Not Sure What to Call This...

As usual, Christmas at Redsock Mama's house was unpredictable to say the least.

Michael and Catherine came first, bearing gifts.

Henry got a drum!

That wasn't bad, it had a pleasant sound but since my tree was on the clapper...

Yes, it was off and on all evening!

Teagan and Henry, who are best friends, shared!

It was a musical evening...

The little kids got slide whistles...

Locklan got a harmonica...

He loved it!

Then he became a one man band!

He also got a watch and announced the time every two minutes!

I got Teagan a 'dancing dress' and ballet shoes...

Every time someone asked her to twirl she did...

complete with a 2.5 year old's version of an arabesque.

But the best part was Grandma Jan's special gift...

I decorated 5 gallon buckets...

I made one for Henry and one for Locklan and Teagan...

And put 50 indoor snowballs in each...

How long do you think those snowballs stayed in the bucket?

It wasn't the kids, it was the adults!

I didn't get many pictures because once those snowballs started flying,

I was laughing too hard!

Seriously, I was not looking forward to Christmas for the first time in my life...

But I prayed that I would be okay,

and I was...

Everyone was out of here by 8, they predicted freezing rain and snow,

and we got it.

On Friday, Ashley sent this text:

In case anyone is wondering, we still have ballet shoes on

and we are still using the harmonica and 

announcing the time every minute!

Mr. K and I planned to sleep in and stay home on Christmas...

I didn't sleep in but we did stay home.

But it's all good.  Back to reality soon.

 

Happy Leon Day

I just learned, or in my case, remembered that I forgot,

that today is Leon Day.

Leon...Noel spelled backwards.

It's exactly six months to Christmas...

I'm getting excited!

How about you?

Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

Whew!  How long has it been?

Was I really MIA since December 20?  How could that be?

We did go to the party at Mark's nephew's house and had a good time...

Considering we had kids...lots of kids!

We had 7 kids with Locklan being the oldest of them...

Yes, 7 kids under 5 and one 8 year old.

I felt grouchy and couldn't wait to go home!

I had a schedule so that all my chores and Christmas duties could be completed 

at a pace that was not too demanding.

Saturday, I felt worn out but agreed to have my little buddy spend the night.

We blew up the air mattress and slept under the Christmas tree...

On Sunday, Andy came to reinforce the gate connection to keep Teagan and the dogs from running up the stairs.

Of course, Locklan helped...

Andy is so patient with him!

I was feeling like I had been dragged through the mud so I fell slightly behind on my schedule...

Monday, I woke to find Andy and the kids, the cleaning people and Ron all needing my attention.

I went back to bed and slept 16 hours!

On Christmas eve, I was up before the chickens

and managed to have everything done by time my 

family arrived at 5.

We had 14 people here for dinner.

The only person missing was my oldest grandson, who turned 27

that week.

It was amazing, and no, I don't have a plethora of photos.

I was too busy loving it.

More later, but before I go, here's a picture of Henry, who is quite a character...

Too cute, right?

I'm off to get ready for breakfast with friends!

Feeling Festive!

I found these glasses at the dollar store and thought we could do a photo shoot wearing them...

What I didn't realize was that they were too big for Teagan...

They just wouldn't stay on her head!

Big brother to the rescue!

He's so kind and gentle with her!

He kept adjusting them...

Asking her to stay still!

Adjusting her glasses over and over...

Finally, success!

Ever see a reindeer with attitude?

What fun!

Happy Leon Day!

According to my former (and much missed) neighbor, Kelly,

Today is an important element in our Christmas celebration.

It's Leon Day!

Here's what she had to say...

"Did you know that today, the halfway point to Christmas, is called Leon Day? It’s “Noel” spelled backwards! Will you be doing anything to celebrate?"

It's no secret that I love any and all Christmas celebrations (except the elf on the shelf, that just creeps me out-reminds me of Marie Kondo)!  Until 5 minutes ago, I had only one appointment on my calendar for the day...Now I know I'll find some way to celebrate!

Now that you know, what will YOU do to celebrate?

