Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas one and all! What a great Christmas our family had. Christmas Eve was spent with Greg's family. It was the first time in 10 years that we have celebrated with Greg's brother and children. It was fun and fast! They were ripping open presents so fast I missed most of it! The food was great and when we got home, we were all happy to get into our new Christmas Pjs!

Christmas morning was nice and leisurely! Greg and I slept until 8:30 a.m. Allison woke up by 9:00 a.m. and we had to wake Kaitlin up shortly after! Santa was good to my girls as usual! Stockings were full of goodies and the much wanted cell phones were under the tree. Plus lots of other good things for the girls and for Greg and I.

In the afternoon we went to my brother Rick's house for my side of the family's celebration. My brother Jeff and his wife arrived from Tennessee and my cousin Jane joined us too. Julie & Tom's granddaughter, Logan was with them and it was so fun to have a toddler at Christmas again! We laughed and enjoyed good food and lots of treats.

Christmas is all about family and I have a wonderful family to share it with. My dad was happy to be surrounded by all of his children. It only happens a few times a year, so it makes it all the more special at Christmas.

I have spent today happily relaxing and doing pretty much nothing all day! I am tired and content and ready for my bed and my book!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Celebrating 82 years!

Yesterday was my dad's 82 birthday! We celebrated with dinner at my sisters house followed by cake and ice cream and presents!

It is so great to be with my family. I know my dad is happiest when we are all together, laughing and telling stories! Happy Birthday papa -- we all love you!

While the "grown ups" were busy talking, the "kids" went down stairs and did a photo shoot. What a bunch of hams! But, they are so cute! Kaitlin, Allison and my neice Nastia.

O' Christmas Tree

Last Saturday during the Winter Storm Warning we made our way to Allegan to cut our Christmas tree! It was cold and it was windy and it was snowing so hard, but we had fun! It was probably the fastest I've ever found our tree! The kids had some hot cocoa and tried to get warm by the fire while we had the tree bailed. It was a great little tree farm, family owned and they were very friendly. Once the tree settled and dried Allison and I decorated it. I was up late, but it was done on Saturday night and it's so pretty! I always love our tree. It's really Christmas time with a tree and pretty packages underneath!

After the tree was decorated and I was the only one still up, I really enjoyed looking over our ornaments and they sparkled on the tree.

This ornament is always the first one on the tree! Greg made it when he was a little boy and it means a lot to him and now to me and the girls too!

This disco ball brings back great memories! I was having a disco themed Christmas party with a group of girls one year and my good friend Nancy (who wasn't even coming to the party!) found this ornament and gave it to me.

This little drum always makes me sing "The Little Drummer Boy" song! One of my sweet little daycare kids gave it to me for Christmas about 9 years ago. He was an adorable little guy and told me it was very breakable and be careful not to drop it or his mom will get mad!!

And this is an ornament that I got Greg many years ago. It's so true! He is such a hot rod and now he owns one!

This ornament always makes me sad. I found this shopping in Shipshewana the summer after my mom died. Every year I read the poem and think of my mom celebrating Christmas with Jesus. I'll bet it's the best Christmas she's ever had.

A Reason to Smile

Look what I got today!

Aren't they beautiful! They made my day and made me smile!

They are from a retired professor in the Accountancy Department where I worked before coming to the Marketing Department. Mr. Rozelle is a wonderful man! We really hit it off and have stayed in touch. He and his wife travel to France and other parts of Europe often and I always get a wonderful post card from his travels. Just a simple, beautiful, thoughtful thing and it truly made me feel the spirit of Christmas has arrived!

There is a party in Heaven today!

Happy Birthday, MOM!

I wish you were here so we could celebrate with you.

But I know you are having a great day with your family and friends.

I also know you are watching over all of us.

I miss you and I love you, mom.

Happy Birthday in Heaven.

More Doctors

We are still at the hospital. Another night sleeping (or not really) in a recliner, worrying about Kaitlin and listening to her every move. No test results yet. Just trying to control her pain. It's very frustrating. Not only for poor Kaitlin and for Greg & me, but the doctors and the nurses. Everyone here is so nice. The Peds unit is a great place to be... if you have to be in the hospital. They have lots of movies to choose from and a laptop to use in the room. Unfortunately for Kaitlin, her pain is pretty bad and nothing sounds good to her. This afternoon she showered and was able to have a little something to eat. Her pain is still hard to deal with, but, I think she seems better. I'm hoping by late tomorrow morning we'll have some answers. For now we go minute by minute. I'm so thankful for doctors and nurses, family and friends, and pain medication!!! :)

The Day After

Thanskgiving Dinner was wonderful! Turkey was moist, potatoes didn't have a lump and the pie was fabulous! Thanks to my family, together we'd had the best day. It was so good to catch up.

Today was quite the day. Poor Kaitlin has been so sick. Her doctors office was closed today and we have been at Bronson hospital since 9 a.m. The are keeping her overnight for more tests. She was diagnosed with Colitis, which is an inflamation of the colon. Not sure why, or what is going on... hence the tests. We've made it 17 years without having to spend the night in the hospital with our kids. She is sleeping and seems to be comfortable for the moment.

Greg is hunting up north with my brothers. I am not going to call him about Kaitlin so he can enjoy his weekend. There isn't anything he could do here. He'll be mad I didn't call him, but I just don't want his weekend spoiled.

