TA DA's from last night are:
*Went to Walmart with Emma
*Cleaned up poopys and put about 100 pairs of pants in diaper pail. Okay, not quite that many. DS3 strikes again.
*Advent
*Bathed DS3, read to Anna Kate, put everyone to bed very late DS2 was beside himself.
*Took lights off tree and replaced with new lights
*Replaced all the ornaments I knocked down in the process
*Cleaned up kitchen
For some reason, all of this took until 3 a.m. Probably because DH had LOTR on. I have to get to bed early tonight.
This morning, I read our Bible Story and unloaded DW, put away a few things in LR, and finally dressed to shoes.
PODA:
*Homeschool to make up for lost time; at least math.
*Sort/fling/put away kid clothes (why am I dreading this?)
*Think about DH's b-day tomorrow; strawberry cake! And a card.
*Take turkey out to thaw
*Poopy laundry & otherwise
*A couple of things to drycleaners
I think that sounds like the best reason ever to get to bed late!
Last night I kind of didn't do the dishes, so woke up to a non-shiny sink. I have had some tea now but still haven't quite managed the breakfast and medicine thing. All in good time.
Anyway, here is my PODA:
-wash dishes and shine sink!
-breakfast
-medication
-plug in cell phone to charge up
-desk chores
-laundry
-pack for the trip (I finished making DH's grandma's gift, a cute little couch cushion, by hot glueing it together instead of sewing it)
-give the cats' vaccination records to the vet where they're boarding
-go to the post office
-make peanut butter/ chocolate chip cookies for FIL's present
-clean catboxes
-I really am going to the storage locker today!
-neaten DH's studio if the spirit moves me
-meet up with Michele (Mitchypoo) for coffee!!!!!
-read some
Yep, we're all still sick. This is getting monotonous. Well, not TOO monotonous - both kids broke out in rashes last night (red blotches with bumps). Fun, huh?
PODA:
- Call dr, get appointment, take kids in
- Grocery shopping
- Feed shopping
- Finish a book chapter
- Review software application from potential partner
- Make bank deposits
- Pay bills
- Wash diapers
- Cook dinner
- Wash dishes
- Dump cat litter
- Clean catbox
TADA:
- Yesterday was all writing, all the time. Got an entire book revision pass done.
- Cooked dinner
- Did dishes
- Washed diapers
Anyway, not as tired the last two days so I'm hopeful the fatigue is wearing off and I'll get some energy back.
TADA's (this morning)
emptied DW
wiped counters
2 loads of laundry done to finish, one left to fold
swept and mopped kitchen
picked up in Family room and Living room
PODA
quick trip to the Post office
clean microwave
fold one more load laundry
ironing
2 more presents to wrap
Mike, I hope you guys are feeling better by Christmas.
As for LOTR (Lord of the Rings), it was the extended version, too. I'm sure that slowed me down. Long pauses to stare at tv and all.
Very clever with the hot glue, Becky. I wouldn't have thought of it.
So sorry y'all are still under it, Mike and family. More get-well vibes and prayers going out! I'm trying to remember if we ever had any rashes like that. If so, it was probably many, many rashes ago. I remember the ped. saying at least one was unspecified...sometimes viruses show up like that. At least you got a lot accomplished yesterday.
Glad you are feeling better Jamilea. You'll probably be posting some fantastic TA DA's during that 2nd trimester.
Let's see...TA DA's so far:
*Homeschooled
*Washed & "boiled" poopy pants; in dryer now.
*Sorted and flung a few boys' clothes. Their dresser top is now cleared.
*Set up train track for boys.
*Read through a copy of "B is for Betsy" my sis gave us; determined it would be a good one for DD7 to read on her own.
*Unloaded DW.
*Took out turkey.
Thanks for the velvet & cat advice! We got a vet appt. for after Christmas, hopefully that will solve the problem. I have no idea how old he is, but would say maybe 6-7 months? DH had the good idea that maybe he sprayed because of those bags of clothes I brought in, maybe one smelled like another cat and he got territorial, makes sense.
Well, I think today was the fastest day of my life! Whoosh, it was gone.
TADA
up at 4:30 to run 3 miles (I had to get to school early and set up for the legislators)
dinner (crockpot)
got the paper read
made my final shopping list (I thought I was done, but forgot FIL and DH, who never asks for anything had a few requests!)
PODA
bake cookies for kid's classroom parties (they requested the jam thumbprints)
draw 5-10 more pages of shapes for DD
early to bed!
Well, I am beat and headed to bed to read a bit. I worked today and won't work again till January 6th besides one day at home - yay! I'm glad I went in today and did it instead of trying to spread it out over Christmas. Now gearing up for the kids' 2 school parties tomorrow plus having some friends over for dinner tomorrow evening, should be fun. Also having lunch with another Mom and her DD. Still some shopping to do, I have never waited this late! What is with me?! Still can't find that blasted Barbie either - may end up being a present for the New Year, oh well. I know it's here somewhere.
Many thanks to those who sent cards in the exchange. I had so much fun opening and reading them all. I sent mine out on Saturday, so if you haven't received them yet, you should very soon.
Well, I'm back at last. Did I get all that cash saved up for a laptop? Yeah, right.
Actually, a woman I work with had a PC that was damaged in a lightening storm. She said "if you can fix it, you can have it". So, I took it to the guy, and $250 later I'm up and running on something far better than the last computer I had. THEN, I called the ISP that we use at work. Long story short...new customer...$90 for 14 months unlimited. I believe these are small answered prayers leading toward the ultimate goal of MOVING OUT ASAP!!!!
I'm set up in the dining room right now. Need to box up some books in the bedroom to make room for puter and actual desk/workspace. This will happen over the course of the next couple of weeks.
I sure need Flylady, so I hope you all can give me the kick in the Franny that I need to make all this happen!
Looking forward to poking around this new site in the coming days. I've only been on while at work so did not have time to browse.
Well, now I am the one sick! Woke up with stomach upset; thought it was my usual "Monday Morning" rumblings. Worked two hours (scheduled for 5), and had to come home. Without giving up TMI, let me just say that what I have consumed over the past twenty-four hours has left me, twice now in a most unsavory way. I ran a fever, but I feel as I must have sweated it off now. Anyway, I am back to bed as when I did this at 5:30, I got to feeling much, much worse!
Hope you have a good evening & that I will be back 100% tomorrow!
Jul, GREATTTT to have you back. Can't wait to get your card.
I'm so glad you're back with us...we have missed you!
Know what else I forgot? For the third week in a row I forgot J.D.'s Monday appointment for an occupational therapy evaluation. He has been discharged by the speech therapist because he's chewing and swallowing now (after a six-week break from therapy, of course!). But she still thinks he has "sensory" issues and needs OT. GRRRR. I love the OT, she's very nice, but he really doesn't need more therapy. He's perfectly normal, even right down to the finicky eating. They're probably pretty put out with me over this, because they rearranged schedules to make it possible for both children to have a simultaneous appointment. I'm really not "forgetting" on purpose though! I had thought maybe I'd do the evaluation just to see what the results would be, but this must not be meant to be. I'm going to cancel all further therapy for J.D., take him to the ped., and have him certified a "therpeutic success" & officially discharged.
Man, my brain just doesn't work right sometimes. Arg.
