Angelrose's Journey

[reelmom]

I will be praying for you tomorrow. Please know that there will be a lot of people thinking about you. I hope that you have a wonderful time with your family tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

 

[minnie56]

Welcome Home Angelrose, sounds like you had a really lovely time.
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful and joyous Christmas!

From me in Canada...I am thinking of you!

 

[Planogirl]

The tea picture is lovely. I hope that Christmas Day is bright and happy for you.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Dear angelrose, you've been in my thoughts so often these last few days....our first Christmas without our loved one is always bitter sweet...we treasure the memories, but miss them so terribly - trusting you will feel your dear Ron's presence very near.
I will be holding you especially near in heart and prayer...and very grateful for your family nearby and your darling Jesse who will surely be the light of this Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!!

 

[chell]

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[Angelrose]

Oh my dear friends, I had a wonderful Christmas. Chuck picked me up around 9:30 and I spent the whole day with them. Jesse was so happy to see me and gave me a big hug and laughed when I came in the door. He was so cute when I gave him his presents. First I gave him a Mickey with winter clothes. He loved it but asked me where Minnie was. LOL I will have to remedy that one soon. Then he opened Donald and asked where Daisy was. That was his next present. He loved them. He opened the next one which was a soft plastic tub of Mickey figures. He loved that. His next one was a soft plastic tub of figures from different movies. The next present was a tub of aliens from Toy Story. He loved that and took them all out and we played with them for a while. Then the kids friends came over. They are the nicest people but I could cheerfully strangle their 5 year old. He is, to put it nicely, a BRAT. He whined the minute he got in the house that he wanted to open presents. His mom told him he would have to wait. He didn't want to wait. Whine, whine, whine. Then he started to play with Jesse's toys. I kept an eye on him. He looked to see if I was looking, then he deliberately stepped on Jesse's dump truck. I thought it was broken but it snapped right back on. Then he threw Jesse's tub of aliens right towards the tv. Luckily it fell short and fell on the ground. I didn't have time to yell at him for that. Karen got them all down in the basement for a while and I got to watch Willy Wonka for a while until dinner was ready. Karen outdid herself. She made a turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, corn, stuffing, two kinds of gravy and rolls. She also made an apple pie. Chris brought a pumpkin pie and a pumpkin cheesecake pie. I brought the Italian rum cake. We were all stuffed. Then it was time for the kids to open their presents. Of course Sammy wanted to play with Jesse's toys. Then he stepped on it. I yelled at him and the Karen made sure she was there to help Jesse. Finally it was time for them to go. Jesse was sitting so quietly on the sofa with his Mickey. He was so glad when I came over to sit with him. He pointed to his Donald and Daisy. I asked him if he wanted me to get them for him and he said yes. I gave them to him and he said thank you. I covered him up and put my arms around him and we snuggled. When Sammy got his shoes on, he deliberately stepped on Jesse's toy again. This time, Chuck yelled at him to knock it off and moved it out of his way. I was soooooooo glad when they finally left. Jesse and I snuggled while Karen and Chuck caught their breath. I knew they were tired and it was Jesse bedtime too. I had had a wonderful time with them. Chuck took me home and I got a nice hot bubble bath and went to bed.

Oh, I forgot, Jesse gave me a gift card to Build a Bear. LOL The kids gave me a glass charm for my Pandora bracelet. I gave Karen a different glass charm and Chuck got a gift set of Aliens and a Figment racer. His Hess truck is delayed until I can pick it up from Joan tomorrow.

I know Ron would have had a wonderful time with Jesse and the kids and I just know he was looking down on us and smiling.

 

[minniecarousel]

ahhhh....sounds like a wonderful day (coulda done without the brat, though - huh?!)
Glad to hear that you not only got through the day, but it was a good day.

 

[chell]

So glad to hear you had a wonderful Christmas! I was thinking of you and praying for you. Sorry you had to deal with the brat. Do people just ignore their kids who act like that? I'm seeming to think they do.

The food you had sounds wonderful! Did you make the cake? It sounds yummy!

 

[reelmom]

Oh my....all that food. Sounds so good. So glad that you had an awesome time except for the brat. I work in a church preschool and you would be surprised how many 2 and 3 year old kids walk all over their parents. And the parents don't even see anything wrong with it. Yet.

