Happy Merry Christmas Eve!!!!

Took son shopping for his girlfriend yesterday. Made me realize that I raised a very thoughtful boy. He even bought some small toys for his friends kids even though he doesn't have much extra to spend.

Traffic and the parking lots were actually worse than in the stores.

I have to agree that all the Jaded Ladies are special people!!

Merry Christmas Eve. This year is a challenge to me. My two best friends for the past 45 years, both lost their husbands last summer. My son lives in Mexico and this is only the second time he has not been with me for Christmas in 39 years. We moved to Idaho two years ago so all my friends here a newbie! Yesterday I felt my self in a rare moment of depression so I got up got out and just went everywhere I could think of in a very small town. I went around dispensing random acts of kindness and smiling at people. It was amazing how people smiled back and spoke and seemed to relax a little. After all, it is a holiday. The purpose is joy. Anyway, I felt better when I went home. A friend came and drove me to the gym through a beautiful snow storm and we exercised. I had spent two hours out in the cold doing animal chores earlier in the day.
Today I am cooking Christmas Eve dinner. I started cooking on Christmas Eve 30 years ago. We had Ed and 6 adopted children and I hated leaving the house on Christmas Eve because that was when everyone wanted or needed or dropped in etc. I also hated having to cook on Christmas when everybody was playing with or assembling or learning about their new treasures. So I started cooking a beautiful dinner with the silver and china and crystal on Christmas Eve. Clean it all up, cook a lovely breakfast and then PLAY with everyone else on Christmas. It is interesting that the kids and now the grand kids remember the beautiful dinners with the candles and manners better than they remember the toys the next morning. I have two grandchildren about to graduate from college. That is alot of Christmases.
It snowed last night, so the whole valley is white, right now it is covered with fog and the sun is not up. I can't wait to see the mountains this morning if and when the fog lifts.
Two of our four Mastiffs have made their way to the house from their warm kennels. They are not fond of cold.
Our dinner tonight will be new friends and make new memories. I will probably eat too much. Charlie and I are good cooks. And I really like food. I hope that reading your posts and getting the email reminders will help me shed some pounds and stay in shape. One of my adoped daughters who was wild and totally without any stability when she came into our lives at 13, called me yesterday. She has taken on a 14 year old, whose mom died of overdose and dad just got out of the pen. "How did you put up with me Mom, how did you ;stand up to me over and over?" Bless her heart, she is paying forward my love for her. It was a wonderful Christmas present.
Must go start the feast.

My boys will be here tonight for dinner and opening presents; we will have breakfast together Christmas morning and exchange stockings, then they will go spend Christmas day with their father, and Tim and I will have a peaceful day together at home. Since we are doing the big dinner tonight, I picked up a couple of small filet steaks for Christmas day, and will saute mushrooms with them and serve them with baked potatoes. We have wood for the fire, and it should be a lovely, cozy day, just the two of us.

Getting ready for church, so no time for individuals, but I wanted to wish all of my Jaded Lady friends and all of their families and loved ones a bright and beautiful and wonderful and warm Christmas You guys are the best...



With much love,
Mary Kate

Praying for peace on Earth.

JANE...reason for moving...a little bit bigger house and a new neighborhood. I've never felt like a part of this one. The majority have little ones and besides Ms Wanda next door we are the oldest on this little cul-de-sac. Before we were worried about what was going to be built behind us but that's not a factor now. Don't really want to talk about the other house until we know we have it...feel like if I talk about it it will jinx it. Trying not to get attached either but I think it's kind of hard.

JULES...so sorry about Nick being creepy. I know DD will find her "right" man one day. And any man that looks like Jesse James, well, ummm, yeah. I could go for that, lol! Sandra Bullock is one lucky dog. Speaking of dogs...she was on Ellen Friday and so funny as usual. She was talking about her 2 legged dog and then they got a 3 legged dog. Ellen, joked...so you're working your way up to a four-legged dog, lol? I love that she adopted 2 dogs that no one else would have possibly taken...so sweet. We too are still waiting for our Amazon shipment, lol. Couldn't even access the account because apparently too many others are, lol. I am sure we will get it soon and it will be a little after-Christmas gift for all (you and us).

Idahosenior...we always did the same...had our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, for about 20+ years. That all went out the window when DS joined the Army. What a sweetie you are! A smile goes a long way! Too bad a lot of people don't see it that way.

MARYKATE...have a great Christmas dinner with the family tonight.

MARTI...that is a nice tradition to start...something you all do together and have fun doing so. We too started the tradition of going to the movie last year. I never thought anyone would go or they would be open until I read about it in the paper two years ago and so we went last year. The place was so busy! So that is our new tradtion.

SASSY...yeah, I would have to say eveyrone loves free food whenever they get it!

MICHELLE...lots of hugs to you missy. I know this is a hard time for you but know that we are thinking of you.

Well, ladies...I thought I would stop in and say Hi and wish you all a Merry Christmas since I was doing nothing. I am supposed to be doing some prep work for tomorrow and some baking but really don't feel like it. It is definitely going to be weird with one of us missing tomorrow but I am happy that we at least had some time this month with Josh...that meant so much to me and him. A little sad today but I will be okay. More feeling sick than anything else. V had something last week, not sure what but some guys at work told him about some medicine you take for 4 days and it knocks it out. He called his doc and it worked whatever it was. Now I feel like I am coming down with it. So not sure we will make Midnight Mass tonight, a little sad about that. May feel better later but I don't know. I really do need to do some baking and laundry. We are going to the movies tomorrow and then will have a small Christmas dinner when we get back. Not sure what we are seeing but will try to catch an early matinee. So...take care ladies and I hope you all have a blessed day with the ones you love!

Well Ladies I'm getting ready to go in for my 15 hour shift! I feel like I'm getting ready for a marathon or something! lol. Well at least we won't have to work any holidays next year!

So you all have a Very Merry Christmas!

I'm sure I'll be around later as I'm pretty sure we are going to be really really sllooooowwwww tonight!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Sorry I woke up too late to catch you!!

I'm still here!!!!

I am too--I wish I could sleep in on my days off but I can't. Hubby is still sleeping. So much left to do, but I have to be quiet and not wake him up.

Oh don't I understand that one. Except for me I get up late, because as you know I work nights, but its very hard to "change" your schedule! I have SOOOOOOOOo much to do and we don't get out of here until 8:30!!! I need another "ME" to get stuff done! lol.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

So Has Santa come to visit????

I never thought that I would become "morning" person but here I am. I am going to make some coffee though!!

Mmmmmmmm ................

Hi ladies,

We had a wonderful Christmas, and I hope your's was great, too. Everyone was here at the same time for our Christmas Eve ritual, and at various times Christmas Day. Everyone had a great time, and we all ate too much. At one point, the photos from when we all went to Walt Disney World together in October of '04 got brought out, and we laughed over them. My kids talked about all the funny things that happened when they were younger, which got us all tickled. Making new memories, right? I went to Walmart today and got my Christmas photos done. I'll post some if I get a chance.

Talk to you later.