I actually got a good night's sleep last night. We'll see if this improves anything in my noggin.
On the PODA:
*Homeschool
*Laundry
*Maybe drop by a Christmas card for the therapists and apologize profusely?
Feel better soon, Vonnie. Usually those nasty viruses dissipate after 24 hours. Hope so!
We made it! whoohoo! Never again. LOL!! No, it was ok, Chance doesn't travel very well, and 10+ hours in a carseat wasn't very fun for him. Things we learned: He loves Doritos, and loves just the insides to cream filled cookies and peanut butter crackers. He can throw, everything, very hard! Watch for flying full of juice sippy cups in vehicle, be thankful it knocked another child in the head, not the driver. LOL!
The wedding was beautiful, and of course, my girls did a perfect job, and I got many, many compliments on how beautiful they were. I had too much to drink at the reception, way too much. LOL!! It didn't take much, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad. On one hand, it isn't saying much for my alcohol tolerance, which used to be good. On the other hand, it doesn't cost near as much to get me drunk anymore. DH let me, since he had too much to drink the night before at the bachelor party. Check this out, they went to Tombstone for the bachelor party! It's just 27 miles via dirt road from where we were staying at dh's uncles farm. If you've never been there, Tombstone hasn't changed much since the Earps were there. Here's a link to the bar they went to. http://www.crystalpalacesaloon.com/
I think this was the bar that Virgil Earp was shot in front of. Pretty cool that DH went there. I'll put pictures up soon of the wedding and stuff.
Anyway, back to being a Flybaby!
Must unload camper, finish Christmas shopping, douche house, do laundry, and get groceries today. I've got another cold (I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!). So I'll flap along. Ya'll have a great day!
Our doc says "side effect of whatever virus they've got", and indeed, the spots and streaks have pretty well cleared up.
And I'm just back from 25 hours without Internet service, which has played merry hell with my schedule. Most of the rest of the day today will go for e-mail catchup, and trying to finish a chapter that I started yesterday while I was offline.
Dana spent last night puking, my throat is still sore - but the kids seem pretty healthy, so it'll be a good Christmas for the ones who will appreciate it the most.
that so many of you have illness...especially of the pukey variety. My sickness, while it went on for weeks on end, at least allowed me to be semi-functional throughout.
Susannah, I did get a card from you. Actually I think yours was the first I received. All the kiddos on the couch?!?! Oh, and methinks your subconscious is taking over with these OT appts, since you don't really think they need to be there anyway, whaddya think?
Introduced step-mother to Flylady tonight. Not telling her about this site, though...too personal sometimes!
Jenny, I'll bet your girls were just LOVELY in that wedding...I can't wait to see the pics.
Well, I'm off to pack a few boxes to try and make some workspace in my room. Hope you all feel better for the holiday!
Yes, the kids keep reminding me of the count down to Christmas and now we have reached Christmas Eve Eve. (a new term for me). I finally finished the last minute shopping (mainly gifts for DH to give to people he works with). Last night I finished sewing a quilted book bag for my girlfriend. Delivered it today.
Big plans for tomorrow. Movies at 11:30 (the very long new Lord of the Rings), church at 4:30 and then friends over for our traditional Christmas Eve spaghetti dinner. We will be having standing rib roast for Christmas dinner (DH request, even on sale it was a bit costly, sure hope I don't mess it up)
Sorry, about all the illnesses.
Jenny, glad your back safely.
Thanks to all who sent cards. Mine were sent out a little late (Saturday). Some may get them tomorrow. I guess I should have added that to my anti-procrastination list last Wed.
Yes, Susan, that was a familiar term at our house. How 'bout this one...at our University, the day following Thanksgiving is a minor floating holiday (which no one ever floats...everyone takes the day off). Anyway, just about campus-wide, if you use the term "the day after" even in the vaguest of context, everyone knows which day you are referring to, even if you don't use the word "Thanksgiving" at all. I love exclusive language...it's fun! Ha ha.
Susan , I got your card today! What a clever idea - loved the recipe and recipe cards! You are one domestic goddess!
Our dinner guests have left and it was fun - kids did smores over the fire - the lasagna was great.
Tomorrow - wrap, clean, and shop. I have no idea what we are having for Christmas Eve or Christmas?! It will be simple for just he 4 of us!
Gosh, Mike and family get better soon!
Glad your trip went well Jenny, yes I remember the days of flying with babies - very difficult! I had passengers upset with me for my crying babies at times - I was just nursing so it was difficult. Now they WANT to fly, go figure!
Well... I dont know what kind of virus it is going around, but since I was reading about how all you have been sick, I call it a computer virus. It finally reached our house.
The only one that got it bad was my daughter.
I have been at her bedside for 3-4 days now. It was a horrible experience! Only Fever. Not really any other symptoms. Just a high fever! Fevers scare the heck outa me!
I did a ton of reading on the internet to try and find ways to beat it. I sure learned alot!
Miso soup, and Ginger Tea were the winners. And Im just so grateful she was cooperative enough to drink them. They helped break the fever and got her to sweat. She's cool as a cuke today. And I am SO RELIEVED! (sigh)!
So... Yep, Im back to flybabying.
Luckily since my house was relatively clean before my daughter got sick, I didnt fall very far behind. Today I was able to catch up on most my cleaning in no time at all. Now I just need to get my holiday stuff caught up. Wrapping, wrapping, and more wrapping! LOL.
This year hubby put a twist on Christmas for me. He is actually suprising me with something. Normally he just hands me something and says Merry Christmas. But this year he actually went out and bought something, wrapped it, put it beside the tree. And I am INCREDIBLY CURIOUS!!! I feel like a kid again! Im fairly excited and somewhat anxious cause Ive been hinting on a new sewing machine. But I hate to get my hopes up! ....LOL.. its fun to feel young at heart isnt it?
Lets hope its not a new table saw or something like that! (wink).
Gotta run....
Merry Christmas Eve's Eve! LOL!(that is cute!)
Heather
Well, I FINALLY feel normal again. I still haven't eaten anything solid, but I don't want to overdo it yet. DH is doing the shopping for DD tonight. I probably could have gone, but I don't know how long I would have lasted. I am still kinda weak.
So, what has 24+ hours of no flying earned me? Well, dirty dishes all over the place, at least 6 loads of laundry, and all of the undone gift buying & wrapping. So, I have run the dishwasher, still need to unload. I have already run one load of whites/lights and have a load of darks in both the washer & dryer. Towels are next, if I still have the energy.
I guess I'll go into the office tomorrow to wrap up a couple of things before the holidays as well as pick up my paycheck & bonus. Co-worker said I have some gifts on my desk as well.
DD's birthday party went sooo well Sunday. I really enjoyed it. Our poor little 1000 square foot house was bulging at the seems with 42 people in it, but I think everyone, especially DD had a great time. I can't believe she is 4 years old. I wasn't able to be around her yesterday or this morning, so she wouldn't get sick & I MISSED her so much. She was sitting on my bed this afternoon talking to me & I was just looking at her and almost broke down crying because I can't believe that this beautiful, wonderful little girl is mine! I've already had a good cry thinking about the 3 1/2 years she missed of having a family. But, I have to remind myself that I can't change her past, only her future.
Well, enough for now. I need to go unload dishwasher before my family gets back home.
Have a good evening & a great holiday for those of you who won't be checking in!