 

[Angelrose]

Well, the good news is all the snow has melted. The bad news is I have about 6 inches of standing water in my basement. I was storing an extra baby coach down there and it was on the ground. I'm sure it is ruined. Chuck was not happy. He told me I should have stored it upstairs. Where? On my head? There is no place to store a baby coach that wouldn't be in the way. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. Chuck is coming over tomorrow to get the sump pump running and show me the prepaid cell phone they got me for emergencies. I'm glad to have that. I was thinking about that one time when I was coming home from their house at night. What would happen if my car died? It's a long road with nothing but woods for a few miles. And it would have been a big help on our trip. So now I have one and he will show me how to use it.

I went over to my cousin Joan's house this morning to pick up Chuck's Hess truck. We had a nice visit and then I came home for lunch and a nap. I did finish typing up my trip report this morning and Chuck has some pictures that he took on the trip on cd. All 500 of them! That doesn't include all the Photopass pictures. I'll have to wait for them. I'll have a time choosing which ones to include in my trip report.

 

[chell]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your basement.

Glad you had a good visit with your cousin today!

 

[ksumn1]

Sorry to hear about your basement. Seems like you're taking it all in stride, though. I agree with Chuck that you need a cell phone ,even if it is just for emergencies. In case of a breakdown, or so you can call if you get delayed on the way due to traffic etc. I'm sure it'll help ease their mind. Sounds like you have a great son and DIL, who love you very much and worry alot.

I'm go happy you had a great time at Christmas. It's so much fun to watch little ones. My DD's are 6 and 11 and we had a good time, but we all missed DH. It really wasn't the same but it went much better than I expected. No breakdowns in front of the kids. But we both got upset late Christmas EVE. DH stayed up with me for awhile after the kids went to bed, and we both just lost it. But other than that 1 time, we've all held up very well. We kept DH's presents (and mine) under the tree as well as the other family gifts that Santa doesn't bring. So we'll just have Christmas again when he gets home!!

It sounds like Grandma (is that what Jesse calls you?) hit a home run in the gift giving category. My kids always loved those little figuriunes. Great imagination builders, and little Jesse will play with them for years. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and I'm sure Ron was smiling down on ya'll.

Hope everyone takes al nice, lone break to rest before the New Year begins. I know I'm trying to but I still have all these darn toys to get out of my living room.

 

[Angelrose]

Chuck came over a little after 8 and started the pump. It takes so long to get it all out. Tonight it's down to about an inch where the pump is, so I turned it off for the night. Tomorrow I will ask Chuck to come over and see if we can move it to where the water is deeper. I wish Ron were here. He would know just what to do and tell me everything will be fine. I know it will be, I just need to hear him say it. Silly of me, I know. But after he got the pump working, he downloaded all the pictures the kids took at Disney. Then he showed me the phone he got me. It's an LG. It's really simple to use. It has to be for me! But I got the hang of it and called his cell. LOL It was very funny for him to be sitting next to me answering his cell and talking to me. Then I called my home phone. Since I didn't answer it, I guess I wasn't home. The water is draining very slowly. After he left, I had lunch and then went to the mall to get Hal the Moose from Build A Bear. That was Jesse's gift to me. I wanted to get him before they put him away for another year. I got a couple of calendars and then stopped and got some lemonade at the WAWA and stopped at Smithville to talk to my friend. Her store was super busy of course, but I did give her the short version of our trip. I promised to give her the link when I get my trip report all done.

Tonight I gave titles to all the pictures I want to post. Tomorrow I will have to crop and resize them to get ready to post. I still have to wait for the Photopass pictures. It will be February before I get my TR done! But I am working it on it.

Tonight I went down the basement and put on Chuck's boots. It is down quite a bit. The floor is uneven so where the pump is the water level is down very close to the pump bottom. I thought I'd better turn it off for the night. I took the big floor broom and pushed the water over to the pump for about an hour and had to give up. I'll call Chuck in the morning and have him look at things and maybe move the pump.

Jesse calls me Gramma it sounds like ksumn1. I am blessed with such a good son and DIL. They take such good care of me always. My Karen is more my daughter! She is beautiful inside and out. My son did well, marrying her. And she loves me as much as Chuck does. How did I get so lucky?

 

[chell]

How did I get so lucky?

Because you are such a wonderful, loving, kind Lady!

Glad the pump is working and got a lot of water out. Sorry you still have more to go.

