Just a quick note to wish all our loyal readers a HAPPY NEW YEAR and best wishes to Anna and Dan on their first anniversary. Rose, Jalen, Brayden, and I are going out for an early New Year's Eve dinner to celebrate the occasion and also a belated birthday happening for Jalen's December birthday which occurs so close to Christmas that it seems a bit overlooked. We've had the boys since Saturday and have to give them up tomorrow, much to our reluctance.

Last Friday evening I went to a place back in my old neighborhood - the Dorsett Inn!! I was looking for a checkered future but I don't think it's in the cards. I met my old coworker from GMAC, Liz, and her sister Sue, who did my taxes for years, there. We talked, laughed, reminisced, listened to a lot of music that was 'after my time', and made plans for summer weekends at the lakehouse. We had a super evening and plan to do it again soon.

Donald and Vita came by Sunday morning with three of their grandsons, Jake, Joe, and Christopher. Jalen, Brayden, Jamil, and Layla were already here. Layla was outnumbered by the five boys but it didn't seem to bother her. The group took right up with each other and made immediate friends. Mark and Karen had given Jalen a Guitar Hero for his PS3 for Christmas and they all took turns playing it. Donald's grandsons had also got one of these guitar noisemakers from Santa and Donald and Vita had spent the previous few days with their grandchildren and their guitar and were thoroughly ready for some peace and quiet. Needless to say, they didn't get it here.

Yesterday afternoon Rose and I took Brayden, Jalen, and Layla to the indoor pool at the Clayton YMCA. Lucky for Rose and me, they closed early or we would have been there past bedtime. When we did get ready to leave, Rose nearly had to wade in to make them get out. It reminded us of our days at the Marshfield Pool when we would stay until our toes were raw from tip-toeing around the pool, our eyes were burning from the chlorine, and our knees were weak from hunger.

Santa brought Margaret a new laptop for Christmas, but I'm not sure if her computer experts have it hooked up for her yet. I love working the New York Times crossword puzzles with mine (and couldn't work them without it), and I know she loves the NYT puzzles, too. I can just picture her at her kitchen table working on one of them with her new computer. She can't imagine how much enjoyment she will get out of it.

This afternoon the boys and I went out to Doug and Suzanne's. The boys immediately disappeared to play with Luke and Josie and I didn't see them again until Rose picked us up two hours later. Doug and Suzanne are among the scores of people whose names I can't even begin to list, who have been so diligent and caring and loving and attentive and sacrificing and noncomplaining and, besides not being able to list the names, can't list all the other gifts of love that I have received again this year. It's the end of another year and I just want to say again HAPPY NEW YEAR. I know the procedure that I'm going to go through on January 8 is going to be an ordeal so please keep me in your prayers.

We got through Christmas and are ready for the New Year. We're not planning on ushering it in by staying up until midnight, but we have Jalen and Brayden staying with us and Jalen may want to see 2008 enter. Goldman and I met Scott over in Illinois this morning to pick up the boys. Rose and I will meet Scott on Tuesday to return them. We got Layla and Jamil Thursday and get to keep them until tomorrow night, so we are having lots of fun with these kids. They're watching Harry Potter 5 right now and Brayden is sitting next to Shirley and asking her all kinds of questions about who's the good guy and who's the bad guy. Shirley very patiently answers all his questions even when the answer is quite obvious.

We went out to the Abbotts' on Christmas Day. They had celebrated with their brood the night before which is their custom but there was still some apple and lemon pie left. I don't know how many Margaret must have made. Rose, Shirley, and I all had to sample some of the ones that didn't get eaten. I tried both kinds.

We went by Chris and Shelly's after we left the Abbotts'. They showed us around their house and all the remodelling they have been doing. They didn't take the day off from their working on it even though it was Christmas. Besides their carpentry work on Christmas, they also did some jogging. I don't remember how many miles. Chris got one of those fancy phones for Christmas. He was calling me one day and Scott answered my phone with just "Hello". Chris didn't recognize his voice, apologized, and hung up. It rang again, and again Scott answered and Chris apologized. Chris caught on by about the third time and didn't think it was a bit funny. Scott did.

