Merry Grinchmas

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Us and The Grinch

Trevor and I went to Grinchmas at LBX.  It began at 11am.  When we got there, it was Santa Claus instead of the Grinch, and I was rather upset by that because we already saw Santa Claus.  I looked at my tickets, it certainly said, "GRINCHMAS" on it and said "Live Photo with the Grinch."  My error.  I didn't see the Grinch wouldn't start his shift until 3pm.  

He bought an ice cream and dropped chocolate on his new Grinch shirt.  I was annoyed.

We left and did some grocery shopping and then went home to catch the Green Bay Packers playing the Denver Broncos.  Trevor got a little nap in and then we were back to Grinchmas, in his Green Bay Packers shirt.  

The Grinch was full of character and his makeup and costume was so realistic.  I was amazed by it.  Trevor told the Grinch, "I'm not sitting on your lap.  You're sitting on mine."  And he did!

This was the shirt he was going to wear before he spilled chocolate sauce on it.

Santa Pics

“So I've started wearing sweatpants to bed because I really don't need Santa seeing me in my underwear.” ― Jeff Kinney, Cabin Fever

Trevor and I went Christmas shopping at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach and then to Lakewood Mall.  We walked right into the Santa booth, and there was no line.

Thankfully, we were dressed for the occasion.  Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said, "A big house."

A Small Town Christmas - by Nan Reinhardt

Book Title: A Small Town Christmas (E-book)

Author: Nan Reinhardt

Genre: Romance

Main Character: Samantha "Sam" Hayes, Conor Flaherty, Alannah "Ali" Flaherty

Story Setting: Four Irish Brothers Winery, River's Edge

Story Summary:  Winemaker and single father Conor Flaherty is determined to make this Christmas holiday special for his daughter even though his family’s winery, Four Irish Brothers, is facing some challenges. High-octane Chicago attorney Samantha Hayes is looking forward to some delicious food, fine wine, small town charm, and a break from her hectic big city life when she agrees to do a favor for her boss and help his younger brother with a lawsuit that’s been slapped on his family’s historic winery in River’s Edge. She’s not expecting that her sexy new client will have a smile that will melt her heart and remind her that there’s more to life than work. Sam falls hard for Conor, his daughter and the small, friendly town, but can she trust her instincts and risk her heart? Sam hasn’t seen a lot of happy-ever-afters in her life, but Conor and the magic of Christmas make her want to believe.

Review: I really enjoyed this clean, romance about a big-city Attorney hired to work for a smalltown winemaker.  She doesn't ever seem to have time for love, as her career takes prescedence over anything else in her life.  Conor's been in a funk since his wife and soul-mate, Emmy, passed away.  They meet and though Sam is attracted to Conor, she fights her feelings, a lot.  It was very Hallmark and very cutesy.  I definitely recommend it. 

Love in the Margins - by Hazel Bellweather

Book Title:  Love in the Margins: A Single Mom Heartwarming Small Town Clean Romance (E-Book)
Author:  Hazel Bellweather
Genre:  Romance
Main Character:  Emily Carter, Mark Dawson
Story Setting:  Hearthstand, USA
Story Summary:  For the past ten years, Emily Carter’s life has centered on two things: the quiet aisles of the Hearthstand Library and her bright, curious son, Leo. As a single mother, she’s mastered the art of protecting, planning, and putting her own dreams on hold. Her happily-ever-after? Long shelved. That changes the moment Mark Dawson walks into town.
Review:  The book is a squeaky-clean romance between a librarian and a school principle.  It takes place in Hearthstand, and over the course of a few months, ending in the Winter and Christmas season.  I enjoyed it, but I do think the style of writing was a little bit odd.  Every so often, I'd have to re-read a sentence to try and understand what was going on.  Sometimes, the author would write what a character was thinking, without quotes or italics.  So, the next sentence when they weren't thinking, was sometimes jumbled into the thought.  It made for a confusing read, but after re-reading a sentence, it was ok. 

 

Margaret "Betty Jean" Agnes Ross Arcala

Margaret Agnes Arcala (Ross), also known as Betty Jean, better known as "Aunt Betty" to my dad's generation and mine was born in Akron, Ohio.  Her mother passed away when she was little, and she was separated from her siblings, living with her aunt Agnes Woyner, while her siblings lived with her other aunt Amelia "Mollie" Blell (Woyner).  

Aunt Berry was like a surrogate grandmother for us California kids, while our real grandma Lenore lived in Michigan.

Here's a wonderful picture of my great-Aunt Betty with Santa Claus.  How precious.