Silence for Sandy Hook

2012 Ornaments

I bought a couple of ornaments the other day, when I went to Beverly Hills for lunch.  My youngest son loves nutcrackers.  I am not sure when or how it started, but his Christmas tree has nutcrackers all over it.  My mom and I have been getting them for a while now.  I saw these ornaments in Crate and Barrel and knew that I needed to get one for him and his newborn son.  He was so excited when he saw them.  All of his nutcrackers have color, so these were very different from the other ornaments.  I wasn't sure that he would like them - but he did.  I think he was more touched that I got one for his son, too.

I found these glittery initial ornaments in Pottery Barn.  I was able to get one for each of the grand kids, plus the new twins.  I wish I knew what my niece's baby is going to be named - I would have gotten one for her too.  These will go on my grand kids' tree.

I, really, want to make some ornaments today - but this cold/flu is kicking my rear.  So it probably won't happen.  I don't want to start something to today and not be able to finish it.

Christmas Tree Crazy

I love Christmas.  I love the music, the feelings, the cookies, the lights and the decorations.  I love to decorate my house.  In the past, I have decorated 15 trees in my house.  One or two trees in every room, with a theme.  My boys, nieces and grand kids each had their own tree theme.  I would start decorating in November, during my break.  One room a day approach.  Every year, I would get an idea for a different tree and so I would start decorating a new tree before Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't decorated like that in 4 years - with health issues and not being around for my November break.  I think, as the boys got older they didn't like it as much either.  I, really, miss it.

The tree farm started when my youngest son was little.  We put up a big tree in the living room, with all my Hallmark ornaments and the ornaments that the boys had made.  That Christmas, my husband and I had the flu and were spending most of the time in the family room, laying on the couch - with no tree.  So, I went to the store and got a small tree that we decorated with things from around the house.  I loved that tree. 

I remembered that my grandmother's tree had felt ornaments on it.  I called it the "tacky tree".  The ornaments were old and falling apart.  I wish I had those ornaments today.  So, the day after Christmas that year, I went looking for kits to make those ornaments.  I wanted ornaments just like my Grandma.  I bought a few kits that year, then continued to add to the collection of kits.  I haven't made any of those ornaments yet.

The trees just started to grow each year after that.  My youngest son loves nutcrackers, so he wanted a nutcracker tree.  He would fall asleep with the tree lights on - the timer shut them off.  Now, that he has his own son he asked if next year I would put the trees up.  He told me how much he loved Christmas in our house with all the decorations.  This year, I will put up one tree, just for my grand kids.

Making a List

Sometimes I am a list maker, I didn't use to be.  But, with old age setting in I forget things easily - or my  hubby says I am trying to do way too much.  It is an old habit which is very hard to break. 

I broke my list up to places to go, things to do, pictures I need to take or work on and what I need to get at the store.  There is no food on the list.  I cooked the whole month hubby was home and now, I can't think of a single thing I want to make.  It doesn't help that I was feeling sick all week.  Now, the key thing with the list idea is that I need to remember to take it when I run all my errands today, on a Saturday.  Instead of playing with the Kiwi or my sewing machine.  I did add some creative fun on the list, but I have to get the errands finished first.

Tomorrow, I will be going to a wine luncheon tasting with Jen.  She goes every year and I can never make it for some reason.  I hope my stomach calms down so I can, actually enjoy it.  It is a wine pairing lunch, I will blog more about it tomorrow.

Ok, going to check my list twice and see what I can cross off before the stores open up or maybe I will get another cup of coffee, first.

Lucky Girl

I got to spend a few minutes with my 5 week old grand son this morning, before heading to work.  He was awake so I went to see him while they were changing his diaper.  He HATES having his diaper changed, but this morning he wasn't screaming.  I started talking to him and he gave me two of the biggest smiles.  I didn't think it could get better than that - I was wrong.  He started cooing at me.  All, during the diaper change.

I am one lucky girl to be sent out the door in the rain with smiles and coos from a 5 week old.  Heaven.

Heading back

I am heading back to work today, after having the month off.  I have been awake since 2 AM.  My mind can't calm down, spinning.  Not wanting to leave the sleeping grand baby upstairs.  Not wanting to leave the hubby who returns to Hawaii tomorrow.  Not wanting to go back to work because of one of the people I work with - she can be difficult.  The two people that I get along with the best, will be gone for the next 3 weeks.  They are my support system, since hubby is gone.  They are my partners in crime, the girls that I laugh and cry with.  The girls that make we want to get up and go to work, except for my kiddos.  We stay way too late at work - having fun and planning.  It is their turn to enjoy a break.  So I am very, very sad - like panic attack sad.

This week is busy - filled with lots to do at work and at home.  My evenings are filled, poor planning on my part.  But, the week should go by fast and I will collapse on Saturday.  Three weeks until I see my husband again.  The weeks should go by fast, I hope.

First Photo Shoot

My grand son turned a month old yesterday and I, really, wanted to do a photo shoot.  He was a complete angel the whole 20 minutes that I was taking his picture.  This is the picture I wanted to take, I saw it on Pinterest.  A picture each month.

The boys painted a chalkboard wall in my dining room, just so I could take these pictures.

He loves his hands and they are, usually, by his face.

What I didn't expect to get, was the picture below.  I started talking to him, he was looking right at me.  He gave me a smile and started cooing.  I pressed down on the camera shutter and took 3 of the most adorable pictures of him.  It was pure luck, I didn't plan on taking a picture - I didn't know my camera was focused on him.  I started crying, he looked at his mom and was trying to figure out why we were so excited.  I am so glad that I had the camera in my hand.

This is, definitely my favorite photo of him.  I love, love being a Grandma - I highly recommend it.