Pete called this morning. He and Janet had planned to leave Idaho this morning, heading for Arizona but woke up to a foot of snow and icy roads. They decided to postpone their trip for at least one more day. We did have an earlier Christmas update from Pete and Janet. They had nine for Christmas dinner of prime rib. We tallied up and though he didn't say who couldn't make it, some of the family was missing if only nine were there.

We haven't had a Christmas update from our 2 L contributor out west nor have we heard from Springfield Family about their Christmas. Donald thought he would be in St. Louis sometime this week after spending Christmas with Julie and Jennifer and their families in Plattsburg, but we haven't heard from him yet.

We need a Kansas contributor. Jana and John were busy getting settled in their new house with time out to spend some of the holiday with the Felins. We haven't had recent updates from our Kansas Branch and the holidays. Do we have a volunteer contributor?

Christmas Eve morning and Shirley has Rose's and my stockings filled and hanging on the fireplace 'with care'. We have to wait until tomorrow though to see what's inside. It's going to be a long day, even for us elderly ones.

Scott and the boys arrived late Friday night from Louisville to celebrate Jalen's tenth birthday and to attend Mark and Karen's wedding on Saturday. We had the birthday party Saturday afternoon, and Jalen blew out the candles with the first try. He wouldn't tell us what he wished for but with his birthday gifts and Christmas presents, perhaps his wish came true. I'll ask him on the 26th. Besides his Dad and brother, Aunt Shirley, Aunt Rose, Uncle Ding, Aunt Shelly, Goldman and I attended his party. Becoming an age of 'double digits' is a turning point in growing up, according to Jalen. He is nearing puberty and seems to know what that's all about. {He's the first one to know!]

The wedding was an awesome event. It was held at the St. Louis Artists' Guild which someone told me was once a private home. It was a magnificent place with a lovely room for the ceremony, a huge dining room, some other reception rooms, and that was just the downstairs.

The bride was absolutely stunning and, as she and Mark pledged their vows to each other in a most loving, tender and touching way, it brought tears to our eyes. Brayden had never been to a wedding before and was excited about going but didn't know what to expect or what to do during the ceremony. He proudly told one older woman, "This is my first wedding." Scott held him up so he could see over everyone and, at first, he kept his head bowed until his chin was almost on his chest. He kept this position through most of the ceremony with lots of head raising to see what was going on. The bride and groom spent the evening making everyone welcome and just sparkling with joy and happiness. I'mm eager to see the pictures the photographer took, and Rose has some more that she's going to post. I especially liked the one of the bride,'my three sons,' and me.

Mark's son, Drew, who's a student at Truman, was there for the occasion but his daughter, Katie, who is doing an internship in Kansas City and her fiance', Austin, who's a grad student at KU, were unable to make it due to an ice and snowstorm in mid Missouri. They were sorely missed. I had to card Drew when I caught him with a cocktail and it was hard to believe he is of legal age. There were music and dancing after the reception, ceremony, dinner, and photography session. Brayden, despite much prodding, refused to dance, but Jalen, with little or no prodding, really cut the rug with his Aunt Rose. The evening was a very joyous and memorial event.

We had our family Christmas on Sunday, the 23rd and, again, Katie and Austin were sorely missed. Rose and Shirley prepared a delicious brunch which we ate AFTER we opened the gifts Santa had left during the night. Brayden and Jalen helped pass out gifts UNTIL they found some that Santa had left with their names on them. They quit helping then and there. The bride and groom were here along with the rest of the family, and were going to visit with the bride's family from here. Drew was going home and back to bed.

These are photos from Mark and Karen's wedding on Saturday evening, December 22, 2007. It was one wonderful event!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. After a rather stressful Sunday afternoon, we three women got our Christmas tree picked out, bought, brought home, put in the stand and ready to decorate. I've lived here a long time and it's as close as I've seen the two of them get into an argument when we first started discussing a Christmas tree. Someone once told me I had a quick wit. Denny overheard the comment and put in his two cents worth "If you live with her, it's a smart mouth". Shirley agreed with him when I told her about that conversation before we finished getting the tree arranged. We did enlist John's assistance with some of the tedious chores associated with this task. He was so pleasant that if it was an act, we would certainly be surprised. Putting the ornaments on the tree was a trip down memory lane. Most every one of them had a special memory and association for one or all of us. A new addition this year is a reindeer whose nose lights up when the tree needs water. It really does work!!!

