Merry Christmas to All. . .

Everyone home for Christmas.  I have struggled this holiday season, with Mom breaking her hip and having surgery at the day before Thanksgiving and all of the rehab she had to do, plus my insane work schedule.  I must give kudos to my manager she really worked with me over Thanksgiving so that I could be there for my Mom.  We have been short staffed for a year now and we now have two in training so I will be back to my regular part time schedule soon.  

With all that has been going on I have not really been in the Christmas/Holiday spirit, it has been a struggle for me.  I did get a little bit of it back when someone put out a plea for Christmas lights for a local nursing facility.  The hubbs and I went to the store and bought a bunch of lights to donate for their outdoor Winter Wonderland they were going to have for their residents.  They also had an angel tree for their residents and I decided to adopt two for Christmas.  The hubs and I shopped for them and delivered the lights and gifts not too long after Thanksgiving.  That really perked me up but I was not 100 % in that Christmas spirit just yet.  My very sweet hubby has worked so hard to get me in the spirit and on Christmas morning Santa had delivered a few very cool Christmas CDs.  Yes, I still listen to CD's on my drive to work.  Bing Crosby and Elvis Christmas albums,  the Eagles greatest hits,  ABBA greatest hits, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1, and Ray Stevens greatest hits.   Bing can really put you in the Christmas spirit.  

My fellas saw to it that I had a comfort Christmas this year:  Socks (big fluffy comfy), blankets,  gloves and scarves.  Big T, my little hypochondriac, gave me a first aid kit filled with an assortment of bandaids, neosporin, and gauze pads.  He said he was just getting me ready for lacrosse season.  

Photo upload:

 

Sprat Sporting his new ECD Lax Christmas Sweater

The Hubbs being goofy 

The Cousins 

Shopping with the Hubby. . . and Other Things . . .

The hubbs took the day off and we went shopping today, this is the third day he has taken me shopping.  We have almost knocked out our Christmas shopping.  I love Christmas, it is probably my favorite holiday.  I love shopping for presents, looking for that extra special gift for that extra special person.  Our families have gotten older and we do not do gifts anymore, it kind of makes me depressed.  I do still get to buy my boys and my very sweet husband gifts.  My company is helping a family in need this year so I will get to buy gifts for two little boys and a special Mom.   I am looking forward to shopping for them.
My very sweet husband has taken me shopping three days now and bless him he is a trooper.  This is what true love looks like people, in case you have any doubt about your person.  This very sweet man has trucked me all over to find gifts for the boys and shoes (not Christmas gifts) for me.   Today we did the Mall yes, he took me to the Mall.  He did not complain once and I was trying on shoes and everything.   This is the best man on the planet, he is mine and there is no other like him. 
This has been an interesting look in to what our empty nester life would look like, I think I kinda like it. 
We went to Big T's exhibition at school last night, he did a great job and we enjoyed seeing him present and watching the other kids present.  It is exciting to meet these kids and see all of the cool things they are learning and hearing about what they want to do when they grow up.  These kids are taking  high school classes and college classes at the same time.  One of the kids Sprat's age that went to this school has gone in to the military and because he graduated high school with an associates degree he went in to the Army at a higher level than someone just out of high school and he is now studying to be a registered nurse.  This school opens up so many doors for these kids and gives them opportunities to try things out with job shadow and internships.  Big T was invited to go to the middle school to talk about his school along with the principal.  They are doing that next week, he is kind of excited about it.  They will be sharing what all they get to do and the fun things they are learning.
Stay tuned for tells from MA and tells from NC. 

Home Safe and Sound. .. ..

The hubbs and Sprat made it home safe and sound yesterday.  So glad to have the boy home for a few weeks, of course I may not be saying that in a few weeks.  You know how teenagers are, as you can see from the picture below he has already assumed the teenager position.   The brown lump behind his knees would be the B and she has also assumed her position.  

Speaking of the B, she was very excited to see her daddy and her boy come home.  She felt she had not seen them for years and she acted that way too.  She jumped and fussed and barked and wagged her tail like you would not believe when they came in the house.  

I have a secret to tell but you cannot share, if the word gets out I may never get to see this sight again.  So if you promise not to tell I will share what I saw.  It was almost like being in the wild when two rival species meet that usually fight to the death and you wonder what will happen.  I was brought to tears when I saw my two boys hug each other.  No, they were not trying to choke each other out as I would have thought had this happened over the Summer. They were truly happy to see each  other, in fact Big T has already enlisted his big brother advice on how to set up a prom posal for his "girlfriend" for the Spring.  Shhhhh!! I was not suppose to hear about that either.  I love hearing them talk with each other in a nice manner and not fussing and yelling at each other.  To all the Moms that are in that sibling rivalry phase, there is hope and there is light at the end of that tunnel and it does not appear to be a locomotive.  This Mama is going to enjoy Christmas having all the fellas at home together.  I am blessed beyond what I deserve and I am truly thankful for all of our blessings even the mouth one, the B. 

