Last week was Thanksgiving and now we are in the full throws of year end holidays.  I love this time of year.  We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year.  We stayed at home and just hung out as a family and enjoyed the day, the parade, and the football games.  My Mom and Dad come over for an altogether non-traditional Thanksgiving meal: Fondue, fries, garlic bread, and salad.  We fired up the chocolate fountain and dipped fruit, marshmallows and Snickers bars.  Yes, you heard that right, chocolate covered snickers bars.  Life just doesn’t get much better than that.  It was a great day.

The next day, BLACK FRIDAY, Jenny and I braved the crowds and went to Wal-Mart at 4:45 in the morning and snagged the perfect digital camera for Jenny’s mission trip to Nicaragua.  They had a 12 megapixel camera that uses AA batteries for $69.00.   Not knowing the power situation where she is going I suggested it might be a good idea to not rely on lithium ion.  So now we just need to get some SD card so she can bring back 1000s of pictures.  I was not feeling so well, so I came home and crashed and Jenny and Brad went shopping.  That girl’s shopping stamina is unbelievable.   Then we went to my Mom and Dads to assist with the extreme makeover bathroom edition,  but they really didn’t need that much help at this time.  Maybe next time.  But we did go out to see Disney’s “A Christmas Carol”  Grandpa and Mickey in 2D and Grandma, Jenny, Brad and I in IMAX 3D.  The animation was excellent, the story left a bit to be desired.

On Saturday, the day culminated with the annual trek to IRT for their rendition of  “A Christmas Carol” which, of course was wonderful.  We always enjoy this as family.  It was opening night for the play and they ended it with inviting alumni from the play onto stage and sing the last song with the current cast.  It was truly magical.  Then Mickey had a special moment.  Her class had gone to IRT to see a play called “The Giver” after they read the book in class.  One of the main characters in that play was an alumni of “A Christmas Carol” and Jenny asked him to come say hi to Mickey and he did.  She was in heaven.  It absolutely made her night.

Believe it or not, we have almost all our Christmas shopping done.  Want to know what I got Jenny this year??  Do ya?  Do ya?  Well, so does she, but I’m not telling.

Have a good week, remember people are busy and there is always a blood shortage, so don’t let the festivities get in the way of giving the gift of life.  I’m not to thrilled about needles either, but a few seconds of discomfort can literally extend someone’s life.  O.K., you have hung with me this long,  I have one other challenge:  Do something nice for someone else, but don’t tell anyone.

Dep