Our little family, Jana, John, and 21 month-old daughter Ellie, left us last night. We surely enjoyed having them spend the time with us. They're excited about their new house and are looking forward to being closer to more of their families. They plan on having Christmas in St. John. Rose set up the tripod and took pictures right before they left. We had some duplicate shots but we're still practicing. Mine and Shirley's faces hurt before we were finished.

We got some wonderful fattening Harry and David chocolates from John and Jana. I had to go for my pre-op this morning and have been trying to gain some weight. These chocolates helped. Rose and Shirley are sure our scales can't possibly be right, especially so soon after they ate the goodies.

Mark and Karen's wedding is Saturday night. They just returned from sailing lessons from some islands near South America. Scott and the boys are coming from Louisville late Friday and have to leave by noon on Sunday. Sunday is Jalen's tenth birthday. Double digits is a big step in growing up he says.

After the wedding on Saturday night, the newly weds are coming here for brunch and our family Christmas. We're having it at ten on Sunday because Scott and the boys have to leave. Mark complained a bit about cutting his wedding night somewhat short but said they will be here promptly at ten. We will be serving some Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon, compliments of Sandi FeLLin. Sandi, I already have to save 2 pieces for friends who won't be here but I've told about it.

Shirley's nephew and wife, Michael and Leslie, came over this evening. Aunt Shirley is their Aunt Rose and Aunt Sue and to her other nieces and nephews. Most of them live in Louisiana, though, and she, like us, doesn't get to see them enough.

Sunday morning and we have lots of snow on the ground. It looked pretty until people started walking dogs, papers got started being delivered and snowplows came through. Goldman came over and shoveled for us and volunteered for any other chores we may have had. We're staying in as much as we can. We've become a bit eccentric in our old age. For Christmas we only need heating pads and hearing aids.

Pete called yesterday with his weekly checkup and report. He and Janet are off today for Christmas with their family in Idaho. He didn't mention any stops in Nevada but I believe Nevada is between Arizona and Idaho. I'll have to look at an atlas. Kelly and his boys were off somewhere in the mountains skiing.

Joe was going to go to a wrestling match Thursday night at the high school where Lydia was cheerleading because he had never seen a live wrestling match. He knows how Scott's boys are wild about wrestling and wanted to see a match but Rose and I suspected he was going to see the the cheerleaders as much as the wrestlers. Jalen wanted to know what he thought of it but something came up and he didn't get to go. Next time....

I was reading an old blog about how Joe used to tell me how he'd wake up in the night thinking no one loved him and I'd fall for it every time. Brayden is smarter than me. He called me from Louisville the other night and I said that to him and, without hesitation, he replied, "If that happens, just call me." My grandson is quick.

We don't have our tree up yet but plan to do that today and tomorrow. We were going to ask Goldman to help us but since he's Jewish we decided not to. When he and Scott were about 8 years old we invited Goldman to eat with us. Scott came in the kitchen and whispered to me "Don't pray. He's Jewish, you know." Now when we're at Scott's, Jalen makes him say the prayer.

Thursday morning and sorta dreary weather here in St. Louis. I shouldn't complain though. Jana has been talking to some of our relatives in Kansas (Manhattan and Salina and other places) who are still without power from the ice storm this past weekend and don't expect it to be restored for several more days. Jana, John, and Ellie went to Kansas this weekend but stayed just ahead of the bad weather.

We are all relieved that the favorable report on Margaret's scare is so very reassuring. Norman and the kids really rallied around with much moral support and lots of prayers. She's back to her cheerful self now when you talk to her. She was tired of Norm's cooking which consisted of a lot of frozen pot pies. [Hard to imagine POT PIES at Margaret's house!] One wonderful note: The church three of the Abbott offspring attend brought food regularly for a couple of weeks. Nice.

