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.