Snow Storm 2018 . . . .

The hubbs is on his way to Boston, and the biggest snow storm our area has seen in 90 years per the news outlets, is headed our way.  At 0430 on Sunday morning we had 6 inches of snow, it kept snowing most of the day.  I measured again by way of my leg and we had a foot of snow.  I am sure we had more but we did have an interspersing of  sleet and freezing rain that compacted the snow.  The hubbs is safe, Big T and I are safe here, I worked from home yesterday and will work tomorrow from home as well.  Another great perk of my company when we have bad weather or if you have kids sick and home from school. 

I was filling the hubbs in on our weather conditions last night and he says; "you need to run out and get a picture of the house decorated for Christmas with the snow.  You may not get that chance again."  Below are my best efforts at the night picture with the lights on.  I sent  him a copy via text. Just so you know, our lights on the bushes in the front of the house are not suppose to be on the bottom of the bushes.  They got a little droopy during the snow. 

Tonight since I was not working I decided Big T and I would have a nice dinner just the two of us.  I fixed homemade alfredo, which by the way I do very well.  It was very good and Big T ate two bowls. 

Preparing for Snowpocalypse 2018. . . .

The hubbs is on his way, sort of, to get Sprat a little earlier than planned.  He was trying to beat the weather out of the South.  Sprat still has two exams before he is finished, well one exam and a speech.  The speech has something to do with Cheerwine, I cannot wait to hear about it.  I shipped two cases of Cheerwine to him at school for this speech.  You cannot get Cheerwine in Boston heck, I do not think you can get it in Virginia even.  It is a southern thing.  Sprat so desperately wanted to share some of his Southern, I would not say heritage but maybe Southern traditions with his new friends in Boston.  It is not cheap to ship to cases of Cheerwine either.  I have had a time trying to get him mail.  I had three different packages in limbo for two weeks.  The postal person did contact me at the main branch in Brookline, MA and I must say he was the nicest and most professional person I have spoken with in the post office.  He was so helpful and in two days Sprat had all three of his packages and his Cheerwine for his speech. 
Back to snowpocalypse prep.  Yesterday the hubbs fixed his amazing crockpot chicken and I made chicken and rice soup in the instant pot today with his left over chicken and stock.  Soup was very good and Big T liked it too.  I used the stock left over from the hubbs crock pot chicken and added a little chicken stock and some rice, carrots, onion, and a little garlic and sage.  That cooked on soup setting for 15 minutes and then I added the chicken and did slow cook setting for 2 hours so all of the flavors could meld.   I felt like chicken and rice soup is a great staple for the snowpocalypse.  I have wrapped presents and made some scrabble (chex mix) too. 
Lots of things to get done before Christmas but most important is getting the hubbs and the boy home safe.  Stay tuned, the hubbs has requested pictures of the house with the lights on in the snow.  This should be very interesting. 

Tree is up and Mama waiting on the Boy. . .

Tree is up and decorated, the hubbs is leaving earlier than expected due to pending weather and the boy will be home for almost a month.  Mama is feeling very blessed and excited to have everyone back at home.  Prayers appreciated for safe travels for the hubbs and the boy.   

I cannot wait to hear about exams and Winter in Boston.  Sprat already has his schedule for next semester and we have books to rent and books to ship back.  To those preparing to send kids to college next year always check out Amazon to rent.  We have had great luck with that these last two years.  Renting is much cheaper than trying to buy, especially if the class is not in their major and they are not going to want to keep the book.  I kept a lot of my books from college, not sure why,  but I think my most expensive book was $150 and these days than can be as high as $400.  Rent, Rent, Rent~!!!! 

Merry Christmas . . .

