Focus...Focus...

 That is sometimes what Sofi says to the dogs when they are acting crazy and needing to calm down...
"Hey Guys....Focus!"     It's really cute that she's transferring things she hears at 4 yr old Kindergarten, and recycling these phrases.  Am sure the teacher tells the kids to 'Focus' fairly often.   They DO need to focus...and me too!  (and the dogs, too!)

It's esp. daunting right now as we're between Thanksgiving and Xmas...days are short...at 7pm it feels like at least 10pm, since it's already been dark for like 3 hours...so it's hard to think of staying here longer, yet paralyzing to think of getting ready to get on the road..

I should be doing Xmas cards, but I find myself doing crosswords...a new obsession...or maybe, just procrastination.  Then, there are several birthdays thrown in...mine (which followed my mother's by 2 days, & it's one less we celebrate, now that she's not with us...except to tip a glass in her honor), and mine we just now lump with Sofi's, which was the 14th...and we celebrated the day after.  I wanted to just lump Xmas right in there, & distribute gifts early...but held off, so she could have her day to herself.  And yet...too many things remain to be done in the limited time available....
And maybe my real problem is...I'm going to be going away...and MISSING MY FAMILY HERE!!!
   How do people do that?     (Steve says I just need to get to Mexico...then, I won't want to leave...
He has more of a problem coming back here!)

Here is Evie with her newly acquired lineup of Nutcrackers, which I 'willed' to her, in downsizing.  She is a huge 'Nutcracker' fan.  She  has already attended many showings of the Nutcracker, and also The Christmas Carol and knows dialog, characters, etc. from both, and songs.

Here's Gram with her newest little granddaughter, Olivia.  Never enough huggin' for gram.

It's fun to watch the little ones at their birthday parties, and how they share (or don't) with their invitees. 

There is nothing like a well prepared, birthday dinner with family.  Somehow I missed getting the cake & candle blowing.

The train...absolute hit, as Sofi is a total train nut.  Everyone has their specialty.

For Violet, happiness is a nice, bendable snake which can fit into a used box.

I did find a photo of the birthday girl & her cousin Evie, shared from a facebook post by Nat, w/ Rachel.
yay! for blowing out the birthday candles....they did mine too!

Well, I count my blessings to have a wonderful family... and, with what's in the news, I know we all want to spend every precious minute with our families.  We are so blessed.
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Having choices just makes life more difficult sometimes.
It's hard to go away.
I'm not sure about being a
snowbird...
Focus...Focus...

 

...and Hocus, Pocus.
I guess it might happen.



I'll sort it all out somehow.
I want to get away, but I want to bring my family with me.....I'm going to work at that!