After each of the families had their Christmas with their immediate family, we all met at Mom and Dad's house for the usual lunch and opening of presents. The food was delicious as usual with Smoked ham (my favorite right up there with turkey), potato salad, congealed salad, fruit salad, green beans, corn, macaroni and cheese, homemade yeast rolls (so yummy), just like the "big fat yeast roll" Quincy's Steakhouse used to make, all kinds of sweets. Wayne and his family were not there because Wayne had to work at the fire department and Mitch and his family were not there either. Deborah and her family were there and me, Vincent and our family were there and Ashley was there with Nicholas. We had a really good time. Vincent was under the weather but all in all he did pretty good. Dakota and Allyssa thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After we opened presents, Natasha, Randy, Allyssa, Dakota, Nick and Ashley headed to our house to open their gifts from us and then we all headed over to Natasha and Randy's to see what Santa had left the girls. So, so much stuff. We are all so fortunate and blessed. We often times forget just how blessed we all are. We all have our good health, our jobs, family....so much. I gave Vincent some drive lights for his motorcycle and a gift set of Fahrenheit cologne and aftershave. He gave me sooo much; a Cricut die cut machine for my scrap booking, a 20" flat panel television for my scrapbook room (so I can watch House and CSI when I am in there!!), a circular sapphire and diamond necklace (which has a story in itself) and a Kodak Easy Share C743 digital optical zoom camera with the Easy Share G600 printer dock, WOO-HOO! Santa was really good to me. I told him he really spent too much on me since I was not able to spend a whole lot on him. Now for the necklace story.....back in October Belk's was running a good sale on their 10k gold sapphire and diamond circular necklaces. Vincent and I were on our way to get Mom one for Christmas when I called my brother-in-law Randy to see if he was interested in getting my sister one for Christmas. He said yes and I picked one up for him. Vincent ended up getting me one also. So we were opening gifts at Mom and Dad's house when Mom opened her necklace and was telling us how beautiful it was when Deborah seen it and started talking about how coincidental that Mom and she got the same necklace. Of course, me and my big mouth stated that I got one also, but I had not unwrapped it yet. (one of these days, I will learn to keep my mouth shut). Then Deborah's wheels in her head started running double time (if you know my sister you will know what I mean!). She then started asking Randy about how he got the necklace, did he buy it, did he pick Mom one up too.....then she asked me, "did you get that necklace for Randy?". I told her that I was not saying anything. I really felt so bad that I did not think in advance that Deborah would be upset about the necklace. At the time I was purchasing the necklaces and I knew Vincent was getting me one I thought it would be neat that we all had the same necklace. I was not thinking that Deborah would be upset that Randy did not go and actually get it himself. I wish I could do it all over again. I would never do anything to hurt her and I feel that I have really messed it up for her this year. After Mom opened her gift, of course, no one else could understand what Deborah was getting so upset for. I have learned my lesson though ( I hope). From now on I am staying out of picking up any gifts for anyone. Now the necklace incident is going to be called the "infamous necklace"! Anyway, guess I had better go for now.
