"Happy New Year?"

I probably will not enter the holiday season with the same enthusiasm in future years. At least not for some. In a totally unforeseen act; Alec left Aubrey on New Year's Day. With his diagnosis of PTSD, it's hard to be angry with him. I am frustrated that he left her with two little girls, four dogs and no wood in the house for heat, though. Kim, Alair and I went up on Saturday and helped throw in wood. He has an appointment with his counselor today so hopefully we know more today.

Christmas other than that was great. very quiet. Most of the kids made it home at some time. Louise and Al left for Arizona on the 29th. They will be gone about three months.
Alair lost her first tooth yesterday. She let me pull it out. The tooth fairy came and she was upset that she didn't get to see her.

Today I hope to get Christmas stuff put away and the house back to normal.We'll see what happens.

Christmas Snow

Let It Snow; Let It Snow; Let It Snow!!! That's what it's been doing here latelay. Now we're supposed to get a storm tomorrow and last through Christmas Day! Allison is driving separately with Evelyn. I suggested she come today, but we will discuss it this morning. Snow is to start around noon tomorrow. Chris wants to come on Christmas Eve. Maybe too late. It is a 5 hour drive.

We are done shopping. Finished yesterday in the snow. 4-5 inches came. Sunday was the Sunday School Christmas Program. Alair did great this year. She sang, said her part and didn't pull up her dress! What a difference a year makes!! It is so interesting to see her start to really figure things out.

So much has happened since I wrote last!! Evelyn Gweneth Madrinich was born on Oct. 19. She weighed 7lbs. 10 1/2oz. Carly Jean Kratzer was born on Nov.13. She weighed 6lbs. 6oz. We went to visit both and I love holding new borns.

Allison, chris, Evelyn, Erik, Mia, Aubrey, Alec, Claire, Natalie, Louise, Al, Carmen, and Ron were here for Thanksgiving. We had a lot of fun. we celebrated Sunday as that was when everyone could be here. Saturday I made Thai food and it was really good,especially the shrimp fried rice!!

The kids will be home at different times for Christmas,which is alright.I love having everyone here at once, but it does get a little overwhelming at times. Christmas shopping is done. Now I'm just waiting for deliveries. I ordered a lot of things from Amazon. I get frustrated in stores when I can't find what I want. This way I can compare things and if it is over 25.00 I get free shipping. Needless to say most was free shipped.

My shop is too cold to work in, so I'm still in the house. I've got to get a ceiling in there. It will come soon, I hope.

Oh yeah! We also found out Andy and Christine are expecting a baby. I hope it all goes well. Christine has some medical issues that could be an issue. Andy is pretty excited.

Supposed to be a snow storm tonight and tomorrow, with blizzard conditions, Should be interesting.

Allison still hasn't had her baby. Although I am getting many things done that I didn't plan, we are all very impatient! Next week I am to make two kransakakes for a friends wedding. They are the wedding cakes and then there will be pie. Great idea! Most people would rather eat pie than wedding cake I think.We might not get to see the new baby right away depending on when it's born though.Allison understands . She would rather have us stay longer later than just a day now.

I've got the Christmas stockings almost done.Then I will start teddy bears.They are done by hand, so will take a while. I really like making them though.

Kim is cutting wood today and tomorrow we are going to see Where the Wild Things Are. Alair is so excited!! It's only her second movie in a theater.

Well I guess autumn has arrived. Cool and breezy. Alair enjoys dance and Early Childhood classes. She also likes Sunday School. Aubrey and the girls are probably coming down this weekend. We don't really have much planned. I need to go shopping for Alair. She grew a lot over the summer and not much fits. She's also pretty picky, so she has to approve the purchases.

My shop is coming a long. I painted the cupboards last weekend. Kim keeps picking away at it.

Today was the Elders' ham dinner at church. I made two pies. It was good like always. For supper, Kim and Erik went to German Lake Lutheran Church. There was a guys night out with a pork chop supper and then a speaker from the DNR. It was sponsored by Thrivent as an educational event.

My shop is coming. No east wall, no windows, no ceiling, but the air conditioning works. It was hot and very humid yesterday. I'm getting impatient to get out there. I hate not having a convenient place to set up what ever I'm working on.

Alair starts dance class on Tuesday. I kind of thought she would always be little and here, but she's growing and going into the world.