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.   We have a couple Christmas traditions I would like to share.   We go to our Christmas eve Lovefeast service at Church and now that Sprat is a Diener (someone who helps serve Lovefeast) it makes this service even more special.  I am very proud that Sprat has taken this leadership role in our Church.  The hubbs and I were Dieners when we were first married.
When I was growing up we did not have a Christmas Eve service at out Church.   We spent the evening together as a family and then opened our gifts from each other after dinner.  I have lots of fun memories rushing everyone through the evening meal so that we could open gifts.   I was always the first one up on Christmas day, usually about 4 or 5 am.  I could not sleep on Christmas Eve because I was so excited about Santa.   Christmas day, we drove up to my grandmothers and spent the day with aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I remember the dessert table especially, it was full of the most fantastic cakes, brownies, fudge, and pies.  I come from a distinguished group of phenomenal cooks and bakers.
The hubbs and I have some traditions that are unique to our family.   We have a Christmas pickle.  This is a German tradition, the ceramic pickle is the last ornament hung on Christmas Eve, there is a special gift under the tree marked "the pickle".   When the boys come down on Christmas morning the first one to find the pickle gets the extra "pickle" gift.  This is supposed to make the kids appreciate the beauty of the tree and each ornament before they dive in and start opening gifts.  
The boys have been getting Christmas ornaments each year from their grandparents and some they have made at school.   When I am decorating the tree I set those ornaments aside and they put their own ornaments on the tree.  I hope they appreciate the ornaments they have been given, my tree might be naked when they leave to make their own homes.
The hubbs likes to decorate right after Thanksgiving but he also likes to take everything down by January 1st.  I personally like to enjoy my Christmas decorations a little longer.
These are just a couple traditions we enjoy during the Christmas season.  I would love to hear about your family traditions.
Stay tuned lots will be going on in 2017, I will have a high school senior and a freshman.

What to Give A Teenage Boy for Christmas? ?

Trying to think of gift ideas for the boys for Christmas.   I have teenage boys so, I know at their ages the gifts get more expensive.  They rarely ask for things so I have to play the mind reader game.  Three months ago we thought Christmas would be slim, yes I have my Christmas envelope, but it still looked bleak.   Today I feel like we have already  celebrated Christmas because we have been so blessed.  I know that will not fly with my boys and I would not expect it, they are still just kids. 

Now, what do teenage boys want for Christmas?  Don't  say teenage girls,  because that is not happening.   This is what I have been thinking about:  pj's (lounge pants), t-shirts, fluffy blankets for TV watching,  food gift cards, playing cards, money given in an unusual way, sweatshirts, ear buds, phone case, Google Play $$, auto accessories for Sprat, movie tickets, and concert tickets.
Can you guys come up with any different ideas?  I would love to have some feedback on this one. 
Tomorrow I will  tell you how to give money in a most unusual way.  Stay tuned.  

Break Over. . . Here comes School. . .

Break is over, back to the grind.  The boys went back to school today and hubby is back at work. Today the Christmas decorations come down,  and my beautiful living room goes back to normal.   It is always a little sad when Christmas is over and the decorations come down.  When my hubby and I were first married he insisted on taking everything down on New Years Day.  I hated that, that was too early to take down decorations.   I have left my decorations up till mid March before, with a real tree.  That was an accident though.  That was the year Dad fell through the roof of our barn and was in the hospital for almost six weeks, three of which were in ICU on a ventilator.   Poor hubby was home by himself and after most of the needles had fallen off the tree he decided he would put away the Christmas ornaments.   I stayed with my Mom while Dad was in the hospital so she would not have to be by herself.    That was a wild year.   The next year we had an artificial tree and it was like an Easter egg hunt finding my ornaments.  Men are just not made to put delicate things away, unless you use them to fish with, that is.
The boys are back in school and dear hubby is back to work, so I  am appreciating the calm and quiet of my house this morning.  As I reflect on this past year, we have had good days and not so good days.  I will not say bad, because as someone told me at Church yesterday, any day the Lord has made cannot be bad.  I think that is how I will approach this year.    So, here is to no bad days in 2015.  

Someone posted on Facebook one time about the kind of person they wanted to be.  It said something like; I want to be the woman that when I wake, the devil says, oh no!! she's up!  I think I would like to be that kind of woman.  

Hello Monday. . .

As par for the course in our family I spent the day after Christmas in the ER with my dear hubby and a raging case of the FLU! !!  It was not lower case flu it was all caps FLU.   We spent 5 hours waiting to be seen and got to the pharmacy just in time to buy the last box of Tamiflu in the County.   I am thankful that my family is so very helpful and understanding.   I left sweet Basil and my boys with my mom and everyone else to keep an eye on.   Dear hubby was pretty much out of it the whole weekend. 
I did get to visit a little bit with my nieces but it was a whirlwind trip.  My niece helped to get me started on a slouchy beanie for me.  I have a beautiful pink yarn I have been dying to make a hat out of.  I wanted to crochet this one and I have not done much crochet so I needed help.  My niece has made a few different hats and she had a really cute one on at Thanksgiving and I wanted to make one similar to it.  This will be my feature on crafty Thursday.  
I hope the rest of our family does not get this FLU.  I checked in with dear hubbys' family on Sunday and so far nobody is sick on that side.  My family is ok right now too.  I do pray that none of them gwt this.  It is really bad.  Dear hubby also had the flu shot, so do be on guard for the symptoms.  This is nasty stuff.   I left my mom with Lysol to bomb the house after we left. 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.   I am looking forward to a fabulous 2015.  

