Busy holiday time . . .

It really doesn't matter whether or not I'm in the holiday spirit - it's still a really busy time. We had my family get-together at Mother's on Sunday. The food was wonderful - turkey and dressing, ham, pork roast, green beans, pasta salad, crockpot macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole, pineapple casserole, sweet potato souffle, potato casserole, fresh cranberry salad, deviled eggs, fresh fruit salad, german chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, derby pie, Christmas cookies, pound cake (and there was even more!) Mother always does the turkey, dressing, and gravy and the rest of us bring our specialties. Thankfully the weather cooperated with temperatures in the low 70's so we set up a couple of tables outside on the patio. That kept the crowd down in the house. There were three newbies this year - my 5 month old grandson and my brother's two new step-daughters. We are already anticipating the addition of two new ones next year - I have a new grand-daughter due the 2nd of February and my brother's daughter will make him a grandfather in July. On Friday, Mother and my boys and their families will be at my house for dinner. I have shopping completed for the grandkids, but not for the boys and their wives. I'll probably resort to gift cards. I hate to do it, but time's running out.