And Now On to New Year's...

Goodness!  Where has the time gone?  The past month has literally slipped right through my fingers!

Working 12 hours a day is going to kill me!  Thank goodness it will only be until April.  All I want to do in my off time is sleep!  I am losing all my muscle just sitting at work and sleeping.  I really have to find some time for walking inbetween... but it is so foggy and cold in the mornings, and dark at night when I am about to head to work.  The weather feels awful and is not conducive to a good attitude and just makes me want to crawl into bed!  Ugh!

* * *

I worked on New Year's Eve.  No where to go, and no one to party with anyway.  B. in Sweden, and G. out on the town with his girl.

I always try to reminisce about the past year on New Year's Eve.  2013 was some kind of year...

I got laid off from my Forest Service job two weeks into the year.  It was cold so I drove down to Arizona for a visit.  Got to thinking it might be a good idea to move down there to be closer to the folks... but after the summer's hot weather abated... maybe around October or so.  Came home and realized I could no longer be owing my landlord any more rent, so started having yard sales and getting rid of stuff.  Spring Break, the boys helped me move my car and a load of furniture down into storage in AZ.  We enjoyed the visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

Finally got completely moved out of our little green house at the end of April, in time to drive the van over for Mom's weekend at OSU.  From there I spent 6 weeks on the coast.  Back to Lakeview to paint a ceiling, left to travel to Joseph, then made my way up to Post Falls to visit my cousins.  Found out my mom was in the hospital but she kept saying that I didn't need to come down.  Then I got the call from my dad that she wasn't responding and I needed to get there.  I drove the 1300 miles in 36 hours.

My mother passed away, I spent a month with my dad, then back to Lakeview to help a friend move, and house-sit.  From there, I found a nanny job in Albany, while looking on Craigslist for a mobile home rental in the Eugene area.  Met the family and moved in in October.  Because I needed an income as well, I went through a temp agency and started working graveyard shifts at BetaSeed in November.  The boys and I celebrated the holidays together at G's.  B and I went on the Mexican cruise the first week of December, and then he left for Sweden mid-December.

Yes, lots of places, lots of new people, lots of adventues....  2013 was some kind of year!


:)

Heading Home and Saying Goodbye... MORE TO COME

The last day was spent at sea heading to home port.  Unfortunately, the wind was really cold so lounging on the chairs in the sun was not really an option.  That was sad.

Cruise Day 3 - Ensenada... MORE TO COME

Cruise Day 2 - Catalina... MORE TO COME

First port of call:  Catalina Island!

We took a little shuttle boat over the island and enjoyed looking through shops and getting a small bite to eat and a local beer at a funky watering hole.  Then we had to gather in a certain place for our kayak adventure!

We walked to the kayak area from the center of town, put on water sandles, rubbery overalls, life jackets and climbed in with a little bit of instruction and a group leader. 

What fun!  The water was so clear, you could look down 30 feet or better to all the seaweed and fishies.  There were seals who playing around us as well.  Ben was great to have paddling in the back.... he is strong! Here's a pic the leader took on my camera.

Took this one for my friend who LOVES my feet pics... lol

Afterwards we explored more and did a little shopping and caught the last shuttle back to the ship!

There was a place called the Taste Bar that served little bites. This was a pepper pot soup and a spicy pork meatball... Way yum! 

The Cruise...

I got caught up in this travel club a bit ago, but I also got a free 4 day cruise out of it.  So I thought it would be a nice "fond farewell" for my oldest son and I to enjoy together before he leaves to live in Sweden.  I booked it for the first week of December, between our holidays and his leaving, on Carnival's Inspiration.  Just a mini-cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, from Monday evening to Friday morning.

We did have a lot of fun!  :)

We left Oregon Sunday afternoon, drove all night, and arrived at 6:30am... so tired, but so excited!!

We went back to the car to hopefully nap before boarding time, but we couldn't.  Got our bags and headed toward checking in around 9:30, and finally got on board around 12:30pm.  Wow!

They are decorating for Christmas.  

 

Our room was close to the main section and on a middle floor.  Perfect really, and every night they put towel pets on the beds with the calendar of events for the next day, and chocolate!

We explored a bit, then were up on the decks at sunset for the safety meeting.

Our Holidays...

THE PLAN:

We did this last year, and I am thinking it is a good plan...  We celebrate Thanksgiving AND Christmas on the same long weekend.  I know it sounds terribly frantic, but it isn't, really.  And then I'm done, and don't have to get all caught up in the Christmas rush.

We did this last year because my younger son was planning to go to Australia for the Winter Break from school.  My older son and his fiance' didn't know what their plans were going to be, so I thought, if we got everyone together, we might as well do it all.  It worked out well, and was fun.  I am also thinking that this relieves them of worrying about me when making holiday plans with the other side of their families as they get older.  

So it works like this over a four-day weekend:  Thanksgiving Day is Thanksgiving.  Friday we eat leftovers and prepare for Christmas by decorating and baking.  Saturday is Christmas Eve dinner and traditions.  Sunday is Christmas morning, church, lunch, and travel home for everyone.  We also get some holiday crafting done, play some games, watch special Christmas cartoons or movies, and the general fun of being all together :)

This year however, there will be a twist at the end... On Sunday morning after our Christmas present opening and church, Ben and I are going to be driving south for a small vacation! A fond farewell for the both of us before he heads to Sweden.

* * *

AND HOW IT WORKED OUT:

Say what you will about the Christmas trees being out in the stores before Halloween, but it is surely handy for pulling off the Extravaganza! I have all the shopping done now. A little preparation, and I think it's a GO !! Whew!  Just have to squeeze in 36 hours of graveyard shift before then also. Hope I am not too tired to enjoy Thanksgiving Day... but dinner will be later in the day than usual.

B. came down from Washington, and we were able to spread out at G.'s since most of his roommates are away for the holiday weekend.

And then, THANKSGIVING:

Best time with the boys! Just fun for us to be together! Enjoyed the Cowboys win in football, had a great dinner, enjoyed highlights from the Macy's Parade (didn't watch the whole recorded event... mostly the Rockettes and Santa!), took naps, played video games, ate pecan pie, and watched a hit movie. It's been a great Thanksgiving!

And ON Saturday:

A fun filled Christmas Eve for us! Ham, marshmallowed yams, and green bean casserole, salad and rolls. Simple. Tree decorating, haha... look at our little tree! Some gift giving, holiday crafting, baking, and watching Mickey's Christmas. Soon the Christmas story and setting up the Nativity scene.

 Merry Christmas to All!!

:)