December 2018

As this busy year comes to a close it started to get better.  Hanukkah was early and the first Sunday of the month we went downtown for our annual Hanukkah on Main event.  CJ offered to volunteer this year at the event.  We had to go early so that she could get set up at her booth.  She was placed at the booth helping kids make clay dreidels. When we got there I started talking to this high school girl about CJ joining BBYO and the event she just went to. The girl stated that she was a member of BBYO and just missed the event because she had to babysit.  She talked a long time to CJ about how much she loved BBYO.  The next thing that I know her mother walks up and it was my friend Susan that I have not seen in along time.  The girl that we were talking to was her daughter Ellie and I did not even know it.  She did not even know that the girl she was talking to was CJ.  We could not believe how much the girls had grown up.  I had not seen Ellie since she was in elementary school and Ellie had not seen CJ since she was little.  It was so funny.

CJ had a great time helping out and the service was fun like always.  I got interviewed for the news because the girl had remembered seeing me last year at the event.

The week of Hanukkah was fun.  CJ had a video for the morning announcement at school.  She was happy to get new clothes to wear to school.  The new coat that I got her did not fit so we had to return it.  When we returned it we made the cashier so happy because she wanted that same coat and was about to order one in that same size.  CJ was not happy, but she was happy with the new shirt that she picked out.  CJ was so happy to be using her new Menorah that she got for the Bat Mitzvah.

My sister Lydia on Tuesday flew into Atlanta for a conference with her company.  I talked to her about getting her boss to change her plane ticket so that after the conference she would not flight out of Friday but on Sunday so that she could spend the last weekend of Hanukkah with us.  She was able to do that and I was so excited to see her that I took the day off work on Friday and after work on Thursday I drove straight down to see her.  CJ from the time that she found out that her aunty was coming started to count down the days.  Everyone of her teacher know why she was going to be out even before I could send out the email.  Lydia was staying just outside of Atlanta in Alpheretta which is where the North Point Mall is with the American girl doll store. On our why down to see Lydia, Jay called and told us that he was offered a job and accepted it. It was like another Hanukkah gift. By the time we got to Alpheretta Lydia was not done with her conference so CJ and I went to the mall.  CJ played some at the American girl doll store but we were both hungry so we left and got something to eat.  CJ started to complain that her throat was hurting and that she really did not feel the greatest.  As soon as we got back to Lydia's hotel CJ went right to sleep. Lydia and I stayed up for a long time talking until neither of us could keep our eyes open.

In the morning we got up, had breakfast, packed and went to the mall so CJ could spend more time at American Girl store. She still did not feel the greatest and asked to leave and go home.  She just wanted to go home.  On the way home she slept in the car the whole time.  By the time we got home she just went upstairs to bed and did not what to get up.

That night was the sisterhood Hanukkah dinner and services.  CJ was to sing in the choir that night but we did not take her to the dinner or services because she was not feeling any better.  Lydia got to see Ms. Margy again and meet some other friends from temple.  Ms. Margy even brought a present for Lydia, me and CJ.  It was a very lovely dinner and service.  I personally think that the choir was lacking with out CJ there, but I am a mom and I love the choir because CJ is in it.  

After Shabbat services, I took Lydia to our down town to see the Christmas lights and deck the halls in our town hall.  She loved all the beautiful lights.

The next day we got up and the weather man was calling for snow that evening so many of my guesses that were to be coming to Hanukkah dinner were calling and cancelling.  We were going to have so much food left over but that was OK.  Those that were able to make it we had a very nice dinner and a lot of laughs.

  I was so able to spoil my little sister for Hanukkah.  The next morning we got up and it was snowing.  Lydia was worried about me trying to drive to Atlanta to take her back to the airport.  She got on the phone and tried to change her plane ticket to Monday.  The airline give her a hard time and would not change her ticket.  So we hurried up and packed because I was not sure how long it would take driving in the snow to get to Atlanta.  The roads were very bad and slippery.  We only drove about 40 miles a hour even on the highway.  Lydia was so great she knew I was nervous so  she talked to me the whole time keeping by mind off how bad the road were.  As soon as we got the the Georgia line the snow stopped and the rain was just a sprinkle.  It was so weird.  I got her to the airport with lots of time.  I headed back right away so that I would get back before it got dark and I had to drive in the snow at night.  The roads were not as bad going back as they were going.  Right before Lydia's plane was to board the airline stated that they over booked the fight and would anyone like to give up their seat.  Lydia was mad because just that morning she was trying to give up her seat and they would not let her.  She said that no way was she giving up her seat this time.  She was off and headed back to Portland.  I was so sad to see her go.  I loved having her here.  I wish that she lived closer.

The next day we had a day off of school because of the snow and cold.  Jay and I decided that afternoon we would live CJ at home and go shopping.  We found her a new coat to give her for Hanukkah even though Hanukkah was over. She loved the coat. The week went by fast with only having 4 days.

