OK...so I'm not great at this....

OK, so I'm not great at this blogging stuff...let's say, inconsistent - OK!!!

Who would think that the life of a middle-aged woman (and that's all I'm willing to concede to!) would be of any interest, but, I guess it is to a few!

You know it's been a month...my sister, her husband and two year old have been here now for a month (really, I'm not exactly sure how long it's been, but I'm certain, it's been a month), they finally finished installing my railings this morning - on the back steps, and I'm inching ever closer to getting the required building permits so they can renovate my attic...talk about bureaucratic red tape and paper pushers....really, you don't want to get me started, it just isn't very pretty!!!

Just returned from a trip to Texas. The granddaughters are all amazing and smart and beautiful - and now there is a little man in the mix...Maverick (what can I say, they live in Texas!!!) - but, I think it's a name that will suit him just fine. He is a handsome little man, and has really only one little 'quirk'....really for this family, it's not so 'little' - he detests, hates, loathes, car rides - and I'm here to tell you, he wants his whole world, and the rest of the universe to know it!!!! His mother took him to the MD this Monday before I left and asked the pediatrician about this little 'quirk' and if there was anything that she could do about it...the answer was simple an concise...."stay home". OK...so, you need to be ready for the answer when you ask the question - that's really not the help our daughter was looking for - so I guess, 'go with it' for the foreseeable future is the 'solution'!!!

While in Texas I got to celebrate my first Christmas of the year - complete with Christmas tree, decorations, candles - it was great. And, it is the first Christmas I've 'been there' in person when everyone opened their presents - it was a lot of fun. The award for 'best present' seemed to go to the body pillow I got Isabel - the oldest granddaughter....everyone wanted a piece of the pillow and Isabel was really having none of it - at least not yet!!! Had I only known!!! The Nintendo DS clothes designing game also seemed to be a hit - as well as the decorate it yourself messenger bag I got Jill/granddaughter #2....and Maya/granddaughter #3 really liked the baby doll. Little Mav - as long as he didn't have to ride in a car, he loved it all!!!

Sara, the amazing two year old (soon to be three) niece continues to be amazing and mystifying and amazing...have I mentioned amazing?? That little stinker (and she is!!) has me so wrapped around her tiny little, little finger - she just holds my heart in her hand.

Today I saw my first snow flakes, they were teeny tiny, and certainly not going to stick - but it was nice to see them. I am a mid-western girl at heart - I love the changing seasons and all that the seasons bring....although, given the choice I would 'opt out' of the sweltering, thick with humidity summer time.

So, now it is getting to be that 'ho-ho-ho' time of year. Since both Mom and Dad have now been gone for more than a year it doesn't feel quite as searing, to go through these family seasons without them, but they are missed - by me and I think my brother and sister too. It will be a little 'odd' again this year - since Amy and her family are going to be here for Christmas - and no one will be 'at home', where we all grew up....but, maybe it is a blessing in disguise, to have a true 'break' and then Amy and her family and our whole family will begin new traditions...that's what I'm going with!

I have errands to run, that I 'forgot' about when I was out earlier - and I think they will just have to wait until tomorrow when I go out to get my hair cut...there is a chill in the air, and it is wonderful.