Overwhelmed?? Oh yeah baby!! The # 1 most stressful part of the holiday season is gift giving. The older I get, the longer and harder everything becomes!! Now I know why my mom finally stopped Christmas shopping, and just gave everyone money!! I have already started to give my kids less gifts, accompanied by cash. I have spent too many years picking out (what I thought was) “the perfect gift” only to discover that I had gotten the wrong size, color, item . . . ! Of course, I am a pretty realistic gift giver. I always hand off the package while I explain to the receiver: “Consider this present to be a gift card with a box to open!!” Unless of course I am re-gifting!! LOL But I am so honest that I always confess the re-gift, and encourage the same if they don’t want it!! I really am very realistic about the fact that my taste is not necessarily the taste of my much younger family members (even though I am a pretty HEP granny!) Oh yea, FOR SURE, the most overwhelming, stressful part of Christmas is the gift giving.
On Monday, Dec 22, Jerry and I ventured out to complete our shopping. Since Christmas Eve was only 2 days away–the crunch was on! But I have to say that we did a really nice job finishing things up, and as I calculated the final totals, everyone ended up with various amounts of cash, depending on how close I came to the designated budget! And we not only completed our shopping for others, but I even got most of it wrapped and under the tree! Of course now I still had to finish shopping for my “Main Man”. This has actually gotten less stressful, cus now we only get things that the other person had mention they want — like a new pillow, or new socks, or a house in Florida!! OK, so I didn’t actually buy Jerry a house in FL, but I did get him some lottery tickets with the purchase of the house in mind!! So far, he has won $1.–Woohoo! But he still has one more chance–The “PowerBall” drawing tonight!! Everyone—keep your fingers crossed!!
This brings us all the way up to Christmas Eve! Angela and Nick actually arrived at our house before 3 p.m. The drive from MN was OK for most of the way, except a stretch of icy area, which put them about 1 hour off the original ETA. But, since church was not until 4, we could even have a little Holiday Cheer (if you know what I mean!) before rushing off.
Our Christmas Eve celebration included a gathering at my Bro’s house. It was great spending time with my sibs, nieces, nephews (and their kids) and of course all of my immediate fam. (except our VA kids)! But I have to say, one of the highlights of the party was when my nephew/God son brought me a special gift!
For many years as Danny was growing up, I would always bring him a gift from his God Mother. But after all the kids became adults we no longer gave gifts, rather just enjoyed being together on this day. This year, Danny walked in with a gift bag!! Much to my total shock, it was for me!! I did need a little reminder from him, about a conversation we had last year.
Last Christmas, the gang was all invited to our house. Danny had told us all about the next business trip he was taking to Mexico. Since he knew that I was a tequila lover, he told me that he would pick me up a bottle of my favorite. I told him that my top 2 favs were Don Julio, or Patron. Since that conversation took place a year ago, I totally forgot about it!
As he gave me the bag, he proceeded to tell me the story about the purchase! He went into a liquor store only to discover that they did not carry either of my favs. He asked the “tequila expert” for a recommendation. Something that would be comperable. The expert recommended “Hacienda del Cristero”!!!! Yummmmm it is my new fav!!
Talk about the “Perfect Gift”!!
Danny and I
OK, I must confess—I will never be able to remember the name, much less pronounce it!! In fact, while writing this blog, I had to go to the booze cabinet and bring out the bottle to see it!! OK, OK, yes, as long as the bottle was out, it was necessary to pour a snook—-it is 5 o’clock somewhere, isn’t it?! (cheers!)
Christmas day brings a few more family traditions. Angela, Nick, Jerry and I all went over to Kevin’s house for gift opening. This was Nick’s first year with our family for Christmas—but of course you do remember, that his family had my baby girl for TG, so it is only fair! And we definitely loved having him here!! 
Christmas is Bogie’s favorite time of year! Let me just tell you a quick story about Bogie the dog!!
He absolutely loves to open his Christmas gifts!! Last year all the family presents were wrapped and under the tree, before they left for the evening. When the family got home, there was wrapping paper scattered everywhere!! Panic struck, as they envisioned all the presents being mangled! Much to their surprise, Bogie had only opened His gifts!! Now how did he figure out which ones were his! Hmmm, strange, but true!!
WAIT! before I continue—let’s take a break!! Jerry just got out of the shower and anounced that he was going to take a nap. Oh yea baby, sounds like a great idea! Hopefully I will finish this blog before next year! Later! . . .
Jan 2, 2009—boy was that a long nap!!! Kidding! Before I blog about our wonderful New Years Eve/Day celebration, I better hurry up and finish this one!! So back to Christmas Day.
Our second Christmas day tradition is celebrating with Jerry’s sister and family. The amount of people vary, depending on who is in town and available to join us. This year it included Joyce and Joe, Jenny (their daughter) and her husband Art, Angela and Nick, and Jerry and I.
Every other year it is at our house, and this was the year! I made my famous BBQ ribs. There are a few other foods that always make it to the Christmas Day table. Spetzels are a must, and Joyce makes wonderful home made dinner rolls! Yummm We talk, we laugh, we have a drink (or 2?) and fun is had by all! But I am glad that next year it is at Joe and Joyce’s house—I’m just sayin’!
Old traditions brought back to new life! Christmas continued into Friday. The fam all went over to Kevin and Maggie’s for dinner.
Time for a little story: When I was just a young woman, married to Kevin’s dad, we would go over to my Mom and Dad for Christmas Eve Dinner. Our ”main course” would be CRAB LEGS! We all enjoyed this wonderful taste treat! This tradition continued for many years. In fact, Kevin even remembers partaking in this “most delicious” of traditions!! But before long, as the family’s grew, it became much easier to just make a family ham instead 
So the Crab Legs disappeared from the menu.
This year, Kevin decided to bring back the old tradition. Friday night we all enjoyed a marvelous crab leg dinner at K’s house!!! Hmmm I do believe that this revived tradition must continue! What do you think Kevin??
(I haven’t quite figured our how to “photo chop” Jerry into the pic yet!)
All of a sudden—it was New Year’s Eve! And what a celebration it was!! Maybe sometime before next year I will have to write a blog about it!
You are probably all wondering if we won the NYE lottery!! Well, truthfully, we haven’t yet checked the ticket!! I always think that the longer it takes us to check the numbers–the longer our fantasy will last! So, everyone–continue crossing those fingers!
Now that this very long, 2 part, end of the year rambling has ended:
Let the New Year begin!!