Rose and I went shopping yesterday for something to wear to Mark and Karen's wedding. After walking around the Mall and looking at several different stores, we came to this conclusion. Skirts have gotten shorter and heels have gotten higher. Longer skirts and lower heels were hard to find. We're just too old for these current fashions.

Shirley and Rose made their monthly trip to Chicago this weekend. They, too, dodged the bad weather. I spent the weekend with Doug and Suzanne and felt as welcome as rain (and according to Grandpa Madden, that's pretty welcome.) Lucas mostly played video games but Josie and I had some tea parties. She's a Hannah Montana fan and I'm learning about Hannah - Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter. Goldman took me to the Hollensbes' and brought me home. He parked the Cadillac here and drove the Lexus while Rose was gone. He says other drivers are much more polite when he is driving the Cadillac than when he is driving the Lexus.

Jana left St. Louis this past weekend, stopped in Salina, picked up Karen and Ryan and went on to St. John. They visited with a lot of our Kansas relatives while they were there. They went to Betty's and saw Bob's Debby and Joe, Cathy and Gary, but Sandy wasn't there. Sabrina was there with Junior and Martesia. I'm looking forward to their all coming back to the lake this summer and, Junior, you'll be in charge of the trash again. You're still the best yet. Everyone else, especially my own boys, need more prodding. By the way, the boat is in the shop and should be fixed by summer.

Scott took the boys to chop down their own Christmas tree last Sunday. It was cold, rainy, and stormy. Jalen did not have a good time, no doubt remembering the terrible storms of their camping trip. He just wanted to go home and spent most of the time there sitting inside the truck. On the other hand, Brayden was in his element and couldn't help Dad enough. Brayden is sometimes fearless.

Our little family (John, Jana, and Ellie) will be leaving us soon. Their house in Lenexa is almost done. They're going to celebrate Christmas in Atchinson with John's parents this weekend and then in St. John on Christmas. I think I have the little towns in Kansas right.

Margaret sent me the following in an e-mail and asked me to post it. Very good news and a great relief to us all! Thanks, Margaret.


This is Margaret. Auntie M, Mom, Marge, Mag, Sis, Maggie and I have probably been called other things in the last month or so.

I discovered a lump in my right breast around first of November. Naturally, it was on a Saturday and I had to wait until Monday to call my doctor. When I called I got an appointment right away, which should have been my first clue. By Wednesday, I had seen the surgeon and had all the tests necessary for surgery. Because I take a prescribed aspirin I had to wait 10 days for the surgery. I had this on the Friday 10 days later. This procedure was a one day surgery. The lump was removed along with exploration of several lymph nodes and I was quickly recoverying at home or so I thought. When I went back to following Wednesday, I was told the doctor had been unable to determine if all had been removed and I would have to go back under the knife again as soon as I was healed enough. Again, in a week or so, I had surgery and more tissue was removed. I went to the Surgeon this past Wednesday and he said everything was looking favorable but nothing had been returned from the lab yet. Then on Thursday, I had an appointment with Dr. Wilkes, the cancer dr.. who had just received word that all the final tissues had been examined and the outlook is very good.
I will have to take beast cancer prevention pills for 5 years. This will reduce the chance of recurrance to about 10 percent and I will start radiation therapy after the first of the year. It will last for six weeks with time off for Saturdays and Sundays.

Enough of that.

It is Sunday and the ice is heavy on the trees. We need not go out today and that is a good thing. I don't think we would get far. I talked to our son Randy who lives about 35 or so miles west of us and he said they were without power. He has a generator running and they have the crock pot going. When I told him I heard it (the electricity) could be out until Tuesday or Wednesday he decided they were not having as much fun as he thought.

I will sign off for now as Norm is making hot chocolate and I don't want to miss it. Again thanks for all the prayers and words of encouragement which has helped all of us through this ordeal.

Hi Family!

I just wanted to check in to say we are all drying out up here and holding up okay. We are all doing well in spite of this weather. Wow! It sure hit us hard up here. Fortunately none of us are dealing with too many problems. Tammy said that so many people were out of power in Olympia that she would open up here home to folks. She was hoping that if they all took her up on it she would actually have enough room. She can feed them all her lentil soup! It's wonderful!

