I got a phone call this morning from my mom.

The thing with phone calls from my mom, is that I never know what to expect….today I expected the call asking how we were doing, and that’s not what happened.

My favorite Grandpa is in the hospital (her dad). Most likely he will not be coming home. Four years ago the doctors told him that his heart and lungs aren’t working up to their full capacity – he was at about 10% of function. Today his lungs are filling up with fluid, he is in intensive care unit. He has a DNR.

Grandpa has had a tough life and has worked for everything he has. I’m going to miss him – A LOT. But I also know he won’t go until he is ready – and they do have their 50th 60th wedding anniversary coming up on Feb 6th. He has to hold on until then…

Because I was sick yesterday with the flu, I’m not going up. Maybe tomorrow if I’m better – today I’m still exhausted.

Before we got the phone call Mr. Incredible started changing out the vanity top in the bathroom. Nothing we have done in our house has been simple, and why should it start being simple now…..

Needless to say it’s not done – and probably won’t be done until sometime tomorrow…. but when it’s done it will look great!

*update*

After talking to my brother – it doesn’t matter how I am feeling – I’m going up there tomorrow, because germs or no germs – it’s not going to make a difference…. I hate that knowledge.

As requested by… uhm Mel, and Kelly …..****************************************************

Fantastagirl’s check list….

1) Christmas decorations off the walls – check
2) Nativity boxed and put away – check
3) Each Christmas tree decoration carefully wrapped and packed into totes – check
4) Christmas Tree pulled apart and put back in it’s box – check
5) Put it all in the storage area under the stairs…uhm not yet…

and this time he is sharing it with me.

He has the flu – and I’m coming down with it. The kids have been sent to my sisters.

I’ll post when I’m done being sick.

A side note – it’s not that I hate my family – it’s just that I love them so much better from afar.
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I’ve tried several times tonight to post some pictures of some of the very cool and dear to my heart gifts I got this year from Christmas…. and well… it finally finally loaded!

Here’s the picture of the picture frame that my dad made. (this was made out of wood from the old barn on Grandpa’s farm).

Here’s another picture of the yard art my dad made – mine is the rabbit, because my kids love to go to my Aunt and Uncles acreage – (that’s where the Easter Bunny and all his friends live). eventually it will go in the backyard. What amazes me – is how sturdy the welds are – and how clean…yes it’s true you can take the girl off the farm, but the farm is always in the girl – and I know a thing or two about that stuff.

And this is the big surprise that Mr. Incredible gave me. I thought it was a DVD – that he took one of the shows I watch and had stored on the DVR and copied them to a DVD for me…but it wasn’t – it was this….
Which is just awesome! He got me good. Usually I have an idea – but this year he surprised me.

Can’t remember if I said that on the Saturday that we were at my parents we fired a few guns. (so that means my family is very rich, or we is a bunch of hicks….damn, I know they aren’t rich!) I have never fired a gun before. I shot a 12 gauge that almost put me on my ass – I had no idea that it would have that much kick. The 22 w/scope was awesome – and I could shoot that all day – just pull the trigger until the clip is empty – hand gun to brother and go again. Brother 2 was pretty impressed with how well I did – he told Mr. Incredible that I probably shouldn’t be allowed to have a gun, because if I got pissed off – he would have something to worry about – he’d be in trouble. I have to admit – I really really enjoyed shooting…and if we had a place to shoot – I’d get a gun. (of course, we would also get a gun safe, and trigger locks, and all that – don’t give me lectures)

Our house is the perfect size for our family of four. it is not the perfect size for 12.

Lets count…

Older Sister + Her Hubby + nephew#1 + nephew #2

and that to

My mother, + My father, + my younger brother, and his “Friend”

and

Pan + Tink + Me and Mr. Incredible.

Yep – that is a few to many….about 8 to be exact.

The kids had a great time – they played pinball, the game cube, tag, etc.

The Brother that had to see us while he is back – didn’t play with them at all… not one bit. He sat with my Older Sister and put together a puzzle – not saying a word…

My Dad and BIL watched Bond movies on the TV. My mom did the puzzle for a while, and played with the kids. I worked on a sewing/crafty type project, trying to come up with something to talk about – getting yes or no answers. Yeah, there was so much more that I could have been doing today – de-christmasing the house for one.

Instead I was cooking, and serving and being a hostess, to a group of people who really didn’t want to be together, but had to be together because we are related.

I know, I know, I’m late with my Sunday Six – but you’ll forgive me, RIGHT?

For those of you who don’t know – Sunday Six is the game we play with Kelly. Answers this week are provided by Tink age (4.2)

1. How does Santa make it to every one’s house in one night?
Tink: He does it fast.

2. What are the names of his reindeer?
TinK: Ruldolph, Comment, Vixen, Cupid, and….shakes her head – that’s all I know. But there’s more.