Saturday was very busy.  We got up in the morning and CJ had her piano recital.  She was so happy that she won the big trophy for all of her practicing.  She did not get the biggest given out but it was the second biggest.  Jay was surprised that she was the only one that was not doing a Christmas song.  I was OK with that.   CJ did great, she was upset at herself for messing up during one part but no one would have noticed except for the grimace on her face when she messed up.

 After we left the recital we had to run to Anderson for the American Girl tea party.  CJ got there and started helping right away setting up.  CJ was asked to play Kaya,  the Native American doll. we had to cover up CJ's blue hair.  We wrapped her hair in leather strips so that you could not see the blue.  CJ said that they were so tight that she could not even move her head down so she had to sit up straight the whole time. I was nervous that CJ would be to shy and not talk to the girls, but she did a great job playing Kaya. By the time we had gotten home and settled I received an email from the Children's director of the museum saying that she got lots of complements on what a great job CJ did playing Kaya and would like CJ to be the new Kaya for the American Girl Club. I was so proud of CJ.

So we were told that on the last day of school we could wear jeans if we wore a Santa hat.  So I made one that was more of a Hanukkah hat then a Santa hat.  Some of the lady's at work thought that it was funny that I needed a hat and just went and made one for myself.  Jay loved the dreidel at the end of the hat instead of a ball.  He said that for next year I need to make some of them and sell them at the sisterhood Hanukkah fair. 

Monday CJ had her big Christmas step team performance.  Jay said that he was not going to come but at the last minute surprised CJ.  My friend Martina also came so CJ had a big cheering squad. All the girls looked so cute out there with their Santa hats.  I was so proud of CJ. The step team changed the song and steps so many times that they really only had one good run though with the final dance before preforming it.  CJ and some of the other girls were joking about going to practice and finding out what the new dance was going to be this time.

December 17th which was a Wednesday was the last day of school before winter break.  Jay got all the finely paperwork for his new job and found out that he would be starting January 2nd after the new year.  It was a day to celebrate and many of my worried were gone.

Friday I was going to take one of my students who has had a hard time, her mother was in a bad car accident and has been in the hospital since before Thanksgiving, to Biltmore but it was snowing in the mountain and I really did not what to drive in the snow anymore.  So we all got up and took to Breakfast and shopping.  We then came home and relaxed packed the camper and got ready for our trip to the beach.  Saturday we pulled out.  It was a great trip.  I went for small walks on the beach just about everyday.  It was cold but that was ok.  We met up with Ken and Faye and had dinner with them most nights.  Monday we went to see the movie "Mortal Engines" which was pretty good.  It had a very much star wars feel to it. That night Jay and I went walking through the camp ground to see all the Christmas lights bicycle Bob told us that the moon the other beach was big and orange.  So Jay and I walked down to the beach and saw the most beautiful moon glimmering over the ocean.  I tried to take a picture of it because it was so beautiful but the camera just would not show it.   Tuesday was Christmas and CJ opened her presents, she was funny how excited she was and said that she had trouble sleeping all night.  Jay and gotten her a YoYo which were were not sure about but that was the only that she wanted to play with and would not put down.

Our Friends from the beach have a tandem bike.  CJ still can not ride a bike and is still scared of bikes.  I was telling Ken about it and asked if he would take her on the tandem.  I was hoping that she would like it and them maybe learn to ride.  She got off the bike and said that was so much fun and she wanted to learn to ride a bike.

Wednesday we came home and got the camper all unloaded before the rain started again on Thursday.  Before we left on our trip Jay had bought Willy an automatic cat feeder.  It was gone when we got home.  We could not find it anywhere and Willy was very hungry. The person who was taking care of our cat said that the feeder was there on Monday when he came over but was moved.  Jay decided that it was time to set the trap again and catch the raccoons eating Willy's food.   The first night Jay caught a big raccoon and haled it off. The next day he caught a skunk.  He did not know what to do with the skunk in the trap or how to get rid of it.  So he had to shot it.  Well, it sprayed and the whole garage, yard, and house smelled of skunk.  It was so bad.  We lit candles in the house and Jay washed the driveway and set a fan in the garage.  I am not sure I will never get skunk smell out of my nose.

That night CJ and I tried to go to temple because we had been just sitting at home doing nothing all day.  We got in the car got on the highway and it found that it was backed up.  There had been 4 accidents.  After almost an hour we had only gone 5 miles on the highway and it was not looking any better so we just turned around and went home.  It was just not a day to go out.  Which I needed to get CJ out because she has been just laying round watching TV not doing anything else.  She has also been very grumpy because of it and snapping or getting frustrated at the littlest things.  I really need to find something for her to do other than watch TV.

We ended the year with CJ having her friend Millie over for the night and they watched TV and played games.  Jay bought them fire works and let them shot them off.  I was in bed by 10:00.  We hope that 2019 will be a great year.