Work have been very busy as we are trying to manage flood control, energy needs, downed transmission lines and fish operations. (The Chum are spawning...who knew?) Between California and Canada we've been able to sell most of the extra water up here in the form of electricity so my work here is done - until next week.

I have a busy weekend coming up. Getting the tree decorated, putting up more lights outside, making more cookies with nephew Matthew and having two little boys spend the night and go to see the Zoo Lights on a train at the zoo. I don't have to be back to work until Tuesday so I can get lots of Christmasy stuff done. (I think I'll teach these kids the chours of: Glooo-ooria. It's Aunt Sandi's Da-ay off!)

Thanks to the anonymous contributor who settled the bet for Cecile and I. It was Macy's Department Store that was part of the "Miracle on 34th Street" movie. I guess Cecile and I will just have to go out to coffee next time we get together!!! One of us won't be paying...

Hope you are all well and getting into the Christmas spirit. Have a great weekend. (Just 17 shopping days left...)
Sandi

Wednesday evening and I'm back here at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for my IVIG treatment. Chris brought me this morning and I was supposed to be here at 8:30. We were concerned because we were about 10 minutes late. They finally started the IV at 5:30 this evening so our concern wasn't warranted. Someone checks my blood pressure, temperature and pulse every 15 minutes for the first two hours after they start the IV and then hourly afterward. I'm on hourly now. Most of the nurses and aides remember me from my other stays on this floor. This is not necessarily a good sign.

I've been riding the stationery bicycle at least 3 miles per day and, weather permitting, walking between a mile and half and 2 miles daily and often times more. Some days I do both. This is much more than I could do for some time. I was hoping that when Dr. Lopate, the neurologist who oversees treatment of my neuropathy, measured me that he would find a significant improvement. Much to my dismay, he measured me today and, though he found no significent improvement, he also did not find any worsening of my condition. He told me that it's not possible to measure the strength of every muscle so maintaining the use of the muscles I do have is a good sign. He did say he has one more thing 'up his sleeve' that he may try but wants to wait until the other neurologists do the brain monitoring thing. My 'journey back to health' has certainly been a rocky road.

I was in trouble Sunday with Rose and Shirley. I mispelled HiLLary. Hillary has 2 LL's and I spelled it with just one. They had to stand outside in the cold AND WIND for 40 minutes that night before they could get in to see her but both agreed it was worth the wait in the cold.

Hillary didn't talk too long so they got home in time to watch "Desperate Housewives." John and Jana got here just in time to catch the very beginning but had to wait until it was over to unload their car. This was the last episode until the writers' strike is settled. We don't know what we'll do on Sunday nights now.

Shirley went to Chicago today. Ellie and Jana are going to St. John tomorrow. John is going to take a final truckload of household stuff to Kansas on Friday. Rose is going to Chicago on Saturday. I'm not going very far - just to Doug and Suzanne's but I know I'll have the best time and the easiest trip.

Hi All! We are up here in the stormy Pacific Northwest getting blown around. We now have rain - rain - and (did I say...) RAIN! - and hurricane forced winds. Yikes! I still have power and as far as I know the only people without power are on the coast. All of us live inland enough that we are still keeping warm. (Actually, Doug is close to Puget Sound, so he may get his power knocked out - I'll check in with him....) Now they are worried about flooding since the temperature has warmed up and all the snow is rapidly melting. I guess the weather is getting a head start on us this year.

I talked to Mom on Saturday morning and she was babysitting the "grand-dogs"for Anna and Dan while they moved into their new home. What a messy and cold weekend to move! Mom said she was moving her latest quilt project upstairs and would spend the snowy day working away. Mom and Anna collaborate on quilts and are working their way through the family to keep us all warm with a homemade quilted treasure. I was sorry she wasn't able to make it over the mountain to the cookie exchange, but glad to know she was at home, safe, warm and contented with her project.

