Christmas Travel Prep-Friday Fragments

It's always fun to join with Mrs. 4444 for FF as it gives us a chance to share "Fragments" of our week without a large posting, please go over and join us. 

We have made lots of lists so we can get the RV ready for our trip to California.  I woke up this morning ready to get started.  We are going to stay at Carpenteria State Park right on the ocean.  I hope the much needed rain in CA will stop and it will be beautiful....as usual. Actually we can jump in the car and go, when we don't take the RV, but we have to do some stocking of the pantry and there are some projects that concern towing a car.

I have to get the dogs ready for the trip as well.  One nice benefit...they will get walked several times a day when we travel with them.  Also have to shop for groceries for them too.  I have to check their immunization for Bortadella, and get them all bathed and clean.

I have my shopping done for the boys...I went out to pick up some books, yesterday, and that finished up my list. I got a book of Christmas Stories, that includes the first Christmas Story. I am not sure they have heard that particular story yet and I believe they should be introduced to the reason for the season. Their folks are not religious and I am not fanatically so. but at almost 6 and 3, they should have heard about something besides Santa Claus. 

I still have some things coming from Amazon, that should come today. I have wrapping them before we go...on my list too.  Hope it gets done and I don't have to wrap Christmas Eve as usual.

DD2 isn't going with us as she has to work.  She signed up to work for Christmas Day for the double pay.  We are all going to get together for a Family wedding in August so she will see the boys and her sister then. I wish she could go, maybe next year.

Christmas Surprises-Memory Monday

This week's prompt is: My Christmas Memories

I am doing a lot of online shopping this year in preparation for our trip to CA for Christmas with the kids and grand kids. I have a few surprises and Christmas is all about surprises.  Mom and dad were careful to hide the gifts well so that. 'Santa' would surprise us well.  When I was about 10, I was so hoping for a big bike.  I didn't think I could wait until Christmas morning so I snooped everywhere.  What I did not know, is that my wise parents hid it at my grandparents house until Christmas morning, so I came up empty. in my search for my hearts delight a five speed bike.

My Cousin, who lived with the grandparents. was in on the secret so I hounded him to tell me what he knew.  Eventually, he spilled and I was so happy. Until Christmas morning when there it was......a bike.....a beautiful bike! But I was disappointed because the surprise was...no surprise! That was when I learned that it wasn't so exciting to KNOW what you were getting for Christmas....and I never really snooped again. Surprise was an essential ingredient for Christmas gift giving.  

When I had girls of my own, I tried to instill the element of surprise. Especially when one of the girls was so unsubtle about searching, that she left the dining room chair, still in place, in the bedroom closet. There she had riffled through the top shelf, not so unsuccessfully, looking for loot. So I knew I had to be more creative in my hiding places.

So we were always the mom and dad, who had to make a trip to parents or friends homes, to pick up the Santa gift. Or else, Mr BC was staying up until two am..... to put the Glamour Gals Cruise ship together.....Oh, so many tiny parts and stickers for the walls. This was a good surprise that Christmas. 

I also remember the Christmas that, DD1 got her first big bike.  We did not put it next to the Christmas tree, but in the front hall.  Her face dropped so far to the floor, that I did believe she was surprised that she didn't get the expected bike. Her sister's little bike was there, but not hers. Oh, the disappointment, until she turned around to see she was not forgotten. I believe I should have said Gotcha! But I didn't. Christmas is meant for Great Surprises.

Believe-Saturday 9

1) In 1998, Cher became the oldest woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with "Believe." She was 52 at the time. At what age do you think you did hit/will hit your prime? 
I believe I hit my prime in my early 40's.  I was very happy with everything I was doing and did it well. I was in top form professionally.

2) Cher is as well known for her outrageous outfits as for her singing. What's the latest piece of clothing you added to your wardrobe?  
I went to Ross to get 2 short sleeved tops.  All I had taken with me were long sleeves and it was warm enough for short sleeves. Of course I also bought a pair of shoes. Christmas vacation a good reason to shop.

3) Cher credits her unique looks to her diverse ethnicity. Her father was Armenian and her mom is English/German/Cherokee. From where did your ancestors come? Mainly the British Isles.
My fraternal grandmother has French Huguenot roots. Every one on both sides came from Oklahoma. 

4) When she was a little girl, Cher produced and starred in a schoolyard production of Oklahoma. Were you involved in drama or theater in school? 
No not really...DD2 is the actress/singer in the family.  She has a double degree in theater and psychology.

5) Cher is open about her plastic surgery, speaking freely about having had her breasts 'done', her nose bobbed and her teeth straightened. If you could change one physical feature about yourself, which would it be? And what would you never change, under any circumstances? 
I would have liked a breast reduction when I was younger....though age has done the trick, now that I am a senior citizen.  I would never mess with my eyes or my smile.

