Regifting a memory....

Each day after this past Christmas, I am finding myself laughing out loud...... a lot.......it was a good Christmas to say the least.

It's been a tradition for many years now to pass out the presents to everyone, then each one of us take turns and opens a gift, we oooh and awwww over it, then the next person selects a gift and opens theirs and so on down the line......we still tear into the paper, wad it up and throw it....that will never change.

I grew up with my Mother telling me to carefully remove the tape from the end of the package and to NOT tear the paper.  She would reuse the paper the following year.  As an adult I can see her point of saving the paper.  Money was tight and reusing anything and everything was the way of our household.  As a child I wanted so badly to rip and tear in to whatever gem was hidden.  I wanted to see what was inside now, not 10 minutes later..........

Saving wrapping paper in this household was never done.......ripping away was the only way to get inside the package.  I did used a lot of scotch tape and ribbon to tie up the packages, that scissors were necessary to open such treasures that they held............it may have been cruel for the kids, but it sure was fun to see them tackle them.......it also drew out the opening of gifts.  Instead of 10 seconds and we're done opening, we could enjoy the gift opening for 30 minutes...tops!!!

Which leads me to what I was really trying to say............Christmas was fun this year.  I missed our youngest boy not being here and sharing in the festivities, so having 2 out of the 3 kids around was fine..........

As we passed out the gifts, I noticed that several of mine were wrapped "differently" and in odd shapes.  I shook the gifts like a little kid to see if they rattled and sure enough, they did.  Upon opening the first gift of unusual proportion, it happened to be one of the plastic bowls I had sent home with this child that had left over food in it.  Inside was my treasure............licorice!!!  I opened another present when it was my turn and sure enough, there was another bowl with another fine gift nestled inside..........the point being..........I am still laughing at the ingenious way he decided to wrap his gifts and "using" something that was mine already.  It really is a kindness to return something that has had food in it to that person with food right back to them.  This he did......it was hilarious that he would give me back my own things........this is regifting taken to the next level........... our middle child nailed it with packaging this year.  He gets the trophy..........

My only regret is I didn't take any pictures to document it.......my bad....oh, well...........I learned a lesson...........


CotySimon@Twitter.com
Instagram/Howunique310.com

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Waking up on Christmas morning when the boys were growing up, it was such a pleasure to see their faces light up when Santa actually nailed the "right" gift.  As they got older, attitudes changed, but it was still fun to see the looks on their faces when they got something that they weren't expecting, or it was a practical joke that made them laugh.

This year Santa nailed it.  I was on pins and needles for the last 3 months hoping that our oldest son would not buy the hottest gift on the Stars Wars market this year.....BB-8.........since September I'd listen to him talk about it and how he "just about" bought it.  Even the weekend before Christmas he came "this close" to buying it........I'm glad he didn't.........

It's been eon's since I've seen the look of surprise on this kids face and the smile that came with it.  Middle son got one, too, so when they both opened the same gift at the same time, I was doubly blessed with grins from ear to ear.........yes, happy, happy, joy, joy.......is all I could feel..........

This leaves son #3 who on Christmas morning was opening presents with his little family in Arizona........

I made up a cookbook for each of the boys this year.  In the recipe book are recipes from me and their two grandmothers......I heard from my baby boy when he opened it, it brought a tear to his eyes.  Sure wish I could have seen that, but I did get to see the surprised look and the "it's about time" look on the two boys I witnessed open the cookbook.............

As we all get older and wiser, shopping for that right gift becomes harder and harder.  Sometimes its not the most expensive gifts that make the heart smile, but the ones that come from the heart that is smiling, is what Christmas is all about.  BB-8 the Stars War toy was indeed a hit, but I think it was the cookbook that brought the most smiles....................

Our three sons who still bring joy to our hearts and a smile to our face......

2015 is almost gone......2016 is on the doorstep.  Resolutions? Nope.....I only break them within hours of the new year.......what I do "resolve" to do, is to always be a better person than I was the day before.  I don't look ahead to the tomorrows.  I have too much to do on my "todays"......I can't be bothered by the yesterdays either.......I live for the "right nows"........nothing more, nothing less, nothing ventured, nothing gained......

Happy New Year.................see you around in 2016.....

CotySimon@twitter.com
Howunique310/Instagram.com

A fine wine..............

What a year.........it's almost the end of December 2015.  In a few weeks time, 2016 will be here and it will be a clean slate to to fill up with memories.....

I've recovered from a stupid injury that pales in comparison to what my best friend has endured this year.  This definitely has not been a stellar, barn burning, fabulous year for her.  It's been quite the opposite.  Now that it's almost over with....2016 WILL BE a better year for her.........just need to get through radiation.......and be given the "all clear" from her doc.  She has battled breast cancer this year.  

We are a group of 4 ladies who all went to school together (there are 6 of us all together, but 2 are friends we picked up along the way).  We go back as far as grade school.  That's a lot of years to be friends with someone.  We spend most Friday evenings together, take trips together, suffer the bad (divorces...I'm the only one still married!), and celebrate the victories.......we all suffered and dealt with a bad blow to one of us, that of breast cancer.

We are not spring chicks anymore.  We are like a really fine wine.....full of flavor and full bodied.....we are survivors and our friend has showed us just how to do that.........she's not out of the woods yet, but close enough to the exit that we can feel the fresh ocean breeze touching our cheeks and whispering in our ears............ 2016 will be a celebration of life.....living life each and everyday.  Waking up and smelling the coffee.....going outside and smelling the roses blooming.........listening to the sounds of nature waking up on a spring morning......lifting our faces in the sunshine and feel the rays of warmth kissing our face...........yes, 2016 is another year.......another year to help push 2015 aside and live life.........

We're friends for life.................

Happy holidays to everyone.......no that's not right..... Merry Christmas to one and all........

CotySimon@twitter.com

Instagram.com/Howunique310