Well, we got through Christmas with no major issues. lol I want to thank my friends...I really do have some great friends who rallied together and helped me make this a wonderful Christmas for my family! :) We spent Christmas Eve over at my parents house, laughed, ate, opened pressies, laughed and ate some more and then it was time to come home and await Santa's visit. ;)
I wish I had a photo of what we got my parents this year, it truly is an unusual gift...its a window, frame and all, with a painting of the original light house in our city..all done by a local artist. I am going to have to get a pic of it from my mom and post it. Kbug, our daughter, got her very first sewing machine from her yaya and papa (my parents), Drew got a Kindle..which is great because his college is trying to switch over to e-books, so this will come in handy for him. (I like the kindle too because you can get the kindle app for your pc and download books and such via your computer too). For all the years that Rick and I have been married we have not bought each other Christmas gifts, because it is for the kids not us...but this year he surprised me and broke that "rule".lol Thanks to him telling me to "rearrange the gifts under the tree to make more room", I saw the box from "Santy Clause". lol So, Kbug and I went out in search of the right gift for him, this landed us at the local Harley Davidson store. lol No, I did not buy him a bike...ahahhaha my gift wasn't that big ya'all. lol I did get him a HD head scarf that is big enough for him to fold and wear up under his hard hat at work and Kbug got him a HD calender...with bikes and bikinis. lol That calender now hangs in place of honor in his work room. lol We got Drew a new flat screen TV and Kbug got a new mp3 player (which first one sucked..from wal mart, so new one from amazon is on its way). lol Drew got me a great candle and an itunes gift card and Kbug got me a slipper and foot therapy set...LOVE IT ALL!! :) Drew got hubby a new grillin spatula, he has been asking for one all year, and this one has a butane lighter at the handle end..sooo cool! :)
We hung around at home on Christmas Day, just enjoying being with each other. Some family and friends called and well, some did not. Ya know, none of that matters...it really doesn't matter who calls and who does not or who sends a card and who does not...what matters is we spent it TOGETHER as a FAMILY. Yup, that's the best pressie anyone could have given me...time with my family.
The Life and Times of a Steel Workers Wife
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve Memories
As we were leaving my parents house tonight hubby and I were talking about how we used to spend Chrimas Eve when we were kids....
We used to pile into the car leaving grama and grampas house (or wherever we were that night) and drive through town to look at all the pretty Christmas lights on the houses...it seemed like not one house was not decorated in lights back then. (sigh) As we drove through the same town I grew up in it was bitter sweet, sweet because it brought back such great memories but bitter because it was not as it was...this year it seemed like maybe 1 out of 5 houses was decorated up in lights and ornaments. I know that times are rough and money is tight..heck, we didnt even decorate the outside of our house this year, but even knowing the reasons behind this, it was still sad to drive through town and see so many dark houses.
Another tradition we both had while growing up was that we got to open up one present on Christmas Eve, my mom reminded me tonight that I was the one who negotiated this in our house lol, so we carry on that tradition with our own kids and they each opened up one gift..the son got his a bit early this year and that was his new T.V. for his bedroom and bug (our daughter) opened up a pair of pj sleep pants with penguins on them...they are her favorite animal right now. lol In our house it is all about the kids, hubby and I don't usually buy for one another,but that is a tradition that hubby broke this year. lol So, earlier today Bug and I took off for the local Harley Davidson shop and picked out a nice gift for him...I got him a head scarf to wear under his mill helmet and Bug picked out a great H.D. calander that I am sure will soon be hanging in his workshop downstairs. lol The son got him a great grill "flipper" that has a grill lighter at the handle end, Im sure that will be used often this next summer. lol Bug has been trying to get me to let her give me hints on what Daddy got me all day long! LOL As much as I would love to get a hint, I restrained myself...and let me tell you that was HARD! LOL
We spent this evening at my parents house where we had dinner and opened gifts from them and they opened their gifts from us. We got my parents a window, yes a real window, that a local artist hand painted a light house scene on. They loved it! And Drew (the son) got yaya a Woodstock t-shirt that she has been wanting since she saw his this summer. lol Papa got a bunch of Cubs stuff..which I know he loved as well. Bug's gift was a new sewing machine and cover, Drew got a new kindle, I got a bunch of great stocking stuffers and a wonderful mug from my mama and Hubby got some great stocking stuffers too and they gave hubby and I a wonderful card with a nice gift inside. ;) After leaving there we headed out to visit some of Hubby's family, some that we haven't seen in over a year. It sure is great to be able to see family this time of year...and it makes us realize that we need to visit more often.
Right now I am getting ready to send everyone off to bed so "Santa" can fill stockings and leave gifts under the tree. :) I cannot wait to wake up and see smiling faces unwrapping those gifts!
