Welcome to the YaYa's: YYotC at Castaway Cay

[lvs_eeyore]

Hey All,

Must be my time for hearing from long lost people. I got home tonight from services and there was a message on my answering machine from my cousin. I havent talked to him in years and years. We were kids when I left Buffalo. Its a little late tonight but I will call him tomorrow. I also emailed my friend that contacted me from Classmates.com. I havent heard back from her yet. Christmas Eve services were AWESOME!! At the end we all lit candles and went outside and sang Silent Night. Nothing like several hundred people singing accapella with candles to make you tear up. I also have never been hugged by so many people as I was tonight. I didnt realize the amount of people at the church that we are really close to. Even the pastors wife came up and said Merry Christmas Karen and hugged me. I didnt even think she knew my name. It just felt so special to spend the evening with my church family. We are home now. Dh is making dinner. We were going to make cookies but ran out of time today and according to Norad Santa will be in Florida very soon. We stopped and picked up some cookies though so no fear Santa wont go hungry at this house. LOL!!

Merry Christmas Deena!! Stop by more often we miss you!

Suzanne Im glad to hear things are going well with MIL. I will join you in that pot of coffee. No gifts wrapped yet here either. I was just able to get out today to get wrapping paper. Between waiting for FEDEX for two days and my tire on my car going flat this was the first I had a chance to get out. Will MIL be able to come to your house for dinner tomorrow night?

Well I guess I will finish watching the cartoon version of the Grinch That Stole Christmas and then get to wrapping. LOL I got sidetracked and Im finishing this post over an hour later.

HUGS TO ALL!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!

 

[Poohnatic]

Tara,

that sounds like only 2 people participated in the Rapture!

Thanks to Norad, I finally have two kids in bed. We showed them the update that showed Santa at Cape Canaveral. I'm giving it 20 minutes, then the wrap fest begins!

Suzanne

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Suzanne thanks for posting that Santa is in Cape Canaveral. You never saw two kids jump into bed so fast in your life. My eldest knows but did it for effect for his younger brother. We have both Santa and the tooth fairy coming tonight. My youngest lost a tooth today. I have a feeling my two wont go right9 to sleep so we will have to wait for awhile before wrapping.

 

[isyne4u]

Yes, jarrod does have a way with words!! hehehehe

Okay, its 1:15 am. I have finally finished wrapping and putting together the T-Rex Mountain. oy vey!! The box did not have any instructions in it. The box appeared to have been sealed shut and all the pieces were in their respective places. After an hour of fighting with it (it was winning) my mom suggested going on line and down loading the instructions! duh!! Why didn't I think of that????

Anyway, it is complete and I'm headed to bed.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

tara

 

[helenabear]

Very quick one here...

just back from church... opened our presents too... betcha the cats won't be going to bed any time soon

I have an "early" day tomorrow so we'd better get to bed.

Merry Christmas all

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Morning Everyone,

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Yes its only 4:30 AM. Both dh and I crashed and now we are up wrapping gifts LOL. Its gonna be a looooooooooooong day. Just about ready to make a pot of coffee. I figure we will get done wrapping just about when the kids get up.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Wrapping is done. Gifts are under the tree and in the stockings. The bikes are outside on the front porch. Dh is crashed on the daybed and Im itching to get the kids up. Oh and the Tooth Fairy also visited my youngest last night. I dont want to wait too much longer to get the kids up because I want them to have time to play before we have to go to church and also out to lunch with my ILs.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

LOL I couldnt stand it. I got the kids up. They are happily playing with all the stuff that Santa and we got them. They couldnt be more happy. Should have seen their faces when they went out on the front porch and saw the bikes! Mom and Dad took credit for the bikes. We are begining to wean away from Santa a bit. My youngest is the only one who believes in Santa. Just tell me why I bought them stuff that makes noise?? Was I nuts or what??

 

[Poohnatic]

Merry Christmas!

We went to bed around 3 and heard paper ripping at 7:05! They didn't even come in to get us!!!!

