Continuing…

I’m going to see if I can knock out the rest of the holiday saga. Here we go…

* Taylor has continued on with his yearly Christmas tradition of being sick on Christmas. Poor baby.

I am not kidding. Every stinkin’ year he has a head cold or a sinus infection or bronchitis or something. One year we were doing family pictures with a professional photographer and he was miserable. We pumped him up with Tylenol and managed the session in the fever-free, half-way okay window. Another year he sat alone at a little table in the entryway of the in-law’s house which was close to, but not actually at the big table because he was sick and nobody wanted that Christmas gift. This year he laid on the couch in view of the rest of us at the dinner table. It’s so sad. But he takes it in such stride and never complains.

* The food has been phenomenal.

Chicken piccata, homemade tacos, breakfast casserole, hashbrown casserole, donuts, cakes, coffee, bagels, authentic shepherd’s pie – and that’s all I can remember at the moment.

* We’re up to 14 people (counting the twins) in two condos and there’s always something going on. Katie has shown her competitive side which makes me think of a story. Sorry. You’ll have to wait for the story.

There are times when Katie does something that is so me I have to laugh. Playing games is no different. She learned how to play Mexican Train (dominoes) and Triominoes with Aunt Joanne, cousin Stacy and Stacy’s boyfriend, Niall. Since she’s 14 they took it a little easy on her. Until they realized that she learned quickly, plays dirty and takes no prisoners. Kind of like when I was about her age and my parents went out of town, leaving me with my cousins Ron & Barb for the weekend. They taught me how to play Hate Your Neighbor – UNO before there was UNO. I caught on fairly fast and played with a vengeance. Their friend, a priest, came over to play and he kept saying he was going to grab his exorcism kit from the car because I was clearly evil. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (I say while fiendishly rubbing my hands together)

Am I proud that my genteel daughter has a vicious game playing streak? You betcha!!

* The temps have been in the 50’s and everybody thinks it’s freezing, meanwhile the boys in my family are walking around in shorts and t-shirts.

I love the desert. I really do. I forget just how much until I find myself in the Southwest or Palm Springs. One of the things I love is the winter weather. Mild and sunny during the day and crisp and cool at night. Perfect!

* I shall be forever grateful that Taylor brought his computer, otherwise I might be rolled up in the fetal position in the corner shaking uncontrollably. But don’t tell him I said that. I gotta keep it cool around him.

This one needs no explanation.

* Grandpa made a total funny about books. I’ll tell you about it later.

Grandpa noticed Katie’s big book and she told him she reads a lot. He said he’s been reading a lot of books lately, too. On tape.

* People who live in golf resorts don’t look kindly upon golf cart races. Just sayin’.

This was a little misleading as no actual races took place. Taylor wanted to pull a Mario Andretti around the resort, but the cart will only go so fast. He would try to catch up to people, but it never happened.

He did nearly throw me out the windshield by stomping on the break and gave me whiplash by stomping on the accelerator. I didn’t find the humor in either. At all.

* Todd’s back. Just a little teaser. More on that after the holidays.

Some of you may recall Todd used to have a blog called Jenni and Me. He started it on August 24, 2007 and ended it on September 11, 2007. He saw it as his chance to show people a different perspective than mine. Totally unnecessary as evidenced by the very short run. But for some reason he’s felt the need to start it back up. Probably because I don’t talk enough about Sookie. Whatever. As long as he keeps his stories to puppy antics we’ll get along just fine.

5 Comments

  1. His Girl on January 2, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    I totally need to do that note thing and then come back and finish! I so often think I will come back to tell a story but never do. You’re brilliant, Jen. Just brilliant!Alrighty, it IS cold, by the way! Our CA skins are not used to climate of any kind. Also, in palm springs, they are especially cold intolerant because it gets so hot there. One time I was there… i kid you not, it was 121 degrees!and they were not even complaining!yipes!can’t wait to check out Todd’s blog.later, tater. miss you already.

  2. Gretchen on January 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    I can’t wait until you’re a grandma. Think of the stories you’ll tell the babies. You have such a way, my friend.

  3. Becky on January 2, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    MMmmm…Chicken Picatta. (I must be hungry, because I was just Mmmmming on Gretchen's blog, too).That bites being sick on Christmas.So is Todd's blog going to be "Sookie & Me" now? ;)I love a kid that can hold her own in any game…and Mexican Train is one of our FAVES. We played that New Year's Eve.

  4. Lynilu on January 2, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    You’re so ornery, dropping that many tantalizing tidbits, then saying “later”!! But I love the tidbits, and I’ll be back for more detail later!It sounds like you had a great time, although I think you should catch a clue that if Taylor gets sick every year at the same time, making him miss family time …. well, just think about it! LOL! Next year, start him on Vitamin C in Early November!

  5. Sing4joy on January 3, 2009 at 1:58 am

    Such a hoot! If I had known you are such a gamer, I would have made you play cards with me while I kept you up all night. As for Jenni and Me – I wouldn’t fuss over it, he barely posts. And he likes your dog.

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