mdrai

Good morn, girlies... I love technology! We r in the car (dh is driving) barrelling down the highway to the "fancy" mall near my mom's house & I can check the site & post... truly amazing!! We had fun @ our friends' house last night... didn't get home til after midnight. We r all sleeping later & later each day, lol! Good luck to us on Mon when it is back to work & school! So... Haydee... by my powers of deduction, I m guessing that u r my SS! Can't wait! I love extra days of anticipation, thank you! Ok this is giving me a headache... have a great day everyone!!

I thought haydee's wedding was our trip this year...? But if u r forcing me to vacation... lol... maybe when next year's 2010-2011 school calendar comes out Pam can find a Fall long weekend or some such thing... or, we can pre-plan a wintery 2011 gathering... just thoughts... as I m sitting here @ the barn... I just picked up Wishing' & Hoping' @ the library & will start it now.... Tonight we're going to friends tonight for dessert & games... should b fun... Everyone have a good eve... haydee &suzy, hope u feel better! Great job Judy! Mmmmmm, that frozen yogurt shop, Pam... Bye for now!

"We are going to Las Cas tonight for margies and free Mex. food!!" Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! My green-eyed envy monster is all over this! Have a sip for me!!!

Today's the day! I'm kicking my holiday food hangover to the curb! Positive thoughts... positive actions... positive results!! Today I'm going to do liquids... protein shakes & water w/lemon... maybe for a few days, actually, to detox & de-puff a bit... am really bloated... feel like a Macy's Day parade balloon!! May take the girls to the Chipmunk Squeekquel... & maybe a stop @ target... need a case for my new iTouch, which I love... I'm so up-to-date on my electronics now! Judy -- I'm going to watch the game on tv & look for you! What fun! Suzy -- Hope you're feeling better. Janie -- Glad you enjoyed the show! Pam -- You're probably off getting massaged and margie'd w/your friend... as God as my witness, I am going to find a long weekend in 2010 when I, too, can fly out to play with you & Susanne & all my PS friends! That's one New Year's resolution that I intend to keep! Make it a great day, everyone!

Hello there, girlies! Yesterday's family dinner went well... I was a bit nervous about the 25 lb turkey... that it'd be dry by the time it got done... but it was spectacular! Yay! Everyone had a good time, lots of laughs and fun. Somehow I managed to drink 2 BOTTLES of wine -- me, who almost never touches the stuff! I was feeling *no* pain and evidently kept laughing for no apparent reason... it's better to be a happy drunk than a cranky one! I kept saying it was the release after the 8 weeks leading up to pulling off yet another "perfect" Christmas for my family. I felt fine this a.m., tho... got up @ 6:30am & have been lounging around since. My niece stayed here for a couple days... she's 7 months older than dd... they're a pair, allright. Her name is Abbi, and when they were little, we'd combine their names to call them: Clabbi! It saved time! We're going to the barn later... maybe that new Chipmunk movie tomorrow. Or rather... they'll see that & I'll pop into Up in the Air... sneaky of me! :smile: Hope everyone is well... Judy, I'm joining you TOMORROW -- no more sugar or junk, and will begin a regular exercise routine. Hallelujah, new year's is here!!

Good morning! Up early to prep the big bird for Christmas, part 2, today! You are so right, Judy, we as well have so much to be thankful for... and I am! A Judy/Bobster/Pam/Susanne meet in Cali -- alert the media! I hope you gals can make that happen!! Judy, you return the 17th, we leave the 16th! Last night on tv I heard that yesterday was the day of giving... & today is the day of "giving back" (returning)! lol! We won't be braving that madness today... besides the fact that 15 folks are coming, I like to give the shops a chance to re-stock a bit before heading out w/our gift cards, etc. The kids & I have a January tradition that one morning we take our cards & go to Borders & just hang out, looking at books, drinking java, making our selections in a lovely, unhurried way... I love doing that and it really fills my heart w/joy that they love doing it too... Ok... off to make a peanut butter/fudge pie! Everyone enjoy your days!

Oh dear, Janie -- longer than you?! I guess double it, then wrap it, then criss-cross it!! You'll be warm, that's for sure!! Am enjoying a WONDERFUL evening w/my mom this evening... we're sitting here @ the kitchen table just relaxing, drinking some wine, she's knitting, I'm surfing some knitting sites for her, and we're just talking & talking... it's rare that we have unlimited, free time together, without somewhere to go or something to do or a whole family event... and she's been here 2 whole days! w/ 2 to go! I feel so lucky! She's my bestest Christmas gift! Sweet dreams!!