From our family to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We used to pile into the car leaving grama and grampas house (or wherever we were that night) and drive through town to look at all the pretty Christmas lights on the houses...it seemed like not one house was not decorated in lights back then. (sigh) As we drove through the same town I grew up in it was bitter sweet, sweet because it brought back such great memories but bitter because it was not as it was...this year it seemed like maybe 1 out of 5 houses was decorated up in lights and ornaments. I know that times are rough and money is tight..heck, we didnt even decorate the outside of our house this year, but even knowing the reasons behind this, it was still sad to drive through town and see so many dark houses.
Another tradition we both had while growing up was that we got to open up one present on Christmas Eve, my mom reminded me tonight that I was the one who negotiated this in our house lol, so we carry on that tradition with our own kids and they each opened up one gift..the son got his a bit early this year and that was his new T.V. for his bedroom and bug (our daughter) opened up a pair of pj sleep pants with penguins on them...they are her favorite animal right now. lol In our house it is all about the kids, hubby and I don't usually buy for one another,but that is a tradition that hubby broke this year. lol So, earlier today Bug and I took off for the local Harley Davidson shop and picked out a nice gift for him...I got him a head scarf to wear under his mill helmet and Bug picked out a great H.D. calander that I am sure will soon be hanging in his workshop downstairs. lol The son got him a great grill "flipper" that has a grill lighter at the handle end, Im sure that will be used often this next summer. lol Bug has been trying to get me to let her give me hints on what Daddy got me all day long! LOL As much as I would love to get a hint, I restrained myself...and let me tell you that was HARD! LOL
We spent this evening at my parents house where we had dinner and opened gifts from them and they opened their gifts from us. We got my parents a window, yes a real window, that a local artist hand painted a light house scene on. They loved it! And Drew (the son) got yaya a Woodstock t-shirt that she has been wanting since she saw his this summer. lol Papa got a bunch of Cubs stuff..which I know he loved as well. Bug's gift was a new sewing machine and cover, Drew got a new kindle, I got a bunch of great stocking stuffers and a wonderful mug from my mama and Hubby got some great stocking stuffers too and they gave hubby and I a wonderful card with a nice gift inside. ;) After leaving there we headed out to visit some of Hubby's family, some that we haven't seen in over a year. It sure is great to be able to see family this time of year...and it makes us realize that we need to visit more often.
Right now I am getting ready to send everyone off to bed so "Santa" can fill stockings and leave gifts under the tree. :) I cannot wait to wake up and see smiling faces unwrapping those gifts!
From our family to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Recipes and Good Cheer
I had a thought this year....I thought along with sending out Christmas cards that I would invite my friends to share a favorite recipe (or two) along with Christmas cards. I posted my idea on FaceBook and to my surprise I got a lot of good feedback on it!
So, I'm making my list and checking it twice...and digging out some of my favorite recipes to share with my friends. We all have different tastes and I just thought this would be a wonderful way to get to know some of my friends better...food is always a great way to connect, don't you agree?
Now, my problem is which recipe do I share? lol I was just going to share my favorite sweet recipe, which is home made marshmallows...but then I started thinking, why not send that along with a savory recipe? This is where I am having a problem...I cannot decide which one to pick. lol I thought this would be an easy choice..HA! Not so. lol Well, I need to hurry up and make up my mind as my own deadline to send cards out is tomorrow. lol Nothing like crunch time, eh? lol
So, if anyone is actually reading this...what are your favorite dishes this time of year?
So, I'm making my list and checking it twice...and digging out some of my favorite recipes to share with my friends. We all have different tastes and I just thought this would be a wonderful way to get to know some of my friends better...food is always a great way to connect, don't you agree?
Now, my problem is which recipe do I share? lol I was just going to share my favorite sweet recipe, which is home made marshmallows...but then I started thinking, why not send that along with a savory recipe? This is where I am having a problem...I cannot decide which one to pick. lol I thought this would be an easy choice..HA! Not so. lol Well, I need to hurry up and make up my mind as my own deadline to send cards out is tomorrow. lol Nothing like crunch time, eh? lol
So, if anyone is actually reading this...what are your favorite dishes this time of year?
That time of year....
Well, it's that time of year again. The time to make sure all the winter clothes are out and warmer blankets are at hand, time to stock the cars with blankets and ice scrapers and such...just in case. And ya know what? I am really sick and tired of this time of year. lol
It is also that time in my life to end one chapter and start another as I will be finishing up my degree at the end of January. On one hand I am so very excited about it and then there is the other hand...the hand that holds the unexpected and for me that is a bit scary. It has taken me so long to finally get to this point in my life and I am so thrilled to see it end...and then I have had a great time the last 2 yrs and I hate to see it all come to an end. I know that I will keep the friends that I have made, but its just the experience that I have had that I am sad to see end.
