Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I had some help today putting up the Christmas Tree.

Here's the finished product all lit up. I love to sit during the evening with just the light of the tree.

Happy Birthday Heather

Glitter Graphics Maker & MySpace Layouts

A Thanksgiving Poem

A THANKSGIVING POEM (author unknown)

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
But I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned –
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation
With all of my might

Tossing and turning
With anticipation,
The thought of a snack
Became infatuation.

So I raced to the kitchen,
Flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge,
Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey
And buttered potatoes
Pickles and carrots
Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling
So plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling,
Floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding
And a handful of pie

But, I managed to yell
As I soared past the trees…
Happy eating to all –
Pass the cranberries, please!

My Pilgrim Name Is...

Prudence Mullins

What's Your Pilgrim Name?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Family and Friends!

Surgery went well

Christopher's surgery went well. He was about 3 hours late going in, but the surgery didn't take quite as long as expected. The doctor told Olivia that his kidney had not developed properly, it was perforated and thin as a potato chip. He's still got his IV but has tolerated some juice and Olivia is hoping that he'll be able to go home either tomorrow or Thursday.

A Pleasant Evening

Last night was a very pleasant evening. Here's how it went:

4.30pm Dinner. Yum, I love roasted pork tenderloin.
5pm Online family history research for my friend David.
7pm Dancing With The Stars final. I said after the very first show that my 2 faves were Brooke and Lance, I think I was a fairly good judge. I think that's the order they'll go. Brook will claim the Mirrorball.
8.30pm Some more family history research.
9pm Boston Legal and Drumstick ice cream.

Can you see how easily pleased I am?

What's been happening

On Wednesday morning I was chatting with Brent and kinda tidying the bedroom at the same time. When I bent down to pick up his dirty laundry from the side of the bed, I heard PING!!!! Yep, my back gave out on me. I managed to get up but boy, oh boy, was I in pain. If I sat down I was fine, but the minute I tried to straighten up to walk I was in agony. I tried everything; Ibuprofen, topical pain gel, hot baths, hot showers but by bedtime, I was worse than ever. I called in to work as I knew I would never make it the following day but overnight a miracle happened and when I woke up I was definitely much better, thank goodness. Today, I'm fine but can still feel a little stiffness if I sit for too long.
The moral of the story is: NEVER PICK UP YOUR HUSBAND'S DIRTY LAUNDRY!!!

Danielle's tear duct surgery went just fine on Thursday. The doctor just about had to make a tear duct for her right eye, and her left was pretty blocked too, but other than a little blood oozing from her eyes that evening (perfectly normal), she had no ill effects from the anaesthetic or surgery and was running all over as usual that afternoon. Thank you all for your prayers. Now we just have Christopher's kidney removal to get through on Tuesday and hopefully then we'll be able to relax.

Prayers Appreciated

Tomorrow my granddaughter Danielle who's 14 months old, is going to hospital to have her tear ducts unblocked. She's had lots of runny eyes since she was born and often gets infections in the ducts which makes her look like she's been socked in the eye! Not good! It's supposed to be a relatively simple and quick procedure, but nevertheless, we hope everything will go well.
Next Tuesday, my grandson Christopher who's 6 months old will be having his right kidney removed. Now that's much more serious, so prayers will be greatly appreciated. He was born with it being in the wrong place and not functioning correctly so has had to be on antibiotics since birth. We all know that you can live quite happily with only one kidney, but its still scary to all of us.
Thank you for any prayers and good thoughts you send their way.

Happy Birthday Jordan

Only a week ago I was celebrating the birth of my oldest. Now it's the turn of my youngest, Jordan. How can he possibly be 20 when I'm only 29 myself?

He's a few months old here.

Age about 18 months.

About 2 with his Sonic the Hedgehog look. I remember he was very uncooperative that day, wouldn't smile for anything!

Age about 4.

Age about 7.

Age 11, taken at Twigmoor Woods. It must have been May because the rhododendrons are in bloom.

School photo, age 13.


Age 15, taken on vacation in Utah.

Graduating High School, age 18.

Taken just last month, age 20 complete with the mandatory Ipod!

Taken yesterday. Cool dude!

I Love You Jordan!

Green eggs, no ham

One of the docs at work has a young son with a passion for rearing chickens. They're not ordinary chickens, mind you, and they don't live in an ordinary chicken coop. They are various breeds of exotic chickens who live in the Taj Mahal of chicken coops which is about 30 feet long, with misters to keep them cool when its hot and automatic lights to extend their laying times. Anyway, he called me yesterday with a plea to let everyone know that he needs empty egg cartons and I asked him if he was selling them. Here's the result. Organic eggs at $1 per dozen and some wonderful green ones included. He did tell us what type of chickens they came from, but I couldn't remember the proper name except the mongrel variety of that chicken is known as the "Easter Egg Chicken."

Anyway, I also found the cartoon below that shows how decorated Easter eggs are REALLY made! How funny!

Conversation with Husband

Me: So, what are you watching?
Husband: The History Channel.
Me: I can see that. What in particular? The evolution of the Yo-Yo! (said in a sarcastic fashion).

Husband: No

Me: (seeing a cow on the screen) Oh, the evolution of the cow?

Husband: No, the Black Dust!!!

Me: What? (rolls eyeballs).

Help! Laurel, I KNOW you know how I feel!

Happy Birthday Greg

Glitter Graphics Maker & MySpace Layouts

Independence

Is not letting ANYONE feed you even when its Spaghetti Bolognese! What a mess!

Happy Birthday Daniel

Aaahhh! My firstborn! I can hardly believe how time has flown by, it seems like just yesterday that I became a mother for the first time, but here is Daniel through the years. Twenty six kisses go out to you. I love you Daniel.

Age 3 months .

Age 2, this was his first car!

Aged about 6. His Dennis the Menace pj's suited him well!

Aged about 10. Dressed up at his Grandparents house.

The dreaded school photo. Thomas Sumpter Comprehensive Schol, aged about 14.

Age 17. This was his official immigration photo. He looks so like his Grandad Simon on this one.

Age 19.

At his sister's wedding, age 23.

Age 25, taken in August this year.

The Elections...My Take

When I lived in the UK, I was priveledged to be able to vote several times in the General Elections. I have voted for all the three main parties at different times because I'm more of a policy gal than a party gal! I voted for who said and promised to give what I felt in my heart was right for me and the country as a whole at that time.
As a resident here in the US, I'm not eligle to vote but am surely affected by those who can and did. Here too, I found myself not leaning towards a particular party, but liked some of one and some of the other. As a resident of John McCain's home state, I feel that Republican sentiments were reported more and my knowledge of Barack Obama was probably less than it should have been.
Like many other citizens and residents of this country, I watched as the results unfolded. John McCain was very gracious in his defeat, Barack Obama gave a speech that was excellent for the most part.
My attitude is simply this...lets wait and see whether this man can live up to his promises. Lets see whether he can pull this country around. Lets see whether he can be the influence for good in the world. Lets see whether he is honest and has integrity.
I wish him all the luck possible. He's gonna need it.

Tea Time

Yum! Meatballs + sweet potato + cabbage = MESS!!!