24 Shopping Days until Christmas!

21 if you don't shop on Sunday! I am barely getting rested up from Black Friday. Yes Ed and I were up before the butt crack of dawn and thought we were getting a real early start on things only to find 500,000 cars and shoppers beat us to Walmart. The lines were backed up to the Garden section with full carts. We finally found someone to ask "where the Laptops were that were to go on sale at 5 am" The kind Walmart helper replied," Oh, those were at the pharmacy and they were gone by 4:15." I guess we didn't get the memo that they don't really stick to the sale rules. We ran into Michael whose eyes were still wild with "sales frenzy"! He had been there since 4 am and did not seem normal to me. We talked for a few minutes and then he was off again. I hope he got home ok. The only thing we were looking for was a laptop for Ed and we found one in the regular aisle for not much more than the one on sale. I looked and looked and really did try to find something to buy but it was too early and my mind was not working properly at that time. They ought to have a "Black Friday Afternoon" for Seniors. One you don't have to fight the crowds and you can look leisurly - even sit for a while and think about it, have a cup of cocoa maybe some cookies or lunch. Well here we go into December - credit cards ablazing. If life gets too crazy - sit down and listen to Christmas music. It really calms the sole.

Turkey Bowl -Turkey Dinner

I didn't get to see it but I heard the football game was awesome. I will try to get some pictures to post. I think the dinner at the Sr. Center was a success. WE didn't have as many people as we thought we would have but still had a crowd. The food was delicious. Such a good variety of everything. Too many potatoes this year - so I know I will be cutting back on that. Thanks Jodi & Erin for bringing games for the kids to play. Everyone was right on time for the dinner so we were able to start on time. The day ended earlier than expected when all of the toilets plugged which put a damper on the day. We were glad to find out that it wasn't our fault because they had been having trouble with them before we came. It was really fun to be all together and have such good food. I feel bad about the bathrooms though. We would like to know how everyone else felt about it? Would we want to do this again, is it time to break up into individual families? Inquiring minds want to know?

The Big Day Almost Here. . .

Turkey, check , Potatoes, check, Pumpkin Pie for 70, check - football check! Are you ready for the big day? This will be an interesting Thanksgiving as we move to a new location and hope to have room for everyone to sit down. I always worry if we will have enough food. I remember one year we ran out of potatoes, and one year hardly anyone came to moms and we didn't have all the fun side dishes and salads that we usually have. Isn't it interesting what we get used to and have to have traditionaly. What would Thanksgiving be without Aunt Lyn's carrots, or Aunt Sharon's pies. We have learned to live without Grandma Cox's homemade rolls so I guess you can adjust. I remember one year mom made white milk gravy instead of turkey gravy. It tasted good but it wasn't the traditional gravy. Are we spoiled, or what. I just guess tradition runs deep. A family football game has been played on Thanksgiving since Tom and Nick were little kids. thank goodness we all had boys first so a team could be formed ASAP and Tom & Nick would have someone to play with. Now to think all of those boys are grown and still playing. Now they have brought the Martinez family on board and can play against someone else. I love this family and hope you are all getting ready for tomorrow. I, myself, have been walking and excercising in preparation for the feast. See you all tomorrow, 1:00 PM Sharp!

CHANGE OF TIME !!!!!!!

PLEASE TELL ALL THE GUYS WHO ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL THURSDAY THAT THE STARTING TIME HAS BEEN CHANGE TO 9:00. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL TYSON 855-2659

3rd Annual Turkey Bowl

While many of us are worrying about the Turkey dinner, "the boys" are getting excited about the "Cox's vs the Martinez's" football game. Brian has asked me to announce this and the place and time. I guess you girls will have to pass this on because I don't think many of the men read the family blog - at least they never comment so I assume they never read it. Anyway - The Kick off time will be 10:00 AM Thursday morning, the place will be the same place as last year - Leavitt's turf farm - If you plan on playing please call Tyson 855-2659 and let him know. (I hear Grandma is going to be one of the Cox team cheerleaders so it might be a game you won't want to miss.) I myself have never seen the game because someone has to be cooking all morning. Don't forget the dinner at 1:00 PM SHARP!!! We're on a time schedule this year.

Thanksgiving dinner

The family council met Sunday (yes we have a family council) and made some final decisions on our Thanksgiving dinner. You know when we get this big we have to be organized a little so that everything comes off without a hitch. It only took us about 4 hours to decide to rent the Sr. Center for 4 hours, so you see we put a lot of discussion and thought (and in some cases, raised voices) to come to the final decision. After all the chattering ended this is what we came up with:
We will be renting the center for 4 hours. This has to include setting up and cleaning up - CITY OF WARDEN RULES! So We will start at 1:00 hoping everyone will show up as close to 1:00 as possible. NO one wants to eat cold turkey. All food must come prepared as we won't have a kitchen or electric appliances to cook, beat or boil. There is however, a microwave. The Aunts & Uncles are bringing the main dishes, so we would like all the adult grandkids to bring side dishes and salads. We would like you to bring LARGE salads or side dishes. Think about how many we are feeding. If you don't want to bring one BIG salad or side dish bring 2 smaller. The idea is to have enough food for everyone. At approx. 4:30 we will begin cleaning up.We need to be out by 5:00. I know this sounds so military and kind of takes away from our free for all family events but think of it as having a reservation at a resturant at 1:00 pm except you are bringing the food. We are hoping everyone comes on time so that we can eat at the same time and have all afternoon to eat, visit and watch football on the big screen TV they have there. We do not want this to be an inconvience for anyone and we realize some of you have other family to visit that day. We just wanted to try something different and make it easier this year. Who knows what we will try next year. If you have any questions call me. Looking forward to a great family Thanksgiving.

Its My Party and I'll Cry if I want to. . . .

This is a sad birthday for me. I know next year will be even sadder but . . I did't mind turning 30 or 40. 50 was a little tough and tomorrow I will be turning 59!!!! (There's just no happy way to turn 60.) But I will cross that black road, slowly, when I come to it next year. When your in your 20's you can't even imagine being in your 50's. Heck,you can't even imagine your parents being in their 50's. Now fast forward, and it does seem like it was fast forwarded, here I am, on the brink, top of hill, preparing to descend "over the hill." Somethings I never thought I would have at this age is, my own teeth (whats left of them), blonde hair(with grey roots), a job (with my son as my boss), 40 extra lbs.(I've lost & gained a 100 times), energy to get up at 5:30 every morning and walk 2 miles.(but not enough to stay awake past 8 pm), chills during the day (hot flashes at nite) and a mini van. We all have hopes and dreams for our future and although things haven't worked out exactly like I planned I'm very greatful for a wonderful husband who isn't rich but alot of fun, wonderful children who found wonderful partners and together gave me my greatest blessings - 15 grandchildren and 2 more on the way. I might cry a little tomorrow as I begin the end of more than half of a century of life,(oh my) but by the end of the day I will be laughing with joy as I spend the day with my family & friends.