In these moments....

With literally less than a week until Santa comes to town...we jumped into the truck with our quest and final mission to "Cut our tree down at Home Depot Farms"- haha.
We have had Soccer games, soccer parties, gatherings for this and that....
And the month literally just flew by....
Kris topping our tree with my new star "PEACE...HOPE...JOY"..........

Last week I received a card, as I always do from Grandma Allie Mae. The card is always hand written. Always a kind note. And ALWAYS a reminder that she wants to see us. Another year passing without seeing us....So I started to make plans. Gathering my sister and Tanya (an old friend and family through family...fun fun girl...)...to take her to dinner....Grandma Allie Mae was a nanny to my sister and I when the girls were little. Little meaning, Kali 6 weeks, and Tori 6 Months. She had her hands full...she was in her late 70's.
Allie Mae is now 92. When I see her, I see a history of loving children. Of loving everyone she can. She would rock little Kali for hours. I supplied my own milk..and Allie had a tough time trying to get Kali to drink it from a bottle....she'd cry, Allie would rock her...and so on and so on...the day would roll away...Kali only taking in maybe 2 oz's. The new weeks turned into months...and into years.....
She would sit with Kali and Tori, into their 2's and 3's...singing them "Jesus loves me", &
"The Bear went over the mountain".....These girls had it made with her. It wasn't until they both reached almost 3....I would come home, and something new would be found. One day it was my newly painted hallway walls..."beautified" with crayons. Large pictures drawn....On another day it was their curiosity in the hallway closet, learning to stack things on chairs to get up in....We finally had to both find our own stay in nannies, able to keep up with their tactics. We will always hold Allie Mae close to our hearts. These girls will never know how precious it is to have someone like that hold them, wipe their tears, clean their bottoms...In our home. With our goods, in their beds....Thank you Grandma Allie Mae. We bought her some new pajamas and a framed picture of her once sweet little baby girls....These are the moments...This is what the holidays should do. This is where our time should get consumed. Not standing in lines...but listening to her life...her stories...her memories of our sweet Angels...Even more enlightening...watching Kali and Tori 15 years later...wheel her little "helper cart" to the parking lot. Watching them caress her hands, and helping "her" put her purse up....How the process of life...changes....
Yesterday Bill and hosted our annual employee dinner at Wood Ranch. This year it included our Gaylord's family..and Fatal Clothing family too.....Kali and headed over early to decorate the tables with balloons and poinsettias. (Found those cute yellow "real" poinsettia's at the 99 cents store...) Such a cute color to decorate for the holidays...The color yellow for Peace and Forever...
The Fatal Clothing side...
Mark and Angela....
I arrived home last night...Bucksie waiting for "Anyone" to come home. Kris went Snowboarding...Kali at the movies...next best thing for him? ME! He is asleep on Kali's Santa's Wish List....can't wait to let him open his presents this year! Merry Christmas everyone...it's getting closer and closer. I am still fighting a cold. Haven't really been myself. More than any symptoms, it's fatigue. For 6 days! And fatigue for me, is NO BUENO! Today I celebrate with my hair appointment...and a little more shopping. I told myself this morning while waking...This is it. These are the moments...life is fast. Slow down. Don't worry. You can't remember and do everything....The people that love you will still love you even after Christmas. We can try to do for all, but sometimes we just give everything we can...and learn to exhale and remember what the season is about. Time for Family and Friends...Good meals, Good wine....laughter, hugs, pictures...and smiles. Soak it all in. P.S. How lucky are we with this California sunshine? 70's on Christmas Day....Sorry East coast followers... Cheers!