We can't wait to read your trip report and see all those pictures! You better not post it while I'm gone on my trip.

 

[ksumn1]

Because you are such a wonderful, loving, kind Lady!

Glad the pump is working and got a lot of water out. Sorry you still have more to go.

We can't wait to read your trip report and see all those pictures! You better not post it while I'm gone on my trip.

I'm really looking forward to reading your TR. October sems so far way right now..but it's looking more and more like we'll get to go. DH seems to think he'll be gone at least one more week. So his 2 storm checks should pay off almost all CC's and getting tires on his truck. Then income tax will be insurance, 401K loan and savings. We can use the 1st time homebuyers credit for additional savings and the WDW Trip. Debt free except mortgage and a trip. Maybe. Not counting the chickens till they hatch, ya know.

Found any new recipes, chell?

 

[reelmom]

I hope that you can get the rest of the water out today. And don't worry about not finishing your TR fast. We will enjoy every single minute of it. Can't wait for it to start.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hi, Angelrose and all!

My goodness - how is the water today? Did melting snow cause it? When we lived in Boston (it's home) once is awhile after a huge snowstorm the melting would cause the basement to flood, but it was usually during a hurricane - though not every time. You must miss Ron so much especially at times like this.

How's the TR coming along? I know chell does not want you to post it while she's at Disney - but hey, she gets to be at Disney when the rest of us will live vicariously through your TR!! (hear that chell?? ) We will be sure she will have a link to read it when she gets home..and how nice it will be to take her back then.

Well, it's been quiet here....back to "work' yesterday after being off since last Tuesday. I adore Sophia and no one could ask for a better DD than my Mia, but I'd love to have my own place...just a little place, even an in-law suite. You know, where I could kind of nest and fix it up , putter around a little , even tiny kitchen etc. I have my room, which is lovely, but I eat all my meals here so DD and SIL can have time together...and I live in this lovely room - which I've never really made homey becasue so much of my previous life is packed away in boxes in the garage.

This was the first Christmas I didn't find a card for Toby - usually I put a Christmas card in his stocking, but since there is no public transportation here, I never get out on my own to just wander shops and look at cards.

Not complaining at all thought - I am very blessed!

Waiting, angelrose...

 

[chell]

Of course I want AngelRose to wait on the TR until I'm back so that I can share it with everyone. I don't want to be the late one to the party.

Christine you behave! Remember you aren't too far from me and I can drive down there and spank you!

Ksumn1 did I mention that I found that Jalapeno Popper dip someone posted here? YUM! I love Jalapeno Poppers and was sad one day last week when I opened the freezer and saw the box of them. I remembered that I can't eat them now. Then I saw that recipe. That stuff is SO good! I've made it 3 times since last Tuesday. But we didn't eat it all! The first batch went to work. The 2nd batch mostly went to my sisters' house. I left the rest with them because they loved it so much. We did leave a little here. The 3rd batch was only a half batch that turned out super hot. Last night Larry's friend was over and I gave him about half of that batch because he loved it.

Ksumn1 Where is your husband working? I know we've had some people come in to our state because of the ice storm last week. I'm glad for you guys that he is getting some extra money. Hope it won't be too long before he gets back home.

Last night we went to bed around 10. We were still awake at midnight talking about our trip. We were both so excited that we couldn't go to sleep. We were both so tired today.

My ears have been bothering me for a few days so we went to urgent care after work. The doctor gave me the all clear to fly. I need to chew some gum in the plane. Normally I don't go to the doctor just for my ears because I get these infections so often. But I've never had these when I've flown before so I was worried as I've heard it can be super painful and dangerous. Thankfully he said it was just starting and there isn't a bacterial infection or anything like that.

Angelrose I hope you got the rest of the water out today.

Only 12 more hours of work before we get to leave. I'm having a terrible time concentrating at work this week. Wonder why?

 

[chell]

Christine I understand what you are saying about wanting your own space. I would feel the same way.

 

[Angelrose]

Hello everyone. I've been busy sorting out pictures and cropping them for my TR.

Chuck and I got most of the water out of the basement today. There are just a few puddles left that I will have to mop up. We had a nice chat before he left.

Christine I hope you do get your own space soon.

chell, I promise I won't get my TR done until you get back. It will take that long to get all the pictures in order. Still haven't gotten the photopass pictures. You have a wonderful trip and we want to hear all about it when you get back.