December 27th

Today was my Mom's last day here. Thanksgiving 2006 I took my mom to the nail salon for the first time. She has decided she enjoys it and so whenever she comes we make an effort to get there. Today seemed to be a good day for that. We stopped at the library and grocery store and then came back and had leftover Chicken & Pastry. It's always better the second day. She flew back to RI at 5 pm.

December 26th

It was dark and raining; a good day for sleeping in a bit. Arthur wasn't feeling well- too much of everything I guess . Lol! My Mom and I went to the Museum of History for their Lost Colony Exhibit. They wouldn't let me take pictures in the exhibit so this is the tree in the lobby. We also walked around the rest of the museum. I'd like to go back when we have more time. Both my mom and I were starving! We went to our cheap Mexican restaurant for lunch. Sierra and Andrew came over for dinner that night.. Arthur made Chicken & Pastry. Chicken & Pastry is usually our Christmas Eve dinner but we couldn't figure out how to fit it in. If they ate steak at lunchtime, then chicken and pastry and then Portuguese food on Christmas Eve we would have exploded!

December 25th

Merry Christmas!!

Sierra stayed overnight so everyone (in the state at least) was here for Christmas morning.

Sierra was buried under gifts.

Daniel was so surprised by a Sheetz gift card! Considering that he walked into the store while I was buying it I think he might have been a little melodramatic.

Arthur was surprised by his football jersey. See we both had them during the Superbowl a couple of years ago but they disappeared in the move. Since we have never found them, we think they got thrown out by accident. Of course, they will reappear now that I bought a new one.

Sierra and Grandma and Gracie checking out their gifts.

We had prime rib, twice backed potatoes, and Caesar salad for dinner. Dessert was Chocolate Trifle and Pecan Pie. I didn't want to go crazy with desserts since there was only 7 of us this year (Andrew, Sierra's boyfriend, joined us) but the kids have been bugging me for the trifle. I make it to bring to everything but they never get to eat it! After naps all around, we went to the movies. We ended up seeing Charlie Wilson's War. Not your usual Christmas fare but National Treasure was sold out. I though it was good although there was some questionable scenes (nudity) in the beginning.

December 24th

I had to work today which isn't great but I do have the Wednesday and Thursday after Christmas off. It was very slow; mostly people picking up packages. Arthur's family invited us to their house to grill steaks for lunch. Arthur, my Mom, and Dan were able to go.

I gave my camera to Arthur to take pictures - he took pictures of the grill (and his cousin Andy!)! Now it is an amazing grill but...

He did take a beautiful shot of Jessie and Cole.


And Cole with Anna.

That night we went to Rose and Joe's for a Portuguese Christmas Eve dinner. Most of the neighbors came so we got to meet some new people.

December 24th

No we haven’t dropped off the planet the last couple of days. It has just been crazy here as I’m sure everyone else has been. I’ll do a brief update of the past week.

Wednesday – We had our Christmas Party at the apartment complex for the residents complete with a visit from Santa! I got home late that night.

Thursday – Arthur and I and Rose and Joe went to the Tran Siberian Orchestra at the RBC after work. It was fantastic! They put on a fabulous show; 3 hrs of music and lights. Of course, we did get home way past our bedtime .

Friday – My Mom flew in! Mom came in at around 10:00 and Sierra and Dan picked her up, ran by Sierra’s apartment and then went to lunch. I had to work in the morning and then we had our company party (Lunch) at the Hampton Inn in Cary. After lunch, we were free to leave so I got home around 3:00. My Mom was pretty wiped out and was napping and apparently Dan and Sierra had to sympathy nap. I made cheese enchiladas for dinner and we just hung out at home.

Saturday – Mom and I went grocery shopping and made a few other stops. Arthur straightened the house up. We had the youth Christmas party at our house that night. We ended up with 21 teens and 7 of adults (including my Mom and Rachel who got roped into being kitchen staff). It was a great success.

Sunday – We went to church and everyone came this time. After church, we went to Knightdale Barbecue and Seafood for lunch and then headed home. My mom and I went shopping for some last minute presents. Arthur was glued to the tv watching the football game (s). I made a delicious vegetable soup and then we wrapped presents.