Karen, we don't have a single noisy toy-we tell santa not to! I think this is our last year, Kevin is questioning too much.

I got an Ipod Video!!!!! I'm busy installing stuff. Ed's happily playing with his Sirius kit. Yep, we're techie nuts. Give me hardware any day and I'll be happy.

Suzanne

 

[TLinden16]

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope that Santa was good to everyone. My brother gave me a speaker for my iPod so I can listen to it and charge it while I'm at work

Yesterday, I was out walking, and chatting on the phone with Lily when something strange happened. Lily only got half the story on this one.

So, I'm walking to a store about a half mile from my house. I'm crossing the street, and this kid is crossing the street coming towards me. He was about 12 years old, I would guess. When he passes he turns around, and starts walking really close to me, and touches me every chance he gets. He was pretty much watching shoulder to shoulder to me. I keep on looking at him, and he backs off a bit when I look at him, but not completely. I say, "Can I help you?" He says, "No help. No help." So, I come to a store, and I open the door, and the kid touches my butt one last time, and runs away.

It was really creepy because he wouldn't leave my side. I could tell that there was something wrong with him, but it was still pretty creepy. I mean, if it was an adult, or even an older teenager, I would have given him a good hard elbow, but not to a little kid.

Now, here comes the part of the story Lily didn't hear.

So, anyways, I walk home, and I kept on looking back just to make sure that he wasn't following me. I get home, and I have the front door open because it's a beautiful day, and I'm expecting my sister to come out. I'm on the phone, chatting with KristaTX (she's a Christmas Eve baby), and I look out the front door, and see a cop car and the kid who had touched me! It was really creepy to look out and see him on the corner of my street!

I see one of my neighbors run down to the cop, and they go around the corner. When my neighbor came back, I quickly said goodbye to my Krista, and went to ask my neighbor about him. I guess he plays with her kids and my cousin's kids down the street. She said that he does that to women all the time. He lives one street over from us. She told me that he is autistic.

She told me that the kid had just walked into her house after I had seen him, and wanted to play with her kids. Most of them were still asleep, so he said he wanted to watch tv with her and her son. So, the kid winds up sitting on her lap like stradling her. Her son sceams at him, "Get out." And the mother tells him to go home.

The kids family must have called the cops because he was missing. The cops were already on the street looking for him. I guess the parents pretty much lock him in the bedroom, but he has figured out how to get out, and he just wanders around. The cop told my neighbor that they have found him at a mall two miles away from my house before.

It was really creepy when it was happening to me, but at least it wasn't just some totally random perverted kid. I feel bad for the kid. My neighbor said that his parents aren't very helpful to him, and don't seem to care.

Anyways, that's my story for the day.

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas!

Karen

 

[helenabear]

Not much time to say hi here...

Glad to hear that the day is off to a good start for a couple of you!

Karen, that is creepy sounding... but after I heard the whole story, I would've felt bad for him too.

I need to fly... need to dry my hair some and then head off to my grandma's. See y'all later

 

[Poohnatic]

Karen, that was just too weird. Glad it wasn't what it originally appeared to be.

Wow, it took all of 15 seconds to get Ed up and running on his Sirius. Woohoo, instant Christmas present every year-a new year's subscription to the service.

Boy, I'm tired, but I've got a little bit of cleaning and prep to do in the kitchen. We made 10 dozen cookies last night and the dishwasher was running when I made the mess.Kevin had a blast doing all the measuring and mixing. He doesn't know the old days prior to having a Kitchenaid!

