Merry Christmas!

I am sitting here looking at the gorgeous lights on the tree and the stockings hung on the fireplace.  Out my window is a world of white!  We are definitely having a white Christmas this year.  I still have some gifts to wrap, cookies to make in addition to some other food for our Christmas Eve supper, a table to set, and a house to pick up, so I really shouldn't be sitting here.  Trina and Tanner will be here tonight to go to Mass with us and then eat.  Tomorrow all the girls and their families will meet us for Mass in Williamsburg and then back to our house for dinner, gift opening, and family fun!  I love Christmas--the decorations, Mass, and family fun.  I'm just disappointed that ALL of our family can't be here at the same time.  You know, a mother likes all her chicks gathered together! :)   Here's hoping everyone has a Very Merry Christmas!

The Best Christmas Movies

I have already watched and or listened to several Christmas movies as I have worked on some crafts.  I got to thinking about all of the movies I like to watch this time of year.  I tried to get my girls to enjoy some of the old ones with me and it worked....at least somewhat!   Trina and I are planning on watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve, so I will save that one.  Today I listened to  and semi-watched "Christmas with the Kranks" and "Bells of St. Mary's".  I know that "The Bells of St. Mary's" isn't necessarily a Christmas movie, but I watch it this time each year and it does have a Christmas theme to it.  The other movies that we try to watch are listed below in no particular order.  

Miracle on 34th Street

      (the original)

White Christmas

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

 (with Jim Carey)

The Christmas Carol

(with George C. Scott)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Polar Express

Prancer

Holiday Inn

Home Alone

I know that "The Christmas Story" is a popular movie, but for some reason I just don't enjoy it every year.  I'd love to hear what movies you watch at Christmas time.  Just post your favorites in my comments section.

Rehab

                                      Well, I just spent the past two weeks in rehab!  No, not for drugs or alcohol!  I went each day to the Spine Rehabilitation Clinic at the University.  I reported as an outpatient at 8:00 a.m. each day and I was done between 4-4:30.  I was one of a group of five.  Each person had a somewhat different back problem.  We did about four hours a day of physical work--aerobics, weight lifting, cardio, and functional restoration.  We also had lectures and lessons from a variety of people.  We had Dr. Chen available to see us whenever we felt the need for med changes or whatever.  We learned relaxation techniques and studied about our different personalities and things we might want to change to lower our stress.  The effects of stress on pain was discussed at length.  Overall it was time well spent.  One nice thing is that I had an honest to goodness lunch "hour"!  What a luxury to take time to taste my food and not have 20 minutes until my next duty. Now I have to learn how to work all of the aerobics, cardio, and weight training I need to do into my everyday life.  I will be going back for rechecks at 1, 3, and 6 months.  

This is our first year of being in the new addition for Christmas.  I couldn't wait to hang our stockings above the fireplace!  We are hoping for more grandchildren in the near future, but I'm not sure where we'll  hang their stockings!

Christmas Activities

I have had my house decorated since the weekend after Thanksgiving for the most part.  It just keeps taking me longer and longer to get the things done.  And I wanted to add and change some things so it isn't all done yet.  I thought I would show you our tree.  It is decorated with an eclectic group of ornaments, a lot of which are snowflakes. 

One ornament on my tree is very special to me.  It was made by my grandmother when she was hospitalized at Mayo for about four months one year.  They were trying to save her leg and then ended up amputating it, so she was in bed for quite some time.  To help pass

 the time she made some Christmas ornaments.  Christmas was a big deal to my grandma.  All 19 grandchildren had stacks of gifts.  I remember sitting with the Christmas catalog and circling the things I wanted for Christmas.  And sure enough, Grandma would come through with many of those gifts.  We always had a little program at Grandpa and Grandma's.  The older grandchildren had parts to memorize every Christmas.  As I got older I helped Grandma decorate and wrap gifts.  I certainly learned how to wrap correctly!  I love the ornament that she made and while it really isn't my style, it is a great reminder of her!

