Forty Days and Forty Nights..............it felt like I participated in a whole year's worth of activity!  Exhaustion Overload!

I'm hoping I am finally rested up enough to maintain my personhood here on NV!  Guess I didn't realize until this past year's Holiday Season, that I really AM getting OLD (er)!

Thanksgiving was awesome!  I made the Turkey, (it was quite delectable!).  Also made the Broccoli Casserole dish no one in my family seems able to live without, AND Pumpkin Pies! We had a great time at my sister's place, and Surprise of Surprises...........my youngest brother showed up from California!  YaY!  I hadn't seen him in a few years, but sure knew his voice when he came walking out of the guest bedroom to startle me with "What's All the Commotion out here?"  One difference...................he's almost too big around to hug well!  He had Great news though!  He has decided to MOVE here!  He is looking for work and a place to live, so is at my sister's temporarily! I sure hope it works out for him! (Started to get a little tired from the excitement)

Next came my birthday, December 16th.  My oldest son came and got me and took me to his house to spend time with his 4 of my Grandchildren!  What a TREAT!  Gosh, my oldest Grandson is 13 now and as tall as his Dad!  He's skinny too and looks like Harry Potter! LOL The 6 year old has been my bud for quite awhile, and always wants to sit by me and walk holding my hand.  What a Sweetie!  The only girl of the bunch is 2 1/2 now and all potty trained except for pull ups at night! Woohoo!  The baby, is 7 months. I got to hold him for quite awhile before my son said we were all going out to dinner! Wow is he HUGE!

We went to a really good Buffet place and I got Stuffed! Yum......... :-)  My birthday present was A Heating Pad! Yay, Heavenly on the aches and pains! (A little more tired, after a long day and evening, with so many of the Grands at one time)

With Christmas coming next, up went the tree and decorations and my first ever try at a TORTE!  I've never made one in nearly 55 years of cooking, so it was a challenge. It was a "Creme De Cacao" torte, and had to be made several days ahead, I guess so the Creme De Cacao could soak in and help flavor it. (kinda like a rum cake).  The cake sort of stuck on the first pans (knew I SHOULD have used Crisco!).  So it became just a regular 2 layer chocolate cake with Fudge Frosting. lol

Fixed the sticking problem on the second pans and began the great adventure.  Anyway with all the whipped cream and chocolate filling, cutting each layer into two and glazing, it became an actual 4 layer Torte! Wrapped tightly and refrigerated for a week, it was quite a prize and I was very proud! :-) (Getting tired again, both nerves and baking, trying to make a *perfect* torte)

Putting up the tree was another challenge with the new kitty! Felt like it took forever, since he had to inspect (and attack) almost everything, plus had 2 of the other Grandchildren over to *help* decorate! Yikes, what a Day! Of course they needed to eat while here, and each wanted something different, resulting in a few *breaks*, and another long day. (oh that sneaky *tired*)

On the seventh day of the tree........................Heishi decided it would be fun to go *tree climbing*! CRASH! Down came the tree!  NOT unexpected, but a lot of work to *reassemble*. By myself!

Christmas was truly Wonderful! All of my kids except one, and their partners, all my Grandkids except one,my sister, her partner and her 3 kids and their partners, my brother, Whew! I think that's all of us! LOL  Anyway, it was a lot! A long, happy day. (it seemed like I STILL hadn't caught enough rest). I got a lot of really neat presents, too!

THEN...........two days after Christmas, my brother decided he wanted to go to the Casino! One of my presents was money, so off we went, me driving. Four or Five hours later, my energy is slowly fading................................Two days after that,  my next door neighbor wanted to go to the Casino, me driving! (I can't even describe how worn out I was getting!)

Oh boy!  Not only New Year's Eve, but also, my sister and her partner's 20th Anniversary! Big Party! I'm not even sure how many were there! Fun. Had homemade "Subway Sandwiches" (guess who made them, bread rolls and all), tired, exhausted, little ol' me!

Since then, I have been sleeping about 9 hours a night, AFTER an hour or so nap each day. So now we're supposed to start getting the heavy snowstorms, that we managed to avoid all winter, and of course I have to drive 38 miles round trip for a Dr appt Friday to see the *vampires* and get my scrips refilled!  Wouldn't you just know it??!!