THE COUNT DOWN!

Bob repairing an angel for my friend, Mo. 
The angel's horn fell down. 

MONDAY:
Lousy night trying to sleep.  Christmas is a coming and I'm in high gear!  So much to do.  I'm checking my lists.
Bob was off to the dentist.  All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.  You've heard that song, right?  Bob came home with his new set of teeth.  He has been going since October, about time.  Joe enjoys fly fishing too so they must have talked about that all the time. Bob looks so much better when he smiles, no chipped teeth now.    And that requires a whole new set of rules for cooking until he gets them adjusted correctly.  MUSH, JELLO AND COTTAGE CHEESE!  He didn't even try his favorite cookie with nuts in them.   Hopefully it won't be to painful. 

BOB WITH DR. JOE.  WE FIRST MET JOE AT A WELCOME WAGON PARTY WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN 1968/9.  HE AND HIS WIFE WERE NEW TO THE AREA THEN TOO.

Betsy and I put the icing on the cut out cookies.  I thur away a double batch of Almond Snowballs for the 2nd time-not baked in the middle.  Something very wrong with that recipe! 

TUESDAY:
The second lousy night trying to sleep.  As I folded the drip dry laundry, I was hoping more of my "on line" gifts would come this week.  Then Cinderella started barking.  The big brown truck (UPS) was here.  He left six cartons...yeah!   Most of the orders were without shipping costs.  No dogie treat for Cinder, the driver and  a new guy doing the running to houses.

delivered right into the garage!

I worked all day and into the night wrapping just like Santa's helpers.
WEDNESDAY:
Third lousy night.  I'm cleaning my china cabinet today.  That glass has to sparkle!  I decide that I don't have enough water glasses left for my dinner  guests.   I loaded the dish washer and went over to Bed, Bath and Beyond to purchase a new set.  Mom Rindo gave me the current glasses many years ago for Christmas.  They couldn't be 50 some years old? 

MY SHELVES ARE SO FULL WITH MEMENTOS, 
 NO ROOM FOR THE CHINA.

From there we went to Michael's with a coupon, and I got a good deal on another stocking gift.  50% off one item.  Then on to Oliver's for some chocolate.  That's how you spell Christmas, ya know, chocolate!   Last stop, was Wendy's for some chili and baked potato with broc & cheese for supper.  If I'm doing the hutch; it's a big mess on the tables so that's the excuse I'm using for the warm ups!  Ha.
We enjoyed the TV show with Rascal Flatts called  A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.  All about adoptive children.  It brought back some sad memories of when I worked.  The Child Welfare unit had their hands full. (I was in accounting unit) Christmas time was always hard for  people ; the biggest crimes happened then, suicide, dropping children off at the waiting room work site and driving away.  Many children had cigarette burns, black & blue areas but the worst that I witnessed was the child crawling with a helmet on to protect his skull from  more assaults   He had been beaten so severely he couldn't walk.  I pray for all these people. 
THURSDAY:
Fourth:Lousy night trying to sleep.  That chili last night nearly killed me! 
I got nervous thinking it was the beginning of a heart attack; well every one's symptoms are different.  But I'm up early, showered and dressed, just passing time until Betsy comes home from work.  We are then taking her to the airport where she will fly to Boston for the weekend to help Sarah move from Providence to Boston.  I can just see the sofa come down off the porch and over the banister of the three story building...pulleys in action.  Everything is on a hill there.   They will drive home together on Sunday to be here for Christmas. 

Betsy leaving for her trip to Boston.

As we sit in Roy Evans having a leisure lunch, Betsy sends a text-"on the plane."  Okay that's good.
My shopping is done but I wanted to see if I could get some frosted ornaments for my glass tree on mark down.  Right on!  Macy's had some; from $12.00 - $9.00 and I ended up paying $2.80 each.  I'm pleased.
(Betsy sent a text-"landed in Boston")

ONE BALL, ONE BIRD, 3 BALL TENDRIL, 5 SPINDLES;  NICE ADDITION!

Bob was waiting for me in the car, as I approached he took a picture of me and added all these features which are in the new camera.

Bob added the arrow,  the hearts and bows to the pic from the camera settings.  Neat!

At home we watch the weather, oh no.  Flights to Chicago from Oklahoma are cancelled.  Called our son for an update on Alex's flight.  He  had to reschedule and fly to Washington, DC - then to Rochester.  Doesn't sound good.  Stupid weather.

LOOKS LIKE SARAH FOUND BETSY! 
 THEY ARE OUT DOING THE CITY! 
HAY, YOU SHOULD BE PACKING. 

We watched some TV while waiting to hear if Alex made it out of Washington, DC.  (love those text messages)    The White House Christmas decorations was on.  What a crew of people doing the work!  And I noticed that they worked from a scaffold.  Now that's an idea; Bob has a small one to wash and wax the motor home.  Next year I'll try that. 

Ha, that reminds me of a story; if your old enough, you have a story about lots of things.  Here goes: When I first retired I was nervous and washed and painted every thing in site.  Then I got the bright idea of painting the house.  Now "God Bless Bob" as he went along with me.  I thought start at the back of the house (2 story) until I learn how to paint right.  Okay, we set up a rented scaffold and I got my paint and brush.  Up I went!  As soon as I walked across the plank, it started to "wiggle/up and down" and with that my belly did a flip flop.  I couldn't take that, so down I came.  Oh, I took a fair share of harassing.  The house got painted but I only worked from the ground.  End of story.
FRIDAY:
We went for groceries, came home had a sandwich, then laid down for a nap!  I slept 3 hours!  Finally catching up on my sleep.  Tonight I'll be wide eyed again.
Little snow coverage tonight.  I need to pay bills and see the damages from Christmas shopping. 
SATURDAY:

CINDERELLA'S FIRST TRIP OUT!

Ground is covered!  The house feels colder with all the wind.  We stayed in all day.  I made a batch of Sarah's & Alex's favorite cookies; peanut butter with Hershey kisses.  So now I have cut outs, balish and these pb cookies.  That's enough.  Otherwise, too many left over and Bob and I constantly pick away at them with each cup of coffee.
In the afternoon, we battled our way thur balancing the checkbook and savings.  I decided to sit with Bob so he wouldn't make any more adjustment that I have to live with !!!!!   Savings was goofed up and we found out that it is not downloading correctly.  Bob swears he is going bank shopping after the holidays. 
We watched TV until Betsy called and then we did Face Time.  She showed us Sarah's apartment.  They did alot of work already. 

The famous "T" train that Sarah will ride to work as she starts her working career downtown Boston.  (If I saved it right)


SUNDAY:
A few things to do yet.  As I finished my shower, I could hear the snow blower running...."the sneak" ran out to do the driveway.  He couldn't wait until Betsy gets home.  Well, it was warmer today so may not be as bad for him. 

PILED UP IN FRONT OF GARAGE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I called Betsy; they are on their way home somewhere around Syracuse.  Annalynn is driving from Ogdgensburg too so maybe they will met up on thruway. 

We hope every one's plans work out and a happy time is enjoyed by all.

GOLDEN GRAM