OUR CHRISTMAS STORY, Santa isn't the only one coming to town!

Al flew in on Monday.

DAVID, ERIC, DONNA, AND ALEX
OUR GREATEST GIFT, HAVING AL HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

The last gift to be delivered by UPS came in on Tuesday night about 6:00pm.  What a relief, I was sweating it.  As it turned out, it's being returned.  Just one of those things.

We began our morning Christmas at 8:00am, downstairs. 

STOCKINGS



THEY LIKED THE GOOFY GLASSES.


Sarah was very surprised to receive the "Stuffie" animal.  It's been advertised on TV, and I couldn't resist.  It has several pockets that you can stuff with pj's, blankets, toys, rosary, etc. 

SARAH WITH STUFFIE!

Mark and Annalynn came about 10:30 am.  Betsy had a egg breakfast casserole prepared to serve.  They shared gifts with us and went on their way to Mark's parents. 

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST

THEIR DOG "OTTO" 

MARK'S PARENTS SENT US THIS BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT.

We started making the snacks until the rest of the family arrived. 

WE PUT ON OUR MUSICAL CHRISTMAS HATS
AND GOT READY FOR THE FUN!

Once here, everyone scurried about putting stocking gifts in the stockings.

DEBBIE FOUND THESE CUTE BAGS TO PUT THE STOCKING GIFTS IN.

 Joe couldn't make it as his live in grandmother had been hospitalized during the week and had just returned home.  Christianna requested to do her stocking gifts first so she could join Joe.

CHRISTIANNA'S GIFT to us!



Did you all read that?  We are going to be Great Grandparents!  Christianna gave everyone something to read as an announcement.   Their was lots of screaming and congratulations!  Everybody was very pleased to hear the news.  The DeVoe baby is expected in July. 



 

BOB, CHRISTIANNA AND ME. 

Then the rest of gifts, everyone was excited to see who had their name since we had used the Elfster program. 


We had a great turkey dinner and for once my gravy turned out delicious.  No flour taste!! Yeah!!   We all sat around after and enjoyed cheesecake.
Then the kids hunted for the pickle in the Christmas tree.  Eric finally found it.  Betsy had it laying down on a branch and it was not easily spotted.   

 Along about 9:00pm, I finally told them all to go home, get rested up and we will charge again during the week.   We had a wonderful day!

Bob and I spent the next few days putting stuff away and going thru the garbage.  I lost one fork.   We had several naps too.  Boy, were we tired.
Sarah has begun her packing, in between visit with friends.

Today we are meeting family in Buffalo to celebrate Betsy's birthday.  First a lunch then a movie of choice.   But first I have a birthday gift to wrap.  Then, I guess that I will post and go play with my new Sizzix machine.  I'm learning it's features; embossing, masking, die cutting etc...more scrap booking coming up.

SIZZIX BIG SHOT

We are expecting rain today but that's better than snow.  It shouldn't hinder our plans for a movie. 

Everyone have a great week and enjoy the new year celebrations.

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!


GOLDEN GRAM 

CHRISTMAS WEEK!

MONDAY:

 Life happens when we are busy making plans.   So it is.  Last night we received word that my friend who I had worked with for 22 years, had passed away.   She couldn't beat the lung cancer.  It's always so sad.   Most of my day was spent on the phone notifying family  and friends.   Then later doing the same thing once the arrangements were available.  I guess being busy helps to handle the grief.  

One more time Bob ran the snow blower.   He brought in a package that the mailman delivered.   He helped me with supper, in between phone calls of the working people.  The pork chops that I planned on making had a smell to them.  I had Bob check them also an we decided to toss them.  We don't need to get sick from bad meat.   

I'm now making our Chex Mix for Christmas.  Keeping busy.  I make four batches each year.

ALL DONE

TUESDAY:

Man o schevts!  It's cold.  Not a creature is stirring.   No birds, no chipmunks, no deer .  Good day to stay inside, maybe do some baking.

