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http://ramblingalonginlife.blogspot.com/

First stop was my Grandma's.  She is 85 and mother of 10 children, which has led to almost 60 of us grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren... which, I am second oldest (arghhh)...  For years, it has been the tradition to stop by Grandma's on Christmas Eve.  I used to be a big feast of food that she would cook from what my uncles and cousins would hunt.  As the family has grown and my uncles and aunts have grandchildren of their own, it got a bit much and in a small house with an 85 year old woman... all she wants is to relax, but it is good to see a smile on her face when we walk in and also when a new baby comes in the door... Love my Grandma...

This is me with my aunt Jeanette (Monkey).  My mom being one of 10 (5 girls and 5 boys), there were some of them that I have become closer to over the years, Monkey is one of them.  She is just as crazy as the rest of us. Love her to death.  Monkey and I and a few others are always busted for laughing and carrying on (without alcohol) because we have such dirty minds... and usually jokes that go over some folks heads.  She is a blast at family events and one of these days Jeff and I will get her out for some wine and really dish about the family...hehehe...

My mom has a pinched nerve so she was not able to make to Grandma's...boo!  But after Grandma's, I headed to my dad's for the night.  We watched a little football, then some Christmas movie stuff, then got sucked into a marathon of Swamp People...I know, how holidayish can you get...but we would just shoot the breeze and it was nice to hang out... Elaine (step-mom) was busy wrapping presents in other room, went to bed...then dad headed off and I crashed on the sofa...Christmas morning they made me a nice breakfast, we loaded up the Pacifica with my niece, Candence's big girl bed and I headed off to mom's for the day...

My brother sent us all pics of Cadence from her first Christmas in her own home after Santa Clause (she is 3 now, previous few years she was at a grandparents house)... so she had been  told she was getting a big girl bed for Christmas... well, when she got this bean bag this morning she loved it and thought it was the big girl bed...hehehe too cute in her princess outfit... she gets the actual bed when she gets back to Richmond Tuesday... it is in the back of our SUV.  I feel bad though... I walked out of dad's without even breaking out the camera.  We were just relaxing Saturday night and then kinda of hustling around Sunday morning and all were out the door... damn!

So, I got to mom's and hung out for several hours.  I was surprised at how she was moving around with a pinched nerve in her hip and all, but she was her typical self and not able to sit still for a minute.  Had a great lunch with her and my stepdad...

and my sister Morgan showed up (who I have not seen in ages)... remember this is early Christmas morning, neither of us are in our make up...hehehe... well it was afternoon, but still...both of us has traveled many miles over the last couple days... we needed comfy clothes...

Overall...it was a great Christmas, I got to see my parents and step-parents, my Grandma, some of favorite uncles and aunts, Morgan... I will see my brother, Amanda and Cadence this week when they get back from Lynchburg... also, Sloan will be in town this week...wooo hooo!!! Must make it to work everyday on time... Even though Jeff and I were not the best with giving creative gifts this year, we did get some good stuff (and a little cash)... soo, two thumbs up for me this year on Christmas... Even though Jeff was home last week to visit family, it was not on the best of occasions, I wish we would have been able to make it work for him to get home... I love him for staying with the doggies and giving me the chance to go see my family this weekend... I know I owe him big... and, well, he deserves it.  Now I am going to finish this post and this drink and go crawl in bed with him and three dogs and hopefully sleep late tomorrow, well today...(we are both off)... Again, if you made it this far in this long ass post... I hope you had a wonderful weekend and thank you all for the comments... now 2012!

I don't think it really bothers me either way. Typically, starting after Thanksgiving, I say "Happy Holidays" to everyone because I do have Jewish friends, it is Christmas time, New Year's is around the corner and there are a multitude of holidays during this time period, so I make sure I cover my basis... If someone responds with a Merry Christmas to you, I will respond with the same... 

My Christmas weekend wrap up may come later tonite, but likely in the morning.  I do hope everyone had a good long weekend with your family and/or friends.  Now on to 2012!!

The last 6 years has brought joy and pain.. The blog world has been very kind to me over the years. You have supported my Pride Month picture, you have introduced me to Vodka/Fresca. I have met so many great people from blogging and hope to meet many more along the way. Facebook has made blogging sorta a backseat thing, but we all know there is always fun in the backseat... hehehe...

Along the way you have followed some big changes in my life.  You were introduced to my man Jeff, who I have been with since 2002... and was engaged to before (in 2004) the blog and then

married in 2010 in DC. 

Cricket has been along for the ride the whole time and we adopted Pino from the SPCA in 2005, then this year adopted Roxy to add to our family... Cricket, Pino and Roxy...ahhh the howling.... Jeff and I have been through some tough times with our finances and with some friends, but we are making it.  

In the last  6 years, I have been promoted at work... have welcomed a niece into the world... and lost a dear friend to a 27 year fight against HIV.  Jeff and I have been to PuertoVallarta (twice), NYC to see Paula Dean, San Francisco to meet wonderful bloggers for Pride Weekend, Nags Head (several times),  The Pines Fire Island, New Orleans for Southern Decadence to meet more bloggers(and hang out with the fairest of them all)...I have had bloggers visit Richmond and hang out (Bossy, Idle Eyes).... 

My blog has been an outlet unlike any other.  It was there before Facebook and will be there like my family photo album.  This is where I share my thoughts, my pictures and my life.  Thank you all for being a part of it for the last 6 years and I hope to keep it going (as long as Facebook does not kill it).

YAY ME!! for doing this for 6 years!! (credits go to vodka and fresca)

Thanks to all of you who have followed me through the years... Anne Marie,  Mike Lewis (for getting into this blog thing), BrettCajun, Tony (Life's wonderful brushstrokes), Kelly (jet boy), Kelly in TX, Idle Eyes, Tom Rimmington,  LargeTony, DanNation, Spirit of St Lewis, UrSpo and Maddog (among many many others who I am too drunk to remember)... 

Hugs to you all and thank you for looking in on my little life.

Special love to my husband for dealing with my blog-world life and to my friends and family who put up with this shit.... you all mean the world to me... THANK  YOU!