Eve of the Eve - Part 2

Today is New Year's Adam {if you know me, it's the Adam came before Eve thing}. Do you remember thinking about Y2K, and how awkward it would be to say the year "Two Thousand" instead of "Nineteen"? I can remember when Kevin & I were married, and we thought it was hysterical that in the year 2000 we would be married 20 years! Not to mention we would have a son graduating from high school that same year! Now, here we are almost a decade into the 21st century. Holy Moly! Year end blogging is a reflective time ... but so is the archives of this blog. So, as we enter the real eve let me just say thank you for sharing the journey.

We haven't been to a New Year's Eve party in years. {Probably not since back in the day, during the "Nineteen" years}. Once the kiddo's came along, we got in the habit of staying home to celebrate. Of course, now we're old farts and we're lucky if we can stay awake to watch the ball drop on TV in Times' Square! But guess what? The kids are grown! So tomorrow night, on the real eve, we are getting all dolled up and we will ring in the New Year with the "Hood" {if you know me, it's the neighbor"hood" gang}, with dinner out and music and laughing. Then the gang members of the Hood will come back to the house for more fun and games and yummy finger foods. The sign says: Good Times Ahead!

Ain't it grand when the kids grow up?

Disclaimer: If you are one of my children, do not - I repeat - do not do anything on New Year's Eve that your father and I wouldn't do. We are, after all, good ole' farts!

Happy B-Day G-Ma

Happy 86th Birthday G-Ma! I'm glad God decided to send you to earth a few days after Christmas ... so it gives us yet another chance to get together, overstuff ourselves till we waddle, and laugh with you. Red Lobster was a perfect choice for your birthday lunch, and the cheddar cheese biscuits will forever be on my mind and hips. Love your guts!

Well, it's the day after the day after. I think. But you know how I don't really count the day of, so it could make sense if you wanted it to. The house is quiet again. Both boys are now in DC, painting the town. Andrea & company came & went, after our 2nd annual Merry Mexican Christmas Dinner. I am headed back to the world of law tomorrow, if I can remember how to drive a car.

The big eyeglass shop. I, along with a multitude of other "flexible spending plan" people, had $$ to use or lose before the clock strikes midnight this Wednesday. Now, I am not in the habit of throwing hundreds of dollars out the window {although I did do just that about a week ago when mailing a gift card - but that's a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother day}. So I set out on a shop for new eyeglasses, which is VERY hard for me to do since I cannot see how I look in any potential new frame. Very disturbing. Very dependent on nice sales clerks, who don't know me and try to "fit" me into something totally not cool. Sigh! So at lunch today, I volunteered my sister, Jean, to accompany me on my eyeglass shop. She was up for the challenge. WOW - I could have purchased 5 pair, let alone one GOOD pair!

Moral of the story: Take your sister who looks kinda like you when you eyeglass shop, and see what the new frames look like on her, and then buy 2 new pair like I did! One is "bling" and one is "blue". And I'm tickled pink! Jean then drove me all the way back home in her new fancy car. {She got enough $$ from her old car for a Happy Meal} I'll be SEEING you soon!

Some Glasses Quotes:

If the eye does not want to see, neither light nor glasses will help.

Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses. (enough said, but I did order bling glasses)

Don't call the world dirty because you forgot to clean your glasses.

Rose colored glasses are never made in bifocals.

Christmas Rocks!

Brandt: Mom doesn't know the words to Beat It!
Kevin: Yeah, but she sounds really good.
Keaton: Well, if she didn't have a spleen, she might sing better.
Kay: I'm tired of cooking, let's rock!

The Real Eve: I cooked the entire Eve Day. Then we did the most special thing (to me) that we do every year on the real Eve. We attend Candlelight Service with good friends and neighbors, the Wilsons, and we hold our candles high into the air with about 1000 others and praise God as we sing Silent Night. It's an amazing night of worship. And this year, the Lusks joined us. Happiness!

The Real Morning: I lahahave not getting up early, like when the kids were little. And I lahahave it when Keaton distributes all the gifts and we wrap up in blankets and robes and open them one-by-one. And I lahahave seeing Kevin's face when he opens up his Harley Davidson calendar every year. And I lahahaved it when the boys saw their Ninja Turtle & Bart Simpson water bottles from when they were kids, only this time they were stuffed with cash. And I lahahaved it when my honey gave me a Vera Bradley Hipster purse ... and, are you ready ... a new laptop! I am SO very cool.

The Rest of the Real Day: Grandma & Aunt Jane joined us and we all stuffed our faces full of food. We played a game of Sequence, and we watched Elf, and we ate again. We set up my new laptop, and Keaton kicked a soccer ball around in the living room (why do boys always do that?) and Kevin is laughing hysterically through the movie, Wild Hogs.

The Real Deal: And all the while, a little baby was born to the Virgin Mary and He lay in a manger, come to save us all. What a beautiful day!