In the afternoon, we went downtown to the bank and over to a deli where we ordered subs all made up on a tray to take to the bereaved family on Friday.  Then we went to Tops and picked up a small tray of shrimp and fixings for a pasta salad. 

STILL DECORATING

SNOWMAN ORNAMENT

I found these cute snowman.  We made these for the craft shows too.  I painted hundreds of them.  Now where to put them. 

QUICK PAINT JOB!

After dinner, Bob and I painted some wooden turkeys that he cut out for Debbie, she was short a few for napkin rings on Thanksgiving.    

WEDNESDAY:
 I wanted to get up early so I could go for my blood work.  (annual physical)  I had to fast so I wanted to get there and get home for food!  A funny thing-as I was driving, maybe a mile down the road I suddenly realized that I didn't have my bottom teeth in my mouth.  OMG, how did I forget my teeth?  I turned that truck around so fast and headed back home.  Bob wanted to know if I was done already.  I was singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." I had to tell him my problem and he thought I should have gone anyway to the blood bank.  He just doesn't understand; no way without my teeth.

Once back home I had breakfast then started on washing all the dishes in my china cabinet.  It's a big job but it's written in stone that those dishes shall shine!  If there glass, they should shine.  As long as I am able.  I used the camera on my phone to take pictures of how items are placed on the shelves, before I removed them.  Otherwise, I may be slow to replace.   

My friend, Mo stopped by for help with her new camera.  Bob read the directions and assisted her while we visited. 

We watched the Celine Dion show, then some computer work, and now it's time for bed and I don't have a book to read.   I'll have to scuff up something.
THURSDAY:
We went shopping to Eastern Hills.  I was on a hunt for a special ornament and we hit several Hallmark stores.  Another stop was at Dave's Christmas shop.  Their decorated trees were beautiful.

ALL SNOWMEN



FROSTED TREE WITH ALL FEATHER AND GLITTER ORNAMENTS
THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL!

 

 

REINDEER WAS 2 STORIES HIGH. 
PRICE TAG: $10,000.00

 

That evening, I made a pasta salad for my friends' family.

FRIDAY:
I wrapped some in the morning.  Fredia's husband dropped off two pies that she had made for us to take to the family.  Soon it was time to go to the deli and pick up the tray for the family with the funeral.  We loaded up the shrimp tray, the pasta salad, chex mix and the two pies from our friend, Fredia.  We visited about an hour with my friends husband. 

Viewing hours were that evening.  Afterwards, our kids came over and we all had pizza and wings. 

SATURDAY:
Betsy picked Sarah up at the airport.  We headed out for the funeral.  Prayers at the funeral home, the procession to church, the mass, the cementary and back to the luncheon.

Back home we napped for two hours.

Betsy and Sarah picked up chicken finger dinners for supper.  We worked on a craft which I can't show this week as it will ruin a Christmas day surprise.  Homemaders are the best surprise! 
SUNDAY:
No electric!  I woke up at 4:45am, to use the bathroom and had to reach for my bedside flash light.  I found a candle for the kitchen, but I could see lights in the houses across the field, so it was just our area again.  Later when Bob came out, he called the electric company, and poof the lights came on.  Like magic!   
All the trees and wires were covered with ice until about 4pm.  Betsy and I went to the grocery store and wires were lying on the ground of their parking lot.  The creek was up to the bank tops.  Such freaky weather.

BEAUTIFUL DRESSING ON THE TREES

THE ICE STAYED ON UNTIL 4PM

OUR BEDROOM WINDOW/NORTH SIDE


Well, that's it for this week.  If we aren't ready now, we won't sweat it.   This posting will be last before Christmas so hope all your wishes come true and you have the best Christmas ever.

Have a good week, and thanks for clicking in.

GOLDEN GRAM 



 

Lovely winter! A phone app to learn. Laugh now all you techies as the old gizzers catch up!

