Sunny day

So things are looking up..... about time too. I wrapped all the gifts that will be going to Florida this morning and am satisfyed they will have a nice Christmas...lol  Shari and Dan and Mindy and Ryan will be leaving Wednesday morning .... I guess I was down to the wire in wrapping. If the others go as well I will be happy.... I even have a house warming present for Tom and Cindy. We got them a digital camera so they can send us lots of pictures so we can be closer.... they don't have one so I got them one like the little one I keep in my purse only a new updated version... hope they like all the gifts..... and know how much we love them too....
  I sent Leo to get two big bags to put some bed pillows in I got for Shari and Dan.... They never buy a nice new one and I got them the best.... Dan loves pillows and took an old one I no longer used so I think he will be sooooo happy don't you? Once I know what to buy I love shopping for it but don't like to wrap presents..... something like cooking.... don't like that anymore either.... guess I've been there and done that so many times its not fun any more and I get nervous doing both. afraid I won't do it good enough I guess.   I will be so happy when Christmas eve is over and Im sitting in church Christmas day singing Christmas carols etc..... That to me is really Christmas anyway but I have to make my 7 kids and their familys happy first.

Maybe when the presents are all wrapped and it starts to snow I will really get into the mood and play all my Christmas records. I noticed Gary strung christmas lights in his window and he has been playing Christmas music and Leo has been watching all the Christmas shows and movies he can find on tv.
  So hope your Christmas spirit is with you and you are having a very very happy day, Sandra

time for an entry

My sister said it was time for a new entry so I will try to add something...... This seems to be a hard time of the year for me. Something always seems to happen to make it not as nice as I would like but I'm working on it and trudging ahead..... :>) We had a little party for Tom and Cindy at Shari and Dans house Sunday. I took a few pictures before my little camera was full..... Tom and Cindy didn't make it until it was almost over anyway... they were taking longer to fill the truck then they thought (besides I don't think Tom likes going away parties) it was a nice party and Shari had the house fixed up so nice. But its hard for a mother to say good bye to another son  any son for that matter. They moved to Orlando Florida where our other son and his wife live. They love it there so much and things hadn't been going so well job wise here and they were planning on going in 5 years anyway so they just went early. Im happy for them and hope all goes well. They already have a nice house and both have jobs starting tomorrow already. Shari and Dan and the kids will be spending Christmas time there too. It is so pretty at Disney at this time of year.... we went one year too and liked it a lot but I don't think the other kids were happy that we went..... what is a mother to do..... so we were asked but are staying home. Things aren't the same but you can never expect them to be I guess. I will sure miss them all and its hard getting their gifts ready and then sending them off.... so I guess Im feeling sorry for me and I had better stop it....Lots of good things happening and we are all healthy so Iam happy. I'm planning a small supper for those that are here on Christmas eve as always and I will be happy when its over.... there I said it and now I can get on with it can't I. I act like Iam the only one whos kids are not here for Christmas...... sorry. I know better and I have my cards sent out and all presents bought but NOT wrapped yet..... it will be nice when thats done too. So am I getting everyone discusted with me yet????  Im sorry It will get better.
The weather has been so nice.... almost warm but certainly warm for this time of year. A lot of people are wishing for snow but hope it doesn't until after Shari and her family leave. They are borrowing our van again this year. Mindy and Ryan are driving one of Tom and Cindys cars to Florida and will be driving back with Shari and Dan.... Dan is a good driver. I know they will have a good time and can't wait for them to get back home...lol 
So there Janice is my interesting journal to let you know what is going on around here..... Oh and Leo scrubbed the carpeting and it looks like new again..... Im so lucky he does that aren't I.....
Talk to you later and hope You are having a good day, SAndra

Pictures of some Christmas Lights

Im going to go out with my other camera before it gets too dark and see if I can get better pictures.... its  a trick for me that I haven't figured out yet.... but you can get the idea. Its so much prettier than these pictures show

Sandra

Where did the sun go?

