Grandkids Are Home from College

MONDAY:
Of all things, with all the grand kids coming home from college, I made up my mind to enjoy them and take a bi-week from my Blog.  Then I had second thoughts, many others are looking forward to the Blog.  Alas, Monday is always wash day and work on the computer while you shove the loads thru the machines.
Preparing to pay bills, I went on line to the bank.   A couple weeks ago we received instructions for a high teck security code that the bank was installing, it looked simple enough then.  Well, no matter what I did the cursor went to a different line.  I tried three times.  I anticipated trouble with the bank sale.  (HSBC to NIAGARA)  As Bob walked by I related my problem.  He sat down and with all the patience in the world, he could do it.  It didn't work for him either.  It locked us out and told us to call this number.  Right away Bob grabs the phone....dial....wait....wait...wait.  He hung up and dialed again.  I said, hay you better wait until we have the new minutes on the phone as we had 30 minutes left.  (new minutes the next day) I can work on something else until tomorrow.
Why don't you bring in the "Ugly Trees" for me to set up.  The Ugly Trees are a set of 3, of cheap-o pine.  Three different heights.   It's a challenge to make them look beautiful.  I like to put them on the stairs landing with a Manger Scene underneath.  However, I can't find the manger.  I must have packed it differently and I'm not ready to tear storage out from under the steps. 
UGLY TREES

Bob decided to wash the rec room windows and move all the furniture and sweep with the big boss.  (Kirby)  Great helper!  I go past the rec room with the first tree ready and Bob is laying on the couch.  "What's the matter, don't you feel good?"  "I'm resting as I can't put the furniture back until you put the manger scene up."  Okay Bob.  I drop all the tree work and unpack the manger. 

This is a miniature Fontanini set for young children which I gifted to Sarah years ago after one of our motor home trips to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Michigan.  Bob made the stable.(with electric tools)  
My friend stopped by for a cup of coffee and we visited until 5pm.  She wanted some investment advice, don't ask me, I can't even get my decimals in the right place!  She had just left and Betsy was pulling in from work. 
Supper over, dishes washed, back to the Ugly Trees, while we all waited for Sarah to get home from college.
TUESDAY:
Most of our day was preparing and driving to and from Lockport for calling hours for a friend's mother.  On the way home we buzzed by Debbie's but no one was home so we missed out on a good cup of coffee.   
I made one of Sarah's favorite meals for supper.  (Chicken Alfredo)  After we tried the bank again.  Same story.  I was starting to get concerned.  Bob was irritated!  My suggestions added to his demeanor, I needed to get away as he continued to punch keys.    I went in the craft room and did some scrap booking and watched the Biggest Loser. 
WEDNESDAY:
A wet morning; water laying in the back field again.  At least it's not snow.  So far, we haven't had a ground covering yet,  knock on wood. 
I wanted to bake more banana bread with cranberries as I thought the dates that I had put in my first batch was too sweet.  I did that and then started getting turkey fixings ready. 
Bob has bundled up his lap top and all the bank stuff and was going down town to the bank for help.  He was gone a long time and I was in need of more celery so I called to ask a favor of him.  Big mistake!  He was ticked with the bank employees who didn't know how to  help (or wouldn't) and was going to another bank to open a new account.  He made his anger known.  He found out that they had an hour back up on the phones; more customers than us had the same problem.  Fire the programmer!  At the new location, he received a call asking if he would come back as they figured out how to help him.  Long story short, we have to see if it works at home.
That evening the family gathered at the Red Osier (big beef house) to celebrate my birthday. (Stretching it again)  Betsy had made the reservations so all the kids were home from college and could attend. 

SARAH & BETSY

ALL HERE EXCEPT CHRISTIANNA & JOE WHO ARRIVED AFTER WE HAD OUR TABLE.

While there we drew names (first time ever)for our Christmas gift exchange, Annalynn had prepared the slips of paper with the names.  There was a couple orders for the famous big prime rib-16oz.   We could have lit up the table with all the cameras going off. Then David took group photos of the grand kids.

CHRISTIANNA, SARAH, ANNALYNN
 ALEX ERIC ROCKY

JOE HAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BLOG!

THE BIRTHDAY CUPCAKE!

After the songs and presents, the old farts headed home for a early evening, the college kids headed for other events.  All 21 or over, except Eric.   
THURSDAY:
 Oh, Milkman go get the turkey out of the garage refrig!  Ha, my chance to be up first, all dressed, charming, happy, making noise, while he tries to wake up.  What goes around comes around. 

We left for Debbie's about 1:00pm.  The turkey smelled so good all the way up there.  We had a great dinner.  After dishes everyone started reading the newspaper for Black Friday deals.  They went on line to order some items.  Debbie & Betsy prepared dessert.  We celebrated little Mathew's birthday; he will be nine tomorrow.  Bob forgot the camera so I'm waiting on photos in e mail.
FRIDAY:
I'm up-7:15am working on the Blog!  The Blog is developing into a competition as to who makes it in Grandma's Blog. I told them all, send me photos. 
This morning, with Bob's help, I pulled all the storage out from under the stairs.  That is a real pain to the hips, knees, and all over.  We unpacked more decorations and then put all the boxes back.  Little by little, we are getting there.

I FOUND IT!

( A little history for my kids) I bought this manger scene when I worked at W. T. Grant store (5 & dime) in State College, Pa., in 1956.  So it's old!  All the figurines are marked from Italy (not a chance that it is a Fontanini) and the price is on them-.29 cents except for the lambs which are marked .19 cents.  That being our first year of marriage, Bob had a hand saw and a hammer as tools, nothing electric.  He made the manger by hand and designed it so it would all come apart and lay flat in storage.   I hope there is someone in the family who will want this so it doesn't go to the curb trash when we are gone. 
After lunch, (to rest a bit) we took a drive up to Lancaster to D N D's and gave them some turkey leftovers.  The bank employee called us on Sync to say they had sent an email and had reset the sign in. (Really)  I also wanted to stop at Dave's Christmas Shop to look around and get some inspiration for decorating the trees.  They put so much on the trees, one can hardly see the tree.  But they are beautiful.  Leftovers was so good for supper.  We lounged the night away, watched the Gold Rush on TV until the girls came home from shopping to show us their treasurers. 
SATURDAY:
Dear God, will I ever get my sleep patterns back to normal?  It's 4:45am and I'm wide awake.  I ached all over so I took ibuprofen.  Staying quite, I had coffee and turned the computer on.  Finally, I could pay some bills. 
About 7am, I made some orange juice and went back to bed. 
The afternoon held some excitement when Sarah & Betsy returned from Rochester with Sarah's new lease vehicle.  Bob and I had to look it all over.  Sarah took us for a ride.  They are working on a ski rack for the roof.

SARAH, CINDER & THE NISSAN XTERRA

We had family movie night after supper.  During our break; I opened my birthday wine and made popcorn. 

SUNDAY:
We can't hardly believe this weather.  62o  We have had all the doors open in the garage just like summer time. 
My whole day was mostly cooking.  I made  bacon and poached eggs for everyone for breakfast. Then the favorite breaded chicken, rice & asparagus with chive & onion sauce for din din.  Bob and Sarah worked on putting the ski rack on the car.  Sarah started packing for the trip back to Bryant.  Betsy packed a cooler of food & fruits for Sarah to take back. 
What a busy week.  Now to relax and get back to the daily grind.  I'm looking forward to the Steelers game.

Hope everyone has a good week.  Thanks for clicking in.

Golden Gram