MONDAY:

I'm sitting in the rec room, trying to type on the IPad.   Seems strange.   My computer showed a virus last night. This morning Bob called the computer geek at our son in laws accounting office for advice.    The advice overwhelmed Bob.    We ended up driving into Buffalo and dropped the computer off to be fixed. The virus message looked like I had purchased air line tickets to Oklahoma, for some $500.00 bucks.  We checked with the bank to make sure a charge hadn't been applied.  Very smart hackers to know of our Oklahoma connection.  

We went to the mall and had lunch at Johnny Rocket's, usually stop there every Christmas season.

 I had a return to make, then we shopped.    When ready to head home, we stopped for coffee.  Lunch didn't sit so good so we waited later to eat cereal.  Betsy had to call Time Warner to get the household modem rebooted.
 

Bob is into Bonnie and Clyde, so he took over the TV.   What a gory movie.   

TUESDAY:

Well, after running around Buffalo yesterday, I'm behind a day so sort the wash and go like the wind!  I worked on and off wrapping presents with the other stuff to do.

Debbie sent me a picture text.  She had luckly found some of her Disney Christmas dishes on e-Bay.  We had gifted her with 2 sets of these dishes probably 15-20 years ago.  They had been matched to green charger plates.  Nice haul Debbie!

DEBBIE'S DISNEY CHRISTMAS PLATE/WITH GREEN CHARGER.

About 4:00pm, we looked out and huge snowflakes were coming down.  A freaking blizzard!  Betsy said, it took 45 minutes to get home from work, compared to her 25 minute run.  It was bumper to bumper at 25 mile per hour.  By 9:00pm it was all over and we had nearly seven inches.  

That evening we watched the Victoria Secret program on TV. I don't know why we sat there, far fetched and out of our interests.  

WEDNESDAY:
Bob is out running the snow blower already. 

HE IS PRETTY MUCH SICK OF IT NOW.

Buffalo had many closings last night and today they are telling of many, many accidents which have closed exits and roads.    

Having my coffee, I noticed I had a Cardinal at the bird feeder.  Oh I was so excited, as they are so rare.  I tried to take a photo on my phone but the bird feeder is to far away from porch windows.  It showed a little red blur in the picture.

LOOK IN MIDDLE OF BUSH!

We are keeping the "Brown" (UPS) truck busy.  Yesterday they brought packages at 7:30pm.   Today they just left two more of my orders.  Oh my, more wrapping.  I've been saying how easy it is now that we exchange names, which it is, but I forgot about the family that lives here.  They need gifts!  So put on your Santa hat and get to work girl.  

THURSDAY:
Jumping jingle bells the days are going by fast.  Well, if you sleep late that is what happens. 
We needed groceries and my computer was being delivered to the Batavia accounting office so we planned to pick that up in the same trip across town.

Coming home Bob said, "we are stopping at Dunkin Donuts."  He was playing with the DD app on his phone and knew they had special offers for freebies.  I told him to push on the offer and a coupon comes up.  Well, then he was all eyes!  Bob is very curious at times.  Now he says, I suppose we should have printed the coupon.  Oh just go in and ask them, they probably have a machine to put your phone in to scan the coupon.  (How would I know)  Returning to the car, he told me that because it was after 3:00pm, all the freebie offers weren't available when they had half price sales after 3..Ha!  He said, you have to push another button to acknowledge that you want to use the coupon.  Then it's available for 15 minutes and poof it's gone if not scanned.  Laugh kids as us old geezer's catch up to you with this techie stuff.  He did get the hot cocoa and the donuts at half price, plus two muffins for breakfast.  These phones are amazing.  Now Bob is trying to load McDonald's---He loaded one in Berlin--okay Bob.

Having had cocoa and donuts after 4, we didn't care to eat supper until late.  Betsy was tired waiting on us so she had cereal. 

UPS stopped again, Betsy's order.  Nothing for us. Nasty weather out, we worried about Rocky driving home from Syracuse.  The news had lots of cancellations.  Buffalo news announced a DOT request for 15 experienced snow plowers to come and work.   

