12.2.12 Tradition 2~ The $5.00 Gift

Christmas Tradition #2: Let's see, a few years ago, wow, about 10 years ago, my mom and I were walking through Walmart during the bustling Christmas shopping season. There was this HUGE I mean like 1lb tub of knock-off LA hair gel. Blue. I picked it up handed it to my mom. I told her what it was. She BURST out laughing. We stood there and laughed and laughed and laughed. Who could we give this too? WHO would use it? Dad? We laughed and laughed. My mom asked how much it was. About $3.00. "let's tell everyone to bring a gift wrapped under $5.00" mom suggested. The rest of the Christmas shopping became about this $5.00 gift. Walmart has a package of forks (4) for $1.00. I found a GIANT pizza (cheap) tupperware, shaped like a slice of pizza. Loose forks in a container = tons of what is this??? when wrapped.The name of the game, "The $5.00 Gift". You pick a gift, you open, you can steal another opened gift or keep. After they were all open they went into the middle of the floor. At my count, grab what you want...lol. That year there was a can of spam I won. The container Kevin took that lucky one home. A tarp, must of been a 4 x 4 dad took that one. A beautiful little Angel night light, mom got. And the hair gel? Mindona, so nice, so kind, she couldn't fight for anything, she tried bless her heart. Her 5 year old came bounding down the stairway, "Hey I want THAT." lol. Every year it's new, fun and you never know what you'll come home with. A smutty book, a pair of earrrings the size of your palm, a picture frame. Consort Hairspray for men. A roll of duct tape. A HUGE enamel cup with a TINY enamel cup. I know the rest of my family will agree, on the day of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all we have and wonder what will I blessed with "Under $5.00".

Christmas Cookie Day 2: Yesterday, Peanut Blossoms. Today Snickerdoodles. :) I will bake these before the season is over! :)

Update: Still nauseous. I watch Food Network allll day long. I can taste, and I'm suppose to eat, but thinking of food is an obsession. Nausea is fading, don't like to drink water, my water bottle got something in it and I can't seem to stomach water... blech. The weather is getting to me too. It's been colder than -30 below for a couple of days and I'm just thinking of the days when they will become longer. On the up and up, I have a blister on my foot. This is good. This means I did well on bedrest because a little bit of walking gave me a blister! :P Ah it's good to be positive!

12.1.12 Christmas and so much more

December 1: I want my kids to hear a little about their family traditions. So I will share them, and we can remember and share together...
Tradition day 1: Christmas cookies. My mom loved Christmas and baking, or maybe it was me. I do believe I love baking more than my mom. I love the scents, I love the mystery. I love the exact measurements and trying new recipes. Lately the last couple of years I have found a love of Snickerdoodles. A light cinnamon, crisp on the outside, light and soft on the inside. Bill's favorite are the Peanut Blossoms. Billy's favorite? Peanut Blossoms, Olivia's favorite? Peanut Blossoms. Lelly likes any kind at this point. Baking just thinking of baking stirs within me a passion to create... to mix!

Update: Day 5, eating every couple of hours wears me out. Sick of eating and it's getting cold. Bill's having to work this weekend and that too bums me out. I know this will be over, but everyday I count the days out of chemo and hope today will be normal... maybe this is a new temporary normal...