Andrea, I would have loved it if we could have flown (maybe, 2 hours to airport here, then another 2 hours to airport there, that's still 4 hours of driving time). All that was car time!
Susannah, I'm dying to know what it is!
Vonnie, I didn't realize your house was so small! Wow!
I got all I wanted accomplished done today. All shopping is done, groceries are in and put away. Camper is unpacked and parked under the haybarn. I'm pooped! Still have wrapping to do tomorrow. And some cooking. Ya'll have a nice night!
Vonnie, I got your card a day or so ago and your little girl is just beautiful!! She looks like a doll. Glad your feeling better
Susan, I got your card today, and have to agree with Andrea, you ARE the Domestic Goddess! I loved the format of the "Christmas letter".
Jenny, glad you guys had a nice trip and are home safe. Cool bar in Tombstone. I got your card a day or so ago, Thanks. I owe you one, it's gona be late, more like a New Year's card
Heather, glad to hear your DD is feeling better.
Julie, glad your back!! Good deal on the PC
Ok, a quick mini TADA
finished Christmas shopping
cooked chicken, and browned hamburger meat to freeze for later (don't know what came over me?)
spiffied downstairs
had DS17 and DC16 clean there rooms and there bathroom **big accomplishment!!**
helped DS5 clean his room
dropped off net flix at post office, bought some stamps
DS5 is calling for me, see you guys later.
Jamie Lea
Susan, I'll be cooking a standing rib roast on Christmas for the first time myself. I've been poking around at recipes all day. My problem is that they all sound yummish. Anyhow, three choices...
Andrea, Vonnie and Jul, thanks for your cards, which arrived yesterday and today. Andrea and Vonnie, those children are beautiful!
Becky - I haven't got around to a) making Jenny's broccoli casserole with the Velveeta you sent, or b) sending off your Dentabits but I promise I'll do both in the New Year! It's ready to post now but I don't want to put it in the post yet while there are several 'days off' for the postal service coming up. Think I'll wait until it's back to normal then send it.
My feet have hardly touched the ground the last couple of weeks, I've been SO busy! At last everything is done, DS12 and I will have a lazy day today watching Christmas tv and maybe playing a game or two. Tomorrow we are off to my parents' place for a few days. They don't have the internet so this is probably my last post until after Christmas.
PODA
200 fling boogie in the kitchen/LR area
empty the trash
4 loads laundry
dishes
counters
last-minute shopping
treadmill to justify what I'll eat tonight
practice my music for tonight, some of those harmonies are tricky
make salad
see what I can do with DD's hair
find her other "party shoe"
DSIL's at 5:30 for big family dinner
church at midnight
Mike, thanks for the links. I think I will be using Paula's recipe from The Food Network.
TADA
finished grocery shopping and returned 3 gifts
morning routine accomplished
DH and kids have gone to the movies
Spaghetti sauce simmering
PODA
finish wrapping gifts
vacuum first floor
touch up powder room
feather dust first floor (company tonight)
may try to make Icelandic meringue cake with whipped cream and chocolate covered raisins filling (it's yummy)
Yay, Jenny's back, Vonnie's better, Mike's still surviving, and I did send Jul a card after all.
Merry Christmas Eve!
TA DA's:
*Last night: Baked DH's strawberry/cream cheese cake with kids. He really liked his gift, the 1 hr. professional massage certificate and an "amateur" massage!
*Read our Bible story this morning, then read two more to catch us up to the Christmas story tomorrow. Good timing, we just finished the OT.
*Unloaded/reloaded DW & cleaned up kitchen
*Wrapped a few remaining gifts
*Folded some laundry, moved it one more step in machines
*Planned Christmas dinner over phone with Mom.
*Printed pictures of last-minute Christmas gifts, for DH to take shopping. He needs illustrations.
*Rinsed/soaked baby clothes; 'nother diaper blowout. Can't wait for my diaper covers! These disposables are no good.
Not as much as I thought. Hmm.
Looks like I may not get to my Christmas Eve service tonight. DH has my van. Then again, knowing how males shop, he could be back early.
Merry Christmas, Ladies (and gentleman):
DD and I just returned this evening from our annual "Escape From Christmas" trip. We had a lovely time together.
I'm hoping that all you you with small children are truly appreciating your holiday together, when the younguns are still believing. DD and I had a great time together. Even though the house was rather trashed when we got home.
We're on one of our confused-schedule days here; the boy woke up at 2AM. Fortunately he has not yet remembered that it's Christmas. But I do; hope you FlyGals are all enjoying this holiday season.
We're waiting on DD to get up to start our first Christmas as a family. She didn't fall asleep until after midnight; we didn't get in until 11:30 p.m. from in-laws. She is going to flip when she sees under our tree! DH stayed up most of the night wrapping everything and making sure it is picture-perfect. He's gone to put flowers on graves to two friends' families. I need to be in the shower while he's gone. Maybe I can even get my pecan pie in the oven shortly.
Michelle and I missed each other due to a mix-up in the directions but we said definitely next year!
We got all packed and made it to Michigan okay. Did I mention that DH straightened up his studio himself, without my even saying I was going to do it? And he's been taking very good care of his grandma.
Vonnie, I'll be waiting by the mailbox for a piece of your pecan pie.
Too bad about the missed meeting, Becky. What a shame.
I'm enjoying a nice quiet day home alone. Last night I got the furniture and computer arranged in my room...now I just have to deal with everything else I trashed in the process, and figure out how to organize the paperwork so I'll be motivated to actually do it! Oh, and I slept till after 9:00...it was wonderful!
Merry Christmas to everyone...I can't wait to hear all about it!
Christmas, that is... Hoping you all had a wonderful day! Sounds like it was shaping up that way.
We had a good time. I had the house neatened by Christmas Eve so I felt pretty relaxed and happy. My youngest sis stayed to help clean up my kitchen Christmas Night, so we were in pretty good shape by the time she left. I have some organizing and integrating to do today!
The children seemed to enjoy their toys. My middle sister made the cutest fishing game for the boys and they love it! She cut the fish from craft foam and tied washers to their mouths. She made the fishing rods of wooden dowels and "J" hooks with magnets. Cute! They are playing with it this morning. Of course, they broke the wooden hooks already but I glued them together last night and so far they are holding up. The girls and I tried out the Easy Bake oven and it looks to be great entertainment for some time to come. We made 8 tiny chocolate chip cookies! DD5 wants to make pizza today so I found an Easy Bake recipe on the 'net last night. My kids eat like birds, so two pizzas will probably be lunch for the girls!
My mother gave the children all the books their grandpa had chosen for them while he was alive. She had been keeping them for visits to her house, but since she's moving to a smaller place, she put a bookplate in each book giving the book to one child or another "from Grandpa." I thought it was so nice. We have a whole new library to read through! She also gave me a book of love poems he had sent her from Vietnam, back in 1969.
The children received lots of art supplies as well, so maybe we'll do art today. I got enough pampering stuff in my stocking to have a mini-spa day one of these days...along with the traditional pomegranate and pistachios (and chocolate, of course). Yum!
AND...we have two new additions to the family! Merry and Pippin, the Russian Dwarf hamsters. DH got them for the boys. They are adorable. They look as if they had wiggled right out of a Beatrix Potter illustration. Neena (our Siamese) has shown exceedingly great interest in them, of course. Good thing we have a tight-fitting screen top to the aquarium.