December 23rd

Vegetable Soup and wrapping presents

December 22nd

The youth Christmas Party at our home

December 21st

My Mom

December 20th

Trans Siberian Orchestra

December 19th

Santa at our resident's Christmas Party

December 18th

The Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/

Yum! Yum! Yum! I can not say enough about this sandwich. Pioneer woman has some wonderful recipes with step by step pictures (I love pictures!!) . A disclaimer though: They are not healthy recipes. This one has REAL butter and lots of it. Her last line in the recipe says it all.

"And go get on the Stairmaster. Now. "

December 17th

One of my friend's from my email loop had posted a Christmas Quiz on her blog which I forwarded to a bunch of people. One of the questions was: Do you have a nativity scene? my answer was " No, I’m ashamed to say. We used to but then Mary disappeared and Joseph became a single father. It just seemed wrong. Sigh.. We’ve considered buying one but the good ones are so expensive and the less expensive ones look tacky." Rose thought it was just awful that we didn't have a Nativity set. Lol! So as early Christmas gift they gave us a set. Isn't it beautiful! We are not Mary-less anymore!

December 16th

The children sang at church today. I just totally had a melt down - I could picture my kids at that age and it really hit me that this is the first year that the older boys won't be home for Christmas. Everyone tells you to enjoy your children while they are young because it goes by so quickly. It is so true! It is just like the song running in the background of the blog - Don't Blink.

Don't Blink

I turned on the evening newsSaw an old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today
Asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said
"All I can say is .
"Don't Blink
Cause just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't Blink

I was glued to my tv when it looked like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first."
Cause when your hour glass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth
Don't Blink
Cause just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

So I've been tryin' ta slow it downI've been tryin' to take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in
Don't Blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't Blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years go faster then you think
So Don't Blink

No, don't blink don't blink
life goes faster than you think!
Don't Blink
Life Goes faster than you think, so
Don't Blink

Lynn, Me, Rose, Lisa & Kim

I spent the afternoon wrapping some presents and finishing making the family calendar for my Mom. It was Rose's birthday today so I went down to her house for her cake - Arthur was already there for the Patriot's game. Lol! Happy Birthday Rose!

December 15th

We had our Ladies Ornament Exchange tonight. This is the first one I have been able to attend. We had some Praise and Worship followed by a pot luck and then an ornament exchange. Each ornament is carefully wrapped with a Bible verse. No one knows who will get which one but it is amazing how the Lord works that out and how many of the Bible verses are exactly the one that the recipient needs! While the ladies were at this, the men got together for pizza, darts and pool.

December 14th

Another big box going to Iraq for Ben's unit. Today was the "cut off" day to get packages to Iraq by the post office. Today wasn't too bad at the post office. I took a late lunch at work and went about 2:00. I waited about 15 minutes in line - much better than I expected. RI had a nasty snow storm yesterday (You Rhode Islanders already know that!). Poor Andy still went into work and it took an hour 45 minutes for a 3 mile trip! Christine, his girlfriend, took about 4 hrs to get home to her home in Providence. Although I don't envy them that I do miss the snow a bit. Arthur, of course, is laughing maniacally in the other room. I don't miss the snow in February when it just looks nasty and you swear it will never go away; or the stupid little storms that you have to go to work in anyway so you have to go out and shovel and then try to get to work. But I do miss the really big storms that you just sat in your house and watched the snow fall. The next day, the kids would shovel us out, not that there was much to shovel since we had 5 cars backed into the driveway, and all the neighbors were out shoveling as well. I'd make hot chocolate and stacks of pancakes for when everyone came in. I'd take the kids up to the Coventry sand dunes for sledding. I'd always go sledding with the kids and then couldn't move the next day! Lol! Arthur would always say, "You know you aren't 18 anymore!". That part I miss. Now mind you we were suffering on Thursday as well since it was 78 degrees here but we all have our crosses to bear. Here is a couple pictures we took back in 2004.

Yes, that is Ben in the middle with the mountain man beard. Lol!



Arthur enjoying the weather. Don't you miss this honey?