6) There's a stubborn rumor, often denied, that Cher had a rib removed so that she could maintain her long and lean silhouette. What's the most outrageous thing anyone has said of you? 
That I might be lazy. When I have to....like after Christmas in Santa Barbara...I work hard.  But I am somewhat work adverse and will look for easier ways to do things.

7) When she was a kid, Cher practiced her autograph. Do you have a clear, legible signature? Or is it more of a scrawl? 
I had a legible signature until I went to work in a job where signing and initialing my name at the end of the day.....many times....straight lined the last part of my name. 

8) Cher asks, "Do you believe in life after love?" Crazy Sam's question is easier and less profound: Do you believe in luck? Not really....I don't believe in fate either or predestination.  I believe we make our own luck. Sometimes good things and bad happen to people.

9) Did you make any resolutions for 2014? 
No, however Mr BC and my WORD for 2014 is Move more.

What I Did On My Christmas Vacation

It is wonderful being home.....we had a great Christmas with the grandsons.... they had grown so much and are so smart and so loving.  I wish I were a younger grandma as I get tired just trying to keep up with them.  Especially the youngest.  Caшa is always on the move, Mr BC refers to him as Bam Bam as he pounds on everything and laughs when you pound along with him.  Лука is fine- tuning his skills.  He love riding his coaster bike at the park, especially if he can ride through a puddle.

A Little Christmas Eve Mirth

 

Christmas Eve and I am ready for tomorrow and for our trip to California for New Years with the Grandson and Orthodox Christmas on January 7th.   The different dates has to do with the adoption of the Julian calendar vs. the Gregorian calendar.  The grandsons get to celebrate 2 Christmas’ as a result.  Tonight we will have our traditional Chili for dinner with DD2  and tomorrow lunch with Mr BC’s sister.  On the 26th or the 27th we will head to California and the grandsons.  We will be gone for two weeks and I am not so sure how often I will be able to post.  Maybe pictures but we are going to be too busy having fun and the posts may or may not happen.  I hope all my bloggy friends have a Happy Holiday Season and I will be back in 2013.

 

Pozdrav "Greetings" and Happy Holidays-Saturday 9

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
I can't remember seeing Santa until my brother was born.  I don't think I was shy, I can remember telling Santa what I wanted and what my brother wanted too.  I think I wrote to him at least once. I have no pictures with him, they were always too expensive. I do have one of Лука.  I haven't seen any new pics for this year.

A Little About Me-Sunday Stealing

 

 

Who is your favorite artist (Any field.): Jean-Claude Picot, he paints lively colors of the Cote D’Azure, I have 2 of his seriolithographs. They are still packed away, one looks similar to the one above. I like them because they have a painting in them similar to the one above.

Describe yourself: I am a short, sweet, slightly overweight Senior Citizen. I have a moderately liberal, independent out look. I tend to be more humanistic in my beliefs. Others can believe in a higher power if they want, as long as they respect that I am unsure. I really don't want their viewpoint on how to believe, impressed upon me.

Silver Dollar City Lights

Our dear friends Maggie and Jigs took us to Silver Dollar City, in Branson, on Thursday for a the Light Show and Christmas celebration.  We had a lovely day for it and as usual had a great time with them.  The City was alight with over four million tiny lights and once night fell it was spectacular.  We went early in the day and saw a couple of shows and took the railroad ride around the park.

Sparkle Plenty-Mama Kat's

 

Sparkle, Shimmer, Glisten

Bright twinkle in his eyes, like diamonds,

Smiles come bursting forth

Giggles long suppressed, bubble up

He jumps up, arms wide open

Grandma’s here!

 

 

 

 

Sparkle, Shimmer, Glisten

Tears well in my eyes, like diamonds. 

I fold him in my arms

Laughter fills the air

My heart is home.

Grandma’s here!

Lost in Time and Space

I am in Santa Barbara, enjoying a break from winter in MO.  DD1 and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve having dinner together at a small Japanese restaraunt.  We are going to get ready for the baby this week, she has about 5 weeks to go. 

SIL and Лука will be back from Serbia on the 11th,  They Skype Mama every day and Лука is handling the time change ok, he just goes to bed at midnight their time. It is interesting how he handles being away.  Sometimes he will just walk through the picture and say "Hi, Mom." other times he wants to say good night and look at his toys that are here, and DD1 will pick up his little cars one by one and talk about them.

I know his concept of time and space must be so different from ours and we worry a little, that maybe he is having a hard time with "you will be coming home soon or the concept of, now, 8 days. He also will say "give it to me" when she holds up a favorite car.  Orthodox Christmas is this coming weekend, then it will be just a few more days before he is back.  It is way too quiet around here.

Christmas Vacation

We are going to San Diego again, this time in the RV. The weather has been beautiful but cool. We waited to reserve a spot until we had some weather reports and it is a go! This is the first time we are taking Gwennie with us and so we checked the dog friendly guide and SD is way dog friendly, we plan to go to the dog beach.

Here is Gwennie knowing something is up! More to come the place has WiFi!