Eve of the Eve

Christmas Countdown: Did I ever tell you about my Christmas countdown? I can make Christmas come all the sooner, in my head, by the way I count. I never count today because it's already here. I never count Christmas Day because that's what you are counting to. And you can't count Christmas Eve because that's just part of Christmas Day in its own way. And today is Christmas Adam (because Adam came before Eve), so you wouldn't want to count it. You get the picture?

Keaton's home! He flew into the new Indianapolis airport last night, and then we drove through downtown to see the newly imploded old RCA Dome, and then we fell into bed at 1:00 a.m. with the threat of an ice storm headed our way. {God did not disappoint.} But did you know that the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 2 Superbowls ago? Therefore, we have the new Indianapolis airport and the newly imploded old RCA Dome, now replaced with the newly finished Lucas Oil Stadium.

Brandt's Travel Plans: This morning started out innocent enough. Ring Ring goes the telephone, and dear friend Robin says, "You better call your DC boy!" It appears there was a main water break in Bethesda, MD this morning and it was all over the news and she was concerned that DC boy might be traveling through it. Dear friend Robin knows the high probability of how unpredictable DC boy can be, so she did, rightfully so, have the best of intentions. Thankfully, however, I had just talked with DC boy and after having a nice long heart-to-heart talk with himself {I listened} he will not leave for Indianapolis until early tomorrow morning. Thankfully. Did I mention the impending ice storm? {God did not disappoint.}

Ice Storm Hits Kay's Driveway: I left work early as the impending ice storm rained down on us. 1 hour to Kevin's office (usually 20 minutes). 1 hour home (usually 10 minutes). 1 hour trying to get car into garage on steep driveway (usually 10 seconds). Neighbors Fran & Don enjoyed the show. Frustration. So we picked up Fran & Don and went out for Italian dinner, instead of trying to get the car in the garage! That'll teach the neighbors to gawk! It was a real stress-reliever making fun of Fran as she ice skated to the car. Keaton and some of his friends met us there. Baked Ziti and Diet Coke = who cares about a lil' ole' ice storm?!?

So what did YOU do on the Eve of the Eve?

It's That Time of Year Again

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

{A Public Service Announcement}
We interrupt the regular blog music playlist to bring you the Squires' ElfYourself Christmas Dance in full surround sound! Merry Christmas from the Squires! Kevin-Kay-Brandt-Keaton

Holiday Jibber-Jabber

Things I'm celebrating today:

• I'm loving Mamma Mia all over again! IF Santa wanted to bring it to me for Christmas, I would let him, but only IF Santa really wanted to do it, you know.
• The temp is 4 degrees outside right now! Count 'em: 1-2-3-4! The wind chill is 20 degrees below 0. Let's not count that.
• Grandma's K's Coffee Cake is made, wrapped up, and ready for gift-giving to the neighbors. Why didn't anyone tell me how good it was before now? I stumbled onto the recipe and it does - after all - have my name in it!
• The new kit-of-the-month from Unity Stamp Company. Trust me, you are gonna bounce big time when you see these Valentine stamps! They are so stinkin' cute!!
• I have slept 20 hours in the past two days. Ahhhhhh!
• Christmas music. Loud. All day long!

Things I'll be cooking over the next week:

• Turkey and Honey-Glazed Ham (no fire dept. calls! remember two years ago?)
• Mashed Potatoes - the boys could not survive a Christmas without them!
• Green Bean Casserole
• Cream Cheese & Pineapple Cheese ball - oh so yum!
• Rigatoni with classic Italian sauce - a holiday family tradition!
• A big ole' pot of Taco Soup that cooks for 8-12 hours (Holy Moly!)
• Chicken & Beef Taco's
• Breakfast Casserole
• Barbecue Meatballs (Yes Brandt, they are for you!)

Things I'm looking forward to:

• Keaton's flight arrives tomorrow night - Happiness!
• I'm hoping Brandt remembers to drive home for Christmas (?!)
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Church Service
• Hanging out with all the fam and grandkiddos - who's in charge of Parker?
• Did I mention the Pineapple Cheese ball?

Critical things that I need to do that have nothing to do with Christmas:

• Contact the neighbor girls about a bible study group
• Pay bills (last year I forgot to make the house payment during the holidays! Who does that?)
• Figure out a birthday gift
• Use my Pampered Chef round baking stone
• Prepare for a BIG - no, HUGE - 2-week trial in January
• Begin to consider my New Year's Resolutions. Amen, to that brother!

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

Coming Along ...

Coming along ... that's how I feel right now. Everything's coming along (slowly but surely).

Got Sick? I got sick last Thursday. Got half better on Friday. Got sicker on Saturday. Got real drugs. Half dead on Sunday and Monday. Worked half-day on Tuesday. Got sicker on Wednesday. Got well on Thursday.