Tech Gifts for 2014 that Will Not Break the Bank

Here are some of the top tech gifts to 2014 that will not break the bank.  There were some on the list that could break the bank but I am not listing those.

Roku 3 best overall steaming tech from Amazon.com $77.99.  It steams Netfix, hulu plus, HBO Go, Showtime anytime, and Amazon instant.

Apple offers Apple TV also a streaming device.  Walmart.com $89.00  Apple is coming out with a new version of this so Cnet says wait if you are thinking about this purchase.  The newer version should be out within a few months.

Kindle 2014 has an entry level Kindle with a touch screen for $59.00 at Amazon.com

Amazon Fire HD 6 $99.00 at Amazon.com

Samsung SL-M2020W an inexpensive compact laser printer.  $79.99 Amazon.com

Seagate Backup plus Slim  $69.90 Amazon.com
2 TB back up for your computer   2TB =2,000GB lots of storage for a modest price.
This would be great to back up those pictures we have been talking about.

My Charge  offers Energy Shot
The Energy shot is a small inexpensive charge for your phone  $20-$30

Logitech K480  Bluetooth Keyboard  $55.44 Amazon.com
This keyboard can toggle between any three devices:  Android, iOS, Windows.  It has a slot to hold a phone and tablet.

I found these and the information about them on www.cnet.com/holiday-gift-guide/under-50
a very reliable source for tech information.
I think my favorite of these would be the Roku 3.  I have been debating this option for a while and I think this one is the best option for us.  Still looking around though but I like what I found in this article.
I hope you have enjoyed my posts.  I will be taking the rest of the week off to be with my family.  I will post again on Monday.  Please check back and let me know what you think of my new set up.
Merry Christmas and here is to a fabulous New Year for us all.

Crafty Thursday Not so

Crafty Thursday turned out to be dentist for me and doctor for Big T and Tamiflu for us all.  Yep, little man has type A flu and has been out since 10 this morning.  
Crafty will be wrapping presents while the little guys is in my bed and the presents in my closet.
It could be worse, this could have all happened closer to Christmas.  Now we will have this out of the way and can enjoy our time with family.  
I told you when I started this,  life happens and we must go with the flow. 
A note on my blackberry wine cake, it stuck.  I was not a happy camper at all.  I did give it to a neighbor though, she loves me and did not mind that it was not perfect.  I worry about that so much, I want everything I bake to be pretty and it upsets me terribly when my cake sticks.  I did taste some of the scribbies that stuck and it was very good.   I have at least one more of those to fix before Christmas.  
A couple more batches of Scrabble (chex mix), Hello Dollys, and Pecan Sandies to go and maybe some chocolate chip cookies too.

It is Monday. . .

Last final for me today,  a little break till next session starts.   I think I am going to finish up with an A and a B, not too shabby for an old lady.   I really cannot wait till the  boys are out of school.  They have a long break this year.  Sprat faces his first year of "final exams," he had finals in middle school but not like the ones he will have from this point forward.   He was telling me about the week they are having them and how at least two days he will not have to go to school.  If he has an A in the class and the final is not state mandated then he does not have to take the exam therefore, no school.
I have a paper calendar notebook that I keep all of our appointments in.  The boys have a more active life than I have ever thought of having.  I know, you would think in this technology age I would have a fancy computerized something to keep up with everyone.  I like my little notebook and pencil.  I have tried numerous times to use those computerized calendars on my phone and it never works like it is supposed to.   I will remain an old fart with her paper notebook calendar.
With Christmas fast approaching, I think back about Christmas and growing up.  One year my brother, who is 11 years older than me, started telling me in November I had been bad and Santa was going to put switches in my stocking.   He told me this every chance he got.  My mom and dad fussed at him for being mean to me but that did not stop his constant badgering about dear Santa and the switches.   Naturally, I was the first one up on Christmas morning that year and every year.  I was up at probably 5 am and I ran downstairs to see what Santa had brought.   I had to turn on all the lights in the den just to be sure what I was seeing.  I rubbed my eyes a couple of times and yep I was not dreaming, there right in front of me was a pile of switches in my brothers stocking.  My stocking was filled with goodies and so was my sisters.  I could not hold my excitement, I ran through the house and woke everyone up screaming that my brother had gotten switches in his stocking.   I will never forget that Christmas for as long as I live.  I tell that story to my kids every year to remind them that Santa is real and he is watching.  

