Christmas Traditions

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fing Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white axx down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of a-holes this side of the nuthouse. Chevy Chase National Lampoon Christmas Vacation

Our Christmas traditions are many. Some are very conservative and some are just not right. We attend church on Christmas eve, enjoy numerous dinners with family and friends. The highlight of our holiday is a family night of movies. At the top of our list is National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. We pop pop-corn, get something to drink and laugh until we cry. The quote above is the best. Let me set the scene, the Christmas tree is toast, the dog has pulled the table cloth off the table and pure chaos has made it way to the Griswall house hold. Everyone is prepared to leave when Clark (Chevy Chase) delivers this speech. I love it. Family Christmas's are a totally fun and hilarious time.

Let me also explain that I have a large family. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother on my Mothers side and 4 brothers on my Fathers side. I will let you figure all of that out. We get together with my Father's family every Christmas morning for brunch. This gathering also includes my Aunt and Uncle, my 2 cousins, wives and an assortment of nieces and nephews and now a new lab puppy and two boxer puppies. Picture fun loving total chaos. Recognize the quote above? My Mom's side gets together every other Christmas for a week of Christmas celebration. Sisters, Brother with husbands, wives,kids and two border collies come from near and far. You will find bodies sleeping in ever corner of my Mother's house. My own children will spend the night there adding more chaos to the mix. We only live 6 miles away.

The saying "making memories" is what comes from all the mess and disorder. I always look back with joy and laughter in my heart. What are your family traditions? What memories will you hope to make this Christmas? Whatever they may be remember the joy and laughter that will be stamped in your heart forever.

The Test Are In

Hip, Hip Hooray!! The test are done! I think I will live another day. All kidding aside, my nuclear stress test is normal. I have been a little worried. For someone who has been a diabetic for 46 years, I have the potential to have the heart of a 92 year old. Five years ago my heart test was normal and this year is also normal. Now at 51 I will have this test done every two years.
I am still having chest pains and shortness of breath. One of the side effects of diabetes is that I probably will not feel when or if I have a heart attack. The best sign I would have is shortness of breath. They think that the reason for all of this is a low hemoglobin. Mine is 8.5 and normal is 14-27. When you get in the 7's they start to think blood transfusion. But for now I will take my super iron pills and see what happens. I have to rest and not over do it. Orders from the Doc. The best Doctor in the world has prescribed one scrap club meeting with friends, laughter, a new little Diva and no stress. Sounds good Doris, see you Sunday bright and early.

Cutie Pies Under the Tree

Does this look like a happy crew or what? I needed 6 arms to take this photograph. First there was the groomer. Then we came home and had to get dressed. Katie doesn't mind her outfit at all. Bella is okay with the shirt but the hat needs to go. I had to keep saying "No, Bella, leave it on". The big problem was my little Dixie. As you can see she is pissed big time. I put her shirt on and she took off. While I was getting Bella ready she was hiding. I look all over for her. After noticing the basement door open I knew where she was. Poor little Dixie was hiding downstairs scared to death. I carried her upstairs patting her and telling what a good girl she is. Well you can see by the photo, that was as good as it got. No American Cocker Spaniel is suppose to wear a red Christmas shirt and a Santa hat. Just think, one day I will have grandchildren to torture. I really love these three four legged babies. They are so cute.

Scrap'in Good Christmas

Scrapbook magazines are full of great ideas this year. The project above is part of my mantle decorations this year. They were super simple and look great. I used 4 glass cylinder candle holders, 4 photos, 8 sheets of velum paper and tape. Edit photos in a photo editing software to black and white, print on velum paper, let dry and trim to height of cylinders, tape blank velumn to back of candle holders. tape printed sheet to front. Hint: Use light or white short candles. I used two dark ones and they showed through.

Drum roll please, this is the completed mantle. I used three large glass goblets and 3 decorative trees with assorted greenery. I stuffed white lights in the candle holders. They really do look the best. This was a fun little activity. On to Martha Stewart and her new glitter and glue.

