Saturday, December 24, 2011

Our Kainz of a Christmas


It seems as though Christmas comes faster and faster every year.  We had a family gathering at Shannon and Mark's on Friday night.  Shannon had surgery on Thursday, so she was a little groggy, but that certainly didn't stop us from making noise.  The food was excellent.  Vianey, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Larry's exchange student from Mexico, made tamales that were AMAZING!!!  I can't believe she has been here a year and a half and I am only now sampling her cooking!  I love this photo of her, Grandpa Larry, and Nolan!
Grandpa, Nolan, and Vianey
Christmas is such a magical time for children.  I was so lucky to have my wonderful nephew, Gunner, with Grandpa and me!  He came on Tuesday when Erin had Daegon and just went back today.  Let me tell you - six days of chasing a one year-old while caring for Grandpa has given me an entirely new appreciation for caffeine and power naps.  

Gunner is a little miniature man on a mission.  He never just walks - he RUNS!  He runs down the hallway, runs to the Christmas tree, runs, runs, RUNS!  When it gets quiet and Gunner is around, that is NOT a good thing.  It means that there is going to be objects in the toilet that don't belong, there's permanent marker on something that shouldn't have permanent marker on it, or 9-1-1 dispatch is trying to figure out what "Ah-Da TiKi" means. 

Gunner & Papa
He is such a sweetheart!!

This was my favorite holiday picture of Gunner.  Those little pajamas make him so squeezable!  He already is, but the pajamas just make me want to scoop him up and snuggle.  Our bedtime routine is my favorite.  Last night he was so tired and he isn't very fond of his Pack N Play.  I wrapped him up in a blanket and carried him into the bedroom.  As soon as he saw his "crib" he wrapped his little arms around my neck and tightened his grip.  I rocked him and we sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and I decided he could spend Christmas Eve in the big bed with me.  By the time we finished the song, he was sound asleep.
 
Elf on the Run!!!
  
Miss Madeline
Nolan takes gift opening very seriously!
Grandpa & Jackson

No Christmas Eve nap.  Turned out to be a long night for Gunner.

What a CUTIE!!

Jenna Loves Fruit Salad!
Chirstmas Eve was spent at Grandpa Larry's house!  Uncle Lyle, Zachary, Lori, Jenna, Jesse, and Jackson came over.  Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dean came over as well as Mom and Elsie.  Mom made ham, potatoes, green bean casserole, and my favorite - sweet potatoes!  It was wonderful.  It is so nice having a house full of people.  Grandpa adores the company.  Gunner was so good with Jackson, too.  Jackson is a year younger than Gunner and they are so cute together.  Gunner calls him "baby" and pets him and gives him hugs.  Adorable.

Uncle Lyle reading to Gunner

Gunner can make anyone feel better!

It is hard to believe we are on our fourteenth Christmas without Grandma Judy, seventh Christmas without Grandma Jean, and second Christmas without Grandpa Tom.  My grandmothers really set the standard for what Christmas is supposed to be about.  They always made sure that a tree was up, there was a meal prepared, and a gift for everyone.  We have crocheted snowflake ornaments hanging on the tree that Grandma Jean made.  Living in her house, I am surrounded by all these little pieces of her.  All of these Christmases continue to pass by and we continue to see more people pass on and leave these gaps in our lives that are never quite filled.  Another Christmas has come and gone, with new memories made, some old traditions carried on, and resolutions in the works for the year to come.  I swear every year I am going to be a better person and give more than I have the year before because our time here is so precious.
I received this ornament for Christmas the year Grandma Jean died.

Shannon called this morning and invited Grandpa, Gunner, and me over for breakfast.  I asked Grandpa if he wanted to go and he didn't say anything.  I said, "Or, would rather I just took Gunner so you could have some peace and quiet."  He laughed and said, "Yeah, that would be fine."  After breakfast at the Mudler's, I drove Gunner back to Bancroft.  Mom and Elsie came up to visit Grandpa.  When I came home, Mom was just about finished with a book I received for Christmas and we've been hanging out watching TV since.  A very quiet, relaxing Christmas Day finished off with a Packer Game.  PERFECT.  