Hi,

I have been Christmas shopping ~~~ on the computer and it is so easy this way. I find out or think of something the kids want and bingo just like that I have gotten it and don't have to fight the crowds or look around all over for it.... Things are looking up. I have most of it finished already.... will get some nice boxes of candy yet and give a money card for the kids or most (the older ones) I don't know anymore what they want and money is always nice I guess. I still have to think of something for my Great Grandaughters so maybe I will go to a nice store and  find something pretty for them. That is a fun shopping day anyway.
I'm so glad Thanksgiving is over now and I can concentrate on just one thing.... Leo has the 3 big evergreens trimmed now with lots of lights and they look beautiful. they are getting so big he needs one of those big sticks and a tall ladder. We should tell them they can stop growing now. lol We won't be putting lights on the house because it will take away from the pretty trees I think. Our daughter and son in law said they don't put them on the house anymore either.
Today I got up and hurried to take a shower to get ready for church and its only Saturday. lol I was sure it was Sunday and couldn't figure out why Leo was still in bed. So this is a free day and unexpected too. Wonder what to do. lol
It was so sunny and nice this morning and now the clouds are coming, I liked the sunshine much better. :)  It has been nice and warm for this time of year lately so I guess now it will be getting cold again.
Talk to you soon, Sandra

dreary day here

Hi,

It's  another dreary day today and cold too. I hope the sun comes out because that always makes me feel better. Not much happening around here lately. Just the regular stuff. Thanksgiving is coming so fast I just can't believe it. time sure does have a way of flying doesn't it. I have been trying to get some Christmas shopping done. With 7 children and their spouses and children etc it is a long list and Iam trying to give each one something nice.... Not an easy thing to do anymore. Now if they were children I could have a list a mile long but once they leave home and don't visit often any more its becoming harder and harder. I think I'm getting depressed just trying to think of presents for everyone.so far I have Presents for my daughters and husband and 2 grandaughters.... the easiest to buy for too, wouldn't you know. I have something in mind for 2 sons so that only leaves 100 more presents. haha I certainly can't wait til the last minute or some would be without I fear.
See I'm letting this weather get the best of me aren't I.
Leo and Gary and 2 others are going to the packer game Sunday. They asked me to go but I don't want to. I'm going to stay home and watch the last race of the year. We will have to go to Mass on Saturday this week. I've had a little cold this week so couldn't get my flu shot yet... should have gone sooner I guess. But I guess it willbe better late than never as the saying goes/
Hope everything is going well with you and the sun is shinning. Sandra

First snow fall

Our first snowfall of the season. One that will stay for a little while probably but by Sun it should be melted I suppose. glad we got our yard work finished because I don't want to do it now, Leo sure helped me a lot this year and made everything so nice and  neat.
The first snow is always so pretty but it would be nice for Christmas too. hope we get a white Christmas eve. :>) I hope people remember how to winter drive so their aren't any fender benders tonight. It's Friday night and everyone is starting to come home from work and school so I will say a little prayer so everyone uses good sense.
I had to take a few pictures to show everyone. I was going to say something else but now forgot it all. Just rolling along here and doing what you do daily and knock on wood everything with us is fine. Hope it is with you too. I think I should come in more often. Iam always surprised when I do and see how long its been. This way though no one will get tired of me anyway.
Hope you have a wonderful week end, Sandra

Rain and clouds and cold

Its a very chilly dreary day today and Im just being lazy all day..... It feels good! Yesterday I finished cleaning my bedroom and putting only clothes I wear through the winter and giving things away I don't use or haven't worn. My closet is nice and neat now.... I even put my summer shoes in the back of the closet in their shoe boxes.
After that Leo wanted to go grocery shopping so off I went.  I didn't have a good list so we bought 100 dollars worth of nothing and I already have a list of things to get for next time.... besides you shouldn't go to the store hungry should you.... :)
  Teri is already back in Florida ~ it was a fast vacation but like Leo says it just seems to fly by the older we get...
I'm so glad we have all the yard work finished so if it wants to snow now it can go ahead. we are ready except I suspect we have to get the snow blower and shovels out yet. :(  always something right. We didn't get all the windows washed either so I suppose we will be looking at those windows all winter unless we keep the drapes pulled. lol
I hope everyone is getting used to the colder weather and daylight time back in place etc.... Now its time to think of Christmas shopping already. I bought 1 present so far and am already stuck on what else to get. I will think of something again this year I know but WHAT is the big question. I got one of my daughters an afgan made with a picture of her grandaughters woven in. Its such a cute picture and she will have it for a long time and always remember her little darlings at this age for many years... I didn't get it yet but as soon as I do I will put a pic in here. It will be a couple of weeks yet.
So take care everyone, Have a happy rest of the week end. Sandra