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a Christmas program to attend.  Payton had his program this week.  Trina and Tanner came down, Tasha was there, some of Mike's family attended and of course Trilby, Cael, and Nate were there.  Mike attended the afternoon concert.

Payton had given his mom strict instructions ahead of time that we were NOT to wave at him! :)  He was the first second grader into the gym and boy did he take his job seriously.  We didn't see him crack a smile for the longest time, but finally a little one slipped out.  The program was very cute and he did a nice job.  We visited his classroom after it was over and then went off to McDonald's for a late supper.

We have more activities coming up in the next several weeks in addition to the rest of my decorating, shopping, and wrapping.  Watch for updates!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I'm always a little sad on December 11th.  Dad isn't with us to celebrate his birthday, which makes me always get a little sad thinking about  him on this day.  Dad died in 1987 at the age of 52--WAY too young!  I miss him a lot and think about him often.  It's really hard when we have big family events like we just did in October(Trina's wedding).  I know how much he would have loved to be a part of those events.  Our kids and grandkids really missed out on knowing a neat guy.  And we missed out on knowing him as adults.  The last few years he has really been on my mind at different times, but especially his birthday and Christmas.  Seeing my brother and my uncle Roger always reminds me of Dad as they have some of his mannerisms.  Dad's twin brother is still living, so I'll wish him a happy birthday too.  So, Happy Birthday, Dad, I miss you!

Des Moines Here We Come!

Today was our annual trek to Des Moines for the craft show at the fair grounds, lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, and Christmas shopping.  We didn't get to go last year because of the weather, so we were really excited to go this year!  After changing the date to Sunday instead of Saturday, my sister, Kathy, DD Trilby and Trina, and I set off about 7:30 this morning.  We were disappointed that Tasha, Brittany, and Kerry couldn't join us.

Our first stop was Target where I picked up a few stocking stuffers.  Next, it was on to the craft show.  We saw a lot of cute things.  Trina and Trilby could mostly been seen at the food stands and the wine stands!  Then we were off to Jordan Creek Mall where we met SIL, Judy, and niece, Tracy.  We had a great lunch and cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory.  

We were too anxious to eat to show the food!!

Our trip to Des Moines wouldn't be complete without a stop at Von Maur at Valley West Mall where I purchased two more gifts. 

The decorations at the mall certainly can put you in the Christmas mood.

We were tired out early and it being a Sunday we wanted to get home at a decent time. 

Trina missed this photo op as she was on a mission to find the bathroom!

We didn't come home with lots of packages, but we had a great time together today!

Happy Birthday, Bud!!

The Oak Ridge Boys were the first concert Bud and I attended at the state fair eons ago.  We have always enjoyed most of their music, even though we don't really listen to it much.  Anyway, they have been advertising their Christmas Concert in CR, so I bought Bud tickets for his birthday.  The concert was Thursday night.  We left home right after school and had a nice supper out, then went to the concert.  We were definitely among the younger set at the concert!  The Oak Ridge Boys have aged since we last saw them, as I'm sure we have, but boy can they sing!  They started the concert with about 45 minutes of their most famous songs and then took a break before coming out to sing their Christmas songs.  It was a very nice evening.                                           Happy Birthday, Bud!

I have been working on decorating my house for Christmas.  The trees are up, but I want to make some new ornaments for one of the trees.  It seems to take me longer each year.  I will be posting some photos soon.  Along those lines, I haven't done much shopping yet.  I hate to shop and just don't do it throughout the year like I should.  I did run into Kohl's today and get a little done.  I got a good deal on Carter jammies for Nate.  The place was packed and I couldn't even find an empty cart when I went in.  Bud finally stood by check out and got one from someone when they finished.  It just reminded me why I don't like to shop!  

I will be spending the next two weeks as outpatient at the hospital in IC every day.  I will be doing physical therapy, exercise, stress reduction, etc.  from 8-4:30 each day.  I had to write lesson plans for a week before I could come home last night. YUCK!  I've never been gone from school so long, but it was when the clinic is scheduled so I didn't have much choice.  I hope it helps as I'm tired of this aching back!