December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!! 

We slept in on Christmas morning, since we got home so late from the Candle light service.  It was really nice to have a leisurely morning. 

After breakfast we opened our gifts from each other and our friends.   In between I made an apple pie to take to Rick and Sharon's later that afternoon. 

Harris looks at the Calendar of the SPS Vacation
from Dave and Elaine

At 1:00 p.m. we headed to Rick and Sharon's house for our Christmas celebration with the family.  What a very special day we had.  Sharon made Lasagna, Michigan salad, and rolls.  I brought apple pie that Jacob wanted and chocolate cake that Chelle wanted.  Dinner was wonderful.  After dinner we went to the tree and opened gifts.  Jacob had to be at work at 5:30, but got called in earlier. 

During the day we had phone calls or talked to the other kids and their families. 

All in all it was an absolutely wonderful Christmas. 



Jacob and his rug



One of many trees at Rick and Sharon's house

Chelle opens a gift

Rick gets a gift

Sharon's rug



 

Sunday, December 23

Church, and choir, then out to lunch afterwards.  The rest of the day we spent at the camper. 

Faith Presbyterian Church

Monday, December 24.

We woke to a pretty chilly morning.  But the cold did not detour us from our Monday morning bike ride.  there were only 11 of us on the ride, due to a lot of people being away for the holiday.  Those of us did go had a really good time. 


Monday afternoon, we had a 4:00 p.m. call to be at church to rehearse the number the choir was to present at the 5:00 p.m. Christmas eve service.  After services, we headed home for dinner. On the way home Chelle called to ask if she could go to church with us.  She and Jacob were planning to go to services together, but Jacob was not feeling to well.  I told her we had already gone to church, but we were going to go to the 11:00 p.m. service at a Methodist church over this way.  She decided to come over here and go with us.  Prior to her coming over, I got a text telling me she and Jacob would be coming over about 8:30.  What a special surprise to have both the kids with us at the candle light service at Lakeview United Methodist Church.  That was the beginning of our very special Christmas. 

Jacob

Chelle

After church we came home and fell into bed. 

Friday: 

What a busy day!!   We began our day with our daily walk around the park (about 1 1/2 miles).  Each morning we plan to get up and walk.  It seems we meet the same people everyday.

After breakfast, we cleaned the house. 

 At 11:30 Jan Powell, picked me up to go to lunch at Mimi's restaurant.   After lunch we headed to the mall to pick up a couple of gifts, (one I needed to get and one Jan needed to get).   I enjoyed my time with Jan and we hope to get together again some time after the first of the year. 

When I got home from my lunch with Jan, we began to get things ready for Janice and David to come over for happy hour and dinner.  We fixed some cheese, smoked sausage, cracker and dip.  For dinner we had home made pizza and the salad Janice brought.  Dessert was chocolate and white coated pretzels.  The evening was really great.


Saturday:

This morning was wash day!!!  So after breakfast we headed to the Laundry to begin our washing.  While the wash was washing we began our walk.  With time up on the washing, we headed back to put the washing in the drying, then back out to finish our walk.   We hung the sheets outside.  (I can't wait to put them on the bed, they will smell sooooo good).  

With the washing done, we headed home to fix chicken salad for Jacob who was coming out to bring us some shredded cabbage for grandpa to make him Cole slaw.  It was really great to have Jacob have lunch with us here at the camper. 

After Jake left, we decided we needed to run out and pick up a few things from the grocery store, and to finish getting a few things for Christmas.  We are finally finished with Christmas. 

Tonight after dinner, we wrapped all the gifts.  We plan to take them to Rick and Sharon's house tomorrow to put them under their tree.   Since we do not have room here at the house. 

Have a wonderful day!

Packages we mailed 2 weeks ago

Packages

Tuesday- Thursday

Gosh were did this week go???  It seems like it just began, and here it is almost over. 

Tuesday

We attended the pancake breakfast at the ballroom here at the park.  After lunch, Rick came over to help Harris change the rims on the camper.  The new ones arrived last week, so they needed to be changed.  I am so thankful that Rick was here to help Harris out.  While the guys worked on the tires, I went shopping with Janice.  

Tuesday night we were invited to Dave and Ellen's (our pastor and his wife) for dinner.  They had also invited another friend (Father Larry) to join us.  Dinner was very delicious, and comfortable.  We had a wonderful time. 