Well, I'd better go. Baby's speaking up now. She's tired of her little exer-saucer. I can't believe she's already able to sit up in it! She holds her head up so well.
Your Cmas sounds like it was just about perfect, Susannah...how great! I loved the gifts "from" Gpa. And the poems...it reminded me that mother's sweetheart has some of the letters and sketches his father sent home when he was in Korea (I think?), back when it was just him and mommy at home--the other three siblings came much later.
More organizing and paid work on tap for today and tomorrow. Hope some of you will be around...I can't wait to hear your Holiday Reports!
Everyone sounds like they had a nice Christmas. We had lots of fun with my nieces and nephew and my parents and sister on Christmas Eve, and yesterday spent the day with Dh's family. Had excellent food, lots of laughs. Dh spoiled me with gifts, next year we will spoil the baby
Susannah, your Christmas sounds great. A hampster?? I always asked for one but Santa never brought him
Did my am routine to try to get some order in this place. I only have one Dstepson16, how does this place look like 6 kids were running aroung?? Working today 3-9, then the weekend. Didn't sleep well. I dont think the baby liked all the food I ate last night, my tummy was definitely jumbling!! and then I have this post nasal drip that kept me up all night. Finally put 4 pillows under my head and the coughing stopped. Slept in this am and it felt good.
Ok, on to the flapping:
~made bed
~swished bathrooms
~one load laundry drying, own in washing machine
~cleaned up kitchen
Still need to:
~21 fling boogies some stuff so we can get new stuff in from Christmas
~try new Fitmama excercise tape Dh gave me
~work 3-9. Thats about it. I feel like a slug.
No, not from alcohol, from stuff! Lots and lots of stuff!
We had a good, but very busy holiday. Dinner at DSIL's Christmas Eve, I sang at midnight service, the rest of the family went to church Thurs. morning, and then on to Great Grandma's for noon. Home last night, and my parents joined us to eat our traditional Christmas night spaghetti dinner and play with the kids' toys. Phew, I'm beat.
so on to the PODA
laundry
250-fling boogie all over the house
long walk
make something healthy for dinner
help DD3 figure out how to play with her new toys
dig out the van (another 20 inches of snow last night)
get some essentials at the grocery store
Susannah, I also got spa-type stuff! A pumice stone and shea butter foot lotion, some aromatherapy scrub for my dry skin, and a really yummy smelling grapefruit candle for taking a candlelit bath. I think I may have to do that tonight!
The kids were very happy with their gifts. DS11 said this was his best Christmas ever! Wow!
DMIL gave DD3 two barbie sets with a million tiny pieces, and a make up kit.
DH gave me a gift certificate to a furniture store, which is very sweet as the furniture we have was bought used 16 years ago and is in really sad shape. He and I have planned an evening of shopping, just the two of us, and dinner. I can't wait!
Though I did end up thinking it would have been easier to wrap two identical copies of everything than have the kids squabble over each other's presents. We're knee-deep in gifts now, and overall pretty happy about it though.
The rib roast turned out well (served with asparagus and mashed potatoes), plus there was stollen, bar cookies, and rice pudding, as well as a first test loaf from the new bread machine.
Of course there's a litter of wrapping paper and boxes everywhere, but that'll be kindling for the next few days.
PODA:
- A bit of straightening
- Dinner
- Dishes
- Diapers
- Bake refrigerator cookies (dough is all made up, just need to slice and bake)
- Start a book chapter
- Tech edit one chapter of another book
- Write online column
We too had a wonderful Christmas. My best gift this year was a castle ornament from DD17 with a wonderful note thanking me for taking her on the "scenic tours" to many castles in Germany this past fall. I am so blessed to have such a great daughter. I will miss her when she heads off to college next fall. My relationship with my own mother is not very good, so I thank God daily for the relationship I have with DD.
The Standing Rib roast was perfect. The preperations was a bit scary. I had it in a 450' oven for 25 minutes(to sear the outside) and then 16 min per pound at 325. Well, the 450' temp caused a great deal of smoke and the smoke alarms went off. We had to open the front and back door and a few windows in the kitchen. Once we passed the searing phase it went well. I actually received a call from my brother and he too was having rib roast. He called at the perfect time. He said to remove it from the oven once it reached 135-140 temp and it would continue to cook for the next half hour. So, I did and it reached 160 (medium not rare) just the way we like it.
The Icelandic meringue is a simple meringue cake (egg whites, sugar, brown sugar and rice krispies) with a whipped cream filling and chocolate covered raisins (bought on our trip to Iceland, their chocolate is the best). My mother is originally from Iceland so we occassionally have foods from that country.
I'm glad everyone is reporting happy times this holiday season.
DS12 has a friend over and the buzzer just went off for the pizza. So, I must go.
Susan, I'm glad you and DD have such a good relationship. I can only hope I will be that close to my daughters when they reach that age. What a nice Christmas you had! Glad the roast turned out good. The cake sounds wonderful too, only my DH will not eat raisins.
Mike I was LOL about the squabble factor! If you gave identical gifts, they'd each want both. It's a kid thing. I'm about to go nuts with that lately. We haven't been out of the house in a while. That usually helps.
Ouch! Little miss needs her nails clipped.
TA DA:
I straightened downstairs last night. The upstairs is ankle-deep in toys, but I hardly ever have to go up there, so who cares? Rather than fuss over getting them to clean up last night, I told DD7 not to change a thing, it was lovely. Perhaps they'll eventually learn from experience why it's easier to neaten up every once in a while.
In the meantime, I intend to keep the rest of the house the way I like it...peaceful!
DH got me a mirror for our master bath for Christmas. We haven't had a mirror since we built the house four years ago. I've been doing my makeup in the guest hall bath all that time. I surely hope he puts it up today. I'm nervous about it. Nothing that comes into our house stays unscathed for long. He also kept back some winter rye seed from his last landscaping job. I'm anxious for that to be sown because it's a mud pit out there. Except for the driveway! Yay!
Well, today's my 37th birthday, but my treat comes tomorrow...I'm going to see ROTK with my mom and sister. Can't wait to catch up with Frodo, Sam, Aragorn and all the gang.
Well, sounds like everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!! I know I did! Except Chance was sick, and now dd4 is sick. Always happens after they are around a certain cousin. Hmmmm....
Anyway, the kids got lots of stuff, including the Barbie things with lots of pieces. DD4 is disappointed that she didn't get the Barbie of Swan Lake that she wanted. My dad gave me money to get the kids something from him, maybe I'll just get that for her. DD6 hugged me and said this was the best Christmas ever! She is so sweet! She got a potholder loom and has already made me a potholder. It still looks like the tree threw up in the living room, not to mention the kids rooms.
I got LOTR box set, now I can read those before seeing the movies. Finished Cold Mountain BTW. I think DH and I may try to get the inlaws to babysit so we can have our belated anniversary dinner and see it. Would be the first time just DH and I went to the movies in 6 1/2 years! Think it will happen? Also got some nice subbing clothes (Wrangler Riata's) and some jeans for everyday (Wrangler 20Xs), some shirts, a waffle Iron, a nice big crockpot, and other various kitchen items. I gave DH a new shotgun he wanted, Chance gave DH a calander of a nearly naked Brooke Burke, Chance gave me PJs that said "HOTTIE".
