Monday, 12/26/22, Hailey and I went shopping, Stopped at Melissa's for Hailey to pick up clothes, met Alec and Maddy at Coco Loco

Sister Debbie holding her new granddaughter Emma.  She's just beautiful!

Jack, Hailey and Abby

Dinner at Coco Loco with Alec, Maddy, Brielle, me, Hailey and Bill

Maddy and Brielle

Alec feeding Brielle

 Got up and got my morning routine done.  Bill went for coffee with Charlie.  Hailey and I decided to go to pick up some things at Meijer.  We thought we would go to the one in the country and it would be less busy.  The parking lot was full.  We drove around for a few minutes trying to find a parking spot, then parked at the opposite end of the store where we needed to be because we decided we would rather walk inside.  We had pop cans to take back, so we headed to the back of the store.  There was only one other person returning cans besides us.  Hailey did a garbage bag full and I did one.  It didn't take us long.  We walked down every aisle in the food department and got some things Hailey wanted and some things I needed.  It was pretty amazing that the store wasn't very busy with all those cars outside.  We laughed and wondered where all the people were.  We stopped at Hailey's house so she could get more clothes.  Jack came outside, then Melissa came out on the porch, then Bruce came out too.  So did Abby!  We visited for a few minutes, then came back to my house.  Hailey hung out upstairs,  I wrapped gifts upstairs across from her room. I had two I needed to wrap.  At six, we met Alec, Maddy and Brielle at Coco Loco.  It was almost empty in there which was another surprise.  We had good food and gave Maddy, Alec and Brielle their Christmas gifts.  We had the best waitress!  She was amazing.  We gave her a good tip and left a New Life Card. 

Vikki called and said she was talking to Kimmy, and she said Jared wasn't feeling good.  Kimmy wanted me to start praying too, which of course I was so happy to do.  We all love Jared so much and sure don't want anything happening to him.  Kimmy told him he needed to be checked out, so they went to Urgent Care.  He was getting pretty dizzy, was hot and nauseous.  It happed a few times during the day.  The did some tests and and ekg which were all good.  They didn't get any answers.  He will get bloodwork tomorrow. 

When we got home, Hailey, Bill and I watched the movie Catching Faith.  It was a really good movie.  We enjoyed chocolate covered cashews that I had made earlier for our snack.

 

Sunday, 12/25/22, Merry Christmas! Went to Vikki's, Went to Melissa's, Went to Kimmy's, Watched Christmas with the Kranks

We had 3 squirrels sharing the bird food today.  One is behind the tree.  I didn't chase them away because I figured they needed Christmas dinner

Hailey and Bill in front of our tree

Hailey with Manny, Vikki's tortoise 

Peyton (with Lucy), Vikki, Rody and Isaac

Peyton, Hailey, me, Isaac and Bill

Me and Hailey

Me, Hailey and Bill

Isaac working on his new lego set!

Peyton putting her new lego set together

Hailey, Bill and I visiting Melissa and family through the window.  Melissa and Max are sick so could only do the window visit.  Jack is outside in the background.  He hasn't gotten sick and is being really careful wearing a mask

Evan thought he was funny standing in the window looking way taller than me.  He's so cute!

Jack and Papa

Hailey and Abby.  She sure loves her doggie!

Kimmy and Jared face timed us to tell us Merry Christmas which was so sweet

Bill, Jacob, Eli, me, Hailey and Kimmy(not shown) playing Skip Bo.  Jared overseeing the game

Eli, Adam, Hailey and Jacob....silly cousins

 Lots of fun and in the end a great picture of these wonderful kids

Eli, me, Adam, Hailey, Jacob, and Bill (Adam and I kind of matching)

Bill went to Christmas church service this morning.  Hailey and I watched online so we didn't get exposed to all the sickness going around.  Kelly and Suzie led worship.  Both have beautiful voices, but the sound was off key for some reason this morning.  The songs were beautiful Christmas songs though. 

I called Kimmy and we told everyone Merry Christmas on speaker phone.  They were all playing bedwars, so we hung up and Kimmy said she would call back later.  Kimmy and Jared face timed us later and told us Merry Christmas.  It was such a fun, wonderful surprise to get to see them and tell them.  They were getting ready to eat and so were we.  We said we would stop over later which is our tradition.