Merry Christmas!! We enjoyed the candlelight service last night... at the end they turn off all the lights and we hold candles and sing "Silent Night"... that's when I know it's Christmas. Was up 'til almost 3am sneaking the presents down to the tree & stuffing stockings... dd can't ever sleep on the Eve so it's hard to do in a timely manner! Then she woke us up @ 7am to begin the festivities, so... yawn! It's nice having my mom here w/us to join in the fun... It was forecast that we would be getting ice/sleet/freezing rain today, so last night after about an hour going back & forth & trying to decide what to about the family dinner today, my sisters & I decided to postpone it 'til tomorrow... our great aunt & uncle have the furthest to drive & they had called to say that they wouldn't come today... so, naturally, there is NOTHING falling from the sky today -- not even rain! Oh well... we figure now we get 2 days of Christmas this way! (Maybe that's how the 12 Days started, lol!) I made a BIG breakfast this a.m.: eggs, coffee cake, hash browns, bacon, sectioned citrus fruit, the works!... we'll just snack the rest of the day, & then maybe get Chinese tonight, since we were supposed to be having the 25lb turkey that's hanging out in my 'frig! We may devour my mom's pumpkin roll today, too -- & then just make another one for tomorrow! We're so sneaky! Everyone enjoys their gifts... most of them were more functional this year, as our big gift is supposed to be the Mexico trip... but I got an i-pod touch for my music & games & silly apps! We're all still in pj's, lounging around playing/reading w/our new items... really, a lovely relaxing Christmas day! I'm so glad you liked your gifts, Janie! The scarf is extra long so you can loop it through itself... does that make sense? Thanks for the voicemail! Laura, how did Carson enjoy his first Christmas? Off to lounge some more... everyone enjoy their days!!

Peace be with each of you, my friends.

Good Christmas Eve Morn, Vi's~~ A little final cleaning, baking, & wrapping this morning... then out to lunch w/the kids... then my mom arrives around 2pm... dinner... then the 7:30pm candlelight service... that is where I will finally relax and be filled with the true meaning of the season. I wish each of you a blessed Christmas Eve, and Day tomorrow!

Aw Judy... we know you wear your halo EVERYday! :tongue: How I know I need to get back on track: I ran into an old neighbor/friend in Target today and I wish I didn't. I wish she'd never noticed me in the checkout line. She looked fantastic & I felt frumpy & embarrassed. Ugh. If I can remember that feeling when I go to eat, then maybe I can find that ol' wagon again. Not until after Friday, of course... but maybe Saturday? Sunday? I don't want to wait 'til the 1st... too far away... wah. [Full disclosure: I am so far gone that I typed the above while munching on a chocolate santa. I am insane.]

Good Morning... about to head out for what I hope is the last holiday shopping! Phew! The pics of Klausy are great... but I've got news for you... he's not watching tv... he's checking you out to see how much bigger you are than that cat he chowed down on! Just joshin'! The kids are wishing they had school today... I've assigned them to scrub their bathroom clean from top to bottom, all nooks & crannies, & organize their cabinets under the sinks! I am so evil! Ok -- off to help stimulate the economy a wee bit more! Make it a good one!

We got 24" of snow! In one day! It broke all the records here. Snow now is fine w/me... just so it doesn't snow when we're flying out for Mexico in January!!! Sweet dreams, everyone!

mmmmm... sopapilla cheesecake...

Just got home from a mall outing -- oh my! So they close schools because the roads are dangerous... but everyone can make it to the mall! It took an hour to get from the highway to the parking lot... but once there, I snagged a sweet spot right away... & we got our shopping done lickety split! Then we went out to lunch... & now we're home! I'm going to begin wrapping tonight... it's getting closer! exciting! In the car on the way home the breaking news was that schools are closed Tues & Weds, too... the kids are thrilled, natch... 2 weeks @ home! Then a week in Mex in January! They have the life! Guess I have helpers w/cleaning, etc., for Friday! he he he... I'm so evil! Guess that's it from here for now... make it a great evening!!

Good Monday Morn, Vi's~~ It's a "Snow Day" -- no school! We're planning on giving the icy sheen on the driveway a few hours to melt a bit, then will head out to the mall, etc. I still have some shopping to do w/OUT the kids, so we'll have to see if they go to school tomorrow or Weds. I took some pics yesterday on ds's camera, so once he downloads them & sends them to me, I'll post them, and you can see our winter wonderland! Judy, sounds like all your hard work w/your choirs and groups really comes together @ this time of year, and is appreciated. What a wonderful gift you share with your community. Too bad your church moves like molasses in its decision making... they could've had the Bobster!! Everyone make it a great day!

