Christmas

This Christmas season, i've lost an Uncle that i was beyond close too and so grateful for final moments, and getting things that were left unsaid.. said, thank you Joe for that, your words have far greater depth now, and into the passing of your life.. i love you


For years, i would get off work at UPS, and head to my Grandparents that were about a two hour drive into the Northern parts of Washington... to help Dannie (grandfather) for days of baking and putting up lights... just fun times.. i miss those days, and between the years fo 07 (his death) and now (2012) I havent felt like baking cookies, just didnt have it in me to do.  It was something that we did together, just us.  But this his son passing away recently, and my own son coming into his own Christmas spirit, I decided to bake... and i used a mixer, which Dannie and I never used, EVER, and i think he caught me, because as i was mixing the oatmeal raisin batter, the beaters got me... just a little pinch... i think it was Dannie's way of saying.. im watching you.. so, if anyone knows of a good wooden spoon to stir large amounts of dough, i am all ears, cause it takes a special spoon to not break in some doughs.. trust me, we had gone thru about 20, until we found one that didnt break, and sadly i didnt grab it before the Estate sale..

Thousands of Cookies were made over the years, fudges, peanut brittle.. the best recipe ever... and maybe someday i'll put it out for all to see.. its mixed by using the microwave... just a yummy treat

Christmas seems so much more special.. always takes a little reminder, last year, we had a very sick little boy, and his illness just seemed to linger from Thanksgiving to Christmas, but about a week before Christmas, he was all better and back to his cheery self.  This year, we are enjoying all the little things and celebrating the holiday with simple flavors, and low key parties.. life needs to be simpler, so much it seems is spent on working, and im grateful for my job, but also grateful for the four days off... LOVE IT

As my little guy grows up, I hope he goes away with the feeling of magic at this holiday time.. He's four now, and this year, helped pick out our tree, decorate it, put up his train, helped with decorating sugar cookies, and just the all around merriment... and soon, will be helping to pick out toys for kids that have parents who need a little help...

Thank you buddy, some day you will see this and know how loved you are... and hopefully you will walk away with memories of sheer joy like i did.. not just from the gifts you got, but the family, the food, the sharing, and caring for others who can't quite get that Christmas feeling.. its a good thing to share.. generosity

Growing up, i always knew money was tight, and was told so, but Christmas was always amazing.. and i loved to help shop for people that put their names on giving trees... to be apart of that, is the best feeling..

Paybacks A Bitch...

My Mom told me that my son has no fear... just like me. I said how do you mean, she simply said, "you werent afraid to do things, try things, especially unexpectedly." My perfect example is Myself, My Mom, Grandfather and Great Uncle (grandpa's brother). We were in Uncle Ralph's barn, My Mom, Uncle Ralph and I were sitting on one side of the barn door, about 10 feet across, was my Grandpa sitting on the other side, about 30 feet up.. we had just brought that seasons hay in.... and me being 3 or 4 years old, I really had nothing to do with bringing in the hay, but I was there.

I wanted to sit with my Grandpa, so, I went to the far side of the loft, ran, and jumped... lets just say, that Grandpa's guardian Angel was paying attention and watching over him, with cat like reflexes, caught me just before I fell... and he pulled me up on top of the other side of the loft. (I did make it to the other side, but landed about three feet down the haystack)

I remember that moment, not the near heart attacks that I had nearly given my family, but that I wanted to sit with my Grandpa, I jumped, and he caught me... things like that, are stories I am sure, my son will remind me of... needless to say, he is almost 3...

I got a glint of a reminder today... we were at the park playing, and he was sliding down the slide then running around, climbing back up, and with Daddy's help, getting into place... well, one of his last trips down, he decided to climb up the slide. He slipped on the last step and smashed his teeth into his lip... he fussed and then proceeded to wipe his mouth on his sweatshirt...