Christmas Time's a'Comin'

 Four months from today is Christmas Eve. I am so conflicted about the upcoming Christmas season. On the one hand I'm excited for the joy of the season. On the other my life is so topsy-turvey right now that I sometimes dive into anxiety.

We put our current house on the market at the end of May. We sold it at the end of June. The CASH buyer dropped out this past Sunday. That's right, 20 days into escrow, long after the inspection period, they just changed their mind. Ugh.

We had already contacted the utilities, canceled the pool service, signed a contract on an apartment, and paid for renter's insurance. Sigh.

Now we start all over. 

And to top it all off, it now looks like our new house may not be done until January 2023. Really big sigh.

What does this have to do with Christmas you may wonder?

I have grandkids already clamoring about what are we going to do for Family Christmas? Where will we be for Family Christmas? We are going to have Family Christmas, aren't we?

It gives me joy to know that they really enjoy that tradition. It gives me pause to think about how I'm going to pull it off. My tentative plan right now (other than praying for a miracle that we'll SOMEHOW be in our new home) is to have Family Christmas at one of my girls' homes. They can provide the location, but I'll still plan the event.

To that end I'm continuing on my usual path towards a stress-free holiday. I've been shopping, wrapping, and storing gifts. I'm completely finished with gifts for three Grands and two adult kids. I'm disappointed that I won't be decorating this year, but oh well, that's life.

My oldest granddaughter, Sunny was over the other day and, out of the blue, asked if she could plan the Family Christmas menu. I said of course! And she did. So I texted my daughters with the menu and their food assignments. They laughed. I'm thrilled that the 13 year old is showing that kind of interest! haha

Four months from today my Family Christmas will be behind me. Christmas Eve is typically hosted by my SIL. Christmas Day is typically just Dan and I. To be honest, I ususally start taking Christmas decor down on Christmas Day (surreptitiously, as it irritates Dan!) 

Maybe I'll be in my new home (probably not), maybe I'll be in a tiny apartment (probably) but either way I'll be with my family and that's the joy for me.

This year's gift stash

Happy New Year!

Wow, I really disappeared, didn't I? There have been many distractions this year. My brother and I are trying to find a safe, dignified living situation for our parents. Mom has cognitive issues and Dad's health is poor. I just couldn't really work up the enthusiasm to post. I even started my annual Christmas letter, read it, and then decided to not send one this year. Very unusual for me!

Anyway, here we are, a new year! I have to say that when I watch the news, I am so thankful for where I live. Our lives are not really impacted by the covid restrictions. I do know several people who have contracted the Omicron varient, but they haven't been sick. Hopefully 2022 will be the year the virus drops off of the everyday radar. (Probably will be. I'm cynical, but it's an election year and I don't think the politicians will want to have covid as a priority issue).

2022 should be an exciting year for us. We signed a contract to build a new home in late March 2021. As of November 1, we have plumbing, but no progress since then. Fingers crossed we'll be in our home by late Spring. 

Our family was all together for Family Christmas this year and we took the opportunity to take pictures. 

 Zach and Skye 

 Katie, Gabe, Sunny, Thunder

JD, Janel, Blizzard, Winter

Jessica, Adam, Snow, Storm

Me and Dan

My little family!

As I look forward to 2022, my thoughts are focused on moving into our new home, hopefully sometime in the first half of the year. I'm busy downsizing, trying to get rid of 33% of our stuff, since the new house is 33% smaller than this one. I think I'm doing ok... we'll find out when we get to the other house! 

I enjoy reading your blogs. Some of you I've read for so many years I feel as if I know you! I enjoy hearing how your family is doing, you inspire me with your creativity, and many of you are "sisters in faith". I'm eager to see what this new year brings for all of us!

Merry Christmas!

Since it's Christmas Day I thought I'd share our family Christmas with you.  We broke with tradition this year and held it in the morning. I think we found a new tradition. The parents weren't irritated after spending all day with kids who whined about "when do we get to open our presents?". The kids were all rested and excited for the day. We were done by 11 am and everyone could go home to play with their presents.

I knew it was a success when the talk turned to who would bring what next year! haha

We remembered to take a photo in front of our tree!

Singing a chorus of "Jingle Bells" before the fun begins

Thunder was one of Santa's helpers

Storm was a Santa's helper for the first time

Snow getting some help from Gramps opening her stocking

Sunny is a seasoned Santa's helper by now

Sunny and Thunder gave me a flashing Christmas light necklace,

I love it!

Skye's first year to read the Christmas story aloud to us all

Happy 85th, Dad!