This past weekend was Cecile's 16th Annual (or so, she's lost count) Cookie Exchange! My good buddy Cheryl and I left from Portland as it was beginning to snow - a rare occurrence here and certainly not this early in the fall/winter season and it kept up with us as we trekked northward. We stopped at Tammy's home and picked up the yummy chocolate cookies she'd made. Tammy is sick with a cold and is having to get her homework done and office work caught up as well as her winter illness over with so she and Dick can take their annual holiday venture to Hawaii mid-month. Poor sister! She was really sick.

Then, Cheryl and I headed over to pick up Cyndi, her cookies and stuff. The snow continued to fall and as the day progressed toward 1:00, Cheryl and I called ahead to our favorite chef Jake Langston, (the football player son of Cyndi and Dave) for a lunch request. He was happy to accommodate us with a yummy grilled cheese sandwich - three kinds of cheese, ham and nicely toasted on dark bread. (Sometimes he puts in a thin slice of apple, but said the apples they had weren't crunchy enough!) We were racing to get to Seattle by 2:00 - we didn't quite make it by-the-way - and the weather was beginning to hinder traffic so I just ran in - Cyndi and Dave loaded the car while I grabbed our sandwiches! What nice thing have I ever done to deserve such service?! Jake cheerfully handed me the warm sandwiches with a smile and a chorus of "I'm the Sandwich Man", sung to the tune of the "The Candy Man". (How does a 14-year-old even know that song?!) Cheryl and I gratefully crunched on our lunch while we three continued north.

By the time we arrived at Doug and Cecile's home - beautifully decorated for Christmas - all was covered in snow! We piled in the house and watched the snow fall all night on the pines through their huge picture windows - into the next day. I was surprised that so many of the "regulars" made it in the weather, but we had 8 cookie bakers show up. Our annual shopping trip had to take a hiatus, however since the weather outside was truly frightful.

After the last local guest left for home, Cecile put a lasagna in the oven and we opened a Christmas jigsaw puzzle and sat around and laughed and worked well into the morning on the thing. What a warm and delightful memory. Cecile's mom, Denise, was stranded with us since her husband was unable to make the 45 minute drive to get her as they were closing the roads, so Doug added another log to the fire and we kept her captive to our antics. (Poor Denise!)

Aside: Could someone help Cecile and I settle a bet? (We bet a latte!). In the Original "Miracle on 34th Street", at which department store did Natalie Woods stage mom work? One of us says Macy's the other says Kohl's. I'm sure I'm right!!! Please comment back so I can get a free coffee out of the deal!! Thanks.

At one point, Cecile sneaked downstairs and started serenading us with Christmas carols on the piano. We were upstairs putting the puzzle together and singing along. When she got to the song "Gloria". Cyndi told us that when Jake was small, he thought the Latin words were in English and said, "It's Aunt Chelsea's daaa- ay off!" Wouldn't you sing, too if you got the day off?! And who is Aunt Chelsea? How funny!! I'll never sing "In excelsis Deo" again. We then had to sing it several times with the updated lyrics!

We headed home the next day laden with tons of cookies safely stored in the trunk and out of temptation's say - hurrying once again, but this time southbound. We dropped Denise off in Auburn and then raced to the auditorium where Kyle (Cyndi and Dave's oldest), was playing with the Symphony Orchestra for a Christmas performance. Cheryl and I had to get home so we couldn't stay. We just dropped Cyndi at the door - about 10 minutes late - and as she made her way to Will Call to pick up her ticket, she found $37 floating in a frozen puddle! Whoo hoo! It pays to be late sometimes!!

Cheryl and I stopped in at Tammy's to bring her cookies to her. Tammy, who was feeling a bit better, had made us homemade lentil soup and foccatia bread. Wow! We eat well on these trips!! The rest of our trek home was uneventful. Thankfully! The wind kept roaring and the rain was coming down in buckets! My windshield wipers never went flinging across the freeway although I kept them on the fastest they would go much of the way. Many schools and roads are closed today because of the power outages and flood conditions. I am home in my cozy office - still in my sweats and slippers. (I won't confess the time of day as I write this). Brother Glenn is, (hopefully), coming over tonight to help me get my Christmas tree. If it's horrible weather, maybe we will have the pick of the crop. Mwa-haahaa! A little weather can't keep us down!!!

