Santa was here!

This year, Christmas had such a deeper meaning for me, less thought of gift wrap and stocking stuffers, more about the true meaning of Christmas and the gifts that could not be bought:  time with family and frieneds.  I've already shared our Christmas eve with you and I thought you'd like to see our Christmas morning.  Even though Tony, the baby, is 23. it still gets messy and is fun...so imagine you are dressed in your finest pajamas and join us in the living room...

Morgan got to spend the night with us on Christmas eve so she and Tony could open their gifts to each other here.

She spotted the pink thing in/on/by her stocking right away...

It was what every good housewife (or someday housewife) should have...a pink and zebra striped broom!

Tony opened his gift from Morgan first...

Some sort of golf clubs...I can never remember what is what, but he seemed pretty happy with whatever it is...

Next Morgan opened her gift from Tony...

An iPad?  Wow!  I think she loves it!

Then, suddenly...in comes Andy and the black cloud better known as Helga Jean!  He told her to 'find it' in the pile of gift wrap.  Not sure what 'it' was, but she tried her best to dig 'it' out!

Andy told me he wanted to give me one of his gifts for me, the one that I have come to anticipate most of all, the one he makes for me.  He told me to close my eyes.  I did, but kept shooting in  case I got a good photo of him and the gift...

I did!  Here's what it is...

A Baby Andrew original...to go along with the Bicycle Wheel Christmas Tree?  Isn't he a trip?  Later on Christmas, we strung the lights on it and added a bow.  I'll have to find photos of it and show you later.

Morgan got footie pajamas...

Helga Jean spread the love, ignoring the fact that Grandma told her no dogs on the couch...

Andy's gift was also an iPad and he quickly forgot that there were other people in the room...

Except for Helga, she won't let people forget about her!

He did come up for air...and to send a message...

It says, "Thank you muches."

About that time, the batteries in my camera died, but it really didn't matter.  It was Christmas, time for family and friends.  I had dinner with Vicky, Jamie and Jamie's parents.  Later Vicky and Jamie and my mother joined us for snacks and celebration.  I got no photos, but that's okay.  I was there, just like all the kids were in 1997...

And imagine this...all through the day, we remembered that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Thanks for stopping in to see our celebration...and here's the biggest Christmas miracle...my tree is down!  For those who haven't been here long, getting me to take the tree down is like pulling teeth.  I love Christmas lights, decorations, the tree, and will use any and all excuse to keep it up.  This year there was too much going on...the 2011 Christmas tree is history!

But  we're still making history.  Back soon with more going on.

But for now...go out and be a blessing to someone.  I know I'm going to try!

Love,

Jan

Retirement???

No, I did not retire!  Please don't listen to Tony (or Andy) . You KNOW what trouble makers they can be when they put their minds to it!

Lots of things going on here, some good, some crappy, some just ho-hum, but since it's right after Christmas, everything is either ho-hummy or blah...

Christmas?  I was dreading it, but we made it! Yes, we missed Mark, horribly.  Lots of happy memories shared, tons of giggles, and yes, a bunch of tears but we made it!  We had fun, we laughed, we hugged, we ate and we opened presents!  Oh my the presents!

You remember that Christmas eve at my mother's house is a time for fun, don't you?  Our stockings are filled with all kinds of stuff.  This year there was so much stuff we switched from stockings to bags!

First we gathered in the living room and waited for everyone to finish eating and get settled.  It was fun just visiting...

 

Then it was time for our Santa to pass out presents!

 You never saw a blonde Santa before?

The rule was that you had to put on whatever was in your 'stocking'  so everyone could see.  Dan  and Leslie seem confused?

Seems Les got the hang of it long before Dan did!

Did I mention that this year everyone got blinking Rudolph noses?  Michael figured that one out quickly!

Vicky was busy finding a creative way to wear her feather boa, Catherine decided she'd rather be a blinking pirate than a reindeer!

We had a real treat this year, my niece, Jessica, was able to spend Christmas eve with us!  It's been several years since she has done that.  Her mom, Leslie, and her sister, Katlyn, were happy to have her there too!

Santa is so practical!  The guys got hair...and most of them needed it!

And antlers!  What would hairy men be without antlers?

Oh...and of course, inflatables!

Vicky got footie pajamas...

And mom did her impression of....???

And can you guess what those darn kids did next?? 

 Ping pong, of course!

We had a good time, it was wonderful to spend time together as  a family, but just like most good things in life, it was over way too quickly.  I barely had time to run out the door so I could make the 11PM church service in our church and then it was time to go home, get into bed and go to sleep...because we just knew Santa would visit...

And he did, but that's another story for another day.

Aren't you glad that we're all back together again!

I missed you, I really did!  Now I'm going to go downstairs and bother the kids...they need me!