We celebrated my dad's 85th birthday this past weekend. When I approached him with the idea of a special party he requested only family and one family of friends. Since he was the birthday boy he got his wish!

Dad doesn't particularly like cake and he definitely doesn't like frosting, so we had birthday pies instead. Our menu also included a slider bar, which was very popular.

Happy Birthday, Dad... we love you!

He loved his gift...

... and the photo of his birthday banner

Me, Dan, Mom, Dad, Kelly (sil), Mark (brother)

Janel, JD, Zach, Jessica, Mom, Dad, Katie, Gabe

Matt, Shelby

The Martins' with Mom and Dad

The birthday banner

Family

In July my nephew Matt, his wife Shelby, and their daughter, Summer made a circuitous trip around the Midwest to visit family. They started off in Minnesota visiting Shelby's family and celebrating Summer's first birthday then traveled to Kansas. In northeast Kansas they visited Matt's grandparents, Joe and Priscilla, his uncle and aunt, Jim and Gretchen. They then traveled down to Manhattan KS to visit JD, Janel, and Blizzard before returning home. Whew...

Here are some family photos from their trip. I particularly love the ones with Joe and Priscilla meeting Summer.

Great Grandma Priscilla

Great Grandpa Joe

JD, Summer, Matt

Hi Cousin!

Blizzard (5 mos) Summer (11 mos)

Family Christmas

We held our family Christmas celebration last Saturday. It is tradition for us to have it the weekend before Christmas, freeing up Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for celebrations with in-laws or for each family's own traditions.

The only problem with having it early is that I'm a "planner". I derive most of my pleasure from planning and anticipating events. I enjoy the actual event, but most of my joy comes in the preparation. Once an event is over, I'm done and ready to move on to the next thing. When the grandkids were younger, this was easy. I just took down my Christmas decor as soon as family Christmas was over. Now, they're older and they know that "real" Christmas is yet to come after family Christmas. So I leave all of my decor up. At least until Christmas Day.

We had a great time at family Christmas. Sunny read the Birth of Christ to us from a children's Bible. We sang Christmas songs and carols led by the three oldest grandkids. We had plenty of food, fun, and family memory making.

Zach and Skye

Dan and I

Vasquez Family

Sunny reading the Christmas Story

I love the chaos of Christmas!

The greats (my folks) with the grands!

Snow got a hippopotamus for Christmas!

Storm listening to the Christmas Story

Impromptu Family Fun

A couple of weeks ago a party broke out in our pool! What started out as five family members coming over to swim snowballed to a full fledged pool party with 15 people in attendance. What fun!

The water was perfect, the company was awesome, and a great time was had by all. I'm ready... when can we do it again?!

Jeff (Shelby's dad), Thunder, Matt, Sunny, Zach, Skye, Snow

The grandkids made up some game and Jeff, Sam, Matt were gracious enough to play along!

Gramps and Snow

Storm wore his tool belt into the pool. 

You just never know when you might need to fix something!

Awww, Snow and Summer

Sunny wore her animal print swimsuit because she heard Summer had one too!

Dan and me with our first Great-niece!

Jeff, Matt, Summer, Shelby, Sam 

Skye getting in some cuddle time with Snow

Zach and Summer

Sixty!

I have several blog posts to write today, but I'm going to publish the one that's most important to me - my birthday!

Last Wednesday was my 60th birthday. I can't believe that's my age because I don't feel anything like I thought 60 might feel! I'm not a person who is bothered by my age. I'm proud to be 60 and when you consider the alternative, well, you know.

We held my birthday party yesterday and it was a blast. Thanks to all in my family who made it a special day for me. I love you!

On my screen the color looks blue, but it was a gorgeous deep purple

Adam, Jessica, me, Zach, Katie, Gabe

JD and Janel are on the tablet. I didn't want to have my 60th birthday photo without them in it. So we Skyped them in!

Dawn, Shelby, Matt, Shawna, Summer

Dawn is Shelby's mom and Shawna is her sister visiting here from Minnesota

Four Generation

JoAnne (my mom), Jessica, me, Snow

I wanted a photo with all of the grandkids, but that can be challenging these days. Both boys are in the "photo avoidance" stage of life. This was the best of the worst! Skye, Sunny, Thunder, Storm, me, Snow

Tio Zach helping Storm with his swim shoes

My mom with her 6th Great-grandchild.

My SIL, Kelly with her first grandchild.

Summer!

Tia Katie and Snow

Storm and Jessica

Another example of the best of the worst photos, haha!

Snow and Summer, what a difference a few months makes