It's also the start of my sons 2nd semester of his freshman year in college and my daughters 7th grade will be coming to an end in just a few short months, sigh. This is also the year that I will turn 40...which really, I am good with. I welcome my 40's with open arms...I figure if I got through my 20's and then my 30's (as hard and educational as they were) I will get through my 40's just fine. lol My husband will be starting his 60's this next year and I think he is more OK with that than he cares to admit. lol
It is also the time of the year when the steel mills start to slow down a bit and well, we have lived through this before and we will, with the help of God, get through another year of it. Hubby is still pushing for me to go for my LPN degree...and really, I'm just not sure how I feel about that right now. I think that I will take some time off after January and figure that out...some down time is going to be needed anyway and it too will be welcomed with open arms. lol
This next year is the end of some and the beginning of some...more so than years past, or so it seems. (sigh) 2011 was not an easy year nor was it the hardest that my family has faced and I am excited to face 2012 with a smile and a look of, "give it your best shot". lol I'm not tempting fate here, just letting it know that I am ready for it...for whatever comes our way.
It is also that time in my life to end one chapter and start another as I will be finishing up my degree at the end of January. On one hand I am so very excited about it and then there is the other hand...the hand that holds the unexpected and for me that is a bit scary. It has taken me so long to finally get to this point in my life and I am so thrilled to see it end...and then I have had a great time the last 2 yrs and I hate to see it all come to an end. I know that I will keep the friends that I have made, but its just the experience that I have had that I am sad to see end.
It's also the start of my sons 2nd semester of his freshman year in college and my daughters 7th grade will be coming to an end in just a few short months, sigh. This is also the year that I will turn 40...which really, I am good with. I welcome my 40's with open arms...I figure if I got through my 20's and then my 30's (as hard and educational as they were) I will get through my 40's just fine. lol My husband will be starting his 60's this next year and I think he is more OK with that than he cares to admit. lol
It is also the time of the year when the steel mills start to slow down a bit and well, we have lived through this before and we will, with the help of God, get through another year of it. Hubby is still pushing for me to go for my LPN degree...and really, I'm just not sure how I feel about that right now. I think that I will take some time off after January and figure that out...some down time is going to be needed anyway and it too will be welcomed with open arms. lol
This next year is the end of some and the beginning of some...more so than years past, or so it seems. (sigh) 2011 was not an easy year nor was it the hardest that my family has faced and I am excited to face 2012 with a smile and a look of, "give it your best shot". lol I'm not tempting fate here, just letting it know that I am ready for it...for whatever comes our way.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Don't ya just Love it....
Don't ya just love it when people judge you by what they think is going on in your life? Drives me batty thats for sure! lol Lately I have been finding myself laughing more so to keep from going a bit nutty(er), but laughin none the less at the things that come out of peoples mouths. It used to be that you only had to worry about a kid saying something dumb, heartless or incensitive...not so any more. Now a days it seems that all that can happen from anyone, even a close friend. (sigh)
I run in a circle of friends, pretty close friends. We may not all live close to one another but we try to stay connected...mostly over the net more so than any other way. Which, on a side note, is kinda sad. We don't really call one another that often, not even the ones who live close by. We seem to rely on social networks or text messages over a simple phone call. I know..I know..we are all busy in our lives and sometimes that is the easiest way to send a msg, but come on...what's wrong with just a simple 10 min phone conversation to just say "HI" or "How Ya Doin"? I guess this also goes back to not a lot of people write..hand write..letters anymore either. lol Am I dating myself here? lol
Anyway, I digress....Im finding myself feeling not so connected to the above mentioned group of friends lately. I'm not sure why this is and I'm also not so sure its a good or bad thing...yet. Right now it seems like lines are being drawn between some of them; meaning some have had a falling out with some and I'm just trying to process all this and trying to figure out how to hold onto my friendships and my sanity at the same time. lol Is that even possible?? lol
Hello World!
Hello Bloggers! Not too knew to the blogging scene, but well, just getting back into the swing of things lets say.
I'm a mom of a total of 7 kids, 2 are my own making and 5 I inherited when my hubby and I got married a little over 6 yrs ago now. His kids are all grown with kids of their own and some of those have kids of their own, so this would make me a grama and a great-grama. Im 39...just on this side of 40...and well, yes, if you have done the math, hubby is 20 years older than I am...but well, that's quite ok cuz we make it work! :)
I started this blog because, well, I have a lot to say at times and no one to listen to me. lol I also like to share tips and recipes and just every day life stuff and thought this was the best forum for that sharing.
I hope, if you are reading this blog, that you keep coming back and even give some input now and again. :)
Have a great one!
Lu
I'm a mom of a total of 7 kids, 2 are my own making and 5 I inherited when my hubby and I got married a little over 6 yrs ago now. His kids are all grown with kids of their own and some of those have kids of their own, so this would make me a grama and a great-grama. Im 39...just on this side of 40...and well, yes, if you have done the math, hubby is 20 years older than I am...but well, that's quite ok cuz we make it work! :)
I started this blog because, well, I have a lot to say at times and no one to listen to me. lol I also like to share tips and recipes and just every day life stuff and thought this was the best forum for that sharing.
I hope, if you are reading this blog, that you keep coming back and even give some input now and again. :)
Have a great one!
Lu
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