FRIDAY:
Seems I'm always telling Bob thank you. Now with the cold weather, he is inside the house more and he is always asking if he can help.   Most of the time it's good but some times it's best to do it yourself.  I realized I had put the wrong name on a gift as I was instructing him with something else.   Just imagine Sarah opening up a box of size 13 work socks.  I was looking for the package for Bob to carry out under the tree, when I realized my mistake.  I dragged out my heating gun for Stamping Up an heated up the sticker and it peeled right off.  Nice to have good tools!  

SATURDAY:

Another snowy day.  Misty, fine snow all day.  The inches are adding up.  7 inches one day, 8 inches the next. Bob has been snow blowing several times. He is pretty much sick of it. 

Today is our Holiday Rambler Camper Christmas Party.  I signed up to make a crock pot of cheesy broccoli. I decided to start it about 11:30, with the veggies still frozen.  The party started at 5:00 but we had 3 boxes of carry in stuff so left home about 3:00.  It was still snowing so we thought it would take us longer driving.  The thruway was a mess, but Bob drove cautiously while other screwballs whizzed by us.  I only had to nag him once. The weather became worse closer to Buffalo.  

We had 15 members and 3 guests attend.  Many members are Snowbirds.  
 We had cocktails and visited.  Ha, so many our age our on some kinda pill or other and had cokes, including Bob.   Maybe a nice non--alcoholic punch would be better to serve.  

DINNER TABLE

Bob conducted his last business meeting as President.  He then volunteered as Secretary.  It was like a "swap deal". I'll do this if someone takes President.  No one wants to take the offices.  We need new blood in the group.   

Before dessert our gift exchange was played.  Pick a gift or steal a gift.  I think the cutest gift was a dancing Bear, which had to be over our $7.00 spending limit. 

THE BEAR HAD MUSIC AND DANCED.

MEMBERS OF HOLIDAY RAMBLER WITH 40 YEARS.

PAST PRESIDENTS RECEIVED A RECOGNITION PIN. 
BOB PUT UP A FUSS FOR ONE, JUST KIDDING.

MEMBER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD.
AWARDED TO PERSONS WHO DO THE MOST TO PROMOTE THE CLUB. 

RECEIVES AN OUT HOUSE WHICH IS SMELLY!
IT'S A DEODORIZER.
 

We helped with clean up and loaded up to go home.  About 4 more inches of snow had come down while we were inside.  Our friends volunteered to followed us most of the way home, until they reached their turn off.  The further East we drove, the better the roads. Lovely winter.  

WE DROVE AROUND A BLOCK ON THE WAY HOME TO SEE THESE LIGHTS.

Our next outing with the group will be the Polar Bear Dinner outing in Feb., established last year because we are jealous of the Snowbirds meeting during the long winter months.  

SUNDAY:

 We got up about 9.  Bob is out snow blowing now.  Another 8 inches came down after we came home.   I worked on putting things away from last night. 

Betsy helped me order a couple of things on computer.  Then something hit me , I have flu like symptoms.  Dingy, I had my Flu shoot at Dr. Sue's on Friday.  My arm is red the size of an orange.  I wrapped up in a blanket  and hit the couch.  I' m hoping it  will be a good Bill's game. 

 

Have a good week everyone.  Thanks for checking in.
 

GOLDEN GRAM

CYBER MONDAY, Holiday Tour of Homes

MONDAY:
Good start to the day, everything back to normal. Sarah back to Boston , Eric back to Utica College, David and family home safely from Oklahoma. 

Okay, I'm on a roll!  The wash is sorted and in the process.  I'm anxious to join the millions of others on Cyber Monday; placing some orders.  I figure if I get lucky and have the orders coming in; I can concentrate on the house cleaning while I wait for delivery. My sister is probably laughing as her shopping is all done!   Wonder how busy the sites will be? 