Merry Christmas to All!

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Newest Addition

Daegon William McCarthy 
 5 lbs 7 oz
17.5 in
1 month early
Mom & Baby are doing well!



Saturday, December 17, 2011

The WOman of the House

Imagine This: 
5'2" tall Kiki goes to buy a Christmas tree.  The guy puts in the back of the truck and away she goes.  Slowly.  Because the tailgate is open and the tree is hanging out the back.  Not secured.  She pulls in the driveway, drags it out, picks it up, smashes it into a few doors, walls, and appliances.  She puts the tree in the stand and secures it.  All 10' of it. 


Now Imagine This:
A mouse croaked right in front of the freezer in the basement.  Kiki stood four feet away flashing lights, hollering, jumping up and down, and throwing things at it to make sure it was dead.

Two weeks later:
The mouse is still dead on the basement floor in front of the freezer.  [Note: D-Con will prevent mice from decomposing, apparently.]  When the hot water goes out, there is no other option than to walk by the mouse to get to the fuse box.  Uncle Lyle must not have noticed it when he went down to check it out.  Damn.  So, Kiki had no choice but to find a plastic bag, a broom, and a dustpan to take care of the mouse.  And, she did.

And Imagine This:
Kiki rolls out of bed yesterday with a nasty sore throat and headache.  She makes the coffee, prepares Grandpa's breakfast tray, and plops herself down for a do-nothing day.  Grandpa wakes up and starts flipping through channels and sipping his coffee.
GRANDPA: I suppose we could get my shower out of the way.
So, Kiki pops some Ibuprofen and gets the shower out of the way.
Mom comes over with Nolan and Madeline.  She bought Nolan and Madeline each a bag full of candy, toys, and Kiki's least personal favorite, penny whistles.
MOM: You have two choices: You can clean up the kitchen or go to the grocery store.
Kiki opted for choice 3: NAP.

Later in the day, Mom had wrapped up her baking.  The great room was still torn apart from putting the tree up.
MOM: You want me to help you clean up?
KIKI: Nah, I'll do it tomorrow.
GRANDPA: Well, go in there and help her.

So, Kiki did.
When she was done with the great room, she did the dining room, then vacuumed up enough bird seed and bird feathers to make a whole new bird and feed it for a month.  Then, Grandpa tipped his recliner back and she vacuumed around his chair.  And has it been mentioned that Grandpa has the first vacuum cleaner ever made?  It sucks.

THEN Imagine This:
Kiki's been working on Christmas cards for well over a week.  As soon as she thinks she's DONE, Grandpa asks, "HEY -- Did you remember (________) ?"
Today has gone something like this:
GRANDPA: You got enough money for stamps?
KIKI: Yep.

{10 Minutes Later}
GRANDPA: If you want to go to the post office right away, I can ride along.
KIKI: Well, I have a few more things that need to get mailed out and I need to finish them up.
GRANDPA: Oh, okay.  To the post office?
KIKI: Yes.

{30 Minutes Later}
GRANDPA: How are you signing those Christmas cards?
KIKI: Well, it depends on who they are going to.
GRANDPA: Oh.  Ok.  Are you painting your nails?
KIKI: Y e  a  h. . .
GRANDPA: I knew it!  I can smell it!  That's okay, though.  You can finish.

{A Little While Later}
GRANDPA: So, are you going after those stamps?  Or, are you going to just take the cards to the post office and put them on there?
KIKI: Well, I'll probably just take them all with me when I go.
GRANDPA: Right now?
KIKI: No, I have some DVDs burning.  I will probably go to the post office in the morning.

{Another Little While Later}
GRANDPA: Sooooo.... how long is the post office open?
KIKI: Probably until 6:00?  I am not sure.
GRANDPA: Well, what time is it right now.
KIKI: It's 5:40.
GRANDPA: Well, you probably won't make it today, huh?


{I've got the Diet Coke.  The question is: Where is the Booze?}