Yesterday we did absolutely nothing but watch TV. Discovery Channel had an American Chopper Marathon (DH's new obsession to watch, even though he has never rode a motorcycle). I like to watch it too, because I think Paul Jr. is an absolute HOTTIE!!! And the dad is just so cool, I just love him! 8 or 9 hours later... LOL!! So I'm playing catchup today. Laundry going, dishes are done.
This is the time of year that I like to think about my New Year Goals (I don't like to call it Resolutions). One of them is that I have to spend less time on the computer (going on 30 minutes now just writing this and reading). I know, I say it every month, but something has really got to be done about it now.
Good luck Jenny! DD5 got a couple of the Swan Lake Barbs for Birthday and Christmas - they are neat. Sounds like you got some nice gifts. We'll have to try some new crock pot recipes - I got a new one about a month ago.
Sounds like everyone had a nice holiday - we did too. I was forced to declutter because we're having a dinner party tonite (small) - so most of the Christmas mess is picked up. DD and I just went through her room for about 15 minutes.
Hope you get your mirror up Susannah! And happy birthday to you!
Well, it's official. This was the snowiest December on record. Today the sky is bright blue and the snow sparkles like glitter. It's so beautiful it almost doesn't look real.
TADA
dishes
counters
kitchen and LR floors
LR clutter
meal planned
groceries (forgot the list, there goes the plan)
3 loads laundry
got DSs to organize CD/VHS/DVD shelf and shovel the deck
returned Pirates of the Carribean-it was good!
PODA
find a new system for tiny little barbie things in DD's room
laundry, 3 more loads
make parmesan fish and sauteed snow peas, mushrooms, and onions for dinner
clean up the computer desk
listen to Prairie Home Companion
wrap 2 gifts for the last Christmas celebration tomorrow at Great Grandma's
help DD3 clean up her art table area
update rolodex and throw away card envelopes
early to bed I hope, my internal clock is all messed up
DS11 wants to spend the night in his tent in the woods behind our house. He built a shelter with a tarp, snow, and low-hanging evergreen branches and set his tent up in it. I don't know how comfortable I feel about that, but I admire his hardiness. Hopefully DH will be home soon from moving snowbanks with his loader so he can help make a decision.
Jennye, we watched a lot of that, too! We love to watch the two Pauls get "into it"! Too funny! We watch all of those custom chopper shows.
Our tree threw up in our house, too. DD got waaaaay too much stuff. She had such a wonderful time, though. It was just magical watching her so amazed at getting so many gifts! I cried a little, too, thinking about the 3 Christmases she didn't get anything & may have even not had enough to eat. But, all I can do is make sure she gets everything she needs and some of what she wants from this point forward!
We are turning over a new leaf financially for 2004. I bought a household budget book that we're going to use, bought a box to file paperwork so we can find it when we need it; have all of our tax return info ready so we can file our taxes as soon as we get our W-2's. We should get it all back from federal this year because of the adoption tax credit, so we want to file it ASAP. We're going to make a plan of how often we're allowed to go out to eat. That's our biggest problem - we waste too much money going out to eat. And it is so dumb, too, because I LOVE to cook. It's just simple lack of having a plan.
Anyway, timer just buzzed to let me know our pizza is ready, so I'd better go.
Comments
LOL!
Sounds like the typical MR at our house.
TA DA's from last night are:
DS2 was beside himself.
*Went to Walmart with Emma
*Cleaned up poopys and put about 100 pairs of pants in diaper pail. Okay, not quite that many. DS3 strikes again.
*Advent
*Bathed DS3, read to Anna Kate, put everyone to bed very late
*Took lights off tree and replaced with new lights
*Replaced all the ornaments I knocked down in the process
*Cleaned up kitchen
For some reason, all of this took until 3 a.m. Probably because DH had LOTR on. I have to get to bed early tonight.
This morning, I read our Bible Story and unloaded DW, put away a few things in LR, and finally dressed to shoes.
PODA:
*Homeschool to make up for lost time; at least math.
*Sort/fling/put away kid clothes (why am I dreading this?)
*Think about DH's b-day tomorrow; strawberry cake! And a card.
*Take turkey out to thaw
*Poopy laundry & otherwise
*A couple of things to drycleaners
Later!
Susannah
LOTR
I think that sounds like the best reason ever to get to bed late!
Last night I kind of didn't do the dishes, so woke up to a non-shiny sink. I have had some tea now but still haven't quite managed the breakfast and medicine thing. All in good time.
Anyway, here is my PODA:
-wash dishes and shine sink!
-breakfast
-medication
-plug in cell phone to charge up
-desk chores
-laundry
-pack for the trip (I finished making DH's grandma's gift, a cute little couch cushion, by hot glueing it together instead of sewing it)
-give the cats' vaccination records to the vet where they're boarding
-go to the post office
-make peanut butter/ chocolate chip cookies for FIL's present
-clean catboxes
-I really am going to the storage locker today!
-neaten DH's studio if the spirit moves me
-meet up with Michele (Mitchypoo) for coffee!!!!!
-read some
Once more into the breach...
Yep, we're all still sick. This is getting monotonous. Well, not TOO monotonous - both kids broke out in rashes last night (red blotches with bumps). Fun, huh?
PODA:
- Call dr, get appointment, take kids in
- Grocery shopping
- Feed shopping
- Finish a book chapter
- Review software application from potential partner
- Make bank deposits
- Pay bills
- Wash diapers
- Cook dinner
- Wash dishes
- Dump cat litter
- Clean catbox
TADA:
- Yesterday was all writing, all the time. Got an entire book revision pass done.
- Cooked dinner
- Did dishes
- Washed diapers
What's LOTR?
Is it Lord of the Rings?
Anyway, not as tired the last two days so I'm hopeful the fatigue is wearing off and I'll get some energy back.
TADA's (this morning)
emptied DW
wiped counters
2 loads of laundry done to finish, one left to fold
swept and mopped kitchen
picked up in Family room and Living room
PODA
quick trip to the Post office
clean microwave
fold one more load laundry
ironing
2 more presents to wrap
Mike, I hope you guys are feeling better by Christmas.
Becky, how neat, have fun at coffee.
See you guys later.
Jamie Lea
Say hi to Michelle!
As for LOTR (Lord of the Rings), it was the extended version, too. I'm sure that slowed me down. Long pauses to stare at tv and all.
Very clever with the hot glue, Becky.
I wouldn't have thought of it.
So sorry y'all are still under it, Mike and family. More get-well vibes and prayers going out! I'm trying to remember if we ever had any rashes like that. If so, it was probably many, many rashes ago. I remember the ped. saying at least one was unspecified...sometimes viruses show up like that.
At least you got a lot accomplished yesterday.
Glad you are feeling better Jamilea. You'll probably be posting some fantastic TA DA's during that 2nd trimester.
Let's see...TA DA's so far:
*Homeschooled
*Washed & "boiled" poopy pants; in dryer now.
*Sorted and flung a few boys' clothes. Their dresser top is now cleared.
*Set up train track for boys.
*Read through a copy of "B is for Betsy" my sis gave us; determined it would be a good one for DD7 to read on her own.
*Unloaded DW.
*Took out turkey.