On Thanksgiving day our kids reminisced about when they were young and had a Wish List and posted it on the refrigerator.  They would cut and paste pictures from the Sears and J.C. Penney catalogs.  They started early, as soon as the TV started the toy gift commercials.  I'd buy, then the list would change for different items as the weeks progressed.  Yesterday, much to my delight, a Wish List from Betsy appeared on the refrig.  Oh the good ole days!  

I was working on getting the app for QVC for my phone and Bob offered to do it.  Now I can scroll and see what's being offered anytime.  Last week, I ordered a couple of unique things-one being an electric power strip.  It will twist and turn.  It works great for my Department 56 houses as I can plug in the house plug and the adapter plug with a twist; with out blocking up plug use.  I thing it's the Cat's Meow! 


PIVOT POWER BY QUIRKY
 FLEXIBLE SURGE PROTECTOR WITH SIX OUTLETS.
ONLY FOUR SHOWN HERE, HUH? 

TUESDAY:

One of those days; we spent the day "down town!"  We went to the Office For The Aging to finalize our supplemental insurance choice.  Then on to shopping.  We have been every where looking for socks for Bob-Size 13- stores just don't carry them.  Clerks all tell us to go to Foot Locker.  We had lunch at Burger King and kept on going. 

• The last stop was at the grocery store for the 6% off (Young At Heart-over 65 deal) so I picked up all the ingredients for my Chex Mix for Christmas.  Of course other items, always need bread and milk.  $100.00 bucks gone.  
• Have you noticed: A pound is now a 14 or 12 ounce container.
• Very few Christmas cards say Merry Christmas.  Happy Holidays prevail.
• Oh, I saw this cute display in K-mart so I snapped a pic.  Does a Pink Pig fit into Christmas?  



REMIND ME
 WHAT'S A PINK PIG HAVE TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS?






THIS JEEP WAS PARKED AT GROCERY STORE.
CELEBRATING THE SEASON
 


Back home, we made our four o'clock coffee then laid down to rest.  I had picked up the fixings for Beef on Weck and Mac & Cheese so supper wasn't a thought.  (Beef on Weck is almost the same as OX Roast in PA. but the roll here has Kimmelweck seeds on it) 

After supper, back on the computer to order the socks at Foot Locker.  I have really taken advantage of the Cyber Week free shipping. 

 

At night, I finished the book that I was reading; it was suppose to be a stocking gift for me, but I cheat.   I'll wrap it up anyway. 

 

WEDNESDAY:

Here's a different twist; I'm up early.  Betsy isn't even up yet.   Nor Bob.   It's raining!  Bob has a fishing date today, I'd hate to go in the rain.

I thought about going shopping but with the rain and dampness I decided to stay in and work on the wrapping that I could do.
THURSDAY:
Getting behind here a bit with typing.  Short and sweet coming up!  After a haircut, Bob had a full day planned as he was installing a sign out on W. Main Rd. for an accounting firm.  As long as he was over that way I asked him to make a couple stops before coming home.

THE NEW NAME OF ROCCO'S FIRM
BATAVIA OFFICE

That gave me the day to work on Christmas cards.  I started off writing notes on each one, then gave up and typed a memo.  I had several different kinds of Christmas paper which needed aligned differently for each design.  Took some time. 

After supper, I lugged the decorations upstairs for the living room tree.  I unwrapped all my glass tree ornaments while watching the special "Sound of Music".   I wanted to see how Carrie Underwood could carry the role that Julie Andrews played.  Not bad,  sounded like she was struggling with the low notes.  The critics say that she should stick to country.   I couldn't understand the main man, good thing I have seen the movie a couple times.  Plus the story was all chopped, so it would fit in the time frame, I'm guessing.

FRIDAY:
All day spent on decorating the Living room tree.  Bob was gone fishing!!!!!!!!!  First thing, no plug open for the purple lights.  Nothing to do but run over town and get an extension cord cause who knows where Bob keeps them in garage.  The extension is plugged in and some purple lights are out.  Gees! 


ORNAMENTS ALL CLEAR GLASS
I HIGHLIGHT WITH PURPLE RIBBON, BEADS, AND STAR GARLAND.



BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
AND IT'S UP

I do not like this tree in the living room.  I had originally purchased this for the dining room so it wouldn't stick out so much.  It's called a pencil tree; being tall and slim.  But Betsy wanted her tree downstairs this year,   so be it.   My idea of a living room tree would be a full tiered, big full bottom. 

SATURDAY:
 Today the family went to the newly weds (Annalynn & Mark's) house in Rochester to join them in the Holiday Tour of Homes in the Corn Hill district.  David & Donna came here and we drove together.  We saw the newly weds tree and decorations and then had coffee.  We left for the tour at 1:00pm.  There was eight homes to see.  We must have walked five miles!  It was four o'clock by the time we were done.  Some of the homes were over a hundred years old.  We thought we would see beautiful decorations but it turned out to be the showing of old home restorations; shy on the decos.  Back to the days with nine foot curtains and shutters, cast iron fire inserts, and wool carpeting. 

This rocking chair was in one of the bedroom's.  Debbie has one just like it that Grandma Rindo bought her for Christmas when she was small.

 

One home had snowmen about! 

Many had old painted signs.

 





THE BEST ENTRANCE DECORATIONS.




MCKENZIE CHILDS HOUSE MARKER

 


We hoped this home had lots of McKenzie Childs pieces decorated  in it but not so; a couple curtain pulls, a dog dish and one other piece that the girls saw.

We had dinner at Tony D's and then headed home where we had coffee and sat on the couch, exhausted. 


ROASTED RED PEPPER, EGGPLANT ETC SALAD.
HUGEAAA!


SUNDAY:
I'm telling you right now, it was a long night.  I tossed and turned.  Supper did not agree with me.  Then when I put my feet on the floor this morning, I could feel one ankle which really hurt.  Oh, aging complications!
I still had the icicles to put on the tree so I did that while it was quite.  Then I wanted to finish my Christmas cards, so that was next. I got tired and went back to bed. 

After a shower and lunch; I just kinda kicked back and watched the Eagles & Lions game on TV with Bob.  They were playing in six inches of snow and a blizzard.  It must have been cold on their bare arms.

 It's been a good week as I completed several things.  Now to be checking my lists and then looking for coupons to finish up.  I don't want to be ordering to close to the holiday.

Now it's time for supper so I shall post. Hope you all have a good week.  See ya back here next week, thanks for clicking in.

GOLDEN GRAM









 



TURKEY WEEK

MONDAY:
We needed to get the person or persons chosen for the Member of Excellence Award (MOE) for our camping group in time for the Christmas Party.  Bob called the one person on his committee that he hasn't been able to get a hold of, and low and behold, she was home.   Once the three on committee agreed and made a choice, Bob had to send the brass plate from the trophy to Buffalo to be engraved.  So I fixed a mailing envelope for him.

I hunted all over the house for our Badge A Mint machine and supplies.  I need to make some new name badges for the Christmas stockings.  I finally found it and checked it for supplies.  We needed parts...Bob did the ordering to save me some time.  Thanks Bob.

One stocking needed repaired as the hanging loop had pulled loose so I dug out the sewing machine.  I remembered-put white paper behind the needle to see how to thread it!  
TUESDAY:
I had some posting to do which I hate, so I hog tied myself down to do it.  It's always a good feeling once it's done.  I put the washing thru at the same time.

All day long, the news has been talking about the expected snow storm.  After talking to Annalynn,  I did get ready and headed off to the grocery store so I'd have the ingredients for the dishes I'm making to take to Debbie's on Thursday. 
No fresh sweet potatoes!  I don't care for yams so I thought I'd get a few canned ones.  Not!  The shelf was bare.  Now your all gonna tell me there isn't a difference but I'm not listening!  I made yams last week and even after pealing them, they had a tough surface after baking. 

BUFFALO AIRPORT
DONNA, ERIC AND DAVID
HEADING FOR ENID, OK
BETSY WAS PICKING UP SARAH AT THE SAME TIME.

