Monday, November 29, 2010

One Holiday down . . .

One to go. I don't know about you but it seems like I just put my Christmas tree away from last year! I know they start putting Christmas stuff out in the stores in October, but it seems unreal and I don't pay much attention, but once Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas music starts playing I really start getting the Holiday Spirit. I think my favorite time of the year is the week after Thanksgiving. It kind of goes down hill from there. I mean you go from not thinking about Christmas because your so worried about Thanksgiving to OH MY Gosh only 25 days till Christmas! And every day that goes by is one less day to shop, one less day to decorate, and one less day to bake. Now, all of these things we have to do on top of work, church and activites that we were already squeezing into our busy lives. I'm not a shop ahead type of person. I'm still finding gifts I bought 3 years ago and forgot about. I'm not a simple shopper. I have to find just the right gift. I worry, I stress, I don't sleep. And the closer Christmas comes the more stressed I get. While I am out pounding the pavement, Ed sits in the car with his crossword puzzles and Christmas music all relaxed and calm. I am sorry to tell my kids that if anything ever happens to me you will never get a gift of any kind from dad. He's just not a shopper except for himself. If I tell him we are going to town to buy him a new shirt he's the first one in car with the motor reving. But I have to say that he is very patient while I am shopping and he drives me anywhere I want to go. I know in the whole perspective of things that everything will work out - I just wish there was a way to take the stress out of Christmas so I could enjoy it more.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

How much food does it take?!

I was checking out of Walmart today with my 40 lbs. of potatoes and the conversation with the checker went something like this: "Why are you buying so many potatoes?" answer " Well I'm in charge of the potatoes for Thanksgiving" "Why do you need so many?" Well we have a large family." That many for just your family? Yes How many family members do you have? Oh about 75. 75?!!!! Your immediate family? yes. Where do you eat Thanksgiving dinner? Well we used to eat it in one of our homes but now we go to a community center. Oh my gosh, I can't even imagine feeding that many people! How many turkeys do you have? -----The questions went on and on and I felt sorry for the people behind me but they seemed to be in shock as well. Ed and I were not going to be here this year for Thanksgiving, we were driving to Kansas to pick up the family tractor that was gifted to him. Thank goodness he got on the internet and found someone to haul it up here for less than we could drive there and back. I have to admit that I was thinking it was time that we split into families and do our own dinners this year. Because of our enormous numbers. I was just going to have ours before we went to Kansas. But thanks to Rick and Sharon the dinner will go on as usual. I know the year will come when we won't be able to all get together for Thanksgiving - but I'm sure mom is very pleased that Rick and Sharon took on the challenge to make it happen. Its not an easy one for sure! Thanks!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Goodbye 50's

Today is my last day of being in my 50's. Boo Hoo! Which makes me wonder - when does middle age end and old age begin? I know I'm getting close because I ache everywhere, I have no energy and my body is giving out on me. Gosh, I sound like my mother. I went to the store today to try to find a new Birthday outfit. What happened to cute clothes? The department I used to shop in now has racks and racks of tight fitting, sleezy, low cut, short sleeve see thru tops. It doesn't matter whether you wear small or extra large, they all fit the same. Pants are just as bad. Where did the waist go on pants? Who voted to move the waist band from the middle of our body to below our big bellies? I'm just not that comfortable with my belly hanging over the waist of my pants. I may be wrong but I believe Waist bands were meant to hold in the belly. So here I am in the old ladies section - pants with elastic waists, tent looking tops - comfort, comfort, comfort. I guess thats a big sign of old age, when comfort is more important than fashion. Although my brain thinks I'm still in my 30's - I want to look young and stylish, my body is telling me I passed stylish about 10 years ago. You just can't look stylish in stretch pants and orthopedic shoes no matter how hard you try. My goal for the 60's is to get healthy and lose those 30 lbs. that were my goal in the 50's. Hey, you're only a failure if you totally give up. I feel I have alot of years left in me - now if my brain could just tell my body that we'll do just fine.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Thanksgiving?


This is Grandma Cox speaking: Its the most happiest time of the year - again- "The Holidays" and here we are trying to figure out what to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As many of you know our family isn't getting any smaller - and thats ok - we love family! You are my family and I guess you can blame it on Grandpa and I cause we are the ones that got this started. When we were young and having our kids the last thing on my mind was that someday I would be 81 with 120 of my posterity wondering where we were going to be having Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas get together. I would have you all to my little apartment but I don't even have room for a 14 lb. turkey let alone my family. And if I did I would. My dear sweet oldest daughter, (who is just about as old as me) -and who has hosted many Thanksgiving dinners - has just informed me she won't be here for Thanksgiving this year. I was wondering if anyone else would like to host Thanksgiving this year? So what I'm asking first of all is if you could respond to this and tell me how many of you are planning on being here? Second - would anyone like to host this year? We could just skip this year and not all get together? What do you think? We will discuss Christmas on my next blog I dictate to Lorrie.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Its that time of year!

Yeah! Halloween's over! Party's over!! Nov. 1st - Christmas ads have begun! A new month a new stress! Christmas gift shopping. What to get everyone? Will they like it? Will it be good enough? Its now 54 days that will fly by faster than a cat covering crap. And as each day goes by I start hyperventilating faster and faster. How do people shop all year "for Christmas"? I am the kind of shopper that buys something and if I find something cheaper or better I take it back and exchange it. I would never be done because I would be shopping and returning all year. I also have a bad memory and am still finding gifts I bought and hid 4 years ago. So the longer I wait the better it is but the more stressed I am. It would be nice if we only had shopping to do but there is work, church callings, family events, Thanksgiving and now another road trip to Kansas thrown in there. (Thats another blog story all its own!) I don't have any answers other than doing away with gift exchanges - not a real popular idea - So ready or not let the shopping begin!