I apologize about not writing in November. Crazy month. We went to a Square Dance Festival in San Diego and had a really good time. Another couple from our club was there so we went for meals together, etc. We didn’t go to the day-time workshops, just the evening dances, so we had some free time and went garage sailing on Saturday morning. Each of us was able to find something, so that always makes it more fun. Katy and Jim came and stayed on the boat with us, went to the festival to take some photos of us, went garage sailing with us, etc. I love it when they can come. That was such a fun weekend. It was a bonus to have the festival in San Diego because we didn’t have to figure in a hotel stay. We will be going to another festival in February, in Yuma , so we will need accommodations for that one. It’s only a four-hour drive from here though, so we won’t need airline tickets. We have totally turned into square-dancing nerds. This will maybe be the third festival in six months. It’s way more fun to be there with friends from our club; and Bernie and Dottie are our best friends. We go out for frozen yogurt after every dance, and have gone out to dinner several times, and to there place for dinner a couple of times.
After the festival we drove on to Long Beach and took a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. That was something we likely would not have done, but how can you pass up a cruise at 70% off? We really enjoyed it. The entertainment was very good. The room was nice…balcony and all. The food was not all that fabulous, however. Usually people rave and rave about cruise food. In the long run we decided that it was probably good that the food wasn’t good because we would have gained a lot more weight. We have only been on one cruise before…maybe 30 years ago. Paul got sick on that one so we have never been very anxious to return to the sea. But no problems this time.
Then there was Thanksgiving. Since Katy and Jim were coming into town but unable to eat the big meal on Thanksgiving Day, we decided to have the Thanksgiving a week early. Plans were changed. Since they were going back home on Thanksgiving Day, Paul planned on leaving town that same day to pick up an extra day for business in Florida . All the kids had plans to go to in-laws for the official day, and I was home alone. It was weird, but I was OK with it. After-all, I was already a week or two behind in putting up the Christmas trees. Actually, the trees were standing. Paul managed to get that done, but I had the ornaments to do. I worked on the ornaments for a week, and then worked on the boutique for a week. Because the economy is the way it is and because the location of the boutique had to change this year, I didn’t do as well as I usually do, but better than I thought I would. And it was OK to have a certain amount of left-overs. After the boutique I went back to finishing the trees. I was down to my last three largest 9’ trees when Jane advised me that I didn’t have to decorate them…the other fifteen trees were enough. Of course you know me and know what happened…I worked like crazy and got those trees up. And I’m glad. They look so beautiful with all the lights and sparkly and glittery ornaments. I have at least one more week, maybe two or three before I take them down. We’ll see what happens.
Christmas morning we had to ourselves because Jane, Brian and girls had moved out the Friday before. And then they went to his folks for breakfast. Ben’s kids were with their mom. Ben had slept at Annie’s, so did Elizabeth and Nick. And Katy and Jim did not come since they were here at Thanksgiving time. Late morning we went to Jane’s while they were with Brian’s folks, and set up a trampoline that we had gotten for the girls. We were there when they got home so got to see their reaction. They were thrilled, and Jane says they are out there jumping all the time. Thank goodness for wonderful Arizona weather. Then eventually we all got to our place and everyone else showed up for opening of more presents. I would love to someday be able to have each person take turns with everyone else in opening all presents one at a time so that you can really see what everyone gets and who gave it to them. But I’m dreaming, I know. As it is now, I don’t know who gave what to whom. I do know that my kids gave me great gifts…Ben gave me a box of candy that said, “Do not open unless you were a child of the 50’s.” And, of course, inside were all those wonderful candies that you remember from your childhood but you don’t see anymore…like those little dots on a strip of paper. Too fun. You remember how much I love autumn leaves. (Paul took me to Salt Lake in November to see the leaves.) Well, Jane gave me a serving bowl with four smaller bowls, in the shape of leaves. Perfect. Katy took photos of us, Paul and I, and put six of them in a vertical frame. Great photos! Annie gave us two photos in frames…one of their little family and one of Devon …cute pictures that they used on their Christmas cards. Another perfect gift. Elizabeth made two Christmas pillows…one with a Santa, the other one of a snowman. Lots of sequins and beads, embroidery and ball fringe and piping. Fabulous! Paul had made a Barbie doll house when Jane and Katy were little, and Elizabeth took it and remodeled it for me. Because of her job as a designer she had access to lots of expensive materials, so from carpet to tile to something wonderful that she used like a fence around the deck…it turned out to be totally awesome. Heidi asked me if she could borrow it forever. My kids are so thoughtful and clever and talented and creative! It was a great Christmas. And even though Paul and I decided not to do gifts this year, he bought me a laptop. My very own. He spoils me.
Ben has been here for a week and will be here until Saturday. The kids have been here all the time except Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Since we don’t have missionaries staying in the missionary apartment, we had them stay down there…like a guest house. It doesn’t have a refrigerator because we took it to a rental property, but we don’t really want to encourage them to stay down there anyway. They just sleep down there, yet all their stuff, mostly, is corralled. Katy and Jim stayed down there on their last visit and told us that we should always just use it as a guest house because it was perfect. Well, if we had company that often we might. But we usually don’t need extra space because we already have a guest room with bath. But Jane and family were still using it when Katy came last time, and they weren’t totally moved out when Ben came, so we were glad it wasn’t occupied by missionaries this time. We really do need to get it ready now though. It’s not been used for over a year.
Hope all of you had a great Christmas as well. It’s almost time to write the January letter. Yikes! Aunt LouEtta, since most of the letters go out via e-mail, do you need money for the family letters anymore? And what about the cabin dues? Did that whole thing get settled? Did we all just pay one lump sum, and we’re finished forever? My memory is like a sieve.
I love all of you so much and wish the happiest of times for you in the New Year.
Testing
5 months ago