Wednesday:

I went to Weight Watchers for my monthly weigh in.  Then Harris and I finished our Christmas shopping.  Well almost finished.   There is a couple more things to buy, plus stocking stuffers. 

Thursday: 

This morning Harris got up and headed up to the Tennis courts to join the Hiking group for their weekly hike.  The Paradise bus took them to a place where they hiked about 4 1/2 miles and up to 4,000 ft.  Harris said the terrain was rough and rocky. 

I had a Presbyterian Women's meeting at church this morning  ending with lunch.  The special program today was the Faith Church bells.  I enjoyed being with the women at church.  The more I do the more people I meet. 

The same is true around here, the more we do the more people we meet. 

I have not baked anything yet.   I did make coated pretzels the other night and again today.   I found out today, that I am baking desserts for Christmas dinner at Rick and Sharon's house.   So I guess I will be baking. 

I hope you have a wonderful

Monday:

Monday is always Bike Hike day.  It dawned cool this morning, but the sun kept it warm enough for our ride.  There were 19 of us riding today.  We rode 14 miles.  The funniest thing has happened the last couple of weeks.  Each Sunday we go out to eat after church.   Twice our bike group has gone to the same place on Monday that we had lunch on Sunday.  (dodo dodo). 

This afternoon, I decided to make some chocolate covered pretzels, and peanut clusters.  I was in the baking (making) mood.  I need some things from the gro store tomorrow, and I think I will do some more things.  With limited space, I have to be careful what I decide to make, as I don't have a lot of room for to many ingredients. 

I hope you have a wonderful day. 

Thursday

Thursday morning I headed out to attend my PEO group here in Sun City.  I was delighted that so many people remembered me from last season.  This was the Christmas brunch, which was really nice. 

Thursday night be went to "Thursdays at Faith" dinner and program at church.  The meal is always catered and the program is usually great.  The program on Thursday was the "Sun City Ringers" bell choir.  Our Bell director is a part of the group.  Twelve of the 24-26 ringers were part of the program.  What a great program.  They played several Christmas carols which we sang to.  It was a lot of fun.  I was going to take some pictures, but I left the camera in the truck.  So no pics. 

Friday: 

The big event of our day was having lunch with Jacob.  This was the first time we say him since we got here.  After lunch we did some Christmas shopping for Chelle and Jacob.  So that much is done. We are almost done with all the shopping.  We only have Rick, Sharon, and each other to buy for.  It was fun walking around the mall with all the Christmas decorations, and even the people. 

Friday afternoon it began clouding up and by dinner time it rained, first light and then harder.  The forecast was for more rain during the night.  This time the weather forecasters were not wrong.  It did rain during the night.

Saturday: 

We woke up to more rain.  We were suppose to have Patio sales on Saturday, but the rain kept us from going out.  I understand there were a handful of people who did put stuff out.  We decided not to go out in the rain.  It continued to rain all day.  People around here get excited to get rain, since they don't get it very often.  The rain kept up off and on until Sunday morning. 

With it raining, we decided to get something done around the camper that we had been putting off since we got here.  I finally framed some pictures to hang on the wall with the other two we already had hung.  I also began a Christmas letter.  I have not done a Christmas letter in years. 

Sunday:

Sunday, we headed to church for choir practice at 8:00 a.m.  Then after church we went out for lunch before coming home to finish some things we started on Saturday.  The day turned out sunny and nice.  It was a lazy afternoon. 

Wednesday: 

Laundry Day!! 

It has to be done.  So up to the laundry room I went to get the clothes washed and dried.  Harris went to get some boxes to finish getting our Christmas gifts ready to mail to friends and family.  When he got back, he picked me up at the laundry room with clean clothes and those that needed to be hung on the line behind the camper. 

With the laundry done it was lunch time.  One of the joys of being here is to sit outside in the sun to have our lunch.   Then off to the post office to mail the packages.  With that done it was back home to enjoy some down time before dinner.   Harris fixed some brats on the grill, while I fixed french fries, salad and veggies. 

Once dinner was over, we headed up to the Ballroom for a Christmas program with the Singing Cowboy.  It was actually two cowboys called "2nd chance"  They were very good.  In fact I think they could have made it big in Nashville.  The program was GREAT. 

Another perk of living here at Paradise. 

We are suppose to  begin  raining  tomorrow afternoon and Friday.  Folks around here get really excited when it rains, because they don't get much rain.  In fact I understand this year they didn't even get much during monsoon season.  So If it rains a lot, they will be really happy. 

Have a wonderful day!