Catch Up

Sorry! I haven't blogged in a while. The last time I posted an entry was just before Kim, Derek and Aidan moved out. They closed on their first home in mid-October and actually moved on Halloween Day. Derek's Mom and two brothers came up to help them move. I helped babysit during the couple of weeks of painting and renovating leading up to the move. (I made out like a bandit on that deal. Never picked up a paintbrush - just Aidan!) I made a trip to Moultrie for a couple of nights for training at our Bankcorp Center in October.
Then came November - Thanksgiving and straight on into the holidays. Thanksgiving was very quiet b/c Kim and family went down to Mobile for Thanksgiving. But Danny and I had an enjoyable day with his Mom and Dad. It was just the four of us, but his mom had cooked enough food for an army. After lunch, we came home and took a nap. Thanksgiving night we tried out our chimney and firepit in the grilling shed out back. It was a relaxing night.
Of course there was much shopping to be done in time for Christmas. The first order of business is always the grandkids. And since five of my six grandkids live away, theirs is always the first to be purchased. Jenny gave me the idea for the matching girl and doll outfits for Hannah, Grace and Claire to go with their new dolls. Judging from the web-cam video on Christmas Day, I think they were a hit! Jake is in to Thomas the Train so we bought a couple of engines for him. Nathan got an electronic story book and a glow worm. All of these items, along with some Alabama gear and gifts for Jenny and Ken had to mailed out in time for Christmas. Then we moved on the shopping for everyone else! Aidan got a kitchen set (which she loves) and which I found at Big Lots thanks to one of my scouts at work! Everybody shares what they're looking for and then goes out on lunch hours and reports back in with their finds! It's called networking!
Of course, our singing group performed twice in December which called for extra practices. We sang at the Azalea Court one Saturday morning. And then we participated in the Christmas Eve services. We actually sang Silent Night acapella and it was very moving. It seemed very reverent when it was sang without the music.
Danny and I hosted our first Christmas Party this year, too! I invited the five people in my department and their spouses out to our house for a party on the 19th. (Yes, the weekend before Christmas!) Danny and I worked like crazy getting everything ready. We had something akin to the monsoon season in the weeks leading up to it, so there was a lot we couldn't do ahead of time. We grilled outside, had a firepit, chimney and bonfire going. (Remember my reference to the pre-test on Thanksgiving night!) We made hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, etc. It was a great success and my house was totally sparkling! Kim and Derek and Aidan joined us for supper and Kim commented on how nice the house looked! Danny's mom came out today and it was a wreck - why can't she ever see it when it's cleaned up? :)
The next week was full of running out on lunch hours, finishing the shopping, wrapping the gifts, etc. Danny was actually able to go with me to the Phillips Christmas Tree this year. It had been a couple of years and I was so glad he came. He's actually always the life of the party. Aidan and Abbie played and had a big time. And the Massey Tree was fun on Christmas Day. We spent all afternoon with them and then Kim and family came out to the house for supper and MeMa joined us, too. It was all very nice and not too rushed.
And I rode with Danny on the weekends at least twice in December. In fact I rode with him the night Alabama won the SEC Championship game. And I finished the October and November reports to turn into the accountant, too. AND we have had the busiest end of year I can remember at work! WHEW! What a truckload of excuses for not blogging, but I think I've re-capped the last three months pretty well. I had to catch up so I can move forward, right?