11

I am so very tired. Ariana had the flu - at least I think that's what it was. Whenever my husband is sick, she gets sick. She threw up once, but had a fever for a few days. We haven't had a lot of sleep. Somehow a mommy gets through it though. Thanksgiving was quiet. Just Ariana and I. Hubby had to work, my kids were skiing in Keystone with their Dad. My parents were in Las Vegas, my brothers doing their own thing. I did make turkey, buttery sweet potato casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, crossaints and pumpkin cheesecake. It was good. I have never had sweet potatoes before and I decided I was going to try that. Oh I love that recipe. I could have eaten the whole dish. I am going to try and put the recipe on here. It was so yummy. I froze a lot of the turkey - 2 cups to a bag. This way I can use it for casseroles, sandwiches - whatever strikes my fancy. I also made broth out of and froze it.The day after Thanksgiving was my Grandma's birthday, so that was hard. Thanksgiving was hard too - we always celebrated her birthday on that day. Friday we had snow! A couple inches. It was so pretty.

The kids and I got the Christmas tree up on Wednesday last week. I got everything else up while they were gone. I have a lot of knick knacks I guess you could say. My main theme is Snowmen! LOVE THEM!! I have a country style going, with Hallmark ornaments throw in, lol. I started collecting Snowglobes too. The kids have little trees too - If I had the money, more of the house would be decorated too. I just have some things to do outside. I love Christmas. The music, the lights, the food, doing special things for people, traditions. I know Jesus Is The Reason For The Season, but I do love all the other stuff to :) I can't believe that Christmas is so close! Time always seems to fly. My hubby hates Christmas. Too commercialized. I agree, but I love what it stands for. I do think that it gets really crazy though. There is just so much out now and it gets dispayed earlier every year. People get so stressed out and it's supposed to be a happy time! I am trying to get everything done so I don't have to worry about getting stressed. Every gift I have so far is wrapped. My cards are about done. I wrote down what I want to bake. I have also been helping my Mom too. Okay, Ariana is finally asleep. I am heading to bed now! Have a great rest-of-the week. Thanks Kia for this cutie!!

10

I just haven't felt like doing a whole lot since my Grandma died. I have never experienced anything like that before. Basically we watched her pass on. It was 8 days of her hanging on and the staff not understanding how she was still alive. The last word she ever said was Ariana - my baby's name on October 2 the day she went into the hospital. Mom said that she went with Grandma to a doctor appointment and Grandma heard a baby - she said Ariana. She never spoke again. Later that day she had the heart attack - stroke. I took the kids to see her everyday at the hospital. She held our hand - seemed to sort of know it was us at first. At least we think she did. She was awake and alert for 4 days - the fourth day she actually sat up and ate from a syringe - even held it. That was the first they could get her to eat all week. We thought maybe she was going to get better. An hour later she was unsresponsive - they think she may have had another stroke or heart attack. She went into a coma. Her kidneys started to shut down. She hung in there until the 10th. It was just horrible to watch her like that. She looked aweful. The day she died we knew that the end was near. I had run home that evening with Ariana to get some things and I left the other three of my kids at the hospital with my Mom. While I was gone she died - my son was the one who first realized it. I was so upset that had I left and wished I hadn't. I got all the details of the funeral planned by the end of the next day so Mom didn't have to. Our family was coming from New York and we had to get it all set or some couldn't make it. We had to have the funeral on Saturday the 13th of October in Colorado which is four hours from where we live. Hubby kept the baby home and I took the other three with me. It was all so rushed, but it turned out nice. She looked so peaceful. I was glad that most everyone could make it - it was so good to see my cousins, although I wish it had been under better cirumstances. They felt really guilty that they hadn't seen her in so long or kept in touch well. I felt really bad for them, but I told them she knew that they loved her. The nursing home held a memorial on November 9. They had one for the 6 people at the nursing home who passed away in the past month. It was really nice. I hated to go in there though. It's so strange going in and not seeing my Grandma. I supposed I need to change the subject - I'm sure you would rather read something else.

The weather had been really nice. 70s!! Tomorrow we have a chance of rain and snow with high in the 40s. BRRRR! What a change that will be. From opening your windows to turning up the heat! It's hard to believe it's the middle of November. Mom and Dad are going to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving. The kids are going skiing with their Dad. Hubby is working, so Ariana and I will be home together. I will make a small dinner and eat with hubby when he gets home. I told Mom and Dad to go and have fun - they were feeling guilty leaving on the holiday, but they need to go and have some fun. I have been trying to get more Christmas shopping done. I have quite a few things - I started wrapping. I figured I might as well. There is no excuse when I am a stay-at-home mom. I should be able to find time to get things done before the older three get home from school. I am excited to put up my tree - I bought a new tree after Christmas on clearance - it has the lights already in the tree! Woohoo!! I hate putting lights on. This will be so neat. I have had my old tree for 10 years, so it was time. I plan to put it up right on Thanksgiving or the day after.

I am going to head out now and do some blog hopping. It's been a while since I have visited my friends. Have a great week! I posted my What's Your Price answers. The link is to the left. I am so behind on Friday Fun.

1:30

I will post soon - just not feeling up to it right now.