I know, I know ... I'm late. It's December 28 and it's been AGES since I entered into my blog void. We've been a "tad" busy in this house. I have had to be more slave driver than mom, and I don't like that part of being a parent. I have many high hopes that things will drastically change by the first of the year. They my children will take on the responsibility of getting things done in a timely manner so I don't have to be the nagger I have become to get them through it.
After a year's worth of nagging, Ian will NOT be putting on Eagle Scout this year. It has taken him a year PLUS to get it all done. Guess it wasn't as much as a priority has he deemed it to be. The project is completed, but it's all on his shoulders to get the remaining signatures and paperwork completed and he has just dragged his feet. Needless to say, I have done my bit. He will not be putting it on as part of the centennial celebration has he had originally planned. We shall see when he actually finishes. At which point we will prepare the obligatory Court of Honor.
This also applies to his school work. With MUCH nagging, it is my deepest desire and hopes that Ian will also FINALLY complete last year's school work. It MAY be possible if he puts his NOSE to the grindstone these next couple days. The ABSOLUTELY last possible day to be done will be the day before he heads back to OC. I DO NOT want to be harping on this through the next quarter. It just tires me out WAY too much.
That all being said, we had a lovely Christmas holiday/vacation with Daryn's mother. She was tickled pink we could come and stay and visit. We weren't there a full week, but that was always weather permitting. Our original plans were to leave Saturday (tomorrow), but the weather started to look iffy over the mountain pass. So, rather than finding we couldn't make it, we left a day early and we had perfect weather for the trip. Totally lovely. Clear roads the entire way. Kids and dogs were a bit restless now and then, but I happily knit away and very nearly completed the other Christmas gift. I should actually be knitting now as I write, but felt this was also important, as I have been so delinquent.
Perhaps my goal for the next year, New Year's Resolution (?), should be to make sure I post at a minimum of once per month or at the most once a week. I don't see it being once a week, as not many interesting things happen. Our school year is pretty routine for us with schoolwork and dance schedules.
After we arrived in Coeur d'Alene Daryn and I did some mad shopping, as we were not prepared to have anything for the children there. All the gifts we had purchased were left here at home. So, we took advantage of some sales and got them some fabulous new warm clothing, which we really can't get around here.
Christmas Eve was a houseful with 14 people (and our 3 dogs). We had Kenny and Denise, and then Kelly and Gary and their girls Audra and Kindal. We also had the kids' cousin, Nathaniel. The rest were Daryn's mother, Judy, and of course, our clan of 6. Gifts were exchanged only between Kenny and Denise and the rest of the family, as they were not going to be out Christmas day. Daryn and I were given a lovely candle (we gave them oil and vinegar containers and also bottles of oil and vinegar, as they both like to "play" in the kitchen). They gave the boys camping equipment (shovel, mini camp stove complete with Sterno and matches). Amber received a beautiful cross necklace, which she just loves.
Christmas Day didn't seem "usual" to us, as we were in a different location. But, Santa still found us. The kids' wrote their notes the night before and surprized Santa by requesting nothing and asking he take their gifts to children who needed them. It was very touching. After breakfast and we got everything cleaned up, we opened gifts for an hour or so. Daryn and I gave his mother a tin of cashews from The Nut Factory (which I would LOVE to go back to ... yum!), and we also left a wee surprize for her which she has yet to find. I gave Daryn several pairs of socks; a couple shirts, one of them flannel; and a mini vacuum for his computer keyboard, etc. Daryn gave me a new hot glue gun, which has several tip attachments. Something we have needed, as the other is OLD and doesn't work well at all. He also gave me a beautiful wool key-hole scarf. Will be perfect around here! The boys and Amber all got some socks and some shirts. Grandma gave Amber a pretty pink shirt with a butterfly and a necklace (with a feather). She gave the boys snugly blankets, which they really like a lot! She gave us a honey pot with a dipper in it and some honey! There were some other odds and ends as well. We had a HUGE dinner with turkey AND ham, a great mashed potato casserole (brought by Kelly, and of which we HAVE to get the recipe), stuffing, yams (only a few people at those), and her fruit salad dish (ambrosia). We had all forgotten to get/make a veggie. Dessert was a mincemeat pie (not sure we'll make one of those again), and an apple pie (thanks to Daryn), plus an assortment of cookies brought by Denise the day before. After dinner we exchanged gifts again with Kelly and Gary (and the girls). We gave Kelly and Gary a lemon squeezer and krinkle veggie cutter (as well as two lemons and two cucumbers). Our kids gave the girls a couple pairs of socks and chocolate covered cherries. The boys each received a t-shirt, Amber got a cute top and a salad-dressing-to-go thing (story behind it was also explained). They gave Daryn coffee, a Starbucks cup, and a gift card; I got a pretty purple scarf.
The day after Christmas Ethan asked to go to the city park. So, while Daryn and I took a walk around the park, the kids had the park ALL to themselves and they had a blast (until someone got hit with a snowball and then no one was happy). Oh well, kids are kids.
We've played Millionaire Monopoly, Left Center Right, and Scrabble a lot these past few days.
Now I really have to hit the needles. More stories later as we celebrate Christmas Day #2 tomorrow.
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