The Day After Christmas

Ahhhhhhhhhh

or should I say...

grrrrrrrrrrrrr

I walked into my living room and saw this:

remember the tree fiasco that we thought was fixed?

I think not...

Then I realized that my tree skirt was missing...

Didn't take long to find it?

What does this mean?

What is the universe (and the dogs) trying to tell me?

I know, I once left my tree up in the corner until...

Let's just  say it was before Easter when I took it down...

~sigh~

Over Full

Yesterday started out rough...

I took the wrong check book to the bank...

Took the wrong amount of cash out...

Burned the ham...

Had presents to wrap...

Yelled at Ron...

Stressed that my patio was messy...

Had family coming at 5 for a dinner that was burned...

Ron went out and bought another ham...

I put it in the oven and sent him to pick up my  mom, an hour away...

Andy  and Ashley and kids got here early, I wasn't dressed!

Then...it was Christmas eve...

Ashley carved the ham while I took a bath...

The kids entertained us...

Tony and Mindy came...

Vicky and Jamie came...

Michael and Catherine came later when Michael got off work...

We laughed and ate, we ate and laughed...

The kids opened gifts and played...

~sigh~

I love family time, and it's no secret that I love Christmas...

Last night just before I fell asleep, as I was watching It's a Wonderful Life for the 845 time,

 I got this text...

~double sigh~

The Most Busiest Time of the Year!

No time to chat today...

The planning, cleaning, decorating and shopping is all under control...

but Mom has a routine doctor appointment.

Routine for her, that is.

That means  I'll drive an hour to pick  her up...

Half hour to get to the doctor's office...

Half hour there...

Lunch...

Half hour back to Mom's...

An hour home...

There goes my day!

Until I get back, I thought I'd share this photo that came up on my

Facebook feed yesterday.

Locklan in 2015!

~sigh~

They grow up so fast!

Thinking Back

I think it's a well known fact, 

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I love thinking about Christmas...

Thinking about Christmas...

Planning for Christmas...

And I love looking at pictures of my family at Christmas...

So bear with me while I share a few of my favorites...

Weren't Michael and Vicky cute?

No date on this, I'm thinking about 1973

Hard to believe, Christmas 1988.

I set this up and took the photo while Mark was at work.

Hard to believe, we survived!

Same year, Tony was a little uninspired...

The year Michael got JR a coon skin cap!

I'm sure I have more...

~sigh~

I love Christmas!

I'll Buy My Own

Came across this on Facebook...

I don't know if I ever shared it or not, but I insisted my boys 

let me pretend that they weren't pretending to believe in Santa until they were...

Probably in junior high!

Seriously!

Well maybe not junior high...

But a long time!

We had a  Christmas Eve routine, Mark would read them a Christmas Story and then

as soon as I heard them all snoring, I would go back downstairs and do my 

Santa Magic.

Santa, the elves and occasionally the reindeer would get into mischief

of some kind, write a letter to the kids and drop off presents.

One year Santa snuck into the bedrooms and sprinkled sleepy dust on everyone.

Mark had a tough time forgiving me for the glitter that lingered for months!

One year the boys took so long to fall asleep that the reindeer got into a food fight on the front porch...

Yes, I threw grated carrots all over the front porch...

I still wonder what the passing car driver thought as I put on Mark's size 13 boots and made footprints in the new snow on the porch roof!

The letters were always the last thing I did (at 3AM) before heading to bed...

Just a recap of the year...a reminder to keep their rooms tidy...

Now there are grand kids.  

I can sleep on Christmas Eve,

and let my kids work Santa Magic...

I got off easy, now there is Elf on the Shelf...

I only had to do one night...

As far as believing...

Even though I know that Jesus is the reason for the season...

I'll still buy my own underwear

When you are 3 and a half...

When you are three and a half, decorating the tree is great fun, 

especially since you take great pride in being a helper...

When you are old and gray and love your grandson with all your heart,

This is how your tree looks!

~sigh~

I love it!

Why I Love My Phone

Mr. Redsock is waaaay under the weather this weekend,

so we were pretty much house bound...

I know, bummer, right?

Being house bound, we didn't get to see

 Andy's family choosing and cutting down their Christmas tree...

