to make the 1/4 tank of gas last till then, even though I have to run errands tonight.  The dog is limping again, so I need to get him his expensive pills and hubby and I had an argument last night that wasn't resolved this morning....yet, I feel happy.  My theory is that there will be a time in my life, when I am old and frail and perhaps lying on my deathbed, when I will wish my biggest problem was cleaning the kitchen.  I will wish I could nag the kids to put things away....because now they are busy with their own families and I don't talk to them as much as I would like.  I would wish I could tell my husband "I'm sorry", even if it wasn't my fault, because now he is in a nursing home and doesn't know me.  These moments of happiness keep me going and help me to realize that everything in my life is a gift.  Good or bad, clean or dirty, I am thankful for it all! 

My sweet family.......

My youngest went with her student counsil group to sing at a nursing home today.  They had to take a stuffed animal for a patient and she took a patriotic beanie babie. We talked about those that don't have much and how Christmas is about giving....and she decided to give with a loving heart.  I told her that maybe she could give hers to a man, because it was not a "girly" stuffed animal, and men like things that are patriotic.  When she got home, she told me that she gave hers to a man.  Then she told me, "I gave it to him because he looked like he might have been in a war."  She was so serious, and I had to try not to laugh or cry!  It was so sweet.  I asked her if she told him Merry Christmas, and she said she whispered it to him because he was "Not all the way asleep, but his eyes were almost closed."  She said he had his head in his arms, and she put the bear in the crook of his elbow.  I don't know why, but the thought of a child, gently placing a teddy bear in the arms of a nursing home patient brought tears to my eyes.  I asked her if the people were happy to see the kids and she said, "Oh yes!  Some of them were asleep, but most of them were smiling and clapping and kept saying hi."  I know that this trip had an effect on her.  My husband thought the trip would be too depressing, but I told him that kids need to learn that everyone deserves love and compassion, no matter how depressing the situation might be. I went with the group last year, and it's so sad to see these mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,  sitting in a hallway in wheelchairs with no one to talk to. When we went last year, there was one particular lady who was all dressed up, watching the children and smiling....her eyes sparkling with the memory of years past.  She grabbed my arm when we walked out and whispered to me, "You know, I was a teacher for 60 years."  I congratulated her on her long career, and asked her a few questions.  She smiled and squeezed my arm before we left.  It makes you realize that the gift of time, of ourselves, can be just as exciting as a brightly wrapped gift; and more fun to give.

     

Cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it's been a fun afternoon....I have just finished baking cookies for my first-ever neighborhood cookie swap!  I am so excited.  I made merangue m&m cookies and chocolate marshmallow cookies.  I hope I made enough!  The get together is tomorrow from 11-1, although I'm sure we ladies will chat longer....I mean, two hours for a house full of women, plates of cookies, coffee, and no children?  Come on!  LOL.  The lady who has been confiding her personal issues in me will be there, although I'm sure she won't be talking about things tomorrow.  (At least I hope not!)  I have been kind of avoiding her by driving my daughter to the bus stop for the last two days.  All I can say is thank goodness we haven't gotten to "chatty- phone-call status" in our friendship. I would go nuts!  Anyhoo, there is going to be a parade in my parent's neighborhood tomorrow, so I think I will send the kiddles to watch it while I'm at my party.  DH has to work, so I don't have to worry about him....he would be so lonely without me for two hours....ha!  He wants to go to a car show tomorrow night with our 57 Ford.  Now, I don't mind car shows, but I'm just not in the mood right now.  He's been waxing and polishing that thing all week, in anticipation for the show....so I guess I will be attending.  Hark....I hear the incessent buzzing of my dryer....duty calls!