Christmas questions....

Christmas questions...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper/gift bags. It just depends what fits.

2. Real trees or Artificial? Real tree when we lived in Oregon, artificial in Arizona.

3. When do you put up the tree? Not till after Chris' birthday when she was home (12/11) Right after Thanksgiving now. It sits on the deck here.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? No way.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Oh that was soooooo long ago. None in particular that I can remember.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it's very small and I've had it since our first or second Christmas.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Don

9. Easiest person to buy for? Young grand kids..but none are young now!!! Get lots of hints from their moms.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Don't remember a bad gift.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Don't watch many...like all the Hallmark specials.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually the first part of December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate mountains...they are so hard to find...have to order them from "The Vermont Country Store" and they run $19.95 lb.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Blue, isn't that one of the Christmas colors?

17. Favorite Christmas song? Any, but really love The Statler Brother's "Daddy, Who's birthday is it?"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Always went to my parents till they passed away in 1999. Now it just depends on the year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes.

20. Angel on the treetop or a star? Many choices they are just 2 of them.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Our own little family of four opens on Christmas morning, and then in the early afternoon we go to the Crittenden and open theirs there!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People who say "bah humbug" if they don't like it keep their mouth shut and let me enjoy it.

23. Favorite Christmas ornament? A paper bird that my grandmother hung on the tree the first time they year my mother was born. It does't hang on my tree tho.

24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Must have pumpkin pie....lots of pumpkin pie.

Day 3

Scales say down 3 lbs (Okay 209) Have not been 100% faithful so feel very good. Had company for dinner and cards last night. Large salad, roast beef (from BBQ) corn....and the wonderful "King's Hawaiian" Hawaiian Sweet Bread that our neighbor Trudy shipped over from her vacation with her son and family in Hawaii. Oh was only going to take a small taste. 2 slices later said Whoa.
Taking Sour Cream raisin and Lemon Meringue Pie (don't care for either one) to pot luck but a large veggie tray.
Had scramble for breakfast so am on my way.

South Beach Try

Chris is so enthusiastic that I had to give it a try to return to South Beach. Lost some weight 2 years ago when I did it..Until new years eve and never got back on it.
Patty is trying to adjust it to her life style also. Lets see what the "Newburn" women can do. Keep your fingers crossed
Today is breakfast in the club house; juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns and toast. Ate the eggs, tomato juice and sausage so should be okay. Sunday is a pot luck for all 3 host couples and office people. Will have to watch what I eat.

Great Weekend

Chris, Patrick and Autumn spent Thanksgiving weekend with us. All had a great time. Thursday morning visited and prepared food, went to the activity room at the park about 1:30pm, 3 tables had been set up for each group, 2 together then one on the end, this let us set 16 at each "table". There were 153 people who attended. Only 2 had volunteered for clean up so Chris, Autumn and I did also. Patrick and Don took our dishes and decorations home (and while we helped clean at the hall they cleaned up all the mess and dishes at home...Great guys we have!!) After we had things done went swimming then played games at home.
Next came "Black Friday" as Chris and I are not real mall crawlers we all decided to go to the Flea Markets. Had breakfast at I Hop then looked and walked till feet gave out. Autumn did find some funky toe socks. Home and turkey sandwiches then Chris, Patrick and Dad checked out the casino while Autumn and I swam. Dinner was at DeBoyz then more games.
Breakfast at the park then time for the Hartley's to leave for home. They had a safe trip and called to say they have snow in the surrounding hills.
Great fresh ground coffee from Old Bisbee Roasters, "La Violeta Costa Rican Tarrazu" try http://www.UniqueCoffee.com if you want to try a cup.
Took out all my tubs of Christmas decorations Saturday afternoon but the wind came up so did not get the decorating finished.
So all you need for a great weekend is family, food and games.

We are thankful for.......

Primarily we are thankful for our health and the health of our family. So very lucky that Don is doing great and Aaron is improving daily. Now all we have to worry about family wise is who went "SPLAT" and twisted, sprained or bent something. But that is just life as we live it.
We are also thankful for the wonderful children we have and their spouses and the grandchildren. We may not be grand parents in the next town as we were when Chris and Patty were growing up but still enjoy and cherish time with kids and grandkids.
Next to come to mind is all the wonderful friends we have made in Yuma. Daily they want to know who we are doing and what they can do to help Don recover.
Tonight our wonderful neighbor Sandy (who had said about 2pm if we are available for dinner at 5pm she'd put a'nuther tater in the pot...we said yep) then came over and said I know your daughter and family are coming for Thanksgiving. I'll go down to Pat's and stay and they can have my house!! Now can you ask for a more giving, gracious person. We turned her down because they have non refundable hotel room but still the offer is outstanding.
Happy Thanksgiving to you every one.

Don

Don went in to the Yuma Heart Center today and had a stent put in the 90% blockage. All went well, he will come home tomorrow morning. Lots of people say he will feel so much better and do so much more.......any suggestions??? I can hardly keep up with him now! But I am ever so glad they found and were able to correct this.
Hugs and thanks at all who sent their good wishes, hopes, and prayers our way. And a special thanks to Ray and Jimmie Curtis for showing up unannounced to sit and talk with me while I waited.

Angiogram

Don had an angiogram thursday. They found 2 blockages one 100% one 90%. Tried for about an hour to put a stent in, but were not able to. He had to spend the night in the hospital beings the procedure took so long and was so late. Brought him home this morning about 7am. Still very tender but moving around. Have a consult appointment this thursday (11-8) and doctor had said will try to put stent in the area 90% the thursday (11-15) after.