Love,

Jan

Ohhhhhhhhh, ya better be good...

I know, it's way too late to be thinking about being good.   Oh well, maybe next year.

I've been so busy with life as well as Christmas preparations. Tomorrow we will change Internet, phone and cable TV providers and I may not get a chance to get on here and wish you all a joyous Christmas. 

I'll be back with a vengeance after we clean up the last of the wrapping paper and eat a few hundred  million billion calories.  

Lots of changes in the past few months, more to come, but one thing that never changes:  Jesus is the reason for the season. 

If I don't get a chance to come back and 'talk' before then, have a safe and blessed Christmas, everyone!

With love,
Jan 

Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Talkin' trash garbage...

Last night, right after dinner, I was cleaning up my mess when I heard a gurgle and a glug...which can only mean the disposal was indisposed, or clogged!

First impulse:  call Andy.  I was not born with a common sense gene (I have to repeat "lefty loosey, righty tighty," over and over when replacing the top on the tooth paste container), and Tony did not inherit one from his father.  (Remind me to tell you one day about the time he took the blades off the ceiling fan).  Poor Andy.  He had been doing 'chores' for me all day and had announced an hour before that he was going home and going to bed.

Tony and I had a short conference.  What would Dad do?  Make a mess, say bad words and unclog the darn thing.  Well, let's do it.

We changed into work clothes and donned rubber gloves.  We looked like amateur surgeons on the prowl for patients...or was it patience?

I went first.  I managed to loosey one of those thingies...Tony went next and managed to loosey another...suddenly...

Of course I got the camera!  How could I let YOU down?

Well, let's just say it was a good thing I got the bucket.

Moral of the story:  Well, there is no moral, but the disposal is disposing and Tony is not changing his business major anytime soon...

So, do you have all your shopping/baking/decorating/wrapping done?

Get out there and get it done and while you are at it, remember to smile, open doors for fellow shoppers and don't pass that guy (or woman) ringing that bell without dropping a dollar or many in the kettle.  The money will be well spent.  They do wonderful things.

Next time, remind me to tell you about the guy undressing the mannequin in Kohl's last night.

I love you all-I am SO glad you stop by!

Love,

Jan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MORGAN!

A special day in our family, Miss Morgan celebrates her 22nd birthday!

Morgan has been a part of our family for soooo long now, it is hard to remember when she wasn't.

We loved including her in all our family activities (well maybe when she caught the bouquet at Katie and Brian's wedding, I was a tad nervous)...

Morgan is a real trouper.  No matter what the activity, she is willing to have a go at it!

This year when our family was reeling from our loss, Morgan was right there, tackling all the chores no one thought of, organizing us and hugging us when we needed hugs even though her heart was breaking as well.

 Too bad she didn't have her pink Dyson then, she would have cleaned up after us!

We all love her!

Don't they make a wonderful couple?

Happy birthday, Morgan!  We love you.  May God bless you and give you many more birthdays.

If you see Morgan out and about today, stop her and wish her a happy birthday.  

I'm off...got lots to do, move things, shake things, rearrange things...

Be a blessing to someone today.  I know I'm going to do my best.

Love,

Jan

You know you wanna do it...


I was not going to post today.  I am a busy woman with much going on (like going out to eat with friends at least three times in two days), but as I drank my coffee, again in bed with Race Car at my side, I remembered what I have to tell you.


I signed up for yet another event...

just click on the graphic above for details!

I've already signed up!  Yeppers, sent in my money and am thinking about how many members of my family and extended family and friends I can get to do it with me. 

Think of it...if you join us, you will have a chance to be included in our group photo, much like this one

but we will be wider since we will be running/walking/waddling to burn off all those Christmas cookies, ham sandwiches and all that egg nog!

So what are you waiting for? 

Click right here and you can be part of this elite group!

Please say you will, you know you want to! So go and sign up and leave a comment telling me you did. 

Now I am out of here.  I have things to do, kids to annoy. 

God bless you.  Thanks for stopping in. 

See you soon!

Love,

Jan

If you could see me now...


Sitting here on my bed, my cat, Race Car, snuggled up beside me.  I'm wearing flannel PJ's, a robe and the biggest smile I've had in a long time.


I'm thinking about yesterday...


Riding to church in the middle of the bench seat in the pick up, flanked by two of my most favorite men:  Andy and Tony.


Standing in church with Andy, Tony, Morgan, Vicky and her friend Bonnie, singing with all my heart, tears flowing.  I remembered something the pastor of my late father-in-law said at his memorial service.  He talked about all the weeks after my mother-in-law died, how Dad would come to church, sit in his customary right-front seat, listen to every word Pastor Tim said and cry.  Every week.  I didn't understand then and now I do.  The tears are not bad things, they are simply a statement.  Your eyes translating what your heart is saying.