Hand Made Christmas Gifts. . .

I love making goodies at the holidays especially Christmas.  I also enjoy sharing what I have made with others.  I used to make trays of goodies for my neighbors: different kinds of cookies, bars, and chex mix.  I would buy an inexpensive tray or plate and use that to deliver my sweets, my neighbors were to keep the tray as part of their gift.   My mom used to make all kinds of goodies and do something similar for her friends and neighbors and I guess that is where I got the idea.  Most of the time my sweets are well received but, one time one of my neighbors responded, I don't have anything to give you or I cannot repay you.  I do this because I like sharing with others not because I want something in return.  It really hurt my feelings that someone would think I expected something from them.  A simple thank you and Merry Christmas would have been wonderful, anything except  a question of my motive.   That next year I didn't bake my sweets for my neighbors because I felt so bad.  The year after that I decided I did not care what anyone thought and I made even more sweets to share.   Do me a favor, if someone in your neighborhood or office bakes you goodies just respond with a simple thank you and Merry Christmas.  
I also enjoy making ornaments with the kids.   I helped my nieces make some glass ornaments one year when they came to visit.  We took clear glass ball ornaments and we drizzled glue in the ball and rolled it so it would cover the inside.   Then we took glitter and shook it inside the ornament and shook it around to cover the inside.  They make beautiful ornaments and the kids can make them with adult supervision.   My sister made me some ornaments out of her sheeps' shearing.   She took the same type of glass ball and she put the sheep's wool in the ball.  You can buy those glass ornaments at AC Moore or Michael's or any craft store.   Below are some pictures of those ornaments and my tree because I just finished decorating today.  Wheww! 

Christmas and Dave Ramsey. . .

No I am not spending Christmas with Dave Ramsey but I am using his principles this season.   Dear hubby and I have tried to save each year for Christmas and pay cash.  We have been doing that for around nine or ten years.  We would take $20 each week and put it in a cup and that would be our savings for Christmas.  There were always weeks we did not put that money aside but for the most part we stayed on schedule.   You don't have to follow Dave Ramsey to follow how that works out.   I feel great relief at the end of the Christmas season knowing that I did not blow our budget out of the water.   There are always things that come up and we end up using our debit (NOT CREDIT) card and that's ok because we had been using our cash up to that point.  Another good point of paying cash for everything is, you don't have to worry about those unscrupulous folks out there trying to steal your account numbers.  One couple in my Dave Ramsey class had their debit card number stolen while they were at the Beach.  A waiter where they had eaten was using it to pay for his car repairs.  The gentleman has friends in the police department and they were able to trace it back to their waiter.  They tracked him down and found he had a notebook with many other credit card and debit card numbers from other people just like you and I.   Another good reason to pay cash when eating out. 
Now back to Christmas, we have been saving this year for our Christmas giving and I hope we don't have to dip into the old checking account.  If we do though, it won't be that big of a hit.  Dave also has a special Christmas budget work sheet he has put on his webiste.  You can down load it for free.  www.daveramsey.com   and no I am not getting kick backs for recommending him, I just believe in what he is doing and want to share with everyone how great it is when you don't have huge debt looming over you all the time.   He has great articles on his website too.  If you are interested in his books you can find them at your local Library or at used book stores.   I am hoping this year will be a wonderful Christmas for all and a debt free one as well.   Christmas is only a little over 5 weeks away.

Christmas Memories. . .

I am feeling a little nostalgic today.  I started wrapping gifts last night.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I love the smell of a fresh cut tree, even though we have an artificial one now.  I love the feel of the cooler weather, the excitement of the kids thinking about Santa, our Church music and Christmas carols.
I like shopping for that special gift for everyone on my list.  I always try to pick something that I think that person would like.  I love seeing their faces when they open their gift. 
 I remember one time trying to wait up on Santa Clause.  I sat my bean bag chair right in front of the fireplace so when he came down our chimney he would fall over me.  Mom and Dad have a picture of me asleep in that spot.  Needless to say I did not wake up when Santa came to my house, I slept right through it.  My kids tell me every year they are going to try and catch Santa sneaking in the house.  I always tell them he won't stop if you are not asleep.  They always leave cookies, milk and reindeer food.  I love that my kids believe in the Spirit of Christmas and I hope they always will.  I still do.  The saddest thing is when a child looses that belief.   Mark and I  are both still kids at heart and I guess that is why I love Christmas so much.