Christmas 2022 & Goldie's First Christmas

After weeks of preparation - decorating, thinking of gift ideas, buying gifts, wrapping gifts, preparing a dinner menu and doing meal prep - it's all over in about 3 hours.

I wish there was some way I could figure out how to have everyone unwrap gifts individually so we could actually see what everyone got. But how do you hold off these sweet little faces while one of their siblings is opening their gifts and the others are sitting by watching.

Add that to the fact that the older "kids" usually have the same items. So my only solution is to let everyone just go for it.

While there may be chaos and confusion there's never enough presents (for the kids) and too much food. I think next year I'm going with pizza and wings. Easy to prepare and the left overs are easier to heat up for a late night snack. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

2,000,000 Steps for 2022

I finally crossed the finish line with 2,000,000 steps for 2022.

I thought I was way ahead of Michele until I saw she had 200,000 steps more than me. I hate always being second.

While I thought I could take the rest of the year to relax, Michele has created a new virtual challenge for us walking the Colorado Trail - 567 miles. We were supposed to start the first of the year but now I find out she's starting the day after Christmas. We'll see who makes it to the end first. Challenge accepted!

Goldie's First Visit to Santa

Yesterday Goldie had her first encounter with Santa.

Instead of the usual crying, kicking and screaming, she just gave him a little glare like "who the heck are you".

Today was trip number 2 for a Santa visit. Goldie still did well but Hazel's not feeling it. She has to be in just the right mood in order to get her picture. I'm sure she'll be all smiles when she sees all the presents Santa is bringing her.

Jamie Turns 40!

Tonight was our last birthday for 2022.

Jamie turned 40 and I got my last birthday candle blow out. A family dinner at Iron Horse was his big celebration Next month is the big 40th birthday party for both Melissa and Jamie. Now on to a new theme for 2023. Any suggestions?????

Happy Birthday to Me

It's true that birthdays just become another day as you get older. The only difference in today is that I ran errands in the morning and waited around in the afternoon for everyone to come to go out to dinner. Not much different than most of my other days.

I did my 2022 "blow out the candle" picture although instead of a cake I used one of the free beignets you get from Red Door Grill. I should have thought that through a bit. Melissa brought these beautiful Nothing Bundt Cakes but I decided to use a glob of dough powdered in sugar to blow out a candle.

The kids bought me some new ear buds and tomorrow Michael's taking me to the store to buy the special charger and show me how to use them. My iPod nano from 2006 just isn't cutting it anymore.

While Teresa and I snuck a little sip of a new cocktail I made called a cinnamon roll (Rumchata and Kaluha) before we went to dinner, Violet and I did a cheers with lemonade and Dr Pepper. Now if that doesn't make me seem old, I don't know what does.

Maybe I need to make a bucket list of things to do on my birthday. With all my luck on my next birthday there might be a snow storm raging outside. So I guess I better add "Watching it Snow" to the list.

Inside Christmas Decorations

Before I moved to my new home, I sold about 75% of the Christmas decorations I'd accumulated in the past, I don't even know how many years.

There were some things I couldn't part with and I'm so glad I didn't let them go. I've had this set of Hallmark reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen AND Rudolph! They usually sat around my tree. This year I bought fiber optic lights and decorated my mantle with the reindeer and stockings.

I also got custom made name tags for the stockings made out of wood.

For the past 21 years I've been collecting Mom, Son and Daughter dated ornaments adding Granddaughter in 2013 and Grandson in 2015. There's so many that I can only put 10 year's worth on the tree without completely overloading it. Notice instead of garland I use Mardi Gras beads and stuff the tree with extra greenery.

There's also a Mother/Daughter ornament. If there was a Mother/Son ornament, I would have that too.

Instead of a traditional angel or star tree topper, I found this Happy Holidays wood stick sign.

I've had this ladder going up the side of the tree with 2 wooden elves that my Mom and Dad made many, many years ago. One of the elves is missing a leg and the other has a broken hand. Even though I can't throw them away (they're in storage) I decided to put my Snoopy characters going up the ladder.

Now if I can stay out of Michaels and any other store with Christmas decorations, I should be done with decorating for Christmas.

Christmas Decorations

I tried not to go too overboard with decorating for Christmas.

I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to hang my train but then realized I could put it on my fence so all the neighbors could see it as they drove up the road.

I then added a few characters along the side of the house - my giraffe, pig and newest addition...

a hippo. What all these things have to do with Christmas only I can appreciate.

I added a Christmas tree with presents and an elf holding a Christmas card. The final touch was ornaments in the real tree. Our neighborhood Christmas party is approaching and hopefully I'll get positive feedback.

Thanksgiving Day

So many things going on this Thanksgiving.

One of the best things was Michele and Bruce making the long trek from Colorado across Kansas to join us. 

It was also Goldie's first Thanksgiving.

While I was frantically trying to finish cooking dinner, Michele did what she does best and played games with the kids.

We then had an opportunity for a couple of photo ops. First was all the girls.

Then the boys. It may be chaotic but I love having my family around for holidays.

Michael Runs the 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving Day is the annual 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot held at Berkley Riverfront Park near downtown Kansas City.

Michael decided to join a group of his friends from Harrah's and brave the not so bad weather conditions and run the 5K.

He's not used to doing so much exercising but he did finish. 

Christmas Lights

What comes with a new house? According to Jamie, a new set of custom fit Christmas lights.

His friend Cody is starting a new business hanging Christmas lights so Jamie and Cody traded labor and I didn't have to help hang the lights.

