In Recovery Mode!

We have had a very busy weekend.  We got up early and loaded the truck with presents and headed to Maumelle to spend an early Christmas with BJ, Mandi and Chloe!  Mom and Dad joined us.  We had a great time.  BJ and Mandi had fixed some meatballs and little smokie wieners for snacks.  They were yummy!  Craig helped BJ put in a new stove that they had bought.  After they got that put in, we all loaded up and went to American Pie for supper....pizzas were yummy!  Chloe was so tired that she fell asleep sitting in my lap while eating some cheese dip!  Sweet sweet little girl!  Terry and Kathy came by BJ's house and we had a good visit with them.  I don't think I have seen them since last Christmas maybe!  They both looked great and it was perfect getting to see our oldest and his family and my brother and sister-in-law.  We had reservations at the Holiday Inn Express so headed to our hotel about 9 o'clock I guess.  Upon check-in we received four bottled waters and four peanut and butter snack crackers!  Awesome!  We didn't stay awake too long after we got checked in.  We were all so tired from the busy week and traveling that day. 

We got up about 7:30 the following morning and checked to see if BJ was awake....just sent him a text.  He said that he was awake but Chloe was still sleeping.  We told him to not wake her up and we would just head on home without seeing them.  As much as I wanted to see her one more time, I didn't want to see her cry when we left.  She cried when we left Friday night.....kept wanting to go to Gigi's house....broke....my.....heart!  If we hadn't been in a hurry to head back to Springdale Saturday morning, we would have taken her back to the hotel with us.  We got back to Springdale and got ready for our Christmas with Ryan, Austin and Mom and Dad.  Becca joined us for our dirty Santa game.  That was fun!  Will have to do that next year as well.  I got a seat cover that heats and massages your back for the jeep.  It is really neat.  Austin had bought it and I picked his gift.  I can't wait to try it!  I wish that I had had it all of those years picking up the kids from school.  I always got there so early to get a good place in line and had at least a 30 minute wait every single day.  When it was cold....it was miserable!  Would have been nice to have a heated seat cover! 

Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Albie and Rose.  They drove down from Kimberling City, Missouri.  We had a big Christmas dinner and then visited. We had ham, broccoli cheese casserole, sweet potato casserole, Texas potatoes, five cup salad, daffodil dip and dippers, cheese ball, rolls.  Albie had brought us millions of cookies and I doubt that that is an exaggeration!  Yummy!  And several different types of candies as well!

Yesterday morning we met Mom, Dad, Rose and Albie at Susan's Restaurant and Albie and Rose treated us to breakfast.  Then we had to say our goodbyes.  It was such a nasty day....cold and rainy.  I think they had rain their whole drive home.  I was so tired and just did not do anything productive!  I laid on the couch and read and napped most of the day!  I don't remember being as tired as I was yesterday!  I think everyone was exhausted yesterday......I think we try to do too much in such a short time! 

Today I spent trying to get Austin in to get his wisdom teeth pulled before the first of the year.  I was able to get him in .... thanks to a couple of cancellations!  Unfortunately, he almost passed out before the consultation and again during the consultation.  They called me back and he was reclining with oxygen mask on and blood pressure cuff monitoring his blood pressure.  He was pretty pale.  I'm hoping Friday morning when he actually has his surgery that he will do better! 

Hoping everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends and hoping 2012 will bring everyone good health, lots of laughter and happy memories!

Gigi

Counting down!

I cannot believe that I am actually finished with wrapping all of our gifts!  I think that this is the first year that I haven't been wrapping seconds before we've been opening our gifts!  It has been a busy couple of weeks going nonstop but I think that this is the first year that I am actually ready days before Christmas Eve!  I just finished packing all of the gifts that go to Little Rock with us and am finishing the afghan that I am making for BJ.  I could actually finish it off now and it would be fine but think I will continue to crochet on it until either I run out of yarn or time!  I have one more skein of yarn so we shall see what I run out of first.  I'm thinking yarn! 

Mom and I ventured out to the Neighborhood Market to finish up some last minute grocery shopping for our Christmas Day dinner and also picked up a few things for Christmas Eve snacks!  I am sure that we have forgotten something but will just make do I suppose if that does in fact happen!  Went to Grubs Uptown for supper tonight.  Was surprised that it wasn't more crowded but by the time we left, it was pretty full.  Just did not want to think about cooking supper and cleaning up tonight......well, I actually kind of feel that way every night! 

