<p>This thread has become one stop shopping and great gift ideas! Many thanks!</p>
<p>OK… I finished the annual Holiday letter that so many criticize but has become a staple around here. I only send to those family and friends out of state (or friends I haven’t spoken to all year it seems). Personally, I rather like them especially when their about friends and their kids whom I don’t really know since I see them so rarely. </p>
<p>Grades were posted here today as well. Son was really disappointed in one grade, pretty happy with another and luke warm on two… He ended up barely breaking the 3.0 and while not anywhere near what he was doing before he APPLIED to college, I won’t complain seeing as it’s the first semester. As I’ve said, he’s really harder on himself in some ways than I could ever be. I will say, however, that I am sure he can do better. </p>
<p>Time to finish wrapping…D25 leaves tomorrow morning to drive here. I am just hoping she and the BF aren’t marred in snow traffic and it holds off until they arrive. I kind of wish they were leaving tonight,but they are pretty scheduled folks and when they say they are leaving at 6am, they will leave at 6am sharp. This is more her BF than her, but it has done her a world of good to get on that particular band wagon!!</p>
<p>Trying to catch up on the posts here. We drove to a family party on Saturday and returned Sunday. I spent yesterday baking and wrapping. Wrapping is almost complete and just a couple of batches of cookies left to make. I give away LOTS of cookies to family and friends so it’s quite a project. I don’t have missypie’s 20 trees, but I do bake about 80-90 dozen cookies and a couple of dozen loaves of a sweet bread every year. Grocery shopping was finished today since we’re expecting freezing rain or snow soon. </p>
<p>Glad the tooth extraction went well. D cried in the car after she had her wisdom teeth removed. When I asked her why she was crying she said it was because I was on my cell phone. </p>
<p>Also happy to learn most of the travelers have arrived safely. Anyone still out there? Oops–just saw modadunn’s post as I was refreshing to post. Hope they arrive safely modadunn. </p>
<p>D’s grades have been excellent. The last one came in today: 4.0 including two At’s. She thinks the history prof must curve which is why she received an At in that class. We were in the car traveling when she found that one online. It was fun to see her excitement. Next semester will be more difficult so I’m happy for the great starting point for her. </p>
<p>We ordered her books yesterday from Amazon. Three of them arrived today! She wasn’t really thrilled when I told her there was a gift for her :)</p>
<p>Oh good reminder on the books rrah. Fortunately (or unfortunately), son has J-term so he won’t need semester books until February. Thank you Lord!!</p>
<p>I love to bake, but don’t. Much like the Ivy League, my results are a crap shoot. So I sent all the siblings Harry and David Bake goods. I have no idea how they will be, but I was seriously out of “group” ideas and Harry and David has become my “go to” at least twice a decade. :)</p>
<p>I am procrastinating. I wrap on the floor and my back is getting to the point where it doesn’t do well. I’d drag out a card table, but at this point in the process, the damage has been done.</p>
<p>Modadunn…saw lots of Bananagrams at three different Targets today. You won’t have a problem finding it! We had problwms finding another game but found it at last!</p>
<p>Sleep seems to be a common theme for our returnees. D slept til noon today, although she was out to all hours last night so not too surprising. I figure her sleep habits are all messed up after this last semester and it will be interesting to see what she settles into over the break.</p>
<p>We’ve also enjoyed Bananagrams and Modadunn, I’ve also seen it at Kowalskis if you are still looking. We’re trying out a new trivia game from Mental Floss this Christmas, hope it is good. D is a big Trivial Pursuit and Mental Floss fan so I figure the combo should work. </p>
<p>I’m at the stage of packing and wrapping and hoping that we can beat the big storm that is headed our way. Getting away is always a challenge and H always gets grumpy when we are slow.</p>
<p>OK… going to Target. Thanks! And if I can find three - EVERYONE can get one as it sounds like it might be a good game for the “suite” at college as well. </p>
<p>So I got my daughter a wallet and was looking up to see how much and what kind of money you’re supposed to put in it for good luck (superstition - and as it turns out there is no specific denomination unlike giving a penny if you give someone knives, scissors etc). However, on the particular list I see that you’re not supposed to give shoes as a gift because it means the person will walk away from you. I got two of my kids boots and older D I bought two pair!! I am going with the technicality that they aren’t really shoes since their boots, but they’re still footwear! Anyway…, never heard that one before and now that I have, it’s bugs me just a little bit!!</p>
<p>dte, i know this was several pages back, but I also had only 3 wisdom teeth. Each was removed at a separate time. Who knows why.</p>
<p>Here is DS’s wisdom tooth tale (no surgery involved, so safe for mp to read).