Jamie used a red, red, white, white, red, red, etc. pattern and it looks really good. Now I need to get busy and put out the rest of my decorations before the weather begins to change again.

VIP Day with Violet

Schools have become politically correct and now call Grandparent's Day - VIP Day.

Lincoln was sick so it was just Violet and me. To stay away from the crowds, we decided to proceed backwards and visit the bookstore first. Then we did a craft together (a turkey puppet). Before heading to the donuts we stumbled across the photo booth.

On the way to Violet's classroom, all the previous activities were extremely crowded. I guess everyone was concerned they run out of donuts. Violet showed me her classroom but was very concerned about my leaving before the bell rang. Later Melissa told me it was because Violet likes to go through her folder to prepare for her school day. What a studious little girl!

First Snow of the Season

Not only was it Lincoln's birthday but we got our first snowfall of the year.

According to winter folklore, the date of the first snowfall determines the number of times it will snow during the winter season. If that's true, then we're in for 14 snowfalls this winter. Now how hard or light that may be, I'm not sure. I'm not crazy about 14 times but it's better than 30. Only time will tell. 

Happy Birthday Lincoln!

Today Lincoln turns 7 years old.

I made a collage of pictures taken through the years. It doesn't look like he's changed much except looking a bit older.

After a breakfast of donuts and opening family gifts, it was off to school until our birthday dinner at Red Robin. He must have liked the clothes I bought him because this is one of the outfits.

Even though I got my "blow out the candle" picture at his birthday party, I couldn't help but try and get another on his birthday. Lincoln was a little hesitant to have the candles lit and everyone sing happy birthday to him. So we made a deal that we'd just light the candles and no one sang. Happy Birthday Lincoln!

Lincoln"s Football Watch Birthday Party

Lincoln's 7th birthday started on Sunday with a football watch party.

The garage was set up with games and tables for the kids while the adults could watch the Chiefs game in the living room. A wonderful idea until the kids got bored with outdoor games and decided to invade the living room.

But kids are kids and their attention spans run wild. So there were several moments when the house was quiet.

There was a good mix of adults and kids but it still seemed as though there were more kids than adults. What did I expect for Lincoln's birthday party?

Then the house was invaded again with kids to open gifts. It was funny to watch Lincoln open gifts and gush over those he really liked and toss aside the ones he wasn't quite fond of. That's why I had him open my gifts before the party began. I bought him clothes and made him a new afghan, red, white, blue and green just as he asked. That was 2 minutes of excitement...for me that is.

Cupcake and cookies were the birthday treats and I got my yearly theme picture of Lincoln blowing out his candle.

I must say Jamie and Melissa do put on a great party. I just wish there weren't so many kids!!!

10 Month Old Goldie

Goldie reached another monthly milestone turning 10 months old.

It's getting a little harder to get her picture seated in the chair when all she wants to do is be on the move. Two more months Goldie, then you get to go to yearly number stickers!

Now There's A Tree!

Progress is moving right along on the landscaping in the common area to the east of my house.

I looked out the window and saw the guys planting a new tree. Is it the only one? I heard there was going to be 2-3. Maybe next week they'll get to the sod. Only time will tell!

Extended Landscaping

My new house is at the end of the row and while I have no neighbors to the east, I always thought the common area would be grass seed that in a few years would look halfway decent.

Well the HOA has decided to install a water system and sod and a park like setting with trees and a bench. Work has begun today. Who has the best lot in the neighborhood.......ME! I'll keep you updated on progress.

Cemetery Surprise.....or Mistake

Teresa and I have decided to take advantage of the vases at the cemetery for Grandma Eddy, Mom and Dad.

Some type of ethereal phenomena always seems to happen when I go to the cemetery. While setting up the vase for Grandma Eddy's arrangement, I put my hand on her headstone. I swear I felt an electrical shock. My finger even went numb for a few minutes. Teresa thought she'd hit me with the vase but that didn't happen. Active imagination????? I don't think so.

We then went and checked on Mom and Dad's arrangement and noticed the cemetery had installed an additional vase. Long story short, they put the vase in the wrong place to begin with and either someone found the paperwork to put up the vase where we originally wanted it or they figured out they made a mistake and figured it was easier to just install another vase as opposed to redoing the inscription for Mom and Dad. I touched the granite plate with the new vase and it moved. Scared the crap out of me. Teresa thinks it was a sign from Dad. I think if it was Dad, the entire plate would have fallen out. Probably just a little hello from Mom!

Halloween

Halloween is always an exciting holiday for Violet and Lincoln and now Hazel. 

Goldie still doesn't have a clue as to what's going on.

Pumpkin carving wasn't as elaborate as some in the past but still very creative.

Violet and Lincoln had parties at school so I stayed with Hazel and Goldie. This is the best costume I could come up with. I wasn't going trick or treating anyway.

This year the theme for costumes was football with Violet being the cheerleader (with an actual junior Chiefs cheerleader outfit). Lincoln was a football player and Goldie was his football. Jamie was the referee. Hazel was a princess but she beats to her own drum!

Melissa put a collage picture together of all three girls wearing the ladybug costume that Violet wore for her first Halloween. The weather was perfect for trick or treating. Living in a new neighborhood, I wasn't sure if I would have any little monsters knocking on my door. But there were about 20 who came by. While some people (Melissa and Trish) are getting ready to decorate for Christmas, I'm going to enjoy the Fall and Thanksgiving before trying to figure out which animals from my extensive menagerie of Christmas characters I'll put out!