(no subject)
The Christmas portion of the holiday has come to a close.
I am at the Amtrak station in Rochester right now.
I asked my brother to get us here a little early so things would not be rushed.
Also, The girls were about to leave to go shopping with their mother so this would allow my brother to have maximum alone ad quiet time. Something that is in high demand right now for all.
At Hawks folks for Christmas there are 2 primary gift related traditions.
1. the Christmas "stocking" (read Sack)
For this we go one person at a time and pull out one item at a time till all the stockings are empty. This takes about 1/2 the time. We usually take a break afterwords for a snack and to put dinner into the oven or what have you.
2. You have to make a guess at the present that is wrapped.
This does not have to be a good guess... it just needs to be a guess.
Sometimes I guess Winnebago's, rudeabeggas (sp), dogs, sticks... what ever comes to mind if I have absolutely no clue...
And if you guess book... that is good enough. you do not then have to guess the title (thankfully) ;-)
This was a book heavy year for me... No surprise since I had a high volume of books on my amazon list. everything from viking history and maps to weaving, beads, bonsai, scifi, etc...
I got a very good assortment of the books.
Hawk did very well and got me some noise canceling ear buds. I tested them on the train on the way out here and they are great for all the low frequency sounds. I think they work better then his earphones which sit over the ears. I am very happy with those and can not wait to try them out at work.
I then got a box that when shook made typical gift sliddy shify noises but when i moved it one particular way it made a squeak. I guessed a mouse.
When I opened it... It was a mouse... with stylus pen and drawing pad. :) I have been wonting one of these for several years now. :bounce:
Then at the end I was give the last gift from Hawks folks. I had not used giraffe as a guess yet that day so I said i was going to guess giraffe...
And inside was the carved out of wood head of a giraffe. :) Yes I made the required godfather reference.
That end of Christmas went well. The lunch and dinner turned out great adn we all ahd a grand time hanging out.
Then we hopped the train to rochester which outside of a bit of a slowdown around lyons and fairport was great. I will be traveling this way out here more often.
After dinner we exchanged presents with my side.
My brother got a kick out of the "DarkSide" Coffee that I got for him from think geek. Along with a coffee grinder. It is one of his few indulgences and I thought he would at least enjoy the funny aspect of it all.
Dad drew my name and he made an end table that holds books in the mission style... It is like other pieces i have from my grandmother. So It will fit in well. I also now have 3 things that my father made from me.... 4 if you count a construction tool. :)
Jim made out well and I will leave him to tell his stories.
The nieces loved their presents... primarily gift cards. Megan is such a girl and loves clothes shopping. Anna is our little tomboy but also loves clothes shopping as long as it is from Gap or Old Navy. Megan only buys from Justice.
I also got the a dance game for their new Wii. Im sure they will get around to that after they have played a bunch of the various mario brothers games.
Yesterday was the 8yr olds birthday... It went well her Grandmother B the one who had just moved back up to Buffalo from Florida was able to come out. Her grandfather B couldnt due to beign called on duty to help move airline passengers from buffalo to NYC via BUS.
I do not think Anna noticed his absence much. she was kept rather busy. first with a shopping trip with her grandma B and then with gifts, dinner (Pizza!!!) and cake!
She lovedd the gifts we got for her. The Nerf gun. I also picked up some of those wind up bugs. she has been wanting some of them for at last 3 years now. So I figured she should get some for her birthday instead of her waisting her money on them. They are a bunch of junk but fun while they last.
I am at the Amtrak station in Rochester right now.
I asked my brother to get us here a little early so things would not be rushed.
Also, The girls were about to leave to go shopping with their mother so this would allow my brother to have maximum alone ad quiet time. Something that is in high demand right now for all.
At Hawks folks for Christmas there are 2 primary gift related traditions.
1. the Christmas "stocking" (read Sack)
For this we go one person at a time and pull out one item at a time till all the stockings are empty. This takes about 1/2 the time. We usually take a break afterwords for a snack and to put dinner into the oven or what have you.
2. You have to make a guess at the present that is wrapped.
This does not have to be a good guess... it just needs to be a guess.
Sometimes I guess Winnebago's, rudeabeggas (sp), dogs, sticks... what ever comes to mind if I have absolutely no clue...
And if you guess book... that is good enough. you do not then have to guess the title (thankfully) ;-)
This was a book heavy year for me... No surprise since I had a high volume of books on my amazon list. everything from viking history and maps to weaving, beads, bonsai, scifi, etc...
I got a very good assortment of the books.
Hawk did very well and got me some noise canceling ear buds. I tested them on the train on the way out here and they are great for all the low frequency sounds. I think they work better then his earphones which sit over the ears. I am very happy with those and can not wait to try them out at work.
I then got a box that when shook made typical gift sliddy shify noises but when i moved it one particular way it made a squeak. I guessed a mouse.
When I opened it... It was a mouse... with stylus pen and drawing pad. :) I have been wonting one of these for several years now. :bounce:
Then at the end I was give the last gift from Hawks folks. I had not used giraffe as a guess yet that day so I said i was going to guess giraffe...
And inside was the carved out of wood head of a giraffe. :) Yes I made the required godfather reference.
That end of Christmas went well. The lunch and dinner turned out great adn we all ahd a grand time hanging out.
Then we hopped the train to rochester which outside of a bit of a slowdown around lyons and fairport was great. I will be traveling this way out here more often.
After dinner we exchanged presents with my side.
My brother got a kick out of the "DarkSide" Coffee that I got for him from think geek. Along with a coffee grinder. It is one of his few indulgences and I thought he would at least enjoy the funny aspect of it all.
Dad drew my name and he made an end table that holds books in the mission style... It is like other pieces i have from my grandmother. So It will fit in well. I also now have 3 things that my father made from me.... 4 if you count a construction tool. :)
Jim made out well and I will leave him to tell his stories.
The nieces loved their presents... primarily gift cards. Megan is such a girl and loves clothes shopping. Anna is our little tomboy but also loves clothes shopping as long as it is from Gap or Old Navy. Megan only buys from Justice.
I also got the a dance game for their new Wii. Im sure they will get around to that after they have played a bunch of the various mario brothers games.
Yesterday was the 8yr olds birthday... It went well her Grandmother B the one who had just moved back up to Buffalo from Florida was able to come out. Her grandfather B couldnt due to beign called on duty to help move airline passengers from buffalo to NYC via BUS.
I do not think Anna noticed his absence much. she was kept rather busy. first with a shopping trip with her grandma B and then with gifts, dinner (Pizza!!!) and cake!
She lovedd the gifts we got for her. The Nerf gun. I also picked up some of those wind up bugs. she has been wanting some of them for at last 3 years now. So I figured she should get some for her birthday instead of her waisting her money on them. They are a bunch of junk but fun while they last.