DS was all set for summer extraction of 4 wisdom teeth when we discovered at the end of the appt that none of our various insurance policies covered the procedure and I balked at paying the $2000 fee on the spot. (Truth is, we simply did not have the money.) We walked out. So, for six months I have been worried that I have harmed DS’s dental future.</p>
<p>DS went back to dentist last week and now dentist says there is no rush. Let’s just wait and see. Teeth seem to have plenty of room. Son says teeth don’t hurt and he can floss around them. </p>
<p>Now, I love this dentist and have trusted him for years and years, but isn’t it a coincidence that once the $$$ aren’t there, the need disappears, too?</p>
<p>Who knows? Maybe wait and see is not such a bad idea.</p>
<p>S is healing OK–actually glad GF could come and get him through the first few hours. Talked with her dad and when he asked if we wanted her around she (rightly said) oh yeah, he will whine less if I am there:cool:. He is ready to be off the pain meds, I forgot to tell him he could get off and as he is so LITERAL he just keeps taking them without question. Mainly he was down because I went to work for 6 hours and he was alone. But looks like he is actually sailing through compared to many.
We love speed scrabble here so will look into banana. Saw the cabin game and did not know what it was…can someone explain the priciples?
I will feel so much better if I sign off and go wrap some presents.</p>
<p>OK, **Settlers of Catan ** is a board game played by three or four people at a time. The conceit is, Catan is an island and everyone is trying to develop it by building roads, villages and towns. On your turn you roll the die, and depending on the die roll and players’ board position, some players get resources (cards). To complete your turn, if you want and you have the right cards, you use your cards to build roads, villages and towns.</p>
<p>That’s the simpleminded description. Settlers is a strategy game, with many tactics and some deal-making.</p>
<p>That is so NOT the game for my family – WAY too competitive. Would not end well I fear.</p>
<p>Please note the time – 2:20 by my clock. However, I am completely finished wrapping and all packages are relatively well hidden. All I will have to do on Christmas eve is put ribbons and bows! </p>
<p>Tomorrow I will grocery shop - along with every other person in town - but then I plan on hunkering down and not leaving my house until next Monday at the earliest. I know some people love to get out to the stores on the 26th, but if I make an appearance before March it will be a miracle.</p>
<p>It is 1:40 here and I just finished addressing and writing notes in all the cards. I make mine each year and write a newsy (not braggy, I hate those) letter, but I still spend a lot of time hand addressing and writing personal notes in each one. So I kind of put it off and end up scrambling at the last minute.
The tree is trimmed finally got that completed today but nothing is wrapped. I’ve got a marathon session ahead of me. Hoping to ski tomorrow so the wrapping will have to wait until tomorrow night.
May not be back on the board here before the big day, so happy holidays everyone. Enjoy being together with your kids.
To you who are traveling, be safe
To those who are sick, be well
to those with extended family visiting, be nice</p>
Same here – only I guess “tomorrow” is today! I also make a trip on Christmas Eve morning for shrimp. Those of you in the northeast anywhere near a Stew Leonard’s will appreciate that trek. It hasn’t been as bad (yet!) up here near Hartford, but when I was in Fairfield County, I’d show up when the Norwalk store opened at 7:00 AM and there would already be huge crowds. Fortunately they run a “Shrimp Express” line which moves along pretty well.</p>
<p>Baking and cooking start full-time today – and I’m probably in for a couple of late nights. A close friend’s father just died on Monday, so calling hours and the funeral get added to the schedule. It always sounds terrible to say, but in some ways his passing was a blessing – he was in intense pain and really suffering. OTOH, now my friend’s Christmas memories will include a funeral. :(</p>
<p>Good Morning! HAd another late night here, too, only I had insomnia AGAIN! Will also grocery shop today. Done gift shopping and only have two gifts left to wrap. H took off to be at home today…but still doing a little bit of work out of the house. Still under a winter storm warning so will make a last minute decision about heading to the cabin for Christmas. Inlaws are already there. </p>
<p>D2 went out with friends last night and returned with news that several of her former HS classmates are transferring back home. I think it made her feel more “normal” about her decision. I ventured over to the College Life forum and read some postings from students unhappy with their first semester. Had to quit reading as it made me so sad. :(</p>
<p>CBBLinker - I’m making H do the Stew Food run in Norwalk today. He’s on vacation, I have to work. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to go to work in my life.</p>
