Christmas with the Boys

We had a fun visit with Nick and Cameron tonight and delivered their new pool/ping pong table. Catie had bought her brothers cap guns, which will be a thrill to their new baby sister Alyvia, who will soon be scared silly, I am sure. The kids really enjoyed their gifts from Aunt Cat and it was Christmas II in January!

Back to Work

It was rough returning to work yesterday. Once I got there, I got back in the swing, but it sure didn't leave any energy for my hobbies in the evening! By the time I got home both nights it was late, I ate dinner and fell asleep. Either this means, I am (A) Getting Old, (B) Working too hard, or (C) both of the above

Joe showed up at the branch and helped me with some techno-stuff. brought my new terrarium, a plant and generally perked up my afternoon. He spent the rest of the day doing the holiday returns, errands and servicing my car. I am going to keep him another 35 years!

I am taking the last 2 days of vacation time on Thursday and Friday and looking forward to just spending time enjoying my creative endeavors. (yes, there will eventually be finished quilts and socks and lots of scrapbook pages).

Maryann and I are in the midst of planning our annual scrapbook weekend for February. 3 days of peace, quiet and creativity. Last year, we left the room only to shop for more stuff and to pick up carry out foods. It was great!

QUILTING

I got a new sewing machine for Christmas. It was just what I needed to get back into quilting and sewing. I had gotten SO into scrapbooking and knitting that I had no time to sew. I continued to collect fabric, always with a quilt in mind.

There is a basket filled with pretty pastels, just waiting to turn into little girls quilts. There is a collection of blues and a pattern that is waiting for Michael. There is a complete quilt in green.......hmmmm, not sure who gets that one.

Then Joey's quilt was stolen. Cat, Karen and Joey have all used their quilts so much that it makes a mother's heart melt. I can't let them be without one. Black and Red, Joey said. The wheels started turning. 3 trips to the fabric store later and my legs are aching from standing at the cutting table.

The initial building of a quilt takes WORK. Cutting and cuttimg and measuring. The sewing part is the pleasure. Sometimes I can convince Joe to cut for me. We made one for Debbie last year....I say "we" because Joe cut every piece.

So, in case any of you are wondering, if I had a cutter, EVERYONE would have a new quilt!

Happy New Year!

Joe and I toasted to another New Year with Deb and Jim. We started our evening with a quiet dinner of fresh Lobster. No kids either! Mike, Andy and Catie were all off with friends and Joe and I actually had total peace and quiet.

Then came the good stuff.....chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas and pineapple. (ok, I dipped potato chips and it was really good!) Cheese, beer and crab fondue with crusty bread and champagne to toast the New Year. Good food and good company...it doesn't get better.

To finish off a good evening, the ladies beat the men as usual at pinochle. Some things never change!

Update on Paco Training

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Today Andy decided he was absolutely going to take control and make friends with Paco. Joe had taken the coat away from Paco, so Josie could wear it on her outing to Meijers today. Andy wanted to get Paco out and put the coat on him.

First, he asked me for help. I told him to leave the old man alone. Of course, Andy couldn't do that....he opened the closet door, leaned in to get Paco and I heard the familiar Paco cuss words.
Grrrrrrr....snap.....SLAM!

Paco had snapped the coat out of Andy's hand, pulled it into his basket and returned to his nap.
Score: Paco 100...Andy..ZIP!

Closet Monster

Paco, our elderly Chihuahua, lives in our hallway closet. He has an old basket that he has lined with my bathrobe. He dragged it in there himself. He also stole Josie's new Christmas coat and we found that in his basket. He uses it for a pillow.

He spends about 22 hours per day hiding in that closet....UNTIL....there is a knock on the door or Spike runs by. Then he rushes out like a huge monster, making more noise than 5 big dogs.

When we tell him to stop barking, he continues to make noise, but we all swear we can hear the cuss words he seems to be uttering. Paco ALWAYS has the last word.We have been watching The Dog Whisperer this week, while on vacation. So I decided to try to "train" Paco. What a joke! I would defy that guy to meet Paco. Paco rules this house.

Joe, Joey, Catie, Andy and Mike all try to befriend him. If you have food....you have a friend. When it is gone, he is back to cussing you out. No exception.

Paco comes out when Paco wants to. He may wander out when he hears forks hitting plates, as he knows it is time to eat. Late at night, he ventures out to join me on the couch.

By the way, Paco is blind. He has cataracts and both his eyes are pure blue now. Pretty sick that Joe laughed at him the other day when he walked into the cupboard. He also has bad breath as anyone who has been unlucky enough to get close to him knows.

I don't know why I love him so, bad breath and all. Maybe it is "face love". Paco will crawl up and rub his fact against mine to show his love. Maybe it is because other than Justin (his real owner), I am the only one he loves. As my Dad used to say, "If kids and dogs love you, you can't be all bad."

Christmas is Over!

After shopping, wrapping and preparing for weeks, it is over so quickly. I took the week before Christmas off work so I could enjoy it this year and I really did. It was nice to wrap gifts as I bought them, take my time picking them out and generally enjoy the season.

Joey made it complete by arriving on 12/19 and we all enjoyed Alexis' birthday on 12/20. It is hard to believe she is 5 years old already. Although she will tell you she is "Ooo" (five in Chinese, she tells us). My darling granddaughter also told me that "smoking is cho cho", which means "stinky". Thanks, Alexis!

We sure missed Cat, Paul and Tate this year, as they were in Iowa with Paul's family. We know we have to share, but it is tough to have Christmas without them. Tate is growing so quickly, if you miss a month you don't recognize him.

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with Joey, Laura, Alexis and Daniel, Karen, Mike and Catie and of course, Mike and Andy. The turkey was perfect and we all stuffed ourselves.

This vacation has been wonderful and well earned. Days on end of staying up late, just doing what we want. I have been working on a new quilt, Joe has been doing various home repairs (I am sure he loves THAT) and Mike and Andy are camped out on their computers. The best part of the week was when Mikey got banned from WOW for 3 days and we actually saw him. Although with a new car in the driveway, he wasn't too unhappy.

Justin spent Christmas eve with us, which felt just right. He is our official extra kid. Paco was happy to snuggle up with his owner, as usual.