Christmas in New Jersey

 As we were getting ready to walk out the door to head to NJ on the 20th for Christmas, Tom's sister called and said their mom was back in the hospital.  She was having difficulty breathing and they discovered blood clots in her lungs as well as one in her leg. She was on blood thinners and had a quick procedure to put a filter in to break up the clot in her leg should it break loose.  Our first few days there were spent running back and forth to the hospital.  She slept mostly and wasn't eating so it was a lot of just sitting with her.  We left one night and hooked up with the family for dinner at Outback.  Best steak I've had in a long time!

Victor, Marie, us, Karen & Joe

Tom can't go to Marie's without insisting she make meatballs.  He was required to help.

Have watched more Christmas movies this season than I have in years!

 We met up with Tom's other brother Dennis and his wife Kathy at a parade in Egg Harbor Township.  Very small town with lots of firetrucks, beauty queens and local businesses.

 It was freezing out and poor Santa and Mrs. Claus were at the very back of the parade.  It was slow moving so we walked around the block (if the parade wouldn't come to us, then we would go to it!) to see the rest of the parade then headed to a restaurant to have dinner.

 The other siblings met us there.  First time they were all together in a long, long time.

Marie, Dennis, Tom, Kathy, me, Karen and Joe

 Over a period of days we had many discussions about their mom and what happens after her hospital stay.  It was decided to bring her to Marie's with hospice care.  She turned 89 on Dec. 3rd and besides suffering from dementia her body is giving out as well.

Tom working on home improvement projects for Marie

 This has been a very difficult process.  The family would make decisions one day and then Eleanor's condition would change and we would second guess everything we had felt firm on the day before.  We told the hospital we needed 24 hours notice to get hospice set up so we were still waiting for her to get stronger.

Eleanor still calls Tom (and all of the other kids) "my baby".

Marie had to work half a day on Christmas Eve so Tom and I stopped to see Eleanor then went to Smithville to just get some air.

This is where I got my very first Santa for my collection back in the early 80's

Tom's brother, Dennis, takes care of all the mechanical problems with the trains in Smithville

Tom's favorite neighborhood sub shop

 Joe and Karen used to send us Subs on Christmas Eve for our gift every year.  A couple of years ago however, the place stopped mailing and it's never been the same.  THIS YEAR however, we bought them for lunch!  What had started as a fairly pleasant day turned into a mess when the hospital called Marie at work and said they were releasing mom in 2 1/2 hours!  We were not in the least prepared. No hospice, no training, nothing!  Fortunately Joe's wife is a nurse and could walk us through the process.  Also, Joe used to be the chief of police so called on a couple of buddies with the ambulance to pick up mom LATER so we could get set up.  Marie and I ran to Home Depot for a rug to put on the floor and a couple of other places to grab supplies.  We took those back to the house so they could get set up.  She had planned a nice pork roast dinner for Christmas Eve but suddenly that was thrown out the window with all the misadventure. We headed out for more subs and by the time we got back the ambulance was in the driveway with mom.  We ended up with a house full of people with Eleanor in the middle of the living room trying to get a sense of how this was all going to work.

Eleanor's caretaker Karen and her dog Cody

Karen (yes, there are 400 Karen's in the family) Sean and Little Dennis

 By Christmas day everyone was spent.  Especially these two!  We had Eleanor cleaned up.  Had learned how to do a bed bath, and all the other care she needs.  We made up a schedule of how we'll all help.  Caretaker Karen will come to Marie's Mon-Friday 7:30-5:30, Joe and Karen will each take a night during the week and then we'll each take a weekend on a three week rotation.  We'll start that schedule anyway but if there's anything we've learned over this Christmas holiday is that we can be flexible. We did get to have a lovely pork roast meal on Christmas.

