...For the Holidays! (In Fernandina)
This Christmas, Foster's second, was wonderful. MJ and PJ came down the Friday before the big day to help me while I was caroling at the Cloister on Sea Island. It was a paid gig and such fun! They certainly helped make it possible for the money I made to actually be used for family Christmas presents as opposed to simply a Christmas present for my babysitter!
They not only helped keep Foster entertained (He is so spoiled), but they also helped out around the house. Dad built a little shack on the side of our house for the Garbage can and Recycling bin to live in. The garage decided the stinky containers simply didn't belong! I am thankful to have more space in our amazing large Florida garage! (only a hint of sarcasm!) It looks really good next to the house, and dad did it in two days! What a guy-
Foster was able to spend a lot of quality time with MJ and PJ, and I was so happy for the break from having to be the single parent! Jaime and Will came Christmas Eve night and stayed until noon Christmas day. I would love to say that it was an uneventful evening...but with so much excitement in the house, Foster had a hard time winding down. After his nightly bath, he fell into the coffee table after trying to climb out of a box. 30 minutes and a trip to the Emergency room later left him with stitch glue and sterile strips slap dab in the middle of his eyes. His first of many battle scars! He was a real trooper and didn't even cry when the doc was applying the glue! And it was certainly a Christmas first for us and one we will not soon forget!
He awoke the next morning a happy little fellow with a basketball goal and a race car ramp compliments of MJ and PJ, along with Laugh Out Loud Elmo and a Golf Caddy Set compliments of Santa (Jaime and Will). He was so funny carrying the clubs all over the house. He was immediately able to slam-dunk (our natural athlete!) in the goal, and he spent longer playing with the car ramp than I have ever seen him play with any one toy! Total success!
Best of all, skype actually cooperated with us, so we were able to see "Dad" on our Christmas morning. Poor Daniel had dressed a lamp with white lights to act as a Christmas tree for himself...anyone need a tissue??? Everything was perfect...except for the absence of our most important link...Daniel.
It was a hard holiday on mom this year. Her dad passed in November, and we got news of her mother having passed just days before the holiday. Both had had recent falls ending in broken hips, and died following complications during the recovery from surgery. Christmas was a very important time of year for that side of our family, so it was especially hard with their absence. But we just keep on trucking along.
Mommom, Brian, and Judy drove down the day after Christmas and spent some time with us. That was a real treat, as it is always so nice to see Mommom with Foster. And we rarely get to see my Aunt and Uncle, so any opportunity is always well received.
Nana and Papa Russell made it down for the weekend and brought with them a Pirate Ship Water Table for Foster! So cute and it will be the envy of the neighborhood when summer comes...no doubt. Unfortunately, Frank received news of his sister, Mary Lou, passing while they were here. She had been sick, but it was sooner than anyone expected. This is obviously a terrible time of year for both of our families. With all the sadness, it was nice to have the holiday as a happy highlight.
I rang in the New Year out with friends in Fernandina while MJ and PJ watched Foster sleep (or not sleep, as he has been sick with the crud!). Although sad without my other half, it was extremely fun! I was treated to the night with a savory meal, rich wine, and many laughs! And of course we waved goodbye to 2012 and said hello to 2013 with champagne. Sondra and Mark Allen and Toby and Robin Lentz included me like family, and we certainly did get down and dirty on the dance floor like every mid-thirties group should on New Year's Eve!
Who knows what challenges we will face in 2013, but even the obstacles aren't all that bad when you have love in your life, and I certainly have plenty of that! Happy New Year!!!
This Christmas, Foster's second, was wonderful. MJ and PJ came down the Friday before the big day to help me while I was caroling at the Cloister on Sea Island. It was a paid gig and such fun! They certainly helped make it possible for the money I made to actually be used for family Christmas presents as opposed to simply a Christmas present for my babysitter!
They not only helped keep Foster entertained (He is so spoiled), but they also helped out around the house. Dad built a little shack on the side of our house for the Garbage can and Recycling bin to live in. The garage decided the stinky containers simply didn't belong! I am thankful to have more space in our amazing large Florida garage! (only a hint of sarcasm!) It looks really good next to the house, and dad did it in two days! What a guy-
Foster was able to spend a lot of quality time with MJ and PJ, and I was so happy for the break from having to be the single parent! Jaime and Will came Christmas Eve night and stayed until noon Christmas day. I would love to say that it was an uneventful evening...but with so much excitement in the house, Foster had a hard time winding down. After his nightly bath, he fell into the coffee table after trying to climb out of a box. 30 minutes and a trip to the Emergency room later left him with stitch glue and sterile strips slap dab in the middle of his eyes. His first of many battle scars! He was a real trooper and didn't even cry when the doc was applying the glue! And it was certainly a Christmas first for us and one we will not soon forget!
It was a hard holiday on mom this year. Her dad passed in November, and we got news of her mother having passed just days before the holiday. Both had had recent falls ending in broken hips, and died following complications during the recovery from surgery. Christmas was a very important time of year for that side of our family, so it was especially hard with their absence. But we just keep on trucking along.
Mommom, Brian, and Judy drove down the day after Christmas and spent some time with us. That was a real treat, as it is always so nice to see Mommom with Foster. And we rarely get to see my Aunt and Uncle, so any opportunity is always well received.
Nana and Papa Russell made it down for the weekend and brought with them a Pirate Ship Water Table for Foster! So cute and it will be the envy of the neighborhood when summer comes...no doubt. Unfortunately, Frank received news of his sister, Mary Lou, passing while they were here. She had been sick, but it was sooner than anyone expected. This is obviously a terrible time of year for both of our families. With all the sadness, it was nice to have the holiday as a happy highlight.
I rang in the New Year out with friends in Fernandina while MJ and PJ watched Foster sleep (or not sleep, as he has been sick with the crud!). Although sad without my other half, it was extremely fun! I was treated to the night with a savory meal, rich wine, and many laughs! And of course we waved goodbye to 2012 and said hello to 2013 with champagne. Sondra and Mark Allen and Toby and Robin Lentz included me like family, and we certainly did get down and dirty on the dance floor like every mid-thirties group should on New Year's Eve!
Who knows what challenges we will face in 2013, but even the obstacles aren't all that bad when you have love in your life, and I certainly have plenty of that! Happy New Year!!!
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