I made a roast, carrots and potatoes for our Christmas dinner.  While it was in the over, Hailey and I made no bake cookies.  We ate our dinner and Hailey told me it was really good.  She loves roast.  We went to visit Vikki and Rody after we ate.  We had a nice time and loved seeing how they have decorated and painted their house.  We took pictures by their tree.  After we left there, we went to do a porch visit with Melissa and family.  Bruce and Jack are healthy, so they came outside to visit with us.  We visited through the porch with Melissa, Max and Evan.  We sure were happy to see them.  Will be even happier when Melissa and Max are feeling better.  Such a bummer not to be able to get together in person, but it will still happen.  It was a cold 19 degrees, but lots warmer than the 7 degrees it has been.  The wind died down too which made it even better.  We went to Tim Horton's because my phone said the drive through was open.  It wasn't though.  Then we thought we would get frappe's at McDonald's and we pulled in, but the one on State Street was way too busy.  I said we should just go to the one in Freeland because it's never that busy.  Well, it was closed even though there were lots of lights inside.  Another disappointment.  Then I checked and the one in Midland was closed too.  We decided that Kimmy would have good coffee for us.  We got to Kimmy and Jared's and not only did they have great coffee, they had apple pie for us too.  It was so delicious.  Kimmy, Jared, Jacob, Adam, Hailey and I played Hailey's game Taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza game.  We had so much fun and sure did laugh.  I sure need to practice that game more.  Bill and Eli don't want to try the game.  They sure missed out on a lot of laughs.  Kimmy, Eli, Hailey, Jacob and Bill and I played Skip Bo partners after that.  It was lots of fun too.  Kimmy and Eli won.  They just kept getting every card they needed.  That game is fun too.  We took some fun Christmas pictures, then headed home.  Bill gave all of the grandkids gift cards today.  They were sure happy to get them.  That was such a thoughtful thing for him to think of and do.  

When we got home, we ate some left over roast, carrots and potatoes.  Then we watched the movie, The Kranks.  After it was over, Hailey went to bed and Bill and I stayed up for a while longer.  

Sat., 12/24/22...Christmas Eve! Talked to Melissa to see how she was doing, Vikki and Family and Kimmy and Family came over and spent the day,

Eli and Peyton

Hailey and Peyton

Adam

Eli while watching Frosty the Snowman

Peyton playing pictionary

Isaac

Peyton, Hailey, Adam and Jacob playing Haileys game....Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.

Jared, Hailey, Adam and Jacob (Jared reading directions so he could learn how to play the game)

Beautiful snowman Vikki made for Kimmy

Hailey while we played her game

Adam, Kimmy, Jacob, Jared and Hailey...we had so much fun playing Hailey's new game.  

Jacob

Short video of us having lots of fun playing Hailey's game

I didn't sleep good last night because at around 3 the radio alarm in the living room went off.  I got up to see what alarm was going off.  I had unplugged the surge protector and plugged it back in and somehow it had set the alarm.  I shut it off, then went back to bed, but couldn't sleep.  I was just falling asleep, when it sounded like another alarm was going off.  I got up and after looking around, discovered it was someone plowing the neighbors driveway and doing a lot of backing up which caused the beeping sound.  That was at 5 a.m.  I did some praying, then went back to bed to try to get to sleep again.  I finally fell asleep at 7 and got up at 9.  Bill got up at the same time.  Hailey slept until 10:30.  I made chicken noodle soup for Melissa and family.  I had offered the day before yesterday, but she wasn't feeling like eating then, so she said she didn't want me to make it.  Last night, she told me she would like some.  I am so happy she is eating.  Hailey had a bowl of soup for lunch and so did Bill.  

Another awful cold, windy day.  Bill tried to snow blow the driveway, but it wouldn't start.  It was froze up.  He took a heater out to put by it.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over and brought stuff to make chicken noodle soup too.  I helped her cut up some vegetables for it to make it go faster.  Her soup was yummy.  Kimmy and family came over next.  Not good weather to travel in, but Jared is a great driver, even though he drives a little fast lol.  We ate soup, then Vikki made mac and cheese for fussy kids who didn't want soup.  Hailey, Kimmy, Vikki, Jacob and I played a game of 3-13.  Peyton was the winner and Jacob was a close second.    

Melissa called me to say she loved the soup.  We talked several times today.  I can't wait until she is better and I can see her again.  

Jared, Kimmy, Vikki, Rody, and Bill and I played Skip Bo.  We had fun!  Kimmy and Jared got amazing cards and were the winners.  I got tons of 4's during the game.  I had 4 in a row in my pile once.  We had lots of fun though.    Next we played Hailey's fun game.  We laughed so hard.  Kimmy and I messed up the most, but got better at it after we played it a while.  Such a fun time.  

We watched Frosty the Snowman, then played Pictionary which Peyton wanted to play.  We had fun doing that too and us older people won.  What a fun day with family, even though we didn't celebrate our family Christmas!  We can't wait to celebrate on the 31st with Melissa and family.  It is supposed to be in the 50's that day too which will be a welcomed change.  Everyone helped clean up the house before leaving even though I told them to just leave because the wind was still howling and blowing, they had Christmas stuff to do tonight to be ready for tomorrow,  and I also wanted them to get home safely.  They insisted though and with everyone helping it was sure fast.  Thank you dear family!

Friday, 12/23/22, Snowing and Blowing and 7 degrees without the wind chill. Good day to stay inside and watch movies. Thankful my family and friends are all safe and warm.

