Saturday, Dec. 11

Today is Daughter's birthday. Happy Birthday, Daughter!

Up at 7:30 this morning, but skipped my exercises so I could get ready to go to a craft fair at the Sheriff's Boys Ranch at 9 a.m. to buy their mouth-watering cinnamon rolls. They are so popular that if you want them, you have to get there early.

Daughter and Great-Grandkids were here when we got back just before 10 a.m. We all hopped in the van and went to the museum for a Christmas event for families. As soon as we entered the museum, we were directed to the Native American room, where an older lady was reading Christmas-themed story books to children. All three of the Great-Grandkids loved the stories, but one Great-Granddaughter especially liked them, because she's fond of books and being read to.

After that, we went to another room, where a lady was leading a Christmas carol program. This lady explained the origins of the carols, some of which were written around the time of the Civil War. Then a lady playing a keyboard accompanied us as we sang the carols. The kids liked all of the carols, but were particularly fond of "Up on the House Top," and "Jingle Bells," of course.

Following the sing-along, the children proceeded to craft stations, where they made a Christmas tree ornament, a snowman ornament, and a poinsettia flower. Lastly, they decorated Christmas cookies. Once they'd finished decorating the cookies, they ate them and drank cups of punch.

We toured the museum after that. Great-Grandson is a history buff, so he loved exploring the exhibits. Around 1:30, we headed back home, where we had a lunch of a choice of chicken noodle or split pea soup, with deli turkey sandwiches, and cinnamon rolls for dessert.

Soon after 2 p.m., we all, including Mother, piled into the van and went to the Sheriff's Boys Ranch craft fair. Staff at the ranch were giving horse and carriage rides, so we waited for a group to return and rushed out to see how much it cost to ride. We were stunned to learn that the rides were free! A staff member said they sponsored the rides as a way to exercise the horse.

The weather was relatively mild when we arrived at the ranch, but within a few minutes, an icy wind cropped up and the temperature dropped sharply. Naturally, the kids had failed to wear their coats. So I rounded up an old blanket out of the van (it is in there for our dog to sleep on) and the kids wrapped up in that for the carriage ride. Mother was sitting in the warmth of the building, so I borrowed her long-sleeve shirt for Daughter, because Daughter had given up her hoodie sweatshirt to Great-Grandson.

Daughter and Great-Grandkids were thrilled with the carriage ride. Afterward, we all toured the craft fair. I found a cute snowman ornament made out part of an old bedspread, and the girls bought flowers made from the tops of gourds.

We got back home around 4 p.m., when I presented Daughter with her gift pack birthday and Christmas present, plus an apple pie...I make her one of these each year. I gave the girls token gifts of a containers of silly bands, and an inexpensive gift card to a hamburger restaurant to Great-Grandson.

For supper, we had more soup, with a choice of cold chicken or cold roast pork sandwiches, and fresh fruit. Mother went home afterward.

Then I went online to try to find a theater and a convenient day and time that Daughter could take her grandkids to see the 3-D movie, "Tangled." But since Daughter works every day but Saturday, and since the kids have to be in bed by 8 p.m. on school days, and because the movie is only scheduled to play until next Thursday, there was absolutely no time convenient to all of them.

But when I checked our theater here in town, I found it was playing tonight. So I suggested they stay overnight, and we'd go see the movie. Daughter immediately called the parents of the kids, and it was agreed that they could stay.

At 6:30, we went to the theater. The kids really enjoyed the movie. It was the first 3-D movie for one of them. The movie ended around 8:30.

Before we returned home, I drove downtown to tour the Christmas lights, which are particularly spectacular this year. There were lots of oohs and ahhs from the back seat.

Got back home around 9 p.m. The kids were hungry again, so they had PB&J sandwiches and glasses of milk before heading to bed, worn out but happy from an exciting day.

The wind was fierce tonight and frigid cold. TV news announced that there are power outages in some parts of the state. Br-r-r. It's too early in the season for this kind of weather.