Got Christmas Movie? I got hooked on a string of Lifetime Christmas movies during my sicko time. Mr. Claus Looking For A Mrs. Claus - awwww, it was such a cute holiday chick flick!

Got Christmas Cards? I actually enjoy this annual exercise, even through the busyness of the season!

Got Christmas Shopping? I've done it. Go ahead - admit it. You have too! But honestly, seriously, for real -- I have not done it like I usually do it and you know what? I'm good with that!

What's in Your Wallet? Gift cards.

Got Steep Driveway? Hello Winter. It was so nice of winter to grant us some icy sleet over the last few days, but perhaps not when you have a steep driveway like we do. I was minding my own business, writing heartfelt notes in my nice Christmas cards at 10:30 at night, when there was a knock at the front door. "Do you know that your truck has slid down your driveway and is sitting in the middle of the street?" Well, if that doesn't say Hello Winter!

Got Motherhood? I am SO excited that the boys will be home soon! I'm going to hug them 3 extra times this year, and thank our God in Heaven who gave them to us for safekeeping (hard as it is sometimes). HONK for motherhood!

Got Appetite? Last night, we enjoyed our annual Christmas dinner with Kevin's employees and families at Maggiano's. Can you say delish? OMG - we are totally going there again and again and again. And maybe again.

One totally random thought: WHO throws a shoe at the President of the United States?

Now if that doesn't say Christmas ....

Doesn't this tree speak Christmas?

What happens when sisters are also best friends?

Is there anything better than Rosalie and her Snow Globe?

Isn't Santa's Helper (Parker) the cutest little thing you've ever seen?

Don't you just love happy Rhegan and her pal Santa Claus?

And last, but not least, are you making this your reason for the season?

Let the Holiday Blogging Begin

So ... I'm back at work now (not that I ever really stopped working from Florida) but somehow, incredibly, work finds its way to me and attorneys and clients make unreasonable demands on my time and everyday I get to dress up in high heels and smile at them. Hey -- it's good to be seen. Really. Especially in high heels.

So ... in less than one hour, we will have been home one full week! I've talked to Florida Boy everyday (I do not miss an opportunity to annoy him like any good loving mother would do). He continues to heal. I know this because he sent me his Christmas Wish List. Yes, he really is thinking more clearly now.

So ... on Friday I had a flat tire on my way home from work, in 11 degree temp, with snow. I was in the fast lane (aren't I always in the fast lane?) Kevin picked me up on the highway and off we went to the law firm's Christmas Party. Who needs a flat tire anyway?

So ... on Saturday I took Kevin's truck and Grandma Kay, who rocks, went to see the kiddos. Rhegan ran into my arms, Parker goo'd and coo'd and played peek-a-boo with me, and Clayton looked up once from his video game. Oh baby - it's a wunnerful life! Andrea & I shopped most of the day away, in between Tinkerbell Rhegan's birthday party. I then spent the rest of the day billing paralegal hours at my wunnerful law firm. Do you KNOW how scary it gets on the 25th floor in the dark with only my desk lamp, and the building creaking? Enough billable hours for one day. Enough said.

So ... my hero Kevin fixed not one, but TWO flat tires on my car while I was busy with Tinkerbell and billable hours. Did I mention the spare in my trunk was flat?

So ... on Sunday my hero Kevin put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house all Christmas like. I did 4593 loads of laundry and made a Wal-Mart run that broke my back, my trunk, and my wallet.

So ... let the Christmas blogging begin! Game on, baby!

There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go.

Groundhog Day

Okay -- let's dish.

After our Thankful Thanksgiving, we headed for Indiana early Saturday morn. 10 hours ahead of us. No problemo. Grandma was riding well. We got her home in one piece, and purchased some groceries for her and Jane. Off we went to our own Home-Sweet-Home. Made it! The cat was mad at me. Life was good.

One hour later, my cell phone rings. Keaton has severe stomach pain while driving home from Atlanta, can hardly speak, about to pass out. Ambulances from both directions head toward him, not knowing exactly where he is located. We stay on the phone with him until medical personnel reach him and then we jump back inside our un-packed car and head for a hospital somewhere in Macon, GA. Drove through the night (after driving through the day), all the while talking with ER personnel. Keaton is pumped full of narcotics and nausea drugs, awaiting test results. We arrive early Sunday morn.

He is released. CT scan looked good. Esophagus is inflamed, has digestion problems - so they say. Bunch of new drugs now. We took Keaton home to Florida. Want to know possible culprit?

Food Poisoning. Perhaps Burger King. We will never know. Keaton never wants to do that again. He'd rather have a second spleen removed, if in fact God grew him another one.

Groundhog Day? It's a movie where a 24 year old young man and his parents find themselves living the same day over and over again. It would probably be a good idea to stop celebrating Groundhog Day.