why so early?!

 I'm starting to get that Christmas feeling, and I don't know why.  I mean, it's so warm here!  It doesn't seem like holiday time, but I am just excited to haul the stuff out and decorate.  Maybe because last year was so difficult and I had to work hard to enjoy it, ha.  (It was my one year new knee birthday this past week!)

One thing going on here:  I hurt my shoulder.  It's really an old injury, I've had pain lifting my arm from a certain place, for years, but lived with it.  Then in the pool on Wednesday, it started to bother me...I was in the water for an hour and a half, moving.  Then I came home and swept the deck, did the vac/mop, then later pushed Kaia's stroller...by Thursday morning, it really hurt, radiating down my arm.  One of the ladies in the pool used to be a massage therapist, she suggested a few different things, which help a little...but oh dang it hurts.  We'll see how the weekend goes, I might just have to call the doctor.  ugh.  

(When you experience pain like this, it puts a whole different spin on life, gives you plenty of mercy for other people who suffer, and wow, I find what a complainer I can be!)

Other than the pain, I have had a good day.  I went to the pool, then to the Dollar G., to look for ribbon for the wreaths I bought at the craft store on Tuesday.  Then home, ahh home.  I cleaned the floors, did two loads of laundry, and made a big batch of blueberry muffins.  Then Cam and I made a really good chicken stir fry for dinner.  

I am not really going to decorate for Christmas yet, but I am going to put lights in the windows next week.  Sadly, I am not buying Christmas presents for the grandkids this year.  Paul heard me telling Kathryn on the phone...if I spend only $20 on each grandchild, that's $400!  and you know I won't spend only $20...So he suggested that we don't do that this year, as he's trying to retire, and we want to build a smaller house.

This was a very hard pill for me to swallow.  I wanted to jump up and down and stomp my feet.  I calmly stated that this is my greatest joy in life, to buy gifts for them.  He said, rightly so, they don't need anything!  (which is totally not the point of Christmas ha!). We are definitely going to give the grandkids gifts on Christmas Eve here though, as we will do a name drawing and ha, I'll pick a few names.  

I do understand it though, it has gotten a bit out of hand, how much I end up spending each year.  So this year, I simply won't do it.  I'll host gatherings and make cookies and good food, and get gifts for the girls who live here, and leave it at that.  That's really what it's all about anyway, right?  Although I do love buying toys!

Here is your baby Nicole Elizabeth picture:  

Her little hands!  And the piggy toes!  She's so cute.  There is one good thing, I am pretty sure Paul and I have been approved to be able to visit her.  This IS good news, but also, without saying too much, rather sobering.  Sweet baby girl.  I just look at her and cry my eyes out.  I can't help it.  

You all have a good evening...:)