I am going to "TRY" to catch up......I will warn you that I am to tired to proof read this so I am sure it is full of mistakes and grammatical errors!
Lauren--I am so sorry to read about your brother. I don't know the whole story, but I know that he is in my prayers as well as you and your whole family. It doesn't sound like an easy situation to swallow.
I unfortunately understand a bit about drinking issues with family members, it is so frustrating.
I am glad that things are going somewhat smooth with your mom.
Gretchen--Honey....you do NOT have to explain yourself to us...no excuses...no apologies...just come vent, lean on us and let us give you whatever support we can. We understand.
Glynis--I am glad to hear that the Dr did a full blood workup. My fingers are crossed that the issue is just your iron.
Maria--I am not fully aware of the whole situation you are dealing with, but got the gist of it from posts on here. I am not happy with anyone playing with your heartstrings, I am very defensive of my friends and their feelings.
Stephanie--Your schedule makes mine look like a vacation!!
Bethany--You make me smile
Cooking it is a good 1st step
Ann--I am glad that Ron is liking his job even though it is demanding.
Vickie--I hope you are feeling a bit better this evening.
Sheryl--I hate the gyno appts too!!!
Marilyn--I hope you finally got your crab legs!! Happy Birthday!
Kat and Ellen--I am sure you are both sleeping better with the babes home safe and sound!
I can't wait to hear how Becky and Laura's trip is going...I am just so happy Greg is with them and can only imagine the excitement the kids are having.
Hmmmmm I know I have missed a bunch....I have you all in my heart and thoughts always, please know that!
I apologize for the cards...my handwriting is awful this year, I have had some issues with arthritis in a finger on my right hand that I broke when I was 5. (a bad break, I am missing part of my finger etc...quite traumatic for 5, lol especially the day before kindergarten starts,lol).
I also apologize for those of you who had the top taped shut...Ross was sealing cards before I had put pictures in them....thanks for the help honey
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The drama story is soooo long, I will try to give a quick version...I had started typing it all out and was shocked at how much there is to it with all the details.
Mil has a brother who bought a mailorder bride 5 yrs ago from Kazakhstan(for real, like from the movie Borat). This uncle is a pompas *** none of the siblings can stand him, but bite their tongues for the parents sake. She has 2 boys he has 1 and they had a baby together. Her oldest is a yr younger then Ross. Ross was passing out gifts to all the kids (he was asked to play santa as he is the oldest) Her son got up and started telling Ross how to do it, Ross said "Yan I know how to pass out gifts" (that is all we all saw it nothing more to it) Well this struck mail order bride the wrong way I guess, cause she pulled mil into bathroom and went off on how Ross walks around like he is better then everyone else, and how he is always mean to Yan, and that she has had enough of how he acts and she is going to confront me about this etc etc. Told mil to not tell me, but she did, but she also told me the she told mail order the she didn't want to be involved in it. (well this didn't set right with me...shouldn't she have stuck up for her grandson?!!?). Mail order was told by her inlaws, (Kris' grandparents) to not do it, she didn't, but she did call her hubby(he had to work) to whine, called 1 aunt into a bedroom and convinced her that Ross is awful etc etc. She then cornered Ross in the hallway, and told him he was "stupid cause he still had a nintendo dsi and not a psp like her kids".
Long story short, we just left. Later then night my mil let me know that, mail order had asked the aunt who had the party to have it on a date that we couldn't be at, cause she didn't want us there! (mil just found out about this then). There was a few more issues with this.
I told mil that we will no longer going to ANY family gatherings. Most of the family is upset (sad) but understand our decision. 1 of Kris' cousins emailed me asking me to not skip the parties that she loves to see Ross and us etc. I thought this was so sweet of her, but said as a parents I can't do that. I compared it to putting my bleeding child into a tank with a hungry shark. Mail order is just waiting for Ross to look at her wrong so she can bite him.
Soooo that in a nutshell is the drama. There is more, mil and I got into as I told her she should have defended Ross then, she agreed with me(shocked). She went to her parents to talk with them and her mother said she is to old to get into this (as she would never say her baby or his wife did anything wrong etc)
I told everyone...that the holidays gatherings are a year away and who knows what might happen, but if there is something in the near future we will not be there.
I hope this all makes sense....well as best it can
It has just been very draining and very hurtful....we have never done anything to them EVER...and have in fact given them thousands of dollars worth of Ross things over the years to help them out and never once got a thank you.
Ross is the kindest kid I have ever met, honest not just cause I'm his mom. SIGH......
Thank you sooo much for reading and letting me vent this all out! Love you all!!
OH yeah--supper was chicken Alfredo with broccoli, and a yummy salad.
Now for the turkey, if Edi cooked a whole chicken before he can do a turkey!
She loves to watch tv too...especially the SAINTS!! 
Hopefully it will hold off until the late afternoon.
He is so unlike the person I knew growing up that he is more of a stranger than a relative. He was such a kind person growing up and was always so wonderful to Mom. In some ways, that is what is the hardest on her - him becoming a man who could treat her the way he has, especially since they were always so close. 
