SUPPER CLUB - CHRISTMAS EVE EVE!

[purrfect-lady]

Good morning!

We are 32* this morning, breezy and it's damp out but nothing coming down from the sky. The word 'snow' has been bandied about by our weather forecasters but I doubt we'll see any of it.

Today I'll be doing a small amount of baking and Bill will parboil the potatoes for tomorrow's brunch. He likes to make hashbrowns. They will go well with scrambled eggs and ham. My DD is making gluten free blueberry muffins because my DDIL can't eat gluten. Or eggs. I have 2 vegetarians and 2 picky eaters. It's a difficult crowd I cook for. Everyone will be here by 9am so I might not get on the computer tomorrow. Y'all may have to carry on without me.

CHICKIE - you are one busy hostess this weekend! I hope you get help with clean up! Bill always tells me to not bother cleaning BEFORE an event. Invite enough people and they can't see the floors anyway. And there is always cleaning to do AFTER the event. In some ways he has a valid point. But I still do it. (between you and me I think he's just trying to get out of helping clean!)

IRISH - I must be a ditz! I thought Stephen was already gone to bootcamp and I was having a hard time figuring out why he was getting so much time off. They don't usually let the recruits run back to Gramma's for holidays. But then I remembered who his gramma is and figured they made an exception for him! lol! that's too funny about wrapping the gifts in newspaper when Dad worked for the wrapping paper company! We often used the Sunday funnies or road maps. I still have old maps in my wrapping paper totes.

BECKY - nice to be able to please at least one person with your cooking. If you refer to my opening paragraph, you will see that's a difficult thing to achieve in MY family! I've gotten so frustrated that I now cook to please Bill and I and everyone else can either eat around their dislikes or bring their own. lol! Tacos is a very good choice for a family like mine - they can add (or not) whatever they want.

JANA - seems like shared birthdays are a thing in your family! It is in ours, too, only we share ours with our furkids! lol! I can't believe Ethan will be 6. I keep saying that, don't I. Soon I'll be saying, "I can't believe Ethan is going to be 16"! That little pageant you are planning with the grands sounds so purrfect! My sister and I used to do the same thing and make our parents sit and watch. It was hard for two little girls to play all the parts! I'm so excited for the puppy for Christmas! I bet the puppy and kitten will be good friends after the first hissy hello. Especially since they are meeting when both are babies. I can't wait to see what they name the puppy. My BFF's son got his family a puppy last year. "Poppy" is her name. and their Christmas letter was written by Poppy. So funny!

BECCA - Sometimes it's easy to tell about twins but it's nice to have the official lab work done. My neighbor that I walk with has identical twins. They will be 24 in February. I can't tell them apart. I bet your friend loved your table topper.

The last I heard from Tina was about 7pm last night. No significant changes in her mom except a feeding tube for some nutrition. They were doing tests to try to figure out exactly what happened. I know Tina hasn't been sleeping much so I hesitate to call or even text just in case she's managed to catch a nap.

Our dinner tonite will hopefully be that chicken soup. Our friends took a while but eventually decided they DID want to go to our favorite Mexican haunt yesterday about 20 seconds after I put the lid on the crockpot. So we unplugged it and put it in the fridge. We'll cook that today. Finally.

[auntjana]

Good morning!

Mary - your bruch sounds lovely. Around here, I have very tradionalist children. If I did Christmas one way when they were young, that becomes the only way. I am sure that it drives some of my DDIL'S batty, but they have gotten used to it.

We need a run to get milk, a paper, some crunchy bread rounds for spinach dip and drop off the Ward buletins for tomorrow's Christmas program. Then home - to stay and not go out again! Ever! Well, until the Christmas crazies are done.

Dinner - simple soup and a sandwich. Probably egg salad sandwiches.

Have a wonderful Christmas. I love the Christmas season, with all the decorating, gifts and baking. But most of all I love the Reason for the Season, Christ, and celebrating what He has done for us.

Enjoy!
Jana

[Becca]

Hello everyone,Been busy here.OUR DS got here before I got dressed this morning.He has helped us by changing light bulbs,changing gas tanks.Things we can’t do especially with DH weak.

I did the Mumbo dance.The Rest has been cooking.Prepared a tenderloin pork roast,Gooing to add roasted carrots & Potatos.Also stewed apples.Have tons of goodies.

All’s done until they come for Christmas.Will do my turkey breast then.DD is bringing all the rest. Becca
Tina Prayers for you & family.
Jana we are traditionally too.Love it that way.And yes He’s the reason for the Season.