Allison is spending the night with a friend. Poor thing... this wasn't the day we had planned to have off!

My shoulder is sore, but surgery sore, not painful sore like it was before. I am on the mend.

I'm going to settle in to my hosptial recliner and watch a movie and my baby sleep.

Thanksgiving Eve

Well, surgery last week went very well. I've had a pretty good recovery. Only three days of really being down. My sling is now off for good! Yeah! I really feel a lot better today. Still achey and sore, but not like the pain I had before surgery. I'm so thankful it's over and I feel like it was successful.

Today I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Because I'm not 100% yet, everything I do seems to take me twice as long! But, I was able to get the jello molded salad, the best spinich dip, and about six dozen pumpkin cookies made! Greg is now putting the tables up and cleaning up the folding chairs. Dinner is in the oven for tonight and then I'll just have to clean bathrooms and kitchen floor. Tomorrow morning, I'll make the stuffing, Greg will peel the potatos and the turkey will go in the oven around 10 a.m. My family arrives at 12:30 for football and dinner should be served around 2:30 p.m.

Tonight I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am thinking of my dear friend Patti and her upcoming second surgery on Friday. I know she'll be fine and she will be blessed with lots of prayers during her surgery and recovery. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has taken care of me during my recovery and helped me with all the Thanksgiving preparations. I'm also thankful for my beautiful daughters. Although they can annoy their momma (!), they are wonderful girls and each in their own way so very special.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you enjoy your Turkey with your family and friends!

I'm Ready....

Tomorrow is surgery day. I'm ready. I can't say I'm excited and I'm not really nervous. I'm anxious to get it over with. I want the actual surgery to be over and healing to begin. I don't know what to expect and so I'm hopeful that I'll feel ok by Sunday. My boss thinks I won't be in until after Thanksgiving... I'm not saying that's not ok with me!!! But, we'll see. I'll try to remember (in my drugged state) to have Greg take a picture of me with my polar pack and sling. Should be an interesting weekend at the Youtzy house!! We've never had a one armed mom before!

Happy Holiday's from the Youtzy's

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Weekend Crop

Last weekend was my first overnight scrapbook crop. It was very fun! Julie and I arrived around 10:30 a.m. on Friday and scrapped until about 11:30 p.m. Some of the ladies stayed up all night or most of the night, but there was no way I could do that! We had a good night sleep, a shower and some breakfast and then back to scrapping by about 9:30 a.m. We went all day and left around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. What a fun girls weekend! I got 14 2-page spreads done and am pleased with them, which is always a nice bonus!!

Here is Julie, her friend Jodi and I working away and then Julie & I in our pjs ready for bed!

Here are some of the layouts I completed. LOVE the BonJovi page and the Diamond Lake page. Those are my two favorites of the weekend.

The weekend certainly put me in a crafty mood and now I wish I had all the time in the world to play! Christmas projects are creeping into my brain!!

Things to Do Today

1. Kick myself for forgetting the cord to my camera.

I wanted to upload photos of my scrapbook weekend! Bummer.

2. Make a grocery list. We are out of just about everything.

3. Check on sicky Kaitlin.

4. Work - oh yeah, that.

5. Take more Tylenol for the pain.

6. Mail out cute cards that I made for special people in my life.

7. Watch the CMA's on tv tonight -- yippee!!

8. File my nails.

9. Kiss my hubby.

10. Thank God.

Not necessarily in this order.

VOTE!

I'm on my way to vote! Thank God we live in a country where we have the freedom to vote.

No matter who wins, I know that I've done my part.

HAPPY HAUNTING!

I'm hoping for some treats!

YUM!

Happy Halloween!

Wednesday's Random Thoughts

I cannot wait for the election to be over. I'm sick to death of the ads on tv and radio.

My shoulder is aching so bad today and Motrin 800 isn't touching the pain.

I really want to be home crafting. I have card and scrapbook page ideas running amuk in my head. When will I really have the time to play?

Tonight is Allison's choir concert. She is not excited. Should be fun.

I missing my mom today something horrible.

My neice and nephew are both engaged (not to each other, silly)! I cannot wait for two family weddings in the next year!

I'm not a fan of Dark Chocolate M&M's. However peanut M&M's in Halloween colors are quite yummy.

People who plan things, have me print 300 flyers and then cancel iritate me. I've just killed a tree for nothing.

Work friends who go to Vegas without me, but bring me back a very pretty bracelet are very nice work friends!

I'm not in the mood to work. So I thought I'd organize and clean my office. It really needs it. Turns out I'm not in the mood for that either.

I wish I knew how to brew tea from loose tea leaves. A professor brought me green tea from China. Silly me... I opened the box thinking I'd dunk the tea bag and enjoy it. It rather looks like something illegal!

It feels so nice to be appreciated at work.

This will be the first Halloween that Allison goes with friends and not from our house. I may not even see her in her costume. That makes me really sad. How will I scrapbook a Halloween page with no photos!!! Let's hope plans change and the kids come to our house.

Ok - I'm done rambling on. I really must motivate and at least get my office cleaned and organized if I'm not working! Maybe a few more of those peanut M&M's will do the trick...
Happy Hump Day!

Fall Beauty

A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summers wave goodbye.