Those who loved much have much to lose.

The message was about Hope.  Hope!  Hope.  Hope.  I'm not going to start talking about it here and now, this is not the time or place, but HOPE is a wonderful gift.  I reached out and grabbed it with both hands and am hangin' on for dear life. 

Feels good.

After church, Andy, Tony, Morgan and I went to Panera for bagels and coffee.  The bagels were good, but oh my, the new cream cheese, cranberry something???  is to die for (not literally).  Next trip, I'm going to order just the cream cheese and a spoon.  Yum.

Sitting there, we got to talking about the things Mark did.  He was quite a character, you know.  Like when we were standing in front of the White House and he stopped a woman and asked if she knew how to get to the White House.  She kept trying to turn him around to see that it was right behind him and he kept asking what left handed streets he should take.  Finally he turned and pretended to be shocked and she was delighted that she helped this out of town idiot find our president's home.

Or the time he told one of his sisters that Lake Authur in Moraine State Park was the only lake in the state that had unlevel water, that it sloped from south to north!

How about the time, right after they started dating, he sent Morgan out to buy Tony left handed golf balls since he played left handed...

What a character, what a tough act to follow, what precious memories.  Can't imagine being left behind without them.  What a gift!

I got to spend the rest of the day with another one of my favorite and most handsome men....my oldest son, Michael!  We hit up the mall (where we got the last parking place in the state), looked at everything and bought very little, and stopped for a delicious and leisurely dinner on the way home. 

Six hours of walking and talking...what a special time that was for me.  We don't live all that close, he has such a busy schedule, a wife and family (if you can call a dog and cats family - they do), and so we frequently make phone conversations do instead of visits. 

Today's schedule includes a dinner at the church with Vicky.  My friend, Melody will be the speaker.  I can't wait!

I know that I can't leave you without a picture...so here's one of my family taken about two years ago...and shows just how silly we are...

Now I'd like to stay and chat all day, but I have to figure out what a casserole is and then make one!

Have a wonderful day, be a blessing to someone, buckle up when you go out and come back!  I love company.

God bless you,
Jan

PS...according to blogger, this is my 150th post.  Celebrate!

Some things go on, no matter what...

The sun comes up, the sun goes down, ice melts in hot temperatures and my car usually starts...

One other thing happens...Annett's Annual  Ornament Exchange (and food fest).  It's been going on for years and years.  She makes it easy...bring a wrapped ornament...

And some food.  I did not photograph the food because I was afraid to get that close.  Those women are crazy!

I am not sure how many women were there, but lets just say, more than 30, less than 40.  Yes, in her living room! 

Next year if she invites any more, she'll have to rent bleachers!  Every woman gets a chance to choose a 'mystery' ornament in the first round, and can 'steal' an ornament from another in the second round.  There is much laughter, some shouting, lots of kidding and more laughter.

Every year there seems to be a 'theme' to the ornaments, this year it seemed to be snowmen.  There were more snowmen than anything else

Every year there seems to be a favorite.  This year it was a pig. A pink pig that seemed to be the favorite.

I lost count, this was either the fourth or fifth party I've attended.  The past two years, Vicky came too!

I met Annett when she was six or seven.  Her mother, Nancy is my BFF (and my oldest friend). I asked Vicky to take a picture of us together...

Vicky, turn the camera around!  That's what you get when you hand a blonde a camera...

 Okay...now that the spots have disappeared from before her eyes...let's get serious...

Of course my mouth was open...what did you expect?  Let's try again?

There, Jan and Nancy, BFFs!

The three generations of girls...

 Vicky, me, Nancy and Annett.  In front is Larissa, Annett's daughter.  

At a time when traditions are many and some are hard to deal with, a night with my girls was just what I needed..

Some traditions are broken.  I have all my shopping done AND wrapped.  Those who know me know that not only do I insist on shopping until the stores close on Christmas eve, but my Christmas eve late night wrapping sessions are legendary.  There have been many Christmas eve mishaps:  I ran out of tape and used Tupperware freezer labels and staples (not the prettiest packages).  

I have also run out of gift tags and either made my own or label the packages with a sharpie marker...or (and this was the best), trusted my memory to remember which package goes to what kid.  The results of that were many post-unwrapping exchanges...

I remember the year Tony (age 5) declared he would shake every package and if it didn't make noise, he would throw it away, unopened because he KNEW it was clothes.  I remember Mark having to retrieve most of his gifts from the trash can since Mark always got clothes!

Christmas memories...what a good thing!

Remind me to tell you about Rudolph throwing up on the neighbor's porch...

I'm so glad you are here!  

Now that you are done reading, go out and do something great!

Love,

Jan