Or Mindy and Tony celebrating their first anniversary along with Hank...

But by the magic of my phone, 

I got to see this...

and this...

Or this...

But I did get to SEE them.

~sigh~

I love that part of my phone!

From our family to yours...

The Red Sock Family

sends much love and prayers

and a bit of Christmas joy

to you and yours

this holiday season!

 

As you can see, Shirley is waiting for Santa

to give the go-ahead for her to rip into those packages.

 

 

Our celebration started at noon yesterday and will continue today

(and probably all week).

 

Be back soon...

 

God bless you!

 

Happy Christmas Adam!

Just taking a second and jumping in here to wish you and yours a

 

Happy Christmas Adam!

 

Christmas Adam?

 

You never heard of Christmas Adam?

 

Everyone knows Adam came before Eve!

 

~groan~

 

On a brighter note, Ashley sent me this photo yesterday morning...

 

 

 

 

I know!  She's earned the nomination for Mom-of-the-Year award, right?

 

To tackle a ginger bread house with a two year old?

 

~sigh~

 

Considering I'm the mom who once bought all the ingredients for Christmas cookies and then proceeded to eat them right out of the pantry before baking, I was feeling pretty inadequate...

 

Five minutes later, I got a text message that said that right after this photo, she moved the house and it caved in...

I felt better.

 

So, let's get busy, all those last minute things we need to do...

I'll meet you back here tomorrow, all relaxed and stuff, feet up,

a cup of tea and a few cookies...

 

For now,

Stay safe, stay warm, and remember:

Jesus is the reason for the season!

 

 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Monday was our first day home from the cruise...

 

Locklan and I decided to get Pappy K's Santa out of the basement

and move him to the front porch.

 

Pappy has had this Santa for nearly 50 years,

it's an important part of his Christmas celebration!

 

Locklan was thrilled to see Santa when I brought him up the stairs...

 

He stopped me in the kitchen so he could offer Santa a snack.

 

He stood Santa in front of the fridge...

 

 

And asked him what he'd like to have...

 

 

He finally decided that what Santa really wanted was a drink of water!

 

 

It's such fun to have a kid this age around for Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

Every Year/Today's the day!

Every year, about this time we get a box delivered to our house.

 

It looks like this...

 

No, this is the box from 2014...looks much the same as 2015 and 2016...

 

It's a Christmas gift from Mr K's patent attorney!

 

In 2014, it looked like this...

 

 

I didn't bother to photograph 2015.

 

Last year, I swore off sugar (and tons of other junky foods).

 

It came, I saw and I DID NOT taste it at all.

 

Didn't really bother me, nor did the huge bag of Swedish Fish that Mr K got me for Christmas...

 

This year, Locklan and I were home alone when the FedEx man came...

 

I knew what it was and was not going to open it but he insisted!

 

Inside the box that looked much like this...

 

 

was this!!!

 

 

 

 

There were assorted chocolates,

truffles,

chocolate covered pretzels...

 

and a big slab of chocolate with the name of the firm on it!

 

Finally...we got our chocolate box and I used it!

 

 

or rather, Locklan used it...

For a (reading) bed!

 

~sigh~

 

No sugar for me since December 14, 2017

 

Today makes it 353 days!

 

Now, on the other hand...today's the big day...

 

 

 

Tony and Mindy's wedding day!

 

I'm so excited!

 

Stay tuned for the details!

 

 

 

Oh my!

I got these photos from Andy and Ashley the other day...

 

They were at the tree farm...

 

The same Christmas Tree farm Mark and I always took the boys to when they were young!

 

 

 

 

Other than the fact that Andy used a chain saw,

it was so much the same!

 

 

 

When I saw this photo of the tree on the back of Ashley's jeep I did say oh-oh...

 

 

But Andy's spatial perception has always been good...

(not like his mother who once got a school bus stuck on a

 bridge that was at the bottom of a steep hill )

 

So I was shocked when he sent me this photo...

 

and told me that this was taken AFTER he cut 12" off!

 

 

Oh well!?!

'Tis the season!

 

Getting there!  Locklan is getting excited and so am I!