Christmas 2018

Amanda and Chad surprised Peyton and Garrison with a quick weekend to Disney World the 3rd weekend in December!  They flew to Orlando on Friday afternoon and flew back late Sunday night.  In between they squeezed in all kinds of fun at Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney.  All had a good time.

On the 23rd, I played the gathering music at church and joined Brenda Ford, Janet Parks and Marnie Bellamy for a two-piano, 8 hands rendition of O Holy Night at church.  We had purchased a new console black piano which matches the black baby grand piano already in the sanctuary, and they blended perfectly.

On Christmas Eve, we traveled to Overland Park late morning.  Garrison had been diagnosed with Flu Type A that morning, so our plans had to be revamped a bit.  We didn't get to bake Jesus' birthday cake, but we still sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and put candles on the German Chocolate Cheesecake I brought for dessert after dinner.  Chad and Garrison didn't get to go to our planned dinner at the restaurant, Rye, but the other four of us went and enjoyed it immensely.  Ron had a steak, and Peyton, Amanda and I had fried chicken.

Before dinner, we opened presents.  Our best gift was 6 tickets to Trans Siberian Orchestra performance on Dec. 26 at the Sprint Center.

We spent the night and were awakened by Garrison at 6:30 a.m. telling us it was time to go downstairs and see if Santa had been there.  They had put out cookies and milk for Santa and sprinkled food on the front yard for the reindeer.  Santa had been there and brought wonderful gifts for the kids and left fun things in all of our stockings.  They also opened their four gifts from their parents, a want and a read, a wear and a read.  They were happy with all, especially the Nintendo Switch.   We had delicious cherry coffee cake that Peyton had made all by herself for breakfast.

Amanda and Garrison did not go to Lexington since Garrison still had a fever, so instead of coming home right after breakfast, we stayed and had lunch with them, then we drove home.  We then went to the Sieger's for pie and custard and to exchange gifts with them.  We were exhausted by the time we finally got home, but we had lots of fun.

Because Garrison was still not feeling well, he and Chad did not get to go to the concert on the 26th, but Amanda, Peyton and Hailey, Peyton's friend, and us attended and enjoyed it very much.  After the concert, we took Amanda home and picked up Garrison (Peyton too) and brought them to Clinton for 3 nights.  It poured down rain all the way home, and by the time we got home, it was time for bed.  They didn't fight going to bed and were asleep right away.  Garrison slept for 12 hours - Peyton for 10.

On the 27th, we baked cake mix cookies (Pinterest per Peyton), built a fort and watched movies in the afternoon.  We had spaghetti and meat sauce directly on the table - no plates - and are having loaded baked potatoes and salad for dinner.  So far, we are having a great time!

We are so blessed with the love of family and friends.

First two weeks of December 2018

We went to OP to visit the kids the first Saturday of December.  I'd found a recipe for "snow" on Facebook, so we made it and Garrison made a snowman  It even felt cold and stuck together very well  Baking soda and white hair conditioner - that's it!  We had fun doing that.  Garrison has started taking guitar lessons and gave me a guitar lesson - after his one lesson.  He gave me another lesson the following Sunday when we went to OP.  Too funny.  Peyton played Christmas carols for us on the piano.  This past Sunday, we stopped for Jack Stack BBQ for all of us before we arrived at their house in time for the Chief's game.  We had to leave for Garrison's soccer match before the game was over but we kept track of what was going on, and the Chiefs won!  Garrison played well at his soccer match and ended up playing with the other Cottonwood Point team after his match and did well with it too.

Ron had TURP surgery for removal of part of his prostate which was enlarged and stayed overnight at St. Luke's Hospital on the Plaza.  I stayed with him.  Amanda and Ron's brother, Merle, sat with me during the surgery and his recovery which was nice.  We had a good visit.  Ron stayed home from work the rest of the week per doctor's orders and went back to work today, Monday, December 10.
Debbie Sieger brought us green bean and rice casserole, and Deb Mills brought potato soup, so we had plenty of food when we arrived back home on Wednesday.  

A good couple of weeks - we are blessed.

Peyton Turns 10 and Thanksmas 2018

On Wednesday, Ron took the day off to help me prepare for Peyton's birthday and Thanksmas coming up the next few days.  I was successful with making Peyton's request for her birthday cake, Kit Kat Pie!  The hardest part was unwrapping 14 Kit Kat bars, ha ha.

On Thursday, we helped at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, serving on the steam table line (filling 600 trays with another group filling 300 - total of 900 carry out meals for Henry County) 200 people at at the Eagles, 1,100 free meals served this year.  Dennis and Debbie Sieger helped too, and helpers all get a meal, so we took ours over to their house to eat our meal together after we delivered 10 meals in the community.

Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison arrived around 5:00 p.m., and the fun began.  Peyton loved her Kit Kat Pie - made me so happy - and she enjoyed her presents, mostly her Alexa for her room for music, etc.  We had snack foods, meatballs, little weenies, etc. for dinner and of course, birthday cake!  Peyton received bath bombs for her birthday, so both kids wanted to take a bath to use the bath bombs.

Friday was our 14th annual baking day, and it was awesome.  Garrison unwrapped around 100 Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups, a bag of Rolos, and some Hershey Kisses, all by himself.  He was a busy boy.  Peyton was so helpful this year, doing a lot of the mixing herself.  She had chosen some new recipes for Pinterest.  Ron and Peyton went to Pizza Glen to pick up our order for lunch.  We all enjoyed watching the Phil vs. Tiger Golf Match on Pay Per view, $9,000,000 to the winner, Mickelson, 6 hours later!  They had planned to play golf, but weather did not cooperate.   Peyton and I made slime to put in the jar and added antlers and eyes and a red nose for a reindeer slime jar!  She loves making slime.

The kids and I enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars On Demand and Dancing with the Stars Junior on Demand too throughout the weekend.  They tried to teach me The Floss, but I wasn't too get at it - they can both do it very well.

During the night Friday night, around midnight, Garrison tapped on my shoulder and said he had had a bad dream and was scared, so he got in bed with us.  He was so sweet and cuddled with me the rest of the night, occasionally putting his arm around me.  So special.

Saturday morning, Peyton and Grandpa peeled around 8 pounds of potatoes for our mashed potatoes. I had most of the food ready or partially ready for the meal.  Grandpa and Chad took the kids to the playground since it was beautiful outside for a little while.  Amanda was great help with the cooking and clean up.  Mark and Mark arrived around 10 a.m., and the fun started all over again!  They brought me a big bag of magazines, a beautiful poinsettia and party mix.

First we played the Saran Wrap Game with an extra twist this year - sometimes the adults had to wear a blindfold or gloves to open their layer to get their gift.  The kids love this activity.

We took a family picture then had lunch - turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade noodles, homemade rolls, frozen fruit salad, cranberry relish, and corn.

After lunch,  we played a version of dirty santa gift exchange which was fun.  Peyton and Garrison are the masters of the "exchange" later, trading with everyone to get what they wanted.  Too funny.

We enjoyed visiting and being with each other  We were sad Tom, Joe and Nicole couldn't join us this year.

After everyone went home, we put away all the Fall decorations.  After church on Sunday where I played the gathering music and the hymns, we decorated for Christmas.  Just our small Christmas tree this year, 3 little lighted trees on the front porch, a wreath on the front door, and one nativity - all I could manage getting out this year.

Counting our blessings this year - so grateful I am cancer free and feeling so much better and stronger - feeling blessed to have Amanda/family here for a few days and to have Mark and Mary join us on Saturday for Thanksmas.  God is good.