I'm Sure, Just Gas

"Mitch: Value this time in your life kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have your choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you’re a teenager you think you can do anything, and you do. Your twenties are a blur. Your thirties, you raise your family, you make a little money and you think to yourself, What happened to my twenties? Your forties, you grow a little pot belly you grow another chin. The music starts to get too loud and one of your old girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother. Your fifties you have a minor surgery. You’ll call it a procedure, but it’s a surgery. Your sixties you have a major surgery, the music is still loud but it doesn’t matter because you can’t hear it anyway. Seventies, you and the wife retire to Fort Lauderdale, you start eating dinner at two, lunch around ten, breakfast the night before. And you spend most of your time wandering around malls looking for the ultimate in soft yogurt and muttering How come the kids don’t call? How come the kids don’t call? By your eighties, you’ve had a major stroke, and you end up babbling to some Jamaican nurse who your wife can’t stand but who you call mama. Any questions?" Billy Crystal

This little speech by Billy Crystal from City Slickers is one of my favorites from a movie. He is telling this to his wife before his birthday. It is not my birthday but the fifties rings true. I have been having a few chest pains lately. Just a few and I am sure it is just gas. My dear cousins is a NP at our local hospital. My bright idea was to go and see her last night and let her tell me it is just gas. I met her at 9:00 PM and got back home at 4:00 AM. After numerous blood test, EKG, chest x-ray and a CAT scan of my lungs it was determined that my blood count is so low that I may have to have a transfusion. Here my blood is low and they are taking five tubes of blood the first time and three the second. Hi, give me back the blood. The test revealed that they do not see how I have been getting out of the bed in the morning. You think that is why I can't get out of my rut? Maybe, I may even be able to be cured. I am off to doctors today for more test. I am sure that it is just gas. Beano here I come plus four coated baby aspirin or 325mg. Most people only take one 81mg. Oh yeah, did I say that you can have a heart attack if your blood is to low. I am sure it is GAS!

A Smile in My Heart

Marlee looks marvelous. She has gained weight and is doing great. It is still hard day to day. She is gaining weight and not feeling bad about it. Her counselor says that it will take time and a lot of work. It is so hard to under stand how someone so beautiful can think they are ugly and fat. I do not understand this disease. Day by day and step by step, she will feel good about herself one day. She loves Boca Raton, Fl and is looking forward to getting a job. Please send your prays her way. It helped my heart to see her look so happy and healthy.

Home From the Holiday

We departed on Thanksgiving to visit Marlee in Boca Raton, Fl. We were so lucky to get someone to take our picture on the beach. Katie had a great time too. The weather and the view from our hotel room was breath taking. The temperature was in the 80's everyday. While it was cold and raining in A-town we were driving around in a convertible with the top down. We had a great time with Marlee. Of course we went shopping. Marlee's favorite past time. It was a relaxed, fun, warm holiday week-end.

Gobble, Gobble

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day. Did you gobble till you wobbled? Fred and I enjoyed a beautiful sun set in Boca Raton, Fl. The temperature was a pleasant 75 degrees. We are looking forward to a warmer day tomorrow. Happy Shopping and Christmas decorating.

X*%%##XX, Etc., Etc.

My title sums up yesterday's list. I started out running a few errands. Carrying a simply list in my pocket with the following items: 1. book rings or snap rings, 2. 3 red, tall camellias, 3. have pool water tested, 4. vote and get something for dinner. I was late leaving the house due to my darling honey and my wonderful step-father. Their visit or issues were more important than any thing I had to do. (Do not forget that I had my big tree in the sun room at home waiting to be fluffed and decorated.) After visiting Lowes, Home Depot and Natures Nursery there are no red camellias to be found. So much for easy decorations for my front and back porch. Off for book rings, Lowes, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby and Joanns to find no book rings. What is the deal? I really had a hard time finding someone who knew what I was even looking for. Any good scrap booker worth their salt knows what a book ring is!!! The whole time during my search I am thinking that Georgia Rector probably has G-zillion (family word) in every size. Oh Yeah, quest for the day was 4 clear, glass, tall candle holders. The last stop was Stacey's. BIG ZERO, for that list. I came home with nothing on the list. Did I vote, get the pool water tested? NO! Am I going out of town tomorrow? YES! Well, thank goodness today is another day and thanks for reading my rant. Yesterday was truly a "chicken with it's head cut off day" as my honey and I relax before the TV last night eating O'Charley's take out. I never made it to Publix.