purple room vents: HAPPY FULL WEEK

Well....its definitely time to catch up here!!! Christmas was a huge hit this year.

Christmas Eve: We all went down to Craig and Jo's for the evening. I am not sure how many were there but the huge house was packed. All those people ranged from a one year old not walking yet to a very delightfully dementia(ed) couple of eighty something grammas. They all belonged to someone...a pack full of rellies it was.

Everyone brought amazing appies! And baking!! And one of the couples brought christmas carol song books so at one point in the evening we had a loud boisterous awesome sing along!

But the highlite of the night, and this whole Christmas, was when Kathy came into the living room and made a magical suggestion. But first let me explain something.

My Mother's sister Iris and her awesome daughter Heather are spending the holiday with Kathy. Antie I is 86 I think. She has dementia, which just adds to her charm. We answer her questions a hundred times over if need be...happily. She carries around a good size bag full of wool. Winding, untangling and crocheting is what she does continuously, stopping occasionally to either eat, sleep or play a round of giant jenga. My other mother I always called her.

On Craig's side of the family is Carol, his paternal gramma...also delightfully dementia(ed). I don't know her well but she is as cute as a button!

Carol was sitting over in one corner and Aunty I was sitting on the couch across the room. Kathy came in and suggested we seat them together. And so we did and then the magic happened.

They started to talk to each other, repeating their questions about every three minutes: And whats your name dear? How do you spell that? Where are we right now? I don't know. Whats your name dear? How do you spell that? And then they would spend a few sentences on the wool and untangling and crocheting and then....Whats your name dear? It was soooo awesome. And those two old ladies did that for FOUR hours!!! We all stood back and just joyously took it in. In fact Craig's mom, who was hosting that family's Xmas dinner the next day, asked if she could borrow Auntie I the next day. Hahaha!

On Christmas day we had lasagna dinner up here at my place. Christmas dinner was set for boxing day. I bought three lasagnas from M&M Meat shop and they were awful. I am really sad about that. But there were twelve squeezed in at the table. It was tight but it worked! After dinner we played word games and there was no doubt that good ole' Auntie I beat us all!!! Lovely day.

I got up at dawn the next morning and stuffed a giant turkey and made breakfast. We thought we had bought a twenty pounder but it turned out to be about fifteen so it didn't take as long as I had thought it would. Around three Monte and Anton ( our special guest that Kathy so warmly welcomed) and I packed the food into the van and headed down. Kathy was flying around the kitchen, Jocelyn joined her and they put on a delicious dinner. There were sixteen to table and we had yams, mashed spuds, veg. casserole, brussel sprouts, beets (mmmmm) turkey, stuffing and gravy. I am sure I forgot something! Then we played games and visited and played giant jenga (so nerve wracking! I almost got killed!) What an awesome time was had by all.

The next day I layed out a spectacular lunch, if I say so myself and Anne's son Larry and family came for a visit. Kevin and Tandy were here...Kevin and Larry are good friends and hadn't seen each other in forever. They grew up together. They have two lovely children, 10 and 12 and they played with Fenton and Elise downstairs. Man we had a great visit. K & T headed out to a hotel here in town for a couple of nights and I have the children. Anne stayed til ten. Another stellar day I must say.

Sometime in the night Monte woke me to tell me he needed help...his bipolar downward slide has become too difficult for him to handle. So down to the hospital he went to get help. Poor guy...he just wants to be normal but that just isn't happening for him. Its hard to watch too. They gave him zoloft, I have no idea what that is or what it does. Hopefully it will help in the long run.

So now here I sit with my grandchillens watching Jungle Book and eating junk with admonitions to not tell parents. I think those admonitions are probably more damaging than the chocolate and chips! Hahaha!!! Gma's rule!!

Of course there were occasional bumps in the road as there always is when families come together. But I aint' writing about those!!! I want a family after this Christmas is over!!!!! Love you all and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! TTYL