I for one would like to know where November went. I realize that I lost about a week in October when Rick and Hannah were in Jekyll and Hyde; but November flew by so quickly!
We did have Thanksgiving dinner at our house again this year. It was the second time we have hosted it at our house. This year Rick, Hannah, Verna--my mother-in-law (who lives with us) and I enjoyed the company of my parents, our son Brady and his wife Kylie, our niece Devin, Hannah's friend Keith and our oldest daughter, Christy. The most wonderful thing is my mom and dad brought the turkey, the potatoes, the dressing and the gravy. My dad insisted. I made a sugar-free pumpkin pie, baked yams and apples (my mom's invention), and rolls. Kylie made a fruit pizza that I hear was to die for. I wouldn't know as I have food texture issues and it had bananas in it. Bananas top the list of my food texture issues. I hear the dressing and the gravy were good too. I don't eat them either--texture again.
This Thanksgiving was a bit bitter-sweet. Our oldest daughter's husband, is going through a mid-life crisis (funny to say as he is only 2 years younger than I am!) and moved himself, Christy and our grand-daughter Sophie to Phoenix, Arizona. Not only that, they left the day after Thanksgiving. To make matters worse, our grandson Isaak's father would not agree to let him move to Arizona. Our hearts were and still are very heavy. I totally support Christy's decision not to fight it; but my heart hurts none-the-less.
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we bought our Christmas Tree permit and headed for the hills. We got to take our son Brady and his wife, Kylie, with us this year. If we could have waited a few more hours, we would have had our oldest son Jake and his family with us as well as our daughter-in-law's parents and her best friend. But, Brady and Kylie couldn't wait that long as they had a 2 hour trip to get back home and had work and school on that Monday.
We did have Thanksgiving dinner at our house again this year. It was the second time we have hosted it at our house. This year Rick, Hannah, Verna--my mother-in-law (who lives with us) and I enjoyed the company of my parents, our son Brady and his wife Kylie, our niece Devin, Hannah's friend Keith and our oldest daughter, Christy. The most wonderful thing is my mom and dad brought the turkey, the potatoes, the dressing and the gravy. My dad insisted. I made a sugar-free pumpkin pie, baked yams and apples (my mom's invention), and rolls. Kylie made a fruit pizza that I hear was to die for. I wouldn't know as I have food texture issues and it had bananas in it. Bananas top the list of my food texture issues. I hear the dressing and the gravy were good too. I don't eat them either--texture again.
This Thanksgiving was a bit bitter-sweet. Our oldest daughter's husband, is going through a mid-life crisis (funny to say as he is only 2 years younger than I am!) and moved himself, Christy and our grand-daughter Sophie to Phoenix, Arizona. Not only that, they left the day after Thanksgiving. To make matters worse, our grandson Isaak's father would not agree to let him move to Arizona. Our hearts were and still are very heavy. I totally support Christy's decision not to fight it; but my heart hurts none-the-less.
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we bought our Christmas Tree permit and headed for the hills. We got to take our son Brady and his wife, Kylie, with us this year. If we could have waited a few more hours, we would have had our oldest son Jake and his family with us as well as our daughter-in-law's parents and her best friend. But, Brady and Kylie couldn't wait that long as they had a 2 hour trip to get back home and had work and school on that Monday.
Hannah and Kylie
Brady and Kylie with their tree.
Rick and I
Brady broke one of Rick's saws! He is NOT a tool kind of guy!
Rick and Kylie
Rick, Me, Hannah and Brady
Kylie putting their star on top of their tree
It was so much fun. Kylie has never had a "real" Christmas Tree. One or more of her siblings and maybe her mom are allergic to pine trees. We had so much fun listening to Christmas music and playing "car games". We left our house at 8:30 and were back home by 11:30.
I have just gotten my tree in our stand today. I usually stay up way too late the same day we cut it to get it and the house decorated. The last few years it has taken a little longer. I have learned to pace myself or my Rheumatoid Arthritis acts out and I pay for it for a long time. This year, however, I have been ill. I work in a school program for children with severe mental/behavioral disorders. At one time a few weeks ago, there were 2 healthy children out of 10! One of my little ones has Bronchitis and Strep throat. He shared his Strep throat with me. I am just hoping that I don't get the Bronchitis. I just can't wait to get my house decorated. I only have until Friday, as our annual family Christmas party is on Saturday! Rick has promised that we will dig all the boxes out of the storage room tomorrow. This is no big task as that room has become a dump-all for unwanted items. I think I will be putting those unwanted items in the back of our truck and dropping them off at the thrift stores on Monday after work.
I hope to post photos tomorrow night of my tree in all it's glory and then throughout the week as I finish with everything else.
Have a great week!
Donnelly