Nursing baby again right now.
Hope to have more accomplished by tonight.
Love y'all!
Susannah
measles?
Sounds like measles! But they're all old enough to be fully vaccinated, so it's probably something else altogether (and equally fun, eh?).
Got your card today Jamie!
Thanks!
Thanks for the velvet & cat advice! We got a vet appt. for after Christmas, hopefully that will solve the problem. I have no idea how old he is, but would say maybe 6-7 months? DH had the good idea that maybe he sprayed because of those bags of clothes I brought in, maybe one smelled like another cat and he got territorial, makes sense.
Well, I think today was the fastest day of my life! Whoosh, it was gone.
TADA
)
up at 4:30 to run 3 miles (I had to get to school early and set up for the legislators)
dinner (crockpot)
got the paper read
made my final shopping list (I thought I was done, but forgot FIL and DH, who never asks for anything had a few requests!
PODA
bake cookies for kid's classroom parties (they requested the jam thumbprints)
draw 5-10 more pages of shapes for DD
early to bed!
Catch ya later!
-Jo
Beat!
Hi Guys!
Oh, those darn cats!
Well, I am beat and headed to bed to read a bit. I worked today and won't work again till January 6th besides one day at home - yay! I'm glad I went in today and did it instead of trying to spread it out over Christmas. Now gearing up for the kids' 2 school parties tomorrow plus having some friends over for dinner tomorrow evening, should be fun. Also having lunch with another Mom and her DD. Still some shopping to do, I have never waited this late! What is with me?! Still can't find that blasted Barbie either - may end up being a present for the New Year, oh well. I know it's here somewhere.
Good nite all!
Andrea
Hi Everybody!
Many thanks to those who sent cards in the exchange. I had so much fun opening and reading them all. I sent mine out on Saturday, so if you haven't received them yet, you should very soon.
Well, I'm back at last. Did I get all that cash saved up for a laptop? Yeah, right.
Actually, a woman I work with had a PC that was damaged in a lightening storm. She said "if you can fix it, you can have it". So, I took it to the guy, and $250 later I'm up and running on something far better than the last computer I had. THEN, I called the ISP that we use at work. Long story short...new customer...$90 for 14 months unlimited. I believe these are small answered prayers leading toward the ultimate goal of MOVING OUT ASAP!!!!
I'm set up in the dining room right now. Need to box up some books in the bedroom to make room for puter and actual desk/workspace. This will happen over the course of the next couple of weeks.
I sure need Flylady, so I hope you all can give me the kick in the Franny that I need to make all this happen!
Looking forward to poking around this new site in the coming days. I've only been on while at work so did not have time to browse.
See you all soon!
Love,
Jul
Not A Good Day in the Sick-House
Well, now I am the one sick! Woke up with stomach upset; thought it was my usual "Monday Morning" rumblings. Worked two hours (scheduled for 5), and had to come home. Without giving up TMI, let me just say that what I have consumed over the past twenty-four hours has left me, twice now in a most unsavory way. I ran a fever, but I feel as I must have sweated it off now. Anyway, I am back to bed as when I did this at 5:30, I got to feeling much, much worse!
Hope you have a good evening & that I will be back 100% tomorrow!
Jul, GREATTTT to have you back. Can't wait to get your card.
Vonnie
Julie! I forgot to send you a card!
Mind if it's late?
I'm so glad you're back with us...we have missed you!
Know what else I forgot? For the third week in a row I forgot J.D.'s Monday appointment for an occupational therapy evaluation. He has been discharged by the speech therapist because he's chewing and swallowing now (after a six-week break from therapy, of course!). But she still thinks he has "sensory" issues and needs OT. GRRRR. I love the OT, she's very nice, but he really doesn't need more therapy. He's perfectly normal, even right down to the finicky eating. They're probably pretty put out with me over this, because they rearranged schedules to make it possible for both children to have a simultaneous appointment. I'm really not "forgetting" on purpose though! I had thought maybe I'd do the evaluation just to see what the results would be, but this must not be meant to be. I'm going to cancel all further therapy for J.D., take him to the ped., and have him certified a "therpeutic success" & officially discharged.
Man, my brain just doesn't work right sometimes. Arg.
I actually got a good night's sleep last night. We'll see if this improves anything in my noggin.
On the PODA:
*Homeschool
*Laundry
*Maybe drop by a Christmas card for the therapists and apologize profusely?
Feel better soon, Vonnie. Usually those nasty viruses dissipate after 24 hours. Hope so!
Love
Susannah
Home again
We made it! whoohoo! Never again. LOL!! No, it was ok, Chance doesn't travel very well, and 10+ hours in a carseat wasn't very fun for him. Things we learned: He loves Doritos, and loves just the insides to cream filled cookies and peanut butter crackers. He can throw, everything, very hard! Watch for flying full of juice sippy cups in vehicle, be thankful it knocked another child in the head, not the driver. LOL!
The wedding was beautiful, and of course, my girls did a perfect job, and I got many, many compliments on how beautiful they were. I had too much to drink at the reception, way too much. LOL!! It didn't take much, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
On one hand, it isn't saying much for my alcohol tolerance, which used to be good. On the other hand, it doesn't cost near as much to get me drunk anymore. 
DH let me, since he had too much to drink the night before at the bachelor party. Check this out, they went to Tombstone for the bachelor party! It's just 27 miles via dirt road from where we were staying at dh's uncles farm. If you've never been there, Tombstone hasn't changed much since the Earps were there. Here's a link to the bar they went to.
http://www.crystalpalacesaloon.com/
I think this was the bar that Virgil Earp was shot in front of. Pretty cool that DH went there. I'll put pictures up soon of the wedding and stuff.
Anyway, back to being a Flybaby!
Must unload camper, finish Christmas shopping, douche house, do laundry, and get groceries today. I've got another cold (I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!). So I'll flap along. Ya'll have a great day!
Nope, not measles
Our doc says "side effect of whatever virus they've got", and indeed, the spots and streaks have pretty well cleared up.
And I'm just back from 25 hours without Internet service, which has played merry hell with my schedule. Most of the rest of the day today will go for e-mail catchup, and trying to finish a chapter that I started yesterday while I was offline.
Dana spent last night puking, my throat is still sore - but the kids seem pretty healthy, so it'll be a good Christmas for the ones who will appreciate it the most.
so sorry...
that so many of you have illness...especially of the pukey variety. My sickness, while it went on for weeks on end, at least allowed me to be semi-functional throughout.
Susannah, I did get a card from you. Actually I think yours was the first I received. All the kiddos on the couch?!?! Oh, and methinks your subconscious is taking over with these OT appts, since you don't really think they need to be there anyway, whaddya think?
Introduced step-mother to Flylady tonight. Not telling her about this site, though...too personal sometimes!
Jenny, I'll bet your girls were just LOVELY in that wedding...I can't wait to see the pics.
Well, I'm off to pack a few boxes to try and make some workspace in my room. Hope you all feel better for the holiday!
Love,
Jul
Christmas Eve Eve
Yes, the kids keep reminding me of the count down to Christmas and now we have reached Christmas Eve Eve. (a new term for me). I finally finished the last minute shopping (mainly gifts for DH to give to people he works with). Last night I finished sewing a quilted book bag for my girlfriend. Delivered it today.