3. What does Santa do if a home does not have a fireplace?
Tink: He puts it under the tree.


4. Does Santa make all the toys, or does he buy them as well?
Tink: I don’t know yet, I’m gonna try to think.

5. How old is Santa?
Tink: Santa is 81.

6. What are you leaving out for Santa tonight?
Tink: Cookies and Chocolate Milk – He drank a lot of Chocolate Milk, he knew more was in the fridge…he got thirsty!

or Happy Holidays if Christmas isn’t your thing.

Back from the land of no to slow internet. The kids had a wonderful time, and so did the adults. The one who causes the most problems when we gather was not there. He was stuck in LAX waiting for fog to lift, and trying to find another flight home. He along with one sister, her hubby and kids, and Mom and Dad will be here tomorrow.

Santa was sooooo good to the kids this year. He brought them new bikes. He brought the family games (a 9 games in one thing), Over the Hedge Game for the Game Cube, and Ice Age 2 – the Meltdown – which the kids are watching right now….giggle, giggle, giggle.

Hope Santa was good to you! Will post more later.

Merry Christmas Everybody – we are going to the land of no-internet tomorrow and will be gone for a a while. Hope Santa is very good to all of you…

Below are the answers to the questions…

Kelly Asks: Um, are you trying to tell us something… Like Pan and Tink are getting a Jack Jack?

Answer: Nope, Jack-Jack will NOT be added this year! We are quite happy with our two, and are done. Although there are times when I would just love to have one more baby…but it’s not going to happen.

Debby Asks:
1. What would be your ULTIMATE Christmas gift this year? – World Peace, but since that isn’t going to happen, I’d love for my siblings and I to all get along great this weekend…

2. Favorite Chritmas carol? – The Christmas Shoes – (I know not a traditional Carol – one that we used to sign at church was one my uncle wrote – Come see the babe – and I loved that.)

3. Have you been naughty or nice? Sometimes It’s nice to be naughty…
(I think I am in Christmas mode)

Me asks: If you had your life to live over again, what would you do differently?

Answer: I would get a 4 year degree – that piece of paper is important…

Wethyb – Merry Christmas to you – I’ve been there -but it doesn’t load in Firefox, and IE crashes all the freakin’ time.

Cheeky asks: What was your favorite gift from childhood? Wanna guess what mine was? Go ahead guess….yep, you are right – A Mr. Microphone! -

Answer: A kitchen set my dad made – had a fridge, a stove/oven and a sink – was awesome!

Mr Fab asks: What is a Jack Jack?

Answer: Jack Jack is the baby in the movie “the Incredibles…”

Timestep asks:1) What is your favorite holiday tradition from growing up and do you still hold this tradition? Going to Midnight mass on Christmas Eve with my family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents) Was a big family event. we don’t do that anymore.

2) If you are not ready for the holiday, are you or Mr. Incredible able to rewind time to help? We get in trouble for re-winding time – caccording the the superhero handbook – clause 45930, paragraph 42, subparagraph 23 line 12 clearly states ” that super-heros may not rewind time to catch up in their daily lives “- it is strictly prohibited!

Vani – Merry Christmas to you as well!

Tug: Relaxing starts on Sunday after we get home! Merry Christmas to you – hope Santa is good to you!

Jody: He doesn’t have kids…. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Answer: I honestly don’t know… I’ve only lived in one state, and while it’s not a bad place to live, it’s slightly behind the times and assbackwards…. I have only visited a few others, and liked them. I would love to find a place that has four seasons – I love them all. Look out one window and see the beach and the ocean, look out the other and see the mountains, have it no colder than 35 degrees and no windchill, yet no warmer than 80. To have enough rain to never have to worry about watering the grass, yet enough sunny days so the kids can play outside. Do you know where this place is?

so much to do so little time….

question and answer time…

you ask….

I’ll answer (maybe)

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….four calling birds…

yeah, I don’t get the song either – when do the 12 days start – is it the 12 days before the 25th? The 12 days after? and why would I want calling birds? I’m not really a bird person…but I’d take the 5 golden rings…or something like that.

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Last night I picked Pan up from his after-school program – they were making up a missed day – they made soy based candles – smells sooo good – his smelled like peppermints…. He was so proud. He can’t tell me what the other stuff is that they made because they are wrapped up under the tree. So we will find out in 4 long days.

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In other news we sorta heard the results of Mr. Incredible’s test – waiting for the PCP to make us an appointment with a surgeon. I can’t wait for him to be feeling better – the pain is coming back and I’m afraid that he will get the pancreatitis again…. and I don’t want him to have permanent damage to his pancreas. Stupid Gall bladder, yes, you can live without one. The trick will be getting it taken out before the end of the year. Taking bets… will they do it in 2006 or 2007?

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