Holly & Jolly

Yippee! It is December, time to play Christmas Carols and...ugh...put up the tree. Don't get me wrong, I love the tree. But between Suzanne and Oscar, it is an event. Suzanne is curious and loves shiny things and Oscar is just an oaf. He thunders around the base of it and you're always holding your breath, hoping it will stay upright.

We had a few bad moments last Christmas because Suzanne took most of the ornaments off the bottom and broke a few. She didn't get any of the good ones, though, because those were all near the top. The red ones in particular took a hit. I'm interested to see if she does that again this year or if she has grown out of this particular annoyance. Guess I'll have to gird my loins and hope for the best...

Thanksgiving was nice, except for when it was a pain. I'm pleased that my folks recovered enough from our two-week stay in August to let us back in the house. I kind of thought they might change the locks before we got there! It was an eventful weekend. Suzanne had a massive cold, which she gave to everyone. She also got bit on the toe by my sister-in-law's puppy (not his fault--she stuck her toe in his face and he thought it was a snack). Friday night my mother the nurse got to lance her toe--poor grandma. Funny thing--after cleaning her toe with an alcohol swab and having a little juice and a good night's sleep, she was much better and her usual happy self. She still kicks me when I try to look at her toe, but she's fine and dandy now.

Dinner was marvelous, even with that brussels sprout thing that my sister made. I don't think I've had a brussels sprout since about 1968, but it was actually quite tasty! Suzanne had an entire plate of mashed potatoes and creamed corn--the good kind with the cream cheese. You do not want to stand between Suzanne and a plate of mashed potatoes....very dangerous...

Kirk got to go skating with his cousins at the Bill Collier Ice Arena at the Running Y Ranch. He had a great time and is really getting the hang of it. He never got too far from the wall last year, but as you can see, he is out in the middle now and one foot is off the ice. Yay Kirk!

Well, writing this blog is an act of procrastination, so I'd better get on with things.