Well this was certainly an interesting week. Naturally, I was having trouble with my blood pressure and missed work last week. I started on a higher dose of my medication, but by Monday, I was leaving work early again. This time I ended up at the doctor's office on Monday afternoon. They decided I was fine. My doctor wanted me into the office for a real appointment, not just a blood pressure check. But they could not see me until Weds morning. Instead we decided I should stay home a day. Except my doctor couldn't decide if she should recommend I take it easy or stay busy. Naturally I stayed home from work on Tuesday and kept busy! Meanwhile, Tom and I were going to split Monday night meetings, but I just was not up to going to either a school meeting for SCott, or a Boy Scout parent meeting. So Tom opted to attend the meeting at school to discuss use of IPads which Scott's class will be starting with soon.

Allison was coming home for Thanksgiving break on Tuesday. I still needed to wash her linen and straighten up her room from when she moved out in August. I had also started storing suitcases in Allison's room, so I had to find them a new home. Plus I was busy baking Scott a coconut cream pie for his Birthday on Weds. The only thing I did not do was wrap his presents since Tom had bought him everything online(mostly video games) and I did not know what to wrap!

Instead, I have been busy putting together Christmas stockings for the upcoming St Nick's Day celebration. I had been busy Christmas shopping last week. I wanted to put together a care package for Allison for her upcoming finals, as well as give her some items to decorate her room with for the holidays. I picked up a small tree and decorations for her windowsill, as well as Christmas stockings for her and her roommate(complete with Girl SCout cookies of course). She also picked up a poinsettia with Tom at Home Depot on a shopping spree. And she has some sticky gels for her window-snowflakes, snowmen and penguins that can stay up through February.

I was a bit worried about her driving home this past week since our winter weather started early. We actually had some snowflakes coming down on Weds. But she did a great job, and she had some company. She said the drive home was a bit hectic though since it was raining/sleeting and there was heavier traffic and a few accidents. And she has that very long Bay Bridge to negotiate. Only .4miles shorter than the Mackinac Bridge. At least her drive back to school was sunny, dry and uneventful on Sunday.

So Allison was home on Tuesday afternoon. I made ribs for dinner. We celebrated Scott's 14th Birthday on Weds night after I got home from work and my doctor appointment. We had dinner out and then opened gifts and enjoyed coconut cream pie.

On Thursday morning I asked to see a movie since I was planning on working on Friday. We left early for the first showing of Hunger Games on Thanksgiving morning. Sadly, we missed our neighborhood Turkey Trot. But the movie was really good, and then we had plenty of time to prepare dinner. Tom and I had invited our neighbors over for dinner, but they weren't sure of their plans or how I would be doing, so they opted out. Our friend John was still planning on coming over for dinner, so I decided to use the time as a training session for Allison. I walked her through all the side dishes-stuffing, baked potatoe casserole, green bean casserole and crescent rolls. Tom was busy using his early St Nick's Day gift-a new rotisserie for our grill as he cooked the turkey outside. It turned out great and we had tons of food. Sadly, by the time I sat down to eat I wasn't feeling good and I had to go take a nap while everyone else enjoyed their meal. I managed to make it down to the recliner chair that evening to finish my plate but that was about it. We were supposed to go over to our neighbors for dessert and the Ravens football game, but I could not get up out of the chair. I had just started a new blood pressure medication per my doctor's orders and it was getting the best of me. I did enjoy watching the RAvens game though.

I had to get up early Friday to go to work. I dragged through the day and put in a full 8hrs(much to my disappointment). We were supposed to have dinner at some friends but again I was too tired for the company. Instead we all stayed home and enjoyed leftover turkey casserole. Tom also put his second early St Nick's Day gift to work-an electric carving knife. The last one we had finally gave up after 26 yrs.

On Saturday we were up early and out for our family Christmas photo opp. at Target. Always a busy time. After lunch we did not have much time until we were back on the road with our friend John, headed to Hershey Park for a hockey game. We enjoyed an evening of Hershey Bears Hockey and they won! And Scott and I snuck out a little early to run over to the Hershey gift shop for our free chocolate samples and to do some gift shopping. And to enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations. Scott wants to go back and go into the park next time.

Sunday after Scott served mass we took Allison out for breakfast. Happy First Day of Advent. She then came home and opened her St Nick's Day gifts and packed up her car and headed out. Scott really enjoyed having Allison home to keep him company playing video games. I think Allison just enjoyed sleeping in her own bed. She did manage to get a paper written and a book mostly read over the weekend. She only has one more week of classes and then finals and she will be headed back home again! Tom managed to get some Christmas lights up on the house while I undecorated for Thanksgiving. And then there are the leaves!

So I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving Break. The football games were crazy, the company was wonderful, the food was plentiful(especially all the pies). A Very Happy November Birthday to Scott and Sheila Bozyk. Lets see how I survive December!