Start of The Christmas Season

Thursday was a BIG turkey dinner. Friday was turkey sandwiches. Saturday, needed pasta in the worst way. Sunday was leftover appetizers. Monday will be turkey salad sandwiches and then onto the big Christmas preparations. My first day of Christmas shopping is on Wednesday. Every year since before I was born, my mom and godmother have gone shopping on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.

It has been a tradition for them. They would get up early and literally shop 'til they dropped. The day usually started for them at about 8:00AM and didn't end until well after midnight. Once Chip was born, I was invited to join them. It was not because they wanted to see me, but spend more time with Chip. The day now starts around 9:00 AM with breakfast with the ladies at the local IHOP for the senior citizen special --- (they are the seniors, not me!). Then we check out the newspaper ads to get the low down on all the deals. Need to cut those coupons!

Then it is across the street for the bargain hunt. The first thing that happens is you need to park the car near an exit, leave you coat in the car, find the nearest bathroom and then shop! My mom and aunt have been doing this so long they have a special call to each other: "Hellie, oh Hellie" and the other "Ellie, oh Ellie" you can hear this throughout the stores. It is quite funny!

During the day, they stop for a drink, lunch, bathroom breaks......... not much shopping ever gets done. Then around 2:45PM, I leave because I have to go to get Chip and Rocky from school. Grandma and Auntie Hellie can't wait for this part. We have used this day as the day the grandchildren go to see the Fat Man. My sister was invited to join us when her son was born and then my sister-in-law was invited when my brother's son was born. Now, Chip, Rocky and their two cousins all go see Santa Claus together! I don't know how much longer Chip or Rocky will sit on the big guy's lap, but we will see!

After the Santa pictures, the kids want to do a little shopping and then we all go for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. So all in all, not much shopping gets done, but a lot of eating and seeing the relatives without any cleaning the house or cooking happens.

That's the beginning of the holiday season at Gemmie's House.

The Holidays Are Approaching

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and four weeks from today is Christmas Eve. I haven't done any of the preparations for any of the holidays yet. The Halloween decorations never even came out of storage this year. The time has flown by way to quickly for me. We have to do the shopping, baking and cooking all in one night. Good thing Fred likes to cook!

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Meet My Family

I have stated in my profile I am the mother of two great boys and the wife of a fantastic man, well it is time you meet them. My husband is Fred, and he is a stone worker of sorts, he is an architect and he helps his clients decide how and where the stones should be placed to create the wonderful monuments we call buildings. Fred and I have been married since the Stone Age (almost 22 years now). We met through a mutual friend the day after I graduated from high school and we have been together ever since.

We have two wonderful sons, Chip who is thirteen and very handsome, and Rocky who is ten going on twenty-one and he puts the sparkle in all of us. Chip is off to high school in September, a Boy Scout, and avid soccer player. Rocky is a Cub Scout, a saxophone player, great student and a sports nut! Rocky loves his favorite baseball team so much that he wears a NY Mets shirt EVERY Friday, no matter what! He knows all the stats and could negotiate a $5 million contract for anyone including Babe Ruth. He has also been cursed with the Community Service gene. Rocky do anything for anyone! He is kind and considerate and will get you the shirt off his back if asked, and at times to his own determent.

Chip on the other hand is a little more under the radar, although the thing that his radar is honing in on is the girls. Luckily he knows that Gemmie and Fred won't put up with girls interfering with Chip's education! Chip is an excellent student when he applies himself. Chip is up for his next rank in Boy Scouts tonight! Good Luck Chip!

More on them later!

Gem

A Story About Chip

My teenage son went to his first "formal" event today. He was dressed in his suit and tie and went off. The young ladies that met him there, were very excited to see him all dressed up. I must say he looked fine! They were surprised at how good he looks when he is all polished, but he is a 3 carat gem just like his mom!

I asked the young ladies, who looked very nice too, what time the affair was going to be over and their response was 11:00 PM, but my dad is picking us up at 10:30. I told my little chip off the Gemmie, the pumpkin will pick you up at 10:30 too. He had the "what in the %$#@ is she talking about" expression on his face and the girls had to tell him. The girls said "Cinderella Chip!", then he rolled his eyes and said "Oh, Momma Gemmie"...........thinking "MOTHERS ARE SOOOO ANNOYING".

He was given the instructions --- don't talk with your mouth full, a firm handshake and be a gentleman. I am sure that I probably didn't need to give the instructions, but it felt like the motherly thing to do. I didn't embarrass him by giving him a kiss and I am sure he will make me a very proud momma.

Round Hole Square Peg

Did you ever try to do something that you know was supposed to work? But it just wouldn't! A construction project at my home is just that thing that is supposed to work. According to all the drawings, plans and pictures it should have fit. But someone just didn't think it all through. It will be alright, it will just take a little more time and then it will be perfect.

Felix and a Troop of Oscars

One person's idea of a perfect way is definitely not another's! I am stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. I have two friends, one a "Felix Unger" character and the other a not so "Felix, but definitely not Oscar Mason". "Felix" was the adult equipment manager for the Boy Scout Troop, but being a "Felix", he doesn't go camping....... "Not so Oscar" goes camping, but doesn't want the job. "Oscar" told me that "Felix" was going about things the wrong way and "Felix" told me that the "Oscars" are not cooperating........... ARRRGGGHHHHH (Oh, that's Charlie Brown)

I just need to sit back and listen........ because my boy, "Oscar Jr." is the Quartermaster of the troop and he kept telling me that "Felix" is driving him crazy!

Well, "Felix" just resigned and I don't know it I should be happy, sad or grateful!

Wow!

I got hits! I was so excited today when I saw how many hits my blog received today! I want to do the happy dance!

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