I don't know what happened, but...

So the last several entries are missing...And that's too bad as I am sure they were incredibly interesting, I just can't remember what they said! I know it's been crazy, but fun...Since my last entry, gosh I could start anywhere, and you would never know!!! Ok, really, Thanksgiving is just past, the house is back in order, well kind of...At least it is nice and neat again. We had a wonderful time, most of the family made it so it was a loud and very fun time. It appears that everyone is doing well, I just wished numbers 1, 3, 6, and 7 had joined us, but numbers 3 and part of 7 were with 'the other side' of their family, the remaining part of 7 was apparently making the best of the situation and playing football (as center, none the less) and is still feeling the pain in a foreign land (we miss you!!!). Not sure what 1 and 6 were up to, didn't hear back from them. Talked to my brother in-law who said that they had a very pleasant but quiet day at home. Haven't spoken to anyone in #6's family. Hope they had fun as well. Even though I enjoyed myself, I am sure it was a pain in the toushy for the others to have to do the traveling--but I greatly appreciated their efforts and very much enjoyed the time I had with them!!! Wish you all could have stayed longer, but I do understand the desire to be at home. In order to accommodate the large crowd, we had moved out living room into our dining room and our dining room into the living room (ok, just the furniture)and added a table and many chairs. The kids and the hubby like it this way, so after returning the borrowed table and chairs, we have a cozy living room--which is actually used more frequently than previously, and an odd looking dining room, cozy by the faux fireplace and Christmas tree, but still seems odd to enter into the dining room. The lighting is more peaceful for the meals (oooh, maybe hubby and I can manage a romantic dinner for...Well, maybe down the road. Doesn't seem possible to be able to have an evening alone for a very long time right now. Oh well, good thing we have a lot of fun or it could be annoying! After a delightful 4 day weekend, I must prepare for another Monday...And I really DON'T want to, so if anyone has an idea of how to pay the bills w/o working, let me know. I'd be interested! Love to all and TTFN :-)

My Land of Oz

I feel like Dorothy and her little dog...ok, my dog(s) aren't so little, but they sure can bark and try to keep the meanies away! As I wish for calm and peace, life keeps tossing me some twisters! Thankfully, thus far, I've managed to land on my feet, occassionally awakening to the cold compress on the forehead and sighs of relief from loved ones, although their sighs are because my migraine is diminished and they know I can now cook dinner for them! Seen and talked to most of my relatives in the past week (glad your feeling better Uncle B!!!) and all appear to be doing well, I am most happy! I am looking forward to an early Thanksgiving as we welcome home my brother from Bosnia, the only damper will be that one sis is still overseas, but the rest of us will be together (yeah!!). Up to see the kiddo preform on Thursday PM...for those of you who haven't heard, she has big performance announcements coming up...LA, Carnegie Hall,...Pretty exciting stuff. The younger three are all very busy and involved locally. Watch out, fund raisers abound! Had a quiet weekend, no visitors except for the kids friends, it was kind of odd. Too quiet. Busy week and weekend ahead though...By my calculations I'll be slowing down in about June of 2022, at least for the summer! Copngrats to Kit who started her new job...and of whom I am incredibly jealous of, lots of nice perks! Prayers and postive thoughts for young lady of admrable strength and character who is currently studying to become a leader in her faith. Congrats are in order to another incredible friend recently engaged. It's been a rough year, but what a lovely close to the year! My sis with the new job sounds as if she is so very happy in her new position. It's nice to know that there is good news and there are some great companies out there! Well that's it for now, TTFN!

Hello again!

It's been so long! Life has been extraordinarily busy these days, at home, work and play! Since last I wrote I have been on vacation, visited with extended family, welcomed home a soldier, felt as if I was losing my mind, almost found it again, have had elections (the jury is still out on how well it went...Only time will tell) and just completely on the go! The kids had fall break, so we took off for a visit up north, saw the oldest kiddo, girls stayed in the dorm, the guys and I camped...Kind of. It was dark and pouring rain so we rented a one room cabin at KOA camp. Not bad at all, it was my first experience with one and I was pretty pleased with it. My nieces happened to be on break as well, so we were able to convince one of them to go with us. They had the pleasure of decorating a dorm for Halloween (which looked spooktacular!) and hang out with the college crowd. The rest of us visited with a sister and her family before heading out late to camp. While there we heard what sounded like someone knocking at the door, it turned out some pranksters had attempted to steal the large pumpkin and thrown a smaller one at the front door. Kind of an eerie start to a night of camping. To further stress those of us who camped, there had been a haunted trail at the campgrounds where we were staying, so there were spooky remnants and lots of going ons early in the stay! Down south to exchange my niece for my younger nephew and niece (from a different sibling, this time my bro from overseas). The younger kids were coming for their last weekend for a while (I'm kind of sad here, but it is for a totally excellent reason!). While the kids were here, their mom was preparing for their dad's homecoming on Halloween night...is that one heck of a treat or what! The trick was the army's continually delaying plane, but my bro is home (well kind of, he was home 2 days with his family and is now finishing up what ever it is they finish up once they are state side). See, it IS totally excellent that the kids are going to be MIA from my house...Dad's home for the holidays!!! That was our primary focus, trying to keep kids busy and entertained. After having older kids for so long, it was kind of tough getting used to younger kids, but it has been so much fun! Having little ones for Halloween was pretty cool as well! I forgot how much more fun the Trick or Treaters are when you have tiny ones--that was kind of trip back to my childhood! Work has been really busy, but I also have to say pretty good as well. I really need the pace to slow down, I keep feeling as if I am missing things, but at least it's not boring. My wonderful friend who I had hoped to be my boss accepted a job with the state (major congratulations Miss Kitty) and we are currently looking forward to a new gentleman to lead our department. Sounds like it will be interesting. I kind of feel like an outsider looking in at my job, but that is more because I'm out there alone and have no real team until the director is there. I have to work with the upper management personnel for now, and I think I'll really miss that when I'm back to just being a peon again! Oh well, I kind of need some quiet and maybe I'll see some of that. Right now it is 3:26 in the morning here, I just helped my oldest with a term paper--just checking the document. Wow, her writing skills have increased tenfold since she went to college, but it was just like the old days and I kind of enjoyed it, not the time as I have to leave in a couple of hours for work (going in early to finish this blasted project). I think I better lay down for a couple before I start again or I'll be dragging worse than today. Hope everyone's life has had such happiness in it recently as I have experienced!!