PROVIDENCE UPDATE

Hurrah, I'm finally wearing my old glasses with my new lenses and I can see much better than last year.  So those two surgeries and patience on my part really paid off and I'm so thankful for that.  Left eye isn't great but so much improved from the dismal state before.  Thanks for all your prayers and support to help me out.  I was plagued with vertigo 10 days ago that really knocked me for a loop and have had a little more as I've been getting used to the change in the lenses, but it's getting better every day.

Ryan is working from home now so he won't have to get up so early to work before he goes to classes.  His car is really giving him fits when it won't start in mornings and Asher is awake more now and this way he can help Rachael while she helps teach violin at Prov Elementary school in early mornings.  He works for ICON as a troubleshooter for products sold around the world.

So when he leaves for school then it's my turn for the room where I'm walking again (used all my energy this summer working in yard and canning).  My cholesterol has risen again and I know that my walking nearly every day before has lowered it.  Plus it's also good for my digestion system.

I bought my first Christmas decoration last week from a sweet little Cub Scout neighbor boy and have been busy planning and getting ready for my own little cubbies and their families to gather  to celebrate Christmas together this year.  Holly came over yesterday to help organize all the requests and ideas that I've received from you as we've discussed this all last year.  Many of the activites will be fluid depending on the snow fall and activities related to that, but it's been seven years since we've met at this time of year so I'm hoping it will be a great reunion and lots of good memories for my ADORABLE grandchildren (parents, aunts and grandmothers).  I'll send further info as travel plans are finalized.

I had a bad day last week when I spent hours dealing with another fraud charge to my credit card.  Same company that I dealt with last year at this time, but fortunately the bank called me first to check to see if the posting was mine.  I couldn't believe this was happening again and it stressed me out.  So please be careful as you use your cards this season - the bad guys are getting smarter every day as they find ways they can enjoy cash or things that don't belong to them.

Holly and I will be spending Thanksgiving with Lance and family (has been eleven years since we've done that).  I'm taking two pies and am going to have a big piece of one of them along with a large helping of sauerkraut with the turkey, and all the rest, HA!

They say it's your birthday, Mary!

They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you

Here's to you Mary! See you next month. :)

Love the Montana Howells

Crossed Fried Chicken

Brayden earned his Webelos showman activity badge tonight by writing a song, designing puppets, and performing a play.  His friend Jaxon and sister Katelyn helped in the performance!  See for yourself:

http://youtu.be/X8Y80HyfDvo

PROVIDENCE UPDATE

Before I left Tucson I assisted Ffiona in making a delicious chocolate cake for Taegan's 14th birthday dinner.  She is learning about how to make great cakes having only once drawback -  she's vertically challenged and has to climb up on the bucket to check the batter as it is beating.  But that will change as she grows taller.

Taegan went to her first church dance  the next day and said it was awesome

Then I took over and complied with the design and colors that Taegan asked for.  All enjoyed it and even had a tiny piece without frosting of course.  Delicious!

The second week I was there I drove Ffiona and Haedyn to their school early in morning and picked them up mid afternoon and we had good talks on the way.  I'm not going to complain about Logan's traffic anymore, but I got along okay on those very busy Tucson streets.

I'm done!  I finished up with pickled beets two days ago and the canner is going into retirement for the year, yea!  The fruit room is loaded and the freezer is bulging.   Now I just have to give it all away to family and friends (and eat a bit myself).
 

THE RED SOX DID IT!!!!!!  Oh my goodness I was like 35 again  when we went to games often and became lifelong fans.  I'm so tickled that Hannah has become a fan also and she, Mary and I kept texting each other about their breaking this 95 year old curse (last time they won WS in Fenway Park).  Ryan even came up to watch for awhile and saw how excited I was.  It really was a TEAM effort as they all contributed to this championship at one time or another rather than having one mega star and 8 also rans.  I guess growing those beards really did help them come together - but will be glad to see them with shaved faces now (some were very mange).  Good Going Red Sox!!

I had only one lollipop left last night after a short night of the little goblins.  I didn't expect a big crowd as it was very cold and windy, but they didn't care and loved it when they saw my huge lollis.
 
I just finished walking on the treadmill which I'm going to continue.  I loved my daily walks of at least 2.5 miles nearly every day in Tucson and want to continue to get my cholesterol back down.
 
I also saw my eye surgeon this week and was very encouraged about my eye.  No infection, cornea swelling gone, stopped drops  and initial test of 20/150 two months ago has come down considerably. Will return in two weeks to get my RX for new lenses.  Yea!