I think I have finally shook most of the cold bug - but now Ralph has it! I did finally get around to some projects I wanted to do before Christmas but just didn't have the energy. Now - to get to the projects I wanted done before New Years (Like take the tree down and un-decorate the house!) I hate feeling tired all the time!

AJ had his first experience with snow sports this weekend - the scouts went up to Mt Shasta. AJ tried snowboarding for the first time. We didn't get off to a good start - I slept in just a bit too late, and had to rush, and then AJ was still half asleep, and forgot to get everything, including the directions to Dave's house (the scout leader taking him up), so we showed up just at the right time (I am awful - I hate to be late - for anything - and am always early - if it involves driving - like to Sac or something, I am always 30 to 60 minutes early.) We got to Dave's and were standing around waiting for the other kid to show up (he was a half-hour late!) and AJ told me his boots were too small! If I hadn't asked him several times in the last two weeks if he had all the gear he needed, and everything still fit (since he has grown so much lately) it would have been different! He also didn't have his cell phone with him. (Dave doesn't have a cell, and was counting on AJ to have his to keep in touch with the rest of the group.) Needless to say, I drove home shoeless (I was wearing boots that are AJ's size, so he took those, and the ones he had were too small for me!) and with no cell phone. If something had happened - like a fender bender or a flat tire - AJ would be dead! I think all those years of skateboarding and now the new rip stick (he got one of his own for an early birthday present!) really helped him. He had a blast, and the first words out of his mouth when he got home were "Mom, we have to do this again!!" I may be spending a few days up in the lodge in Mt. Shasta!

While I was still feeling puny - I finished another doily. This one is only about 9 inches across, so it didn't take very long.

We have been having some beautiful sunrises lately! These were taken Christmas Eve morning, on my way in to work. The mist was rising off the river, and the moon was setting!

I got some pictures up - Alli doesn't seem any more happy about wearing a hat than Koori did!

And this was my blanket:

What happens when you have a very large bag and a teenage boy?

Koori and her favorite toy! (it lasted about two days!)

We all survived Christmas! The kids all had a great time - as you can see by the videos! It was a lot of fun - and everyone seemed to enjoy it! AJ has decided that for his birthday, he wants wants what Dallas got for Christmas - a Rip Stick. They have been playing with it all day today, as well, so - that is probably what he will be getting, and maybe just a bit early, so he can use it now!

Alli got a very large stuffed Pikachu - and it was a hit!

I found out why I wasn't getting anything done the last couple of days - I was coming down with a cold! It kicked in yesterday! I think it is a very mild cold though - just enough to force me to slow down and take a break. I sat on the couch yesterday, watching movies and crocheting. Very much "down time". I need to get moving today to finish up the last minute things, because I am back to work tomorrow, and then it is Christmas!

Ralph and I went out to dinner Friday night for our 20 (!!!) anniversary. AJ and his friend baby sat for us - they are getting pretty good at it! They also watched Alli while we went to a funeral service yesterday, and it lasted a lot longer than I thought it would! I checked in with AJ right after the service, (before we talked to everyone there) and he said Alli was being a pain the whole time we were gone. She wouldn't each the lunch he fixed, she wouldn't each the snack he fixed, she didn't want to watch the videos he picked, nothing! Just being a pain! She was much better for me when we got home (AJ and Dallas ran away a soon as they could to Dallas's house.)

I don't think Koori is having a good Christmas! AJ and I put Christmas hats on both dogs this morning! Jasper, being Jasper, had no big issues with it, but poor Koori looks very put out about it! That was probably the most productive thing I did all day. This was definitely a "down time" day for me - I watched TV, watched movies, played with the dogs, crocheted, etc. Very relaxing!

I even finished a new doily yesterday - this one is about 8 inches across, so it didn't take very long.

Some much for having lots of "extra" time while I am on vacation! I am actually getting caught up! I "only" have to do my cards, and bake cookies today. I was ready for the cards much earlier, but when I went to print the letter - I was out of ink! I got new ink yesterday, and got the letters printed, but did not have time to get the cards and letters put together. I also don't have stamps! I am getting more pictures from Dad's dinner loaded today - something I planned on doing on Sunday! I am behind! I still need to wrap presents too!

AJ is on "finals schedule" this week, which means he gets out of school at noon today and 10:00 tomorrow. He was supposed to get out of school yesterday at 2:30, but called at 1:15 - he was done with his last final - could I come and get him. Sure, why not! I had nothing else planned! Monday, I picked him up after school, and he and the dogs and I went for a run on the river trail. I planned on taking a walk on the trail, but that didn't happen! Unfortunately for me, I was not wearing running shoes - I was wearing rain boots. I am paying for that run with sore ankles! It was fun on the trail though!

I finally got around to uploading some pictures from Dad's Masonic dinner last Friday. The pictures didn't turn out really great - too grainy! I'm also fighting with the camera to even get them loaded!

It is that busy time of year around here! Besides the normal Christmas chaos, I am having car issues. No major problems, just the extra time needed running the car around and waiting for it to get fixed.

Here is a picture taken of us at Ralph's company Christmas party, and then, a couple from AJ's concert.

Last night was AJ's Christmas concert, and here is a clip of the Jazz Band playing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Last Thursday, I had the day off from work, and took a little bit of time for a walk in the rain along the river. Since it was raining, there was almost no one else out. It was just a light drizzle while I was out, so I didn't get soaked - just a bit misty!

Today was our Christmas cookie decoration party for the kids. This year it was a smaller group - just Carolyn, Rosemary and Emma, along with Dallas, who spent the night last night. My ornaments this year were clear glass balls, and the kids decorated them with paint (and what ever else they could find)

Here is the table of sugar cookies - after decorating, and the plates of cookies going home with each family, as well as the craft table.


Here are a few of the ornaments that got decorated.

Here is a video of Alli and me decorating a Christmas ornament today. It actually went better than I thought is would - you can actually tell what it was supposed to be! AJ took the video for me - and did a great job!

Here is the ornament:

I picked up my Christmas pictures at Wal-mart, and then played with my scanner to get the pictures digitized! I still need to clean the scanner more - I have a couple of scratches on the scans, but you should get an idea of how the pictures will look. I was not planning on being in the picture, so you get me how I look on a Friday night, afterwork, and after getting Alli to smile through the pictures. Personally, I think my children look beautiful!

Alli is pretty much recovered now - still on her meds, but they are tapering off now. We got blustery weather in today as well, a little bit of rain, and a lot of wind! I got the tree up, and a little bit of decorations up. I'm not too much into the season yet, so I just put up a little bit. I am sure I will add more as we go. I also have finished up quite a few gloves - here are just the first few that I did.

Koori was helping me with my laundry today. She follows me where ever I go, and lays down next to me or some where close. She follows me just a bit too close sometimes - when I change directions quickly, I find myself tripping over her.