Zohnerfarms your accepting attitude of lifes trials and time/devotion to your family is an inspiration for me. I always enjoy reading your posts.

My best to you and your loved ones! 

 Thank you, happy.  I needed that today.

 Three pair of 100% cotton pink/white socks are done for 5 year old DGD, and last night I did the finishing work on the first pair of black/white cotton socks for her little brother, who is 3.  This afternoon I went in to the hospital for a couple of hours to teach 2 segments of the STABLE course, a certification for post-resuscitation, pre-transport for infants, so I am still knitting the ribbing for sock #3.Both of them will get 3 pair of socks they can actually WEAR, along with whatever else we give them.  They both wear western-style boots, so these are little tube-type boot socks, with a ragg look from knitting 2 strands of crochet cotton together.  Her boots are pink, so her socks are pink/white.  His boots are red (and the new pair for Christmas are black), so his socks are black/white.

 Update:

As of tonight, 2 pair of black/white socks are done for the 3 year old grandson, plus a pair of black boots.  3 pair of pink/white socks are done for the 5 yr old granddaughter, plus her mother is thinking of what else she needs, maybe some mittens.  9 year old grandson is getting a jeans quilt with a blue metal camping mug, and 10 year old granddaughter is getting a handmade gluten-free cookbook with a blue metal camping mug.  The camping mugs will probably be filled with the mint leaf candies ( which are gluten-free.)  I have 2 log racks for their dad (SIL) and a handmade gluten-free cookbook for their mother, with a nice holiday top.

DS wants a gift card to Lowe's, but will get cash folded into a cute little shirt instead, in some Twix bars, which he loves.

Middle DD needs cash more than anything else as she is traveling to residency interviews, so she will also get a folded little shirt.

Youngest DD is getting a pair of bookmarks that are her initials, as well as significant assistance on her tuition due in December

So DS calls, & wants to "simplify Christmas" by everyone being assigned names in a rotation. (DS & his father generally shop for Christmas the week before.) I tell him I am not interested, but that is between him & his siblings, if they agree; & an hour later, I receive an email with everyone assigned, including us as "Parents", in a rotation.  I sent an email back, clarifying that I am not interested, as in "I will continue to give a gift to each of my children regardless of what they give each other", & shortly after, another email came with a different rotation, eliminating the "parents".

I know this works in some families, but when DH & I were young marrieds with 4 children and not much money, we ALWAYS ended up with his sister with 7 children, which would not have been a problem except there was an "appropriate" level of present expected. It created a hardship, & since my birthday is in January, that was where the $$ came from.  Same experience in my mothers & father's extended families.

I prefer to give the gift I choose to give, without there being a "rotation", and a dollar amount expected to spend.    Some years are flush & some are lean, & the Christmas budget reflects that, but a few tears were shed tonight over this while I completed knitting little black/white sock #4.

zohnerfarms:

His boots are red (and the new pair for Christmas are black), so his socks are black/white.

This morning I did the finishing work on the 3 pair of black/white socks for the 3 year old.  One more present completed!

I went to my first cookie swap today  with my 3 sister in laws and my brother girl friend  we baked cookies for three days there were about 11 other people  my Friend  IRL  I met off another site  Son church he is pastor .. it was cute we played a couple of cookie games then came the cookie exchange we got alot of package cookies and store made cookie only my friend had made cookies ,no one else baked cookies some one else actually put animal crackers in a baggie .. not your normal cookie swap but it was fun

 That sounds like fun, gayla.  Cookie swaps are a thing of the past for us except within the immediate family, due to the gluten issues.

I cut out 5" denim squares from a pair of black jeans & some blue denim overalls. I have enough for the first twin quilt now.

we are hosting the Christmas dinner at our church  the church that was going to pulled out so my DH and BIL insisted we would do it we are going to have a great time  several people called today they want to come we had donations  4 hams they decided that they would rather join us

For us, the fuel cost for all the Christmas visiting will be the biggest expense - at least four family get-togethers.

Gifts Plans:

One "pull-out-of-a-hat" present for one extended family group; I plan to make a peppermint wreath and either tie on a gift card to their favorite store or find their favorite sports team merchandise.  The wreath will be under $5.00.

Gift baskets for both sets of parents and siblings using:

• 2 good storage baskets marked down from $15.00 to $2.75 each
  
• 6 winter bird mugs bought with store credit at a going-out-of-business sale;$120.00 worth of mugs for $3.15 cash
• Pretty tea towels to wrap homemade cranberry-pumpking bread for $4.74
• Pumpkin used in bread recipe for $1.78
• Fruit tea and hot chocolate for $3.50
  
• Choosy father's dark chocolate for $3.00
• I still need disposable loaf pans, fresh cranberries, and a package of Almond Joys for the in-law's basket.
• Total so far: $21.67
  

zohnerfarms:

9 year old grandson is getting a jeans quilt

Just finished sewing the 180 denim squares together into 18 strips of 10 squares each for the quilt top.  The outside edge is black denim, one 5" square thick, except for one square at each corner which is dark blue.  The background of the denim quilt is two shades of light blue.  In the center, in dark blue, is the state of Utah - he was born in Logan & lives in Randlett in eastern Utah.  I plant to sew on embroidered 5 point stars on the quilt for Logan & Randlett.

I putt up my angel/shepherd display on the front lawn this afternoon when I needed a break from sewing.  I have one tall angel with a trumpet & 4 little cherubs with bowed heads & praying hands.  One shepherd tends a flock of ten sheep.  I actually have one more sheep, but in order to use it in the display, I need one more fo the 3-prong lawn stakes, which I don't have - - and won't until they go on sale at a "suitable" price.  Every year people ask me when I am going to get the Mary, Joseph & baby - and every year I tell them that I don't plan to.  My lawn is "in the same country,shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" until the "multitude of the heavenly host" suddenly join the single angel delivering the message - - so what I am watching out for is at least one more shepherd, since one is not plural. (or a left behind Joseph or Mary that could be repainted to become another shepherd.  Additional angels are always welcome as well. )