Tuesday night dinner and piano lessons at the Malms and Monday night dinner and piano lessons at Nana and Papa's house

I forgot my camera again. It must be a sign of my age, I know I am going to see the grandchildren but yet I leave home without it. I could be a credit card commercial. Anyway tuesdays are piano nights at Beth's. She fixes dinner and Jim does some little chores to help her and I teach piano. Jon had a wonderful piano lesson. He is so talented, sometimes he corrects me. (He was very cranky though) No one else wanted a piano lesson except the baby, Kenny. He learned to open the lid to the piano and banged like a pro. After dinner, Jim helped Beth by taking Jon and Megan to their meetings at the church. Jon is two steps away from Eagle scout and Megan made cute cookies. Beth finished the kitchen and I played with Mary and Adam. Mary says she has green teeth and blue eyes...Adam wants every toy immaginable for Christmas. Kenny has a fence around their christmas tree but he can push it to get the ornaments. We read Angelina Ballerina and Adam says he wants to be a balance beam walker. Mary wants to be an angel. (she is) I had such a wonderful time with them, Tuesday nights are fun.

Monday nights are piano lessons at my house. Emma,(from next door)Grace and Abby. I need to remember to take pictures. They all sit on the floor and we do the music flash cards. The are typical little girls. Everytime I hold up Very soft PP, they say it loud and laugh at their bathroom humor. I am very relaxed when teaching, it does not harm them to have fun rather that being too strict. They come every week and act excited. Monday nights is dinner for the McGinnis family. I made chilli for dinner Monday, and you would of thought we were having prime rib dinner. The girls were so excited that I fixed something they like. So goes piano lessons for this week.

MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS PAST

My Grandma Sullivan is an important memory for me. She loved her Christmas tree and it was decorated with care. She had the oldest ornaments I had ever seen. She saved everything and used it. I can remember her favorite Christmas cards on the tree, some from the 20's and 30's. She saved her lights even if they didn't light up any more, if they were cute she made them into ornaments. Her tinsel must of been hundreds of years old in a childs mind. I can remember her straightening it out and weaving it in and around the tree. Her light reflectors were old as well, honestly, I don't remember her putting anything new on her tree all through the years. In the fifties my uncle Dan started her collection of Nativity figurines. I remember how beautiful they were and how she carefully set them on her console television. We were not allowed to touch them. Think of that, it was probably the only thing she didn't let us touch. She let us play in the toy drawer in the hall, she let us play in her clothes closet and most of all she let us use her ivory handled comb and brush set to do our hair. When christmas time comes around, I miss my Grandmother. She made all time joyous. I can still hear her laughter, and taste her milk coffee. I was privileged to see her almost everyday during my childhood. One of the most memorable Christmas days was the Christmas that Kathleen and Marnee and all the Sullivan girls got bright red tights. It was one of those days when a Colorado Christmas was warm. I can still see us outside getting our picture taken with our legs held out to show off our tights. Grandma always gave us all the same thing. PJ'S. We knew what we were getting but I can remember the excitement of waiting to go up to her house and waiting for Kathleen and Marnee to get there. Children never understand that the cousins had other family as well. Our Uncle Dan was a fun person to share Christmas celebrations with. We thought of him as young as us, until he got married, then we realized he was old. Somehow the years pass by and we are all old together. He is only 12 years my senior. So life plays tricks on me.

My memories seem to well up at Christmas time. I often think of our own 3 children. They were so cute and innocent. I probably was the most blessed mother. I remember the year that Jim and I worked weeks on a train set for Jimmy. Christmas morning he sat on the buildings and kicked all the fancy stuff down trying to chase the train. All we could do is laugh. That was the same day we got Beth a lifesize doll, she named it Merry Christmas. She didn't play with it, but it moved with us for many years. Chris got his Teddy Bear, he named him Sniffles. To this day I still get Hell for throwing out that ragged bear . When we lived in Pueblo we had a Christmas we will never forget. I had a maid who babysat and cleaned one day a week, so I could get all the shopping done and do the military wives thing. I came home one afternoon to find all the Christmas Presents with a J open or missing. The maid believed young Jim that it was ok to open them. When we went into his bedroom there were dad Jim's clothes all hanging out of his dresser drawers. He was looking for a toy car. I quit the maid service and we celebrated Christmas, although it wasn't all I had hoped for, Jim knocked over the tree while handing out presents. I remember being mad and sitting on the front porch pouting. I have never told that story before...There must be something to our relationship we are readying ourselves for christmas number 42 together.

My first collage

I thought I would try my hand at editing and making a collage. Interesting and time consuming...

Kenny learns video gaming...

This is exactly how Jonathan began his video career...

The McGinnis bath angel strikes again

Kenny fits perfectly in my deep sink. What a sweet baby!

WHAT DO NINE CHILDREN AND TWO "TURKEYS" DO ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND?

Here is a two day summary with Nana and Papa:

Kenny eats waffles like the big kids...

Adam Jim plays with playdough

Kelly gets well and comes over to play

Patrick fights with Adam and the playdough

Sweet Grace helps Mary dotes learn to play with the dough

Abby smashes playdough...

Adam tries to be precise...

Megan (thinks she is almost too old for this but quietly stakes her claim for the tools....)

Mary shows her determination...

Nana turkey bosses...

and bosses...

Giving instructions...

laughing

concentrating

Chris and his two angels

The dinner was a success...

We finished...

I have the real heart of a turkey....

isn't this just the coolest thing I ever held...

7:00 am the bird goes in the oven and the turkeys go back to bed to rest up....

AUNT PATTY'S FLUTE CONCERT

Friday evening Jim and I picked up Megan and Kelly. We went to Ihop for dinner and then to aunt Patty's flute concert. As usual I forgot my camera in the truck, but before we left the parking lot to go home I took the girls pics. They had a good time and Papa and I had a wonderful time. We love taking our grandchildren. All nine a best behaved...