Big plans for tomorrow. Movies at 11:30 (the very long new Lord of the Rings), church at 4:30 and then friends over for our traditional Christmas Eve spaghetti dinner. We will be having standing rib roast for Christmas dinner (DH request, even on sale it was a bit costly, sure hope I don't mess it up)
Sorry, about all the illnesses.
Jenny, glad your back safely.
Thanks to all who sent cards. Mine were sent out a little late (Saturday). Some may get them tomorrow. I guess I should have added that to my anti-procrastination list last Wed.
Take Care
Susan
Christmas Eve Eve
Yes, Susan, that was a familiar term at our house. How 'bout this one...at our University, the day following Thanksgiving is a minor floating holiday (which no one ever floats...everyone takes the day off). Anyway, just about campus-wide, if you use the term "the day after" even in the vaguest of context, everyone knows which day you are referring to, even if you don't use the word "Thanksgiving" at all. I love exclusive language...it's fun! Ha ha.
PS: I got your card yesterday.
Christmas Eve Eve!!
Hi all!
Susan , I got your card today! What a clever idea - loved the recipe and recipe cards! You are one domestic goddess!
Our dinner guests have left and it was fun - kids did smores over the fire - the lasagna was great.
Tomorrow - wrap, clean, and shop. I have no idea what we are having for Christmas Eve or Christmas?! It will be simple for just he 4 of us!
Gosh, Mike and family get better soon!
Glad your trip went well Jenny, yes I remember the days of flying with babies - very difficult! I had passengers upset with me for my crying babies at times - I was just nursing so it was difficult. Now they WANT to fly, go figure!
Check in tomorrow -
Andrea
Im Back!
Well... I dont know what kind of virus it is going around, but since I was reading about how all you have been sick, I call it a computer virus. It finally reached our house.
The only one that got it bad was my daughter.
I have been at her bedside for 3-4 days now. It was a horrible experience! Only Fever. Not really any other symptoms. Just a high fever! Fevers scare the heck outa me!
I did a ton of reading on the internet to try and find ways to beat it. I sure learned alot!
Miso soup, and Ginger Tea were the winners. And Im just so grateful she was cooperative enough to drink them. They helped break the fever and got her to sweat. She's cool as a cuke today. And I am SO RELIEVED! (sigh)!
So... Yep, Im back to flybabying.
Luckily since my house was relatively clean before my daughter got sick, I didnt fall very far behind. Today I was able to catch up on most my cleaning in no time at all. Now I just need to get my holiday stuff caught up. Wrapping, wrapping, and more wrapping! LOL.
This year hubby put a twist on Christmas for me. He is actually suprising me with something. Normally he just hands me something and says Merry Christmas. But this year he actually went out and bought something, wrapped it, put it beside the tree. And I am INCREDIBLY CURIOUS!!! I feel like a kid again! Im fairly excited and somewhat anxious cause Ive been hinting on a new sewing machine. But I hate to get my hopes up! ....LOL.. its fun to feel young at heart isnt it?
Lets hope its not a new table saw or something like that! (wink).
Gotta run....
Merry Christmas Eve's Eve! LOL!(that is cute!)
Heather
Back Among The Living
Well, I FINALLY feel normal again. I still haven't eaten anything solid, but I don't want to overdo it yet. DH is doing the shopping for DD tonight. I probably could have gone, but I don't know how long I would have lasted. I am still kinda weak.
So, what has 24+ hours of no flying earned me? Well, dirty dishes all over the place, at least 6 loads of laundry, and all of the undone gift buying & wrapping. So, I have run the dishwasher, still need to unload. I have already run one load of whites/lights and have a load of darks in both the washer & dryer. Towels are next, if I still have the energy.
I guess I'll go into the office tomorrow to wrap up a couple of things before the holidays as well as pick up my paycheck & bonus. Co-worker said I have some gifts on my desk as well.
DD's birthday party went sooo well Sunday. I really enjoyed it. Our poor little 1000 square foot house was bulging at the seems with 42 people in it, but I think everyone, especially DD had a great time. I can't believe she is 4 years old. I wasn't able to be around her yesterday or this morning, so she wouldn't get sick & I MISSED her so much. She was sitting on my bed this afternoon talking to me & I was just looking at her and almost broke down crying because I can't believe that this beautiful, wonderful little girl is mine! I've already had a good cry thinking about the 3 1/2 years she missed of having a family. But, I have to remind myself that I can't change her past, only her future.
Well, enough for now. I need to go unload dishwasher before my family gets back home.
Have a good evening & a great holiday for those of you who won't be checking in!
Vonnie
Christmas eve eve
Yep, terminology at our house, too.
Andrea, I would have loved it if we could have flown (maybe, 2 hours to airport here, then another 2 hours to airport there, that's still 4 hours of driving time). All that was car time!
Susannah, I'm dying to know what it is!
Vonnie, I didn't realize your house was so small! Wow!
I got all I wanted accomplished done today. All shopping is done, groceries are in and put away. Camper is unpacked and parked under the haybarn. I'm pooped! Still have wrapping to do tomorrow. And some cooking. Ya'll have a nice night!
Merry Christmas Eve Eve ;-)
Vonnie, I got your card a day or so ago and your little girl is just beautiful!! She looks like a doll. Glad your feeling better
Susan, I got your card today, and have to agree with Andrea, you ARE the Domestic Goddess!
I loved the format of the "Christmas letter".
Jenny, glad you guys had a nice trip and are home safe. Cool bar in Tombstone. I got your card a day or so ago, Thanks. I owe you one, it's gona be late, more like a New Year's card
Heather, glad to hear your DD is feeling better.
Julie, glad your back!! Good deal on the PC
Ok, a quick mini TADA
finished Christmas shopping
cooked chicken, and browned hamburger meat to freeze for later (don't know what came over me?)
spiffied downstairs
had DS17 and DC16 clean there rooms and there bathroom **big accomplishment!!**
helped DS5 clean his room
dropped off net flix at post office, bought some stamps
DS5 is calling for me, see you guys later.
Jamie Lea
You Got That Right!
Yes, Jennye, it is small! So, you'd think I'd have an easier time keeping it clean, huh? Hmmmm...
Jamie Lea, thank you for the compliment on DD. As any doting mother would, I have to agree!
Well, it's 10:30 and DH is STILL out shopping with DD! At least they can sleep in tomorrow morning while I go out and do a few things.
Back to the laundry!
Vonnie
Standing Rib Roast
Susan, I'll be cooking a standing rib roast on Christmas for the first time myself. I've been poking around at recipes all day. My problem is that they all sound yummish. Anyhow, three choices...
http://www.foodtv.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_20872,00.html
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beef/ClassicPrimeRib.htm
http://www.lawrysonline.com/primerib/m_recipes.html
hi all
Andrea, Vonnie and Jul, thanks for your cards, which arrived yesterday and today. Andrea and Vonnie, those children are beautiful!
Becky - I haven't got around to a) making Jenny's broccoli casserole with the Velveeta you sent, or b) sending off your Dentabits but I promise I'll do both in the New Year! It's ready to post now but I don't want to put it in the post yet while there are several 'days off' for the postal service coming up. Think I'll wait until it's back to normal then send it.