Wow Pam, how meaningful for you. You should WEAR it!! It's sunny here today, but not going to get over the freezing mark. DH did another snow blower run & I'm crossing my fingers that w/lots of snow melt & attention to it today, we'll be able to get out of the driveway tomorrow. Our driveway, while not as steep as some of those we saw in Alabama (omg, remember those??), runs up/down a hill & a handful of cars have gone off it into the woods over the years. I'm planning on going for a snowy walk later... I'll take pics & then maybe you can see what I'm talking about & also our winter wonderland. The kids are still crossing their fingers that school will be cancelled tomorrow... we'll see... Other than that, it's wrapping/baking/getting organized for the big day this week. I'm hosting my side of the family, 6 teens & 8 adults.

That's CLASSIC, Judy!! :thumbup:

Oh my gosh, Pam! I've met Klausy... he's one big boy... that's really scary! I'm glad all ended well. Wowza! On the news they just reported about a Twitter flashmob snow ball fight where 200 people converged on a corner in DC and it got out of hand & an unmarked police Hummer got pummelled w/snowballs & the detectives inside hopped out, drew their weapons, and threatened to arrest people! Wow!

Hellp! I'm trapped in the house w/my wacky family! :smile2: It's still snowing & now the wind is blowing & all we see is white out the windows! The latest storm "names" are the "Snow-pocalypse" and the "Shopper-Stopper Storm of '09" lol... dh says "Snow-body cares!" The local tv stations are all snow info all day... We're all still in our pj's... except dh, who periodically goes out to snow-blow our long driveway... DD is decorating a gingerbread house that we assembled earlier... I'm snuggled up on the big chair, under my Disney quilt that my sis made me last year for Xmas, w/Mo curled up next to me & a cup of tea on the fireplace hearth, Xmas tree glittering... Snow-day brownies just came out of the oven... mmmmm... I'm rambling again... but that's really all I have to do today! lol!! BBL...

When I went to bed last night, just a few snowflakes were flying around... when I woke up this morning, there's about a foot on the ground already! They're calling for blizzard conditions a bit East from here! The most current prediction is that we'll get 20"+!! Love it when the weather folks try to out-do each other w/ their verbiage: "A historic weather event!" "Storm of the decade!" "The Snow-nami!" ha ha. So my plans today are to "hunker down"... bake... read... rest... wrap... write cards... an unusual calm day in a busy season! Everyone make it a great one!

What are parents thinking letting their kid own let alone wear a shirt like that? Wowza! I'm sure this should be YOUR snow, Judy... everyone's in crazy mode here... on the news they said that the grocery stores are so busy, you have to wait for a cart! "Bread! Milk! Toilet Paper!" You sound way hectic, Haydee! I hope that you'll be able to slow down & enjoy the season soon! It's totally ok about the pic... don't give it a second thought... dh scanned the hard copy -- I didn't even know that the printer he bought earlier in the year could scan! duh on me! It's only 7:06pm and I'm tired... maybe it's that panicked start I had this morning! Judy & Pam: I received your cards! So cute, both of you!! I picked up mine today, and they're printed WAY too dark... ugh... but they'll have to do... I'm rambling... sorry!

Hello Everyone! We didn't get home 'til 10pm last night. DH was nice and let me sleep in this a.m., but I didn't know that, so I managed to sleep 'til 6:50 but then I woke up w/a start & thought I'd overslept & the kids overslept so it kind of backfired in a funny sort of way. You've never seen me move that fast! :biggrin: DH is off today through Jan 4... pretty sweet. The kids have school through Weds... sux for them! Pam, I was reading fast and I read: "... and a couple of BEERS"... ha ha! DH & I just got back from Xmas shopping... fa la la! BIG NEWS: DS made the Olympic Development Soccer Team for the state of Md!! The third time's the charm!! We just found out -- so proud of him! We're supposed to get up to 12-18" of snow this weekend! :sad: I got some movies out of Redbox & have lots of baking supplies, so we'll be set! Off to put up a "Congrats" banner & some streamers before ds comes home!

Now we r @ tryouts. It's 28 degrees! So killing time in the car...

A BIG cat! Oh my...