Ryan and I went over to Mom and Dad's house this afternoon and hauled their two sets of patio furniture into the garage and into the attic.  I wish I had a picture of how Dad had us stack everything but that may happen later!  It is literally stacked floor to ceiling!  Just hope that he doesn't have to get to his hot water heater or the electrical circuit breaker box! 

I was glad that I had opted to finish up my shopping yesterday.  It was crazy trying to get it all done before and after Craig's party at work but after seeing the traffic today....am glad that I suffered through it yesterday!  I'm sure that it will be a nightmare from now until after Christmas. 

Guess I will work on this afghan again.  Think  it will be a very busy and hectic weekend so may try to get to bed early tonight.  Yeah, right!

Gigi

One tired elf!

Had a lot to get accomplished today and for the most part....got most of my to-do list done!  Craig told me this morning that his sales manager was coming home with him tonight after work so I had to do a quick re-prioritizing of my to-do list.  The wrapping, shopping were moved to another day's to-do list!  Craig called late this afternoon as I was finishing up cleaning and told me that Patrick wasn't feeling well so he wasn't coming home with him!  This is the SECOND time that I have rushed around cleaning and Patrick ends up not coming!  I'm really thinking that Craig is just using Patrick as an excuse to motivate me to get things done!  I will see Patrick tomorrow at their Christmas party and will see for myself just how sick he is!  He had better be sick! 

I want to post the recipes of the cookies and candies that we made for the 'goody trays' that we made this year for Craig's office and Susan's Restaurant.  Then next year I can look back and all of my information will be here!  This year we were rummaging around looking for recipes and trying to remember what we had made last year.  One thing that we made that was super easy and good were three wheat thins stacked together with peanut butter lightly spread between the crackers.  Then I dipped the whole cracker in melted white almond bark.  After they set, I had some chocolate in a little baggy from an earlier project so heated that back up and decorated each 'snack' to make them a little more festive.

They were probably the easiest thing that we made and Dad really liked them!  Will definitely have to make them again! 

Craig's dad called tonight.  He went back to see his doctor.  They removed the port from his chest a few days ago and will get the stitches removed I think he said next week.  He has gained 15-17 pounds back and said he doesn't have to go back to the doctor for 3 months.  He said the nurse who weighed him said that the last time that she saw him....she didn't think that he was going to make it.  We didn't think so either.  The chemo treatments were just too much for him but we are praying that he got enough of the chemo to hopefully put his cancer into remission.  I think since he is gaining weight - that has to be a good sign! 

I wrapped Craig's gift for his secret Santa gift that he will need to take to work tomorrow morning.  He decided that he needs to get one more gift so I will run that errand before I head over to their Christmas party in the morning.  Thank goodness, Ryan's gift wraps so I won't have to try to wrap the gift in my jeep!  I've done that more than once! 

Watched the Razorback basketball game.  They played Eastern Kentucky tonight and won 71-57!  WPS!  I am hoping that we will be able to attend a game this season! 

This tired elf is going to head to bed soon.  Have another busy day tomorrow.  I need to fold and put away another load of laundry and put my last load into the dryer!  Yippie!  My clothes hamper is empty!  For now!

Gigi

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.......

I feel like the 'little engine that could'......facing a big hill and just chugging along hoping to be able to make it to the top!  I think I am almost to the top though!  I was able to accomplish a lot last week....hit the ground running every morning.  Have almost all of my gifts bought....haven't wrapped any yet!  Took my Christmas cards to the post office and they are on their way to family and friends as I type this. 

BJ facebooked this weekend a picture that Chloe drew with her bath crayons while taking a bath Saturday evening.....it was a picture of Gigi, Pop-Pop, and Austi!  As parents, you go through so many firsts.....first tooth, first word, first steps, etc.  I didn't realize the special firsts that grandparents go through....the first time they say your name....the first hug.....the first 'I love you', and now my first portrait drawn by my very own granddaughter!  I thought my heart would burst when Chloe said 'Gigi' the very first time or how wonderful it was when she said she loved me....and now....she drew a picture of me.....when I wasn't even there.....that she was thinking of me! 

I guess this little engine needs to get her caboose in gear and get to the top of the hill!  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Gigi