My feet have hardly touched the ground the last couple of weeks, I've been SO busy! At last everything is done, DS12 and I will have a lazy day today watching Christmas tv and maybe playing a game or two. Tomorrow we are off to my parents' place for a few days. They don't have the internet so this is probably my last post until after Christmas.
Have a great one everybody!!
Ho Ho Ho
Only one more sleep till Christmas!
TADA
nothing, the house is a wreck!
PODA
200 fling boogie in the kitchen/LR area
empty the trash
4 loads laundry
dishes
counters
last-minute shopping
treadmill to justify what I'll eat tonight
practice my music for tonight, some of those harmonies are tricky
make salad
see what I can do with DD's hair
find her other "party shoe"
DSIL's at 5:30 for big family dinner
church at midnight
Well, that should keep me busy!
Have a wonderful, joyful holiday all!
-Jo
Christmas Eve greetings
Mike, thanks for the links. I think I will be using Paula's recipe from The Food Network.
TADA
finished grocery shopping and returned 3 gifts
morning routine accomplished
DH and kids have gone to the movies
Spaghetti sauce simmering
PODA
finish wrapping gifts
vacuum first floor
touch up powder room
feather dust first floor (company tonight)
may try to make Icelandic meringue cake with whipped cream and chocolate covered raisins filling (it's yummy)
Kids and DH home around 3 then church at 4:30.
Will anyone be chatting at 10 (1 EST)?
Susan
Chat
Phooey, I missed it!
Yay, Jenny's back, Vonnie's better, Mike's still surviving, and I did send Jul a card after all.
Merry Christmas Eve!
TA DA's:
*Last night: Baked DH's strawberry/cream cheese cake with kids. He really liked his gift, the 1 hr. professional massage certificate and an "amateur" massage!
*Read our Bible story this morning, then read two more to catch us up to the Christmas story tomorrow. Good timing, we just finished the OT.
*Unloaded/reloaded DW & cleaned up kitchen
*Wrapped a few remaining gifts
*Folded some laundry, moved it one more step in machines
*Planned Christmas dinner over phone with Mom.
*Printed pictures of last-minute Christmas gifts, for DH to take shopping. He needs illustrations.
*Rinsed/soaked baby clothes; 'nother diaper blowout. Can't wait for my diaper covers! These disposables are no good.
Not as much as I thought. Hmm.
Looks like I may not get to my Christmas Eve service tonight.
DH has my van. Then again, knowing how males shop, he could be back early.
Standing rib roast sounds delish! We're having turkey again. Icelandic meringue cake...domestic goddess strikes again!
Love you all!
Susannah
Merry Christmas, All!
Merry Christmas, Ladies (and gentleman):
DD and I just returned this evening from our annual "Escape From Christmas" trip. We had a lovely time together.
I'm hoping that all you you with small children are truly appreciating your holiday together, when the younguns are still believing.
DD and I had a great time together. Even though the house was rather trashed when we got home.
Merry Christmas!
Lois D
and a merry Christmas to all
We're on one of our confused-schedule days here; the boy woke up at 2AM. Fortunately he has not yet remembered that it's Christmas. But I do; hope you FlyGals are all enjoying this holiday season.
Waitin' on DD!
Merry Christmas!!!!!!
We're waiting on DD to get up to start our first Christmas as a family. She didn't fall asleep until after midnight; we didn't get in until 11:30 p.m. from in-laws. She is going to flip when she sees under our tree! DH stayed up most of the night wrapping everything and making sure it is picture-perfect. He's gone to put flowers on graves to two friends' families. I need to be in the shower while he's gone. Maybe I can even get my pecan pie in the oven shortly.
Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL and magical day!
Vonnie
what's Icelandic meringue cake?
Michelle and I missed each other due to a mix-up in the directions
but we said definitely next year!
We got all packed and made it to Michigan okay. Did I mention that DH straightened up his studio himself, without my even saying I was going to do it? And he's been taking very good care of his grandma.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Vonnie, I'll be waiting by the mailbox for a piece of your pecan pie.
Too bad about the missed meeting, Becky. What a shame.
I'm enjoying a nice quiet day home alone. Last night I got the furniture and computer arranged in my room...now I just have to deal with everything else I trashed in the process, and figure out how to organize the paperwork so I'll be motivated to actually do it! Oh, and I slept till after 9:00...it was wonderful!
Merry Christmas to everyone...I can't wait to hear all about it!
Love,
Julie
Merry Day-After!
Christmas, that is... Hoping you all had a wonderful day! Sounds like it was shaping up that way.
We had a good time. I had the house neatened by Christmas Eve so I felt pretty relaxed and happy. My youngest sis stayed to help clean up my kitchen Christmas Night, so we were in pretty good shape by the time she left. I have some organizing and integrating to do today!
The children seemed to enjoy their toys. My middle sister made the cutest fishing game for the boys and they love it! She cut the fish from craft foam and tied washers to their mouths. She made the fishing rods of wooden dowels and "J" hooks with magnets. Cute! They are playing with it this morning. Of course, they broke the wooden hooks already but I glued them together last night and so far they are holding up. The girls and I tried out the Easy Bake oven and it looks to be great entertainment for some time to come. We made 8 tiny chocolate chip cookies! DD5 wants to make pizza today so I found an Easy Bake recipe on the 'net last night. My kids eat like birds, so two pizzas will probably be lunch for the girls!
My mother gave the children all the books their grandpa had chosen for them while he was alive. She had been keeping them for visits to her house, but since she's moving to a smaller place, she put a bookplate in each book giving the book to one child or another "from Grandpa." I thought it was so nice. We have a whole new library to read through!
She also gave me a book of love poems he had sent her from Vietnam, back in 1969.
The children received lots of art supplies as well, so maybe we'll do art today. I got enough pampering stuff in my stocking to have a mini-spa day one of these days...along with the traditional pomegranate and pistachios (and chocolate, of course). Yum!
AND...we have two new additions to the family! Merry and Pippin, the Russian Dwarf hamsters. DH got them for the boys. They are adorable. They look as if they had wiggled right out of a Beatrix Potter illustration. Neena (our Siamese) has shown exceedingly great interest in them, of course. Good thing we have a tight-fitting screen top to the aquarium.
Well, I'd better go. Baby's speaking up now. She's tired of her little exer-saucer. I can't believe she's already able to sit up in it! She holds her head up so well.
Love y'all! Hope your Christmas was wonderful!
Susannah
How sweet!
Your Cmas sounds like it was just about perfect, Susannah...how great! I loved the gifts "from" Gpa. And the poems...it reminded me that mother's sweetheart has some of the letters and sketches his father sent home when he was in Korea (I think?), back when it was just him and mommy at home--the other three siblings came much later.
More organizing and paid work on tap for today and tomorrow. Hope some of you will be around...I can't wait to hear your Holiday Reports!
Love,
Jul
Merry Christmas the day after!!
Everyone sounds like they had a nice Christmas. We had lots of fun with my nieces and nephew and my parents and sister on Christmas Eve, and yesterday spent the day with Dh's family. Had excellent food, lots of laughs. Dh spoiled me with gifts, next year we will spoil the baby
Susannah, your Christmas sounds great. A hampster?? I always asked for one but Santa never brought him
Did my am routine to try to get some order in this place. I only have one Dstepson16, how does this place look like 6 kids were running aroung?? Working today 3-9, then the weekend. Didn't sleep well. I dont think the baby