I finally got my tree done!

Well Christmas really snuck up on me this year! (like usual) I finally finished my tree on Thursday night. I always get a real one. My son Justin and I went out to the tree farm on Sunday and picked out our tree and cut it down. I always like doing that with at least one of the kids. We have been doing this since Justin was born. He is 22. Wow, time really does go by so quickly. My youngest son will be 16 in just a few weeks. His birthday is one day before mine.
While Christmas shopping the other day, I had an exact list of what each person wanted and only bought from the list. I was thinking how much I miss buying toys and little gifts for the stockings. Someday, I hope to get a granddaughter! Since I have four sons, I never got to buy dolls and dresses and little girl things. I can`t wait! Well yes I can. I don`t think my two younger ones are ready for kids and one of my sons will probably never settle down and get married. The other one has a son, who is going to be 15!!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah!
Family is what it is all about!

Family Trials

Today was a hard day for me. My MIL had to go into a nursing home a month or so ago. She has Alzheimers and was getting very bad. Well today we had an auction at her home. My husband Steve is one of four brothers and three of them came to the auction, one from Florida, one from Virginia and my husband and I attended the auction. I cried when we got to the house and most of the items had already been moved outside or to the basement for the sale. I think it was because it seemed real to me for the first time. I am the total optimist! I think things are never that bad until I actually see it. And for me, seeing that empty house made me realize that my mother in law is really in a home, and does not know anyone anymore. My husbands one brother that lives right near there could not bother to come. That seemed wrong and Steve was upset, but that is another whole story. I think one of the things that bothered me most was knowing how hard she had worked all her life, raising four sons on her own. She was a great lady and I will miss that part of her. But she is happy, she loves for anyone to come see her. She does not miss us when we don`t get up, because she does not remember us. Everything is brand new to her. Kevin, the yougest son took her some ice cream and she was delighted with it, it was like something she had never eaten or even seen.
Maybe that is the best thing about this horrible disease.