[Irishgram]

Good afternoon from a very soggy, dreary, chilly, SW. Pa...A Purrrfect day to stay put which I vowed to do.....

Mary, Your breakfast/brunch sounds wonderful...It does get hard to cook for those who have problems or are choosy....Dan's girlfriend has to eat gluten free so I do make a Denver Omelet, 1/2 with cheese, 1/2 without...Terry's wife doesn't like cheese...But, with Dan's girlfriend, she is so sensitive, even if the bowl or dish had touched anything gluten, she will get sick...I hate to sit the cookies out, just because I know she can't eat them, poor thing...
And funny, that you thought I was that extra special grammy...I still can't imagine Stephan leaving but my heavens, he is almost 22...Going to be very hard watching him drive down the street on Tuesday....

Becca, Isn't it nice to have someone come and do those odd jobs...I kind of make a list and then Terry gets hit when he stops by..Don't know what I'd do without him....You're making my mouth water just thinking about that pork tenderloin....Enjoy your day....

Jana, Boy, do I go along with what you posted especially about the Reason for the Season...Too many have forgotten! And we seem to be a traditional family..The kids have always come here on most holiday mornings and Jim usually did the pancakes and waffles...This year, I'll be tending most of the cooking but I'll have help, I hope, lol..Next year, I think I will pass it on to Terry and his wife and let them start their own tradition...The kids all say, they want a real McHugh Christmas so hopefully, either next year or when Kathy retires, we'll do it...Not sure my house will be able to handle it, lol....
I too am so anxious to hear the reaction to the new puppy and find out the name...This is so exciting......

As I said, I'm staying in today...Doing the Whirlpool Watusi and trying to fill gift bags with what goes to which one...I might even bake some goodies, maybe....
Yesterday was a super day...I visited with Jim and he was in such a good mood..And for dinner, one of the girls asked if he'd like to eat in his room and brought him his tray...It was just the best! Then I stopped at my sister's...I had gotten big plastic bins to pack all the Omaha stuff in and hopefully, everyone will get them home Ok...But, since she has them in one of her freezers, I had to make sure these bins were big enough, (perfect)...One of her sons lives right next door and asked me to come see his house and his new organ...Long story about the house but he was GIVEN an organ that is better than most organs you'll find in a church...He sat done and started playing and I could have stayed forever...Then I left, stopped at Walmart (store was empty) then I went to Kohl's and it wasn't crowded either...I was able to get everything that was needed and finally got back home about 10:30 (1 tired puppy)..In the meantime, Terry had stopped and dropped off things he had gotten for me for the boys...2 boxes sitting on my dining room table contain night stands from Ikea...Not sure if I can move them and will probably use the newspaper if I decide to wrap....So, other than still being tired, I'm a happy camper.........

Might make a little pot of veggie soup but other than that, not sure what's for dinner...And, not sure if I'll bake, my sister did mention she was making more cookies today and to be sure and stop over tomorrow....

You all have a great day..........

Happy eating.............

[gershwin64]

Hi Thank you all for all your prayers and good thoughts, they are truly helping. Found out today that Mom didn't have a heart attack, they still don't know what did happen and are still running tests as they can. They flushed her lungs out yesterday. They took her off the meds that were keeping her blood pressure up and she's doing it on her own now, they took her off of her pain meds and the sedation. She responded to pain/pressure But when they talk to her there's no response yet. They're at least hopeful now. They said as frail as she is that it'll take a little longer for her to come around so they expect her to start trying to wakeup tomorrow. We sure hope so. I'll try to get on tomorrow or let Mary and Chickie know as soon as I hear and they can share with you all. Again, thank you, we really appreciate your thoughts and prayers, please continue they are truly working.
Holly and the kids were here today and we baked all day and made so many messes but really enjoyed it, we do it every year. ..I started baking as gifts when we were first married so my kids grew up with it as a family tradition and they love it and the grandkids do too. I don't think I would've gotten as much done today if it hadn't been for Holly and Frankie and Jazmyne for sure. .. at least I have gifts to give now. I'll continue to bake tomorrow and get the binding on the quilts and the wrapping finished. I keep trying to keep it as normal as possible, this will be my first ever Christmas without my parents here. I've never spent a Christmas without them since I've been born. ..I will try not to cry. I will be thankful for Frankie and our kids and grandkids and that Mom and Dad are still here and she's being taken care of. If I don't make it back. ... you all have a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy.
Hugs to you all.
Tina