Suzanne

 

[Meriweather]

No one but me up here so far

HOpe you all have a great day

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Hi All,

Just got back from church services, lunch and visiting with my ILs. We did end up going to the Golden Corral. The boys got a lot of nice things from my MIL and FIL. FIL was taken aback by something my eldest ds wanted. They bought it for him but he tried to steer eldest ds away from it. It was a set of three, three foot long submarine, an army cargo trailer and an aircraft carrier. All with of course ten thousand pieces that goes with it. He thought it was too young for eldest ds. What he doesnt understand is ds is in a very very demanding school program. He doesnt need learning stuff. He needs stuff where he can just lose himself and use his imagination. Thats why this gift intrigued him so much. I didnt buy a single learning thing for him this year either. I bought him all stuff where he could just use his imagination with it. Yep maybe the stuff is a little young for him but he will get joy out of it and thats whats important. Lord knows the kid is under enough pressure with school he doesnt need learning stuff at home on top of it. I just hope I can make FIL understand this. I wasnt too sucessful while we were there because I didnt want to say too much since my eldest was present and I didnt want him to overhear the conversation. Oh well eldests ds's birthday is coming up so I get to go through this all over again.

Karen I am so sorry you had to go through that with that kid. How sad for him that his parents care that little that they just lock him in a room and dont pay any attention to him. I feel so sorry for him and Im scared for him. Some lady is not going to be as nice as you were and is going to haul off and belt him one or hes going to do it and some guy who happens to be with the woman is going to whack him.

Elaine it sounds like you have a busy day going.

Acck Suzanne I hear ya on the cleaning. We had to run out so there is still stuff all over my living room. Im just trying to get up enough energy to mess with it LOL!! Some how everything from under the tree keeps creeping its way toward the middle of the living room. Glad dh was able to set up his sirrus so quickly. How do you like your ipod video?

Well I guess I better get my tush in gear and get all the gifts back under the tree LOL.

HUGS TO ALL!!

 

[lizdotcom99]

To All of My YaYa Family:

Merry Christmas to you all! I am thankful everyday for the gift of your friendship, caring and kindness. It seems that I say these things not often enough! But I am grateful for each and every one of you!

For those dealing with missing loved ones, my heart goes out to you. Although I can't knw just what you feel, I know my heart breaks just thinking that this might be my dad's last Christmas. to you all. I can only hope that you all have memeories that will not be forgotten....ever.

For those who have sent prayers and pixie dust for my dad, thanks so much. It has been confirmed that he does indeed have a spot of cancer on his right lung and in the lymph node. He has decided to try some radiation. If he can tolerate the treatment, he will do it until he just can't take it anymore or the treatments end. He really surprized all of us with that one. More prayers on that front would be greatly appreciated.

For those who have sent Christmas cards, thank you so much. Funny story here......I have a bunch of stuff that I had every good intention of sending....really...next year you will all be pleasently surprized. But in the frenzy of packing and getting ready to move, all of the cards and token gifts got packed into a box never to be found. So while you may think I am a big Bah Humbug, that is not quite the case....this virtual card will have to suffice.

Yes, we are moving. I got a few presents for Christmas this year....some more unexpected than others. Greg and I are building a new house...I like to think of it as my Christmas gift. It sounds good anyway. We put money down on our lot, have our plans to our liking and now we wait. We should have our foundation dug shortly after the new year and in our house by May. We have to put this one on the market....which means lots of cleaning and packing. Since we have no storage space at our current house, we are trying to get some unused stuff out of the closests to leave the appearance of having lots of room

My other unexpected "gift" seems to be mroe like a lump of coal as I was recently diagnosed with tye 2 diabetes. It has come as quite a shock to me, but this to shall pass. I am hopefull that through diet and exercise I will be able to get off all the meds and insulin that I am taking. I guess this would help explain the overall feeling of crap and tiredness that I have been experiancing over the past year. Funny thing is, my doctor has known about my problem since last March, and I am just finding out about it now. Better sooner than later I guess. I am still in a bit of shock over the whole thing, but it has definatley given me a little more motivation to work on the diet and exercise thing. So far, the in your face approach seems to be working well for my diet.

Thanks to those who have been my support system through and through. I know I can always come here for a kind word, encouragement and a laugh or two or three.....even if I am not here visibly...don't think I am not looking You guys are just hard to forget. Somehow you have carved a little spot in my heart and you can't be forgotten!