<p>I’ve been out of touch for a while just trying to get things done. All but 2 presents are wrapped - I expect them to be delivered today (I hope). Dinner party for 18 is done and the bison that I cooked came out great. Never had it before but it was very good. All cooking is basically done. I’ll make cinnamon rolls tomorrow to put in the fridge until Xmas morning when I bake them. Almost one complete pie left from dinner party so that is our Christmas dessert. There is only H, S, D, MIL and myself so that will be fine. Cookies and fudge are made. Distributed the last set of cookies and fudge to people I work with this morning. Planning on cleaning the house tonight before MIL arrives. Working 1/2 day tomorrow so once I get home tomorrow I’ll put together the mac & cheese (our traditional Xmas Eve meal). Works great because I put it in the oven on time bake while we are at church service. I think I’m almost ready. I mean what mother is really ready before the 25th? Right?</p>
<p>D doesn’t get grades until the 30th so we are still waiting. S has 4 A’s and the other one hasn’t come in yet. On the plus side he just found out that he was accepted to Cornell Law School. So he’s in the Business school at Buffalo and Law at Cornell. Now if he can get in the other school at each college we will be set. He wants both a JD and MBA – so another 4 years.</p>
<p>Happy holidays to everyone. Hope everyones travels are safe and that you have the time to enjoy the holidays with your families.</p>
<p>Just finishing the last of the Christmas cards…got the addresses of the lost relatives from my parents. I figure I’m okay if the cards are postmarked before the 25th.</p>
<p>I went to two Targets and no Banangrams…I was thinking “What have those people done to me!!!”. Then H found it at a Barnes & Noble (had to ask a clerk because the display was empty.)</p>
<p>All the gifts are wrapped except the stocking presents. But now I’m starting to panic about Christmas food. I was going to take the whole day off today but H arranged for the cleaning lady to come, so I’m going to work. H doesn’t even plan to grocery shop until tomorrow and we leave for church by about 4:45 pm (church musicians…we stay at chuch a long time on Christmas Eve), so I don’t have a clue when I’m going to cook.</p>
<p>I think I’m almost ready. I keep having that feeling that I have forgotten something… Gifts are bought (and wrapped), H and I will be food shopping tonight, work til’ noon tomorrow , then pick up D from bus. Still no ornaments on one tree, S wants to save that for tomorrow when D is home. Hope her bus is on time as we also have church services, dinner and watch “White Christmas” together. </p>
<p>Will relax when D gets home.</p>
<p>To all, Happy Holidays, enjoy your kids being home, stay healthy.</p>
<p>Thanks Missypie. Cornell is his top choice it he gets into both schools - figures it’s more expensive. I’ve been told though that in the long run it might be a better place for him as he may earn more out of school with a degree from Cornell. Guess we will just have to wait and see…</p>
<p>Haven’t even had time to lurk the last few weeks…H had serious accident with the snowblower 2 weeks ago resulting in emergency surgery to his right (of course) hand (I hadn’t pulled an all-nighter in years!) and more today. He is out of work, but has great coverage (at least we think so). So its been a week off in days here and there and being as we are not close, I admit, I resent it. I can’t help it. It has not been easy. He is a miserable patient. He would not be there for me but boy how the whole family expects me to play Florence Nightingale at home after working as her already all day. Twice as much work as he plays the Sultan on the couch. Forgive my whining…ack. I probably shouldn’t have posted but I needed a neutral place to get it off my chest. I didn’t have a lot of time available to take and using it up this way just frosts my $&&. Girls are home, thats a help. On the for better or worse meter I have continually gotten the worse end…this is 4th major accident, 3 with power tools…</p>
<p>kh, vent away. I am great in an emergency but not good with the warm, fuzzy follow-up stuff. RochesterMom, that is great news on the law school acceptance. I’m jealous of everybody whose kids bring home all those As. S2 has always been solid B student, even in high school. I suspect that he feels any A allows him to get an offsetting C in a harder class, because he still achieves his 3.0 goal. S’s school doesn’t give pluses or minuses. The problem with that strategy is that he runs the risk of miscalculating, which almost happened this past semester. </p>
<p>He is learning things, enjoys his classes, and loves his college, but it’s clear now that he didn’t work his hardest, which bothers me. I was older when I went to college (had served four years in the military first), waitressing full time and viewed college as a second job. I never liked the idea of other people judging me, which is the essence of grades, but I was obsessive about them anyway, graduating with a 4.0 undergrad and grad school. I did not have fun. I don’t want my boys to be like me, but I don’t want them to always do the minimum either.</p>
<p>I plan to work most of today–writing will relax me. Since we don’t really exchange presents (I have one for S2 and one for H), no pressure there. I will cook a nice meal, but I do that every night anyway. Thanksgiving is a lot harder because we have company. There are just the three of us for Christmas.</p>
So I sent all the siblings Harry and David Bake goods. I have no idea how they will be, but I was seriously out of “group” ideas and Harry and David has become my “go to” at least twice a decade. :)</p>