Sights of the Season.....

Other than Mike Nye's monthly Christmas update, there have been a few more reminders that the Big Guy is only 8 weeks away!  I just watered my plants and saw this beautiful blossom on my Christmas cactus, Bailee chose a Christmas book to read to me last night and my Santa (who has been hanging on the door since last December) finally feels more in place than out.  Of course in the stores, the Christmas decorations are in the aisle directly across from the Halloween ones and my prep work for my annual, always welcome..yeah right, holiday jingle, prose or poem is in progress.  My shopping is 99% complete and I'm just waiting for my ship to come in to grab the last two..just my luck it'll be the Titanic...I have managed to secure a date for our Hatfield Family Christmas that I think will make almost everyone happy...There are days when I think we surely must be related to the Griswolds.  Now, to get through Halloween, Bailee and Jeff's birthdays, a safe hunting season and Thanksgiving and  we'll be on track for some holiday cheer....hey what am I thinking, we're Hatfield's, we've never needed an excuse before.

Family Feud:-)

Who better to enjoy a game called Family Feud than a Hatfield!  Yesterday was definitely Sunday Funday....I enjoyed a day laughing at the Betty Blue (our favorite local watering hole).  It was tournament style with 6 teams from local bars participating.  Our emcee was our local, Syracuse meteorologist, Matt Stevens.  If anyone could surpass Richard Dawson, it was Matt..... and he did just that. There  Joanne, the owner, explained that the questions were all clean cut questions....................the answers ...were up to us! You can imagine some answers with questions like, "What one thing, if offered to you, should you never turn down?" and "Name something big and yellow".......
It worked out great for me as the Buffalo Bills had a bye week and my recliner gave me the Sunday off.  The weather was perfect for fall outdoor activities but those of us feuding, enjoyed the afternoon indoors. 
I did notice that there were no McCoys playing ...... Guess we did our job!!

You'd love this one Art!

Remember Art Linkletter's, "Kids say the Darndest Things" ?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCHIM-bGiTI    Well someone should revive it. Our dinner conversations are often the "funnest" time of my day.  Last night was no exception.  We had been talking about Christmas and how Santa was busy keeping his eye on all the boys and girls.....and the ones who ate their dinners with no grief when Bailee commented to Papa that he would be getting presents this year. "Because you quit smoking and are doing better stuff Papa, you'll get presents this year....not like last year when Grandma said you'd be getting coal!"  And then she said, "Aren't you proud you don't smoke Papa?...I am!!"  OK, that was Heart Melting 101 !
Then we got into the syllable game.  She still has a tough time w/ her r's.... That's the only sound left that her speech therapist is conquering.  Warm...is warem and car is carer.....always that extra syllable. So, we often play the clapping/syllable game....One clap for those words....and that works!! Last night Bailee said, "I'll say the word and you clap the syllables and tell me how many!"  We started with two syllable words and then she gave me Thanks-giv-ing...clap,clap, clap.  I searched for a big, long word.... Got it!  "SUPPOSITORY".... she clapped out the syllables and said "5!"  Yep, you're right.... do you know what a suppository is?  "Sure", she exclaimed, " It's the room at school where they keep all the computers!"....... Well I always knew it to be the computer laboratory but from now on you can bet ....it's the computer suppository!!!
We keep saying we need to write these down so!!!  Here it is!

Geriatric Zumba

oops.. can't make her upright!!