I promise to try to stop by more often, even just for a quick ! But I did want to let all of you know....

YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!!!

Merry Christmas to all~~

Much love,

Liz

 

[helenabear]

Hi y'all... had a pretty good day with the family. Wasn't too rough or too busy... just hung out at my grandma's

Suzanne, if you have any left over cookies, I'll take some

Liz best wishes to you as you deal with your diabetes... I know many who have theirs totally under control. And my heart goes out to you with your dad... been there before.

A bit tired as we didn't get to bed until 2 am and had to get up in time to make it to my grandma's.

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

 

[flrose]

A very belated:

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Gonna try to go back and do some ketch up.

 

[Poohnatic]

Evening, all.

IL's didn't make it, but Stepdad and Jill were here. It was a nice, quiet day all around. Not a single traditional item made it to the table this year-I think stepdad and I needed something different.

I had my good rousing cry on the way to stepdads-was listening to my Handel's Messiah (my personal Christmas tradition) and the Halleluiah Chorus of all things, made me miss my mom so much. When I picked up stepdad, I suggested going to the gravesite. It was a good move. Still a little emotional (and I'm not normally like that), but I'll be fine.

Lainey, come on over for the cookies. The fudge is Rocky Road, so you'll have to work around the nuts. I bought a pecan pie and Jill brought brownies, so there are plenty of sweets around that I'd like to get out of here!

Good thing about driving to St. Pete and back twice today is that my wonderful honey loaded a bunch of stuff onto the Ipod for me. Even podcasts of two shows that we like to follow. I haven't been able to for the past two months-now I can catch up.

Karen, don't you love it when they don't understand that you're the parent and know best? Neil's always struck people as being smart for his age, and he is, but emotionally he's much younger. He would get toys geared towards older children and if they only realized that he doesn't have the patience of any child his age!

Merry Christmas, Rose Mary!

Liz, SIL is happy to answer questions (told her about the situation)-just let me know. Tell those builders to get cracking on that house!! Oh and Mother Nature? Make it an unseasonably warm winter for Liz and Greg please!

Nancy, ooooh how I wish we could trade houses for this morning! I forgot the stocking instructions-otherwise I wouldn't have been woken up at 7am!

Packing it in soon-four hours of sleep was NOT enough! Tomorrow morning, I'm mapping out my walking route-I've got my motivation!

Suzanne

 

[Pam]

Lizzie!! The Prodigal Ya Ya has returned!! Missed ya, girlfriend - please come back and get this place on its toes!!!

Suzanne - My brother has been dead for 15.5 years. He lived in Colorado but the final 2 years before he died he would come back for Christmas, the last year he arrived on Christmas Eve. I always put out illuminaries and keep them lighted until late Christmas Eve/early Christmas morn - silly, I know, but I'm leaving them on for him to find his way home. This year I bought this lighted candle stakes from Target and placed them up our sidewalk (well, DH installed them). And you know what, I always feel him in my heart, celebrating and laughing with us.

Karen - your FIL would be aghast at what I buy my two kids!

Weather warmed up on Christmas Eve and melted much of the snow, but it started to snow again last night. Just a dusting, but it's getting the ground covered again.

We had a great Christmas and everyone got tons and tons of presents! I didn't have to leave the house - it was great and very relaxing. We had my parents and MIL, and DD's BF over for dinner.

Has anyone heard from Paula lately? Seems like she hasn't been on the boards for a week or more.

Rose Mary - Merry Christmas to you, too!

 

[Meriweather]

Good morning.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
We did. I got so many DVDs....I had to rearrange and clean our our cabinets last night to fit them all in
Cleaning and laundry today.

Pam..that sounds like a perfect thing to do for DB
My DF spent his last Christmas with us....and Thanksgiving. We had him visit for 6 weeks. He left Dec. 26 to go home and died Dec. 28
So glad he spent all that time with is....it was unusual for him, but it was the first holiday season without DM.

Nice to see you Liz. Good luck with the health....and moving! That is exciting. Fun to build a house