So the New Year is upon us and I've been slack in writing as
of late.
It’s been a whirlwind of holiday activity here since
returning from California at the beginning of the month. I honestly can’t believe how busy we've been
with visits, gatherings, travel, and Christmas.
I flew to Atlanta the middle of the month to spend time with
friends and we had a blast and the bonus was my friends from Tennessee were
able to drive out for the day and ended up staying overnight. Really had a fantastic time playing games,
telling stories, and just relaxing in each other’s company. One couple was
approved for Fostering up to 6 children and a couple days after I got home they
had a full house. I hope they had a
fabulous Christmas with the kids. We couldn't be happier for you!
After coming home it was a scramble to get the gifts wrapped
before Don came home from Atlanta and finish decorating. That weekend was a “reunion” dinner for the
folks who went to Ghana this year as a way to catch up and share food that the
hosts felt resembled things they ate while there. I have to say it was incredible. The 6 course
meal was spectacular and the company even better. I’d only met the hosts as I took their
picture with the Ghana group at the airport before they all left, so I was a
bit nervous heading to their home for dinner.
I had a great time; they are super people I wouldn't mind getting to
know better.
The following day was a get together with our friends we
haven’t seen in a few months. Lots of catching up, played a few games, and then
so much fun watching the football game together that evening (which we won!). Wish we could see them tomorrow but we’ll be
with other friends and they will be with family.
The week of Christmas has arrived and Mom has Pneumonia so
can’t bring my nephew to our house to stay a few days. She also can’t come to Christmas Eve dinner.
I plan to head down to pick up my nephew while mom revisits the doctor and
hopes she isn't put in the hospital and Don went to help a coworker move into
her new Condo. When he finished helping her move, he went to the mall to do
some Christmas shopping and I must say he did a good job! Mom was given some
different antibiotics and steroids to help her lungs/cough and was by her
account feeling so much better by Christmas Eve, although she still didn't have
much of a voice. I even said “You sound
horrible, how are you doing?” and she responded “I feel so much better! No,
really, I don’t sound it but I do.” The only thing that saved her from a
hospital stay was that she didn't have a fever.
I’m so glad she at least got to be home in her own bed to rest and I
could keep her updated with texts. Our nephew immediately wanted to watch
Guardians of the Galaxy when we got to our house. I bring this up because about half way
through he fell asleep and I took a picture.
It isn't often teens take naps but they should and my dogs joined
in. The rest of the time was spent
playing with our board games, watching movies, and playing video games with
uncle Don on my computer. I've seen the
future where I no longer get time on my computer LOL! Joking aside we really
had a great couple days and are looking forward to his next visit.
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Christmas Eve was our day for Christmas with my family this
year so my nephew could be home with his family for Christmas day. I did most of the food prep the night before
so it was a pretty seamless just put it all in the oven on time. My mom’s husband was coming up so we waited
for him to get off work and arrive which was killing Colin who was anxiously
counting down to his arrival so he could open his gifts and get his
stocking. I remember those days; I
really can’t wait until we have our own family to watch as they wake us early
and want to dive right in. He was such a trooper as Tom was here for about an
hour before we started exchanging gifts.
He was super anxious for me to find the gift he hid in the tree. I wish I had pictures of his face as I walked
to the opposite side of the tree to look for wrapping paper and he was
commenting how it wasn't there. Turns
out he wrapped and hid the gift himself and he was pretty happy about it. I’d say he did a great job as it took me a
couple minutes to find it. Once the
gifts were done, Colin started playing his new game on Xbox while I finished
our dinner. Tom would take him home later that evening.
The following morning Don and I spent time just relaxing and
talking to family. We then planned to
head over to his Sister’s house for dinner and we introduced them to Cards against
Humanity. They loved it. It was a blast watching them play and then we
fixed a non conventional dinner of steak, stuffed potatoes, crab legs, and broccoli. It was so yummy and a refreshing change from
the normal holiday foods we all typically serve. Sadly she had to be up early to open the next
day so we made it a fairly early night but not before she sent half a pie home
with us because no one had room for it after dinner.
Fast forward and here we are on New Year’s Eve. I can’t believe another year is about to
pass. We’ll be having dinner with a
couple friends and then heading to a gathering of live music and food at their friends
place to ring in 2015! Here’s hoping 2015 is even better than 2014 and that we
all remember the importance of family, friends, and community.
