After Christmas Poem

'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!


When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt

I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Just a reminder that December 28 & 29th are National Chocolate Days so round up all that leftover Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas chocolate candy and dump it into one sack and sit on your front porch until you hear the garbage truck coming and when it is just about to your house, run to the trash can and throw the bag in and watch the trash man take it away.

Now there will be no more chocolate candy in your house to tempt you!

You will always remember National Chocolate Days after this.

Christmas Day 2008
Sometime around midnight, I heard bells and the sound of animal feet on our roof along with a scraping noise. Then I heard loud footsteps and a voice saying "ho-ho-ho, this is the house where Brandon More is staying with his grandparents". The voice sounded like Santa Claus. Then I heard the voice say, "I received a letter telling me that Brandon would be in Needles, California on Christmas day and to please deliver his packages to this house". Then I fell back to sleep.

This morning, I wondered if I dreamt what I heard or was it real. I wonder if Brandon heard the same thing I did. Guess we will just have to wait until he is talking!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~

Christmas dinner was at our home. Brian, Alison, Corinne, Tom, Sally, Pete, Margie, Denny, Chris and myself and the smallest of all, Brandon (who did not partake of the food). Chris cooked the turkey in the "infrared turkey cooker". We had so much food but everyone managed to have room for Corinne's home-made pumpkin pies.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

From:
Anne, Chris, Jasper & Sasha
Brian, Alison, Brandon, Kala, Jessie, Cedric, Cleo and Taz

This is Brandon's first Christmas but we celebrated on Christmas eve. He enjoyed watching everyone open their presents. His mom and dad helped him open his gifts.

From our family to yours, we wish you all a wonderful Christmas Day!

Several of our friends came to the house this evening to see the newest member of the More family - Brandon. Brandon is 8 weeks old now. He received many nice gifts and charmed everyone attending.


Wendy, Corinne, Brandon, Barb, Faith

Alison, Don, T-More, Sally, Brian


Sally, Renee


Great Granny More and Brandon


Brian & Alison, Brandon's parents


Ann, Sally & Brandon


Chris, Sally, Renee


Alison opening gifts

You better watch out!
Better not cry!
Better not pout!
I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He's making a list
and checking it twice.
He's going to find out who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town.

He sees when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake!

You better watch out!
Better not cry!
Better not pout!
I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

With little tin horns and little toy drums,
rootie-toot-toots and rum-a-tum tums.
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town.

Curly head dolls that toddle and coo,
elephants, boats and kiddie cars too.
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

The kids and girls in boyland
will have a jubilee.
They're going to build a toyland town,
all around the Christmas tree.

You better watch out!
Better not cry!
Better not pout!
I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Christmas decorations in front of our house. I now have a ferris wheel and a teeter totter - next year the merry-go-round.

The back patio counter tile and repainting is complete. I decided to do a little something different and faux paint the cupboard and drawer doors using 3 different paints.




When I had my recent MRI at Valley View Hospital, I went into the gift shop. They have some of the cutest things I've seen and very reasonable. Couldn't resist these cute Christmas cherubs. I have them on the shelf above my kitchen sink.



I am a very happy grandma. Brian, Alison and Brandon arrived this evening for the holidays. Brandon has changed so much in the month since we last saw him. He is more alert, eyes are very focused on objects, smiles and coos and is really into watching football on the TV!



Grandma Anne and Brandon after grandma gives him a bath in the kitchen sink.

I haven't been able to access my Blog from my desktop for awhile. I keep getting an error message and get redirected so keep going in circles. Hopefully Brian will be able to help when he arrives on Saturday. In the meantime, I can get on using my laptop.

I've been busy decorating the house for Christmas and Chris has been a great help this year.

Chris frosted all these Christmas cookies that my mom made and sent home with me after my trip to Phoenix. Mom baked, Chris frosted, We all eat.



This picture should be hung in the Smithsonian Institute. In 35 years of marriage, this is the second time Chris has helped wrap presents!



Even the dogs get Christmas stockings with goodies in them.





Christmas decorations around the "no tree". I've been very non-traditional the last couple of years and made my gingerbread lady my Christmas tree.

Kidnapped & Tortured:
A quote from our son, Brian, regarding his son, Brandon -
"Brandon was kidnapped at the mall and held against his will for a, fortunately brief, torture session with some fat guy in a red suit and white beard. Lucky for us the guy gave him back when we agreed to buy a CD with the evidence of the torture session. He seemed nice enough, so we won't be pressing charges".



First visit to Santa at 6 weeks of age.



I spent last week with my folks in Chandler, Arizona and since my dad is recovering from having a "pacemaker" installed, I decorated the outside of their house for Christmas. Lowe's had a 50% sale on all Christmas decor so I bought this "Santa on Vacation" air inflated yard decoration for their front yard.



We are almost done with the tiling project on our back patio counter. Next step is to faux paint the front of the cupboards. Fortunately, I have wood to test out the technique before I tackle the cupboards since I have never done this before.