Girly Party

 Sunday after church the teachers were taken into a room that was covered in cookies, thank you notes and pictures of all the little kidlets in our classes.  We were given a box to fill with yummy goodies and by the time we got out of there the box was overflowing.  I tried sharing mine on the way home and finally an older woman sitting by in the Metro took me up on my offer.  She then said, "Since you shared your smile and gave me a cookie I'm going to give you something to laugh about.."  She then proceeded to tell a very off color joke complete with hand gestures.  Um.  Really?  I was very uncomfortable.  Very odd indeed.

 My Tuesday night small group met at one of the leader's apartments for a Christmas potluck.  These are all the wonderful young women I get to meet with weekly to talk about the sermon, share prayer requests and have great fellowship with.

Lauren, Mallory and Kristen

Chelle, Sharon and Elizabeth

Me and Ellen

Erika- our co-leader and hostess

Tons of great food and wonderful company.  Most of the girls were heading home for Christmas the next morning.  Kind of fun to see how excited they were to go see their families.

Getting Away

We had no plans for Saturday and I was so emotionally drained after all the horror and non-stop news coverage of Friday's tragedy  we just wanted to get away from the tv and enjoy the fresh air.  The flags throughout the city were at half mast as they were around the rest of the country.

I did a quick internet search and found an art show going on in Rosslyn near the Metro so we headed that way first.  Lots of interesting things but very pricey.  My favorites were an artist who used things from computers to make jewelry.  Cute rings made from keyboard keys, colorful necklaces from memory boards, etc.  Very clever. Artisphere is where the show was held.

 This wall was in the lobby.  Little cuttings in these pockets with a watering system.  Would love to have one of these in a house.  With someone else to take care of it!

We kept passing people dressed like this all over town and when I asked what they were doing they all just said, "We're out spreading joy and good will!"  We passed a family of "santas' with two little kids who were handing out candy canes to other little ones they would pass.  I found it especially touching after the tragedy of the day before.                          We happened upon the Holiday Mart going on near the Portrait Gallery.  Again, many great vendors but since we had no shopping to do we just enjoyed the beauty of everything.  Also some live music going on as well.

After walking for a couple of hours we stopped at a restaurant to grab some lunch.  Very small servings (our waiter recommended 3-4 choices per person but our pocket book didn't allow for that) so we each kind of sampled and shared.

Baby cactus salad, a beef and a pork taco, a chicken tamale and finished with a sort of french fry topped with a mole sauce. That was my least favorite but rest was very delicious! 

 Our walk continued and as we got closer to the mall we saw more and more Santas and once we reached the carousel there were hundreds!

Yes, there were even drag queen santas!

Turns out it's called Santarchy and is celebrated around the country.  They just wander around the city handing out naughty gifts to adults and nice treats to children.  You don't have to be dressed as Santa, but definitely holiday inspired.  Looked like a blast and we will definitely look at participating next year!

We went into the Smithsonian Visitor Center to look around.  Gift shops, cafe, some history and a short funny film narrated by Ben Stiller. Interesting.     We headed out the back way to look at the gardens and to get a better look at the gorgeous building.

We just kept walking with no real destination in mind.  This long street was basically deserted so we had the whole place to ourselves.

When we got to the end of the street we realized how close we were to home!  Right on the waterfront so we walked down to the dock and wrapped up our day along the water's edge.  Some people who live on their boats year round had them decorated for Christmas. It was a beautiful day and many hours out wandering (most of the time with no clue where!) but we never feel lost and with all the Metro stops we can always get our bearings.  Continue to feel fortunate to be having this experience.

Christmas in The White House

Tom had the opportunity to go to The White House with a few others on Monday. Only so many were able to attend and his name got drawn.  Ultimately, they found out that the family wouldn't be there and I don't know that it was any different than what you'd see on a tour but it was pretty and festive all the same.  I sent him with the camera so at least I could share in the fun!

The East Garden Room had a life size replica of the Obama's dog Bo

The Blue Room is a tribute to the military and has ornaments hand made by children living on US Military bases around the world

The 300 pound gingerbread house has been a holiday ritual since the 1960's.  It's in the State Dining Room where they hold official dinners and diplomatic receptions