Had an interesting day with Mom yesterday. She has decided to form her own vocabulary.  "Where's my shoo shoo?"  "You're what" "My shoo-shoo?"  "What's a shoo shoo?"..... she laughs..."I don't know!"  She smoked a pretend cigarette and was miffed when she couldn't find an ashtray...so she put it out in her hand. She said she "told Mother that she'd stop and see her this afternoon!"  I explained that that was a trip I was not yet prepared to make.  She was fine with that!  On our way back to Walden Place she wondered why I was the one who always had to drive her...That explanation was bit tougher....  Finally we arrived back at W.P.  When we were securely back in her neck of the woods we realized we were just in time for Zumba.  Zumba for seniors is just as tiring as Zumba for me..Oh, I am a Senior. The gals that were "teaching" the session were such great sports.  Just picture 8 -80+ ers shaking their booties... Music is amazing.... Their eyes sparkled and their bodies moved to the very best of their abilities. I took a video with my phone....well I thought I did and I was going to share it this morning.... Unfortunately, my technological skills suck as badly as my Zumba ones... I had captured about 3 seconds!!!  I did realize, once again, that Mom was exactly where she should be....She is coaxed, challenged, coddled and cared for in this wonderful place. I'm so thankful for that.....I could just dance!

Your Occupation/Employer ?

How many forms have we been asked to fill out?  Most questions are relatively simple.  We know where we live, what our phone number is, who our next of kin is and we can easily fill in our education or past surgeries.  But if you're a "stay at home Mom", there generally isn't a box to check. For some reason, you almost feel depressed just marking the not employed box.  There should be a  "damn right I'm employed box!!" and extra lines to explain just exactly what you contribute to your family, your community and your own self-worth!

Personally, I'd take this job over any other offered.  I think the pay is extraordinary and the benefits are amazing....

RIF

Reading is FUNdamental........ It's probably not appropriate to brag too much but I've had a few problems with appropriate before..... and if you can't brag about your grandkids, who can you brag about?  Miss Bailee is back at school and healing wonderfully.  Prior to her surgery she was tested for reading and math levels. (I'm not a big fan of testing but I do understand the "wealth" of that tool...literally!) I am so proud and pleased to share that she is reading at a 2nd grade level.  This is the little girl who so many said should wait a year before Kindergarten as she was a mid November baby.  I attribute much of her ability to her 2 years of speech therapy.  She was visually and orally introduced to flashcards and word sounds during her sessions for all of that time......PLUS we have read to her since the very day she was born.  I'm hoping her love of reading and the fact that it isn't something she struggles with will help her flourish in all aspects of her education.  She also tested in the top of her class for math. 

I know brag was a good ole dog but this Grandma is barking out the good news to my bloggin' pals.  Way to go Miss Bailee!!  ♥ you!

When did etiquette die?

Occasionally I find it necessary to hop up on my soapbox.  Each time it gets harder to make the step up and each time it seems (to me at least) that it's more important. Thank you has always been an important word for me but as we've been taught, (well at least some of us were) actions speak louder than words.  I was taught table manners, respect for my elders, and what I always thought was too much etiquette. It wasn't.... you were right Mom.  I taught my kids, from a very young age, the importance of thank you notes and showing appreciation for what was given to you and done for you.  Nobody has to buy you a gift..not even Grandma!  When nice things are done for you.....the nicest thing you can do after verbally saying thank you is sending a personal note.  I recently gave the gift of money to a friend and a gift card to a family member.  I'm quite sure each was appreciated but..............I'm not even positive the cash reached the recipient.....I would be if I had received a note.  I may be in the minority as I was raised by a writer.  I have a box of notes written to me by my Dad...that's something tangible I will always have.  Some were loving, some were scolding, some had "gift's"inserted with just a note..Love, Dad!  Of course, I was luckier than most as he was the consummate giver.  He gave us gifts on his birthday! 
It really doesn't take a gifted writer to write a thank you note.  Here are a few tips....
*  mention the gift
*  mention why you like it...it's soft, I love to read, pink is my favorite color, etc.
*  make the giver feel good
* write your note in a timely manner
* include a photo of you w/ your gift

* it doesn't need to be fancy or from a store...make your own.

It's making the effort. People really appreciate getting mail that's not a bill, for one thing, and just taking that extra bit of time to write a thank you note really means everything!

Bailee was given some "get better" (as she called them) gifts when she had her tonsils out.  She composed her Thank You to her classmates.  "Thank you for the get better book.  It worked!"  ....................................It doesn't get much better than that!