Hailey spending the day with us.  We watched Silver Bells, a really good Christmas movie.

Lots of birds were looking for food that had fallen from the feeder on the ground, so I put more there for them since it was bare ground protected by the tree.  Hard to tell what are leaves that have fallen because of the high winds and what are birds

The flags are really blowing today and so is the snow

Big drift where I shoveled.  Trying to keep it cleared by Kit Kat's house and a path
shoveled to the end of the garage.

Hailey and Papa during our 3-13 game

Picture Maddy sent me of Brielle looking beautiful in her cute Christmas outfit

It was nice sleeping in this morning although I did get up a couple of times early to check on the weather conditions and also check on Kit Kat.  I went back to bed until 8:30 which is sleeping in for me.  I went out and shoveled around Kit Kat's house, food and water dish, and also shoveled a path to the end of the house.  Then I did my Bible reading.   Bill got up next and went outside to snow blow the driveway and some paths to the shed.  I told him I would just wait until the wind died down, but he always likes to keep up with the snow.  The whole top cover that protects him blew off once.  I went out to help him get it back on, but by the time I put my hat, gloves, coat and boots on, he had it almost back on.  Hailey got up and came downstairs around 10:30.  When Bill came in, I made eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.  Hailey wanted to wait and just have lunch.  Kit Kat came to eat in the morning, but didn't get in her cat house that I had protected with a tarp which I secured really good and also put a stepping stone on top so it wouldn't blow.  She wouldn't go in it though.  I didn't see her the rest of the day, but did see footprints where she came to get a drink of water.  Hopefully I see her before bedtime.  She usually comes to eat around 9 each night.  I put a handful of food down and bring in her feeder so no raccoons eat her food.  She loves eating that handful of food.  

I talked to Melissa.  She was feeling a little weak today but she ate some protein and took extra potassium and that helped.  I can't wait til she is better.  Sure am praying for my sweet girl.  Max's cough was worse today too.  Can't wait for him to get better too.  Lots of praying going on.  

Bill, Hailey and I watched the movie, Silver Bells.  It is such a good movie with a great message.  We all liked it.  Hailey hadn't seen it before.  We ate and then we played 3-13.  Bill was ahead until the last round.  I went out fast and he got stuck with lots of points, which won me the game.  We watched the movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year afterward.

Thurs, 12/22/22, Hailey and Breanna left to go to Hailey's dr. appt.Took the Christmas lights down and put the Nativity away,

Eli took this picture at the school when we picked up Jacob.  It is pretty cool.  He took the next two pictures too and sent me them.  What a fun kiddo!

 

My face when I saw how Bill caulked the new doorbell.   I forgot it videos!  It sure caught my first opinion of it and recorded it.  This picture with my expression says it all lol.

The doorbell.  

Got up early so I would be up before Hailey and Brianna.  They got up about a half hour later.  Hailey ate cereal, but Brianna just wanted coffee.  They left with their coffees to go.  Hailey's appt. in Ann Arbor was at 8:30.  She texted me to let me know it went good.  They stopped at Bob Evan's before heading home.  I went to Meijer for a few things, thinking it was 7:30 and wouldn't be busy.  Boy was I wrong.  Everybody was there with the same idea I guess.  There were several bins with no food in them in the fruit and veggie section.  I got what I needed, then left. 

I talked to Melissa and she was worse.  Bruce called the doctor for her, but she has to wait until he is done with his patients to call her.  We prayed that he would give her an antibiotic, because when she gets congestion, it usually ends up with her getting pneumonia unless she gets on an antibiotic.  

The girls got back and helped me carry all the empty boxes for the outside nativity pieces downstairs.  Then Hailey had to take Brianna home, and was going to see Brooklyn.  Bill wanted me to help him take all the Christmas lights down before the big storm.  It was in the mid 30's so it was a nice day to take them down.  We got them all rolled on reels and packed away.  Bill worked on getting the generator started while I washed the nativity pieces off and packed them in the boxes.  Then I took them upstairs and put them in the attic.  I am very thankful for walk in attics.  

I put some things that I didn't want blowing around in the garage.  They are saying this is to be quite the storm/blizzard.  I talked to Kimmy a couple of times, and talked to Melissa a couple of times.  The doctor did order her an antibiotic and another medicine.  I am so thankful.  I put her on our church prayer list.  I talked to Vikki and FaceTimed with her.  Hailey came home, but I heard a dog barking like yesterday which was Bill's phone actually, so I thought he was home from helping Vikki.  He met her at Home Depot and hauled a rug back to her house for her.  It was Hailey at the door.  He had changed the doorbell to a barking dog.  Hailey called me to let me know it was her at the door, so I let her in.  We had a good laugh over that one.  

Bill and I started a couple of G rated movies, but they were pretty boring.  The other G ones we have watched were so good.  We decided to forget trying to watch a movie.