I realize I have no pictures of the cookie exchange since I left my camera in the car the whole weekend and haven't filled you in on our Thanksgiving, but Glenn is putting together a family video so I'll post that when he gets it done. Since my son Ty was in Florida for the holiday this year, we all taped him a "hello" so he would get really homesick - quit his job - and head on home. (sigh! That's his mom's wishful thinking...) Glenn does a great job making our home movies interesting. More to come on that later...

My list of overdue phone calls to you all is getting longer and longer. I wish I had more time to keep in touch. I'd love to hear from you all! If you ever want to call me, please feel free. Have a great week and try to keep the true meaning of Christmas in your hearts during the hustle and bustle. Love you!
Blessings,
Sandi
Verizon (971) 219-9123

It's been rather quiet around here this week since we don't have Brayden and Jalen. We did get to watch Ellie Thursday afternoon while John and Jana loaded and packed for their move to Lenexa, KS. Danny, Jana's stepdad, came over from St. John to assist them with the mountainous task. They left Friday morning pulling a trailer and driving a questionable U-Haul. They could probably have passed for the Beverly Hillbillies. They're storing their stuff until their new house is ready in about two weeks. Meanwhile they're going to stay with us during the week and make the long trip back to Kansas on the weekend. We're looking forward to having them, especially Ellie who is not quite two and has taken up with all three of us old ladies.

Brother Pete called Saturday. As usual he was bragging about the weather there but had a slightly different story this time. He and Janet had their windows cleaned last week for the first time since they've been coming there. Also, for one of the very first times since they've been there, it rained on Friday night!! There went those clean windows!!! They were going to drive around Saturday morning and see the mud puddles - a rare thing there.

I had an email from Sandi FeLLin this week after I wrote and nagged her about updating the blog and she promised to do so soon. The women of the family were getting together this weekend for their annual cookie exchange. I was over at Doug and Suzanne's the other night and Suzanne asked me if I wanted a cookie. I asked if they were homemade. She said if slice and bake qualify as homemade then they're homemade. Would she be eligible for the cookie exchange?

We've started our Christmas shopping and I can't say what we're getting Jalen and Brayden cause Jalen may read this but it's a hot item. Goldman and I couldn't find what we were looking for on the Missouri side of the river so we had to cross the Mississippi and go to Edwardsville, IL. to get it. Those boys better appreciate it!

Rose bought another flat screen TV this week and spent a long time installing a swivel stand on the wall to hold it and was feeling very handy in doing so. She put the new TV on it, had it all hooked up and ready, and turned it on. It had a bad picture and a hum in the sound. She fiddled with it and contemplated for three days before finally unhooking it, packing it back in the box, returning it, and exchanging it for a completely different brand and model of television. She's in the process right now of installing the new one. I hope it turns out better or I'll feel really sorry for the salesman.

Alex's team won their basketball game that Rose and I attended last week. Their team really didn't have much competition so it wasn't a close game at all. There was lots of yelling and cheering from spectators on both teams, though. Our side included Sabrina, Dave, Brett, Margaret, Norm, Rose and me.

Shirley leaves on Wednesday for the monthly trip to Chicago. Rose will leave on Saturday. I'm going to stay with Doug and Suzanne over the weekend. I'll go to Barnes Wednesday for my overnight IVIG and on Friday I'm having a cyst removed from my back.

Rose and Shirley are going to see Hilary tonight. She's here in St. Louis and starts at 6:00. I'm going to stay home and wait for John, Jana, and Ellie. Our favorite TV program is Desperate Housewives which starts at 8:00. Rose and Shirley are really hoping to be home by then. John and Jana are striving to get here by 8:00too, cause they're fans of this program, too. Just in case either of them is late, I think Rose is going to record it on her new TV.

I had a email from Donald hoping we can get together again if he gets to St. Louis over the holidays. Hope Vita can join us this time, too. They've heard from cousin Wanda who now lives in Alabama. Her address is:

Wanda Philbrick
245 Glenn Gap Road
Gadsden, AL 35904