December 1st

Can you believe it is December 1st already. It seems every year Christmas comes around faster and faster. There is a shorter shopping time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I heard Black Friday was kind of a disappointment to merchants as sales were down about 18%. Today is Cyber Monday so maybe the sales by computer will make up for the difference and then some. At least that is what the stores are hoping. It is so bitter cold it is not fun to go outside at all today. Tomorrow is supposed to warm up some and get better as the week goes on. Sure hope so.

Christmas

Had a wonderful Christmas.  Lots of family and food.  Neat gifts too and got to hold newest great granddaughter.  She is a month old and so cute.  Took 4 generation picture and many others.  Kids had a hey day opening their gifts. Adults had a great time too.  We had some rough weather in the morning but the sky turned blue and sunshine and it was really nice the rest of the day.

Old Family Pictures

It is a great deal of fun to look back at old family pictures.  I remember the day we brought the twins home.  My husband was so very proud as you can see here.  They are fraternal girls but seem to often think alike.  They are having a weekend shopping together.  There is that "twin" connection and they need to get together every now and then.  Now that that their families have grown so much they don't get as much chance to do that but once a year they spend a weekend Christmas shopping.  I am really glad they can do that.  I used to go along until my knee gave out and I had to quit.  I know they will have a great weekend.

Chistmas

Christmas is a fun time of the year. You always tell the kids they better be good as Santa is making his list and checking it twice. Remember the song about the 12 days of Christmas. Well, On the first day of xmas your true love gave you a schadenfreude is something different that I had never heard before. I am going to have to check out the meaning of this, don't you think" Perhaps you already know what it is. Do you?

One is Missing

We had a wonderful Christmas again this year. However, one was missing. My husband should have been there but he went to Heaven in September instead. I am sure he was having a wonderful time in Heaven with Jesus but we missed him. It takes a very long time to get over that great big void he left in our lives. Life goes on and sometimes it is almost as if he was never here. Then again, his absence is bigger than life.

Christmas 2011

You know it is only 361 more days until Christmas and it will whiz by and be here before you know it. Even our kids are beginning to say now that it seems like we just celebrated a Christmas and here it was again. Time flies faster every day. Saturday will be the New Year 2011 and everyone wonders what it will bring. Except for the Bowl games and snacks and New Year's parties, it will be much the same as any other year. Some people will sleep in, others will be hung over and won't enjoy the next day as much. I wish everyone a wonderful 2011.

Christmas Decorations

Our neighbors really decorated more than usual this year. They have two big white snowman and snow woman that blow up when they plug them in. They put all kinds of pretty lights around their deck. This year they added a bunch of blue lights too. They also have candy canes that are lit up and we can see them all through our living room window. It is really neat.

Family

Our family is growing. We are now 4 generations. We started out by ourselves 58 years ago and now there are 4 children and their mates. They all have families and some of those children are married now. We have 14 grandchildren. Some of those have their own children also and now there are 6 great grandchildren. My how time flies. It gets harder and harder to get everyone into the family pictures each year. We had a great Christmas as one of our twin daughters and her husband opened their home to our whole family and lots came except those who were sick. We had much good tasty food and I am sure we all added a couple pounds to our waistlines. Back on the exercise machines for us! I hope everyone had such a wonderful Christmas with their families as we did.

Heart Attacks for Christmas?

Did you know that the holidays bring on heart attacks? December and January are the deadliest months for heart disease, and many of the things that make the season merry are the culprits. These are rich meals, more alcohol and all that extra stress. But what may make the Christmas heart attack more deadly than the same size heart attack during the summer or any other month, is the double dose of denial. It is not uncommon for people to initially shrug off chest pain as indigestion. Research suggests they are even more reluctant for a run to the ER when it means disrupting a holiday party or gathering, or if they have traveled to a strange city which means they arrived there sick.