WEDNESDAY:



LAST NIGHT'S SNOW FALL  4-5" 

A DOVE TRYING TO KEEP WARM.

YEP, THIS JOB COMES WITH IT!

Meanwhile, I'm doing fixings: I made my banana-nut bread with chopped dates and cranberries.  It sure looks good.  Then  I cleaned the fresh green beans and snapped them.  I finally found a recipe for the cheesy potatoes. 

THEY MADE IT TO OK.
DAVID, ERIN, ALEX, DONNA & ERIC

Boy, phone calls, texts etc.  Busy!



SARAH'S NEW HAIR DO!
CUTIE PIE!

The Badge A Mint order arrived already.  Oh my gosh that was fast.  I cut the paper circles, Betsy printed the names and Bob used the tool to make the buttons.  Yeah, a job done.

 

THURSDAY, thanks day:

A great day with family, food and calm, cool weather. 

It was 22o when I got up.  It hasn't been this cold in years in November. 

 

Packed with our dishes to go, we arrived at Debbie's at 2:00pm.  There was munchies available. The tables were set beautifully.  

The napkin holders are wood pieces that we cut out years ago for the kids to paint.  The family has grown, so we need to cut some more.

 

TURKEY NAPKIN HOLDER

 

We had brought the Badge A Mint supplies to work on as Debbie had bought new stockings too.  I cut some paper circles, Deb tried her hand at putting them together.  Then Bob and Betsy helped.



DEBBIE AND MATTHEW 
MATTHEW LOVES TO DIG OUT THE STUFFING!



ROCCO CUTTING THE TURKEY



MARK & ANNALYNN
MASHING UP 15 LBS OF POTATOES

After dinner we all enjoyed finding out who our exchange names were going to be from the Elfster program.  Debbie checked the list; everybody had accepted the invitation.  Then she went thru the "blocking" process for each of us; Caroline is not to get Bob, Betsy or Sarah's name.  (anyone in same household)  She pushed the button and walla our phones started pinging!  We had our exchange names.  Everyone was excited, did you get my name?  No one gave in to tell! 



BETSY, CHRISTIANNA AND ROCKY
ELFSTER GAVE US OUR EXCHANGE NAMES

 

Returning home in time for the Steeler's game and disappointment in the team again, I dozed off for  a nappie. 

Out in Oklahoma, the traveling family went Black Friday shopping on Thursday night.  Alex had his eye on a large TV at a great price.  They were third in line. 




DAVID & ALEX
THEY GOT THE TV!   

FRIDAY:

 Shopping and more decorating.  Take down the fall decos and put the rest of the Christmas things up.  The turkey sandwiches sure
tasted good for lunch.  The first Christmas card came today.

 

 

 

STAIRS WREATH

  

 

FRONT DOOR WREATH

 

I FINISHED MY UGLY TREES.

 We did some shopping in Batavia this afternoon.  We weren't about to go into Buffalo and join the mobs.  We had warm ups for supper and visited with the girls for a while.

SATURDAY:
Confusion reigns!  Who's going where and doing what? 
Sarah needed our truck to go pick out a Christmas tree with her sisters.  I wrapped some presents.  Bob is doing some wood cutting. 



JAMIE, SARAH AND JESSIE

Betsy prepared our favorite chicken dinner for 6:00pm., when Sarah promised to be home.  After we all enjoyed family night with movies on TV.  Bob had Sarah update his phone.  Oh man, the questions? 

SUNDAY:
I was up early so I checked my phone.  I sat for a while reading thru everything.  As the family woke up, we all had breakfast.  Then Sarah started packing up to return to Boston.  We had more warm ups for lunch.  That's about all of them I can eat!  Time for some cheeseburgers and French fries. 

Mark picked Sarah up about 1:00, Betsy left for Rochester, our house is quite again.   Bob returned to his garage project and I went into the craft room to work on stocking gifts.    

And it's time to eat again.  Guess I'll post now.

Thanks for clicking in.  Have a good week! 

GOLDEN GRAM