From the Lioness' Den...

Beer & Tears, But Luckily, No Tears in My Beer!

Hi everybody! Sounds like I join the majority when I say I'm glad Christmas is over. The trip to Denver was actually pretty good. Although in the 2 or 3 days before we left, my 2 sisters were bickering back & forth and really irritating me, 'cuz since I'm the oldest and our mom is gone, when they fight, they both come running to me. Before mom died, one would call her, the other would call me, then mom & I would talk to each other & compare notes. Yes, we are all in our 30's but when they fight it's like they are 11 & 12 again and sharing the same room.  Never mind that there is basically a whole state and a time zone between the 2 of them now.  And on top of all the crap going on in my own life, I really don't have the time or energy or patience to referee for those 2. So, after getting to Denver at about 11pm Friday, on Saturday, the sisters kinda get into it again. By now, I had had ENOUGH and pulled them both into a room away from everybody else. I told them that they needed to grow the hell up and knock it off.  I told sis 2 that she needed to be more considerate of the family that had to drive 7 hours to get there, and sis 3 that she needed to quit acting like a spoiled brat (youngest child, used to getting her way)! After that, they mellowed out and it was all good for the rest of the stay. Christmas Day, after opening presents, playing cards & games, having dinner, playing more cards & games, everyone else started to go to bed. All together there were 8 of us there, sis 2's fiance's mom & uncle were there also. Everyone went to bed, that is, except sis 3, her friend, B and me. We stayed up and partied. B & I took it upon ourselves to clear out space in the fridge for all the extra food since sis 2 had commented about the lack of space. We figured we would do what we could to clear the entire shelf of 4 different kinds of beer & other fun beverages. I am happy to report - mission accomplished! We were up til 5 a.m. Monday in order to make that extra room, but we did it.  Slept a few hours and then had to go with sis 2 and Shelby to get Shelby measured for her jr. bridesmaid dress for the wedding in May. As a last hurrah before we left Denver, all 8 of us went to lunch at Benny's, which is an awesome mexican restaurant that makes a killer margarita! If any of you ever go to Denver, make sure to go there. 

****Backtracking here****

Remember me posting about Shelby wanting to help out her classmate? Well, we never did hear anything from the radio station, but on Thursday as I was finishing up my shopping, she said she still really wanted to do something for that family. So, after a lot of bargaining with me, I finally let her have her way, and agreed to help her pick out presents and pay the difference between what she had and the final cost. Thankfully she is picking up my bargain shopping habits and for $28 we got all 4 members of the family, including the mom, a present. So, we took it all home, wrapped it up, and brought it into town and left it on their porch for them with a note in a card explaining why there was a box of presents on their porch. I don't think I've ever been more proud of her than that night, watching her pick out the presents, wrap them and box them up and then the look on her face as we were taking it all to their house as she said "I feel really good about helping them, Mom. I know I'm lucky to have what I do and I want to help someone else who isn't having much luck right now." Talk about puddles!  Still makes me tear up when I think about it.

Christmas giving

5:51 PM, Dec. 28, 2005 .. Posted by oddkids

this is what christmas is all about for sure... :)

Shelby

7:04 PM, Dec. 28, 2005 .. Posted by Bruinsmama

What a wonderful child you are raising!

makes the holiday real

7:51 AM, Dec. 29, 2005 .. Posted by BrenMOM2G

To be able to do that and do it for the right reasons, makes the Christmas spirit real.
That family will never forget the generosity and one day, they will return the favor to someone else who needs support at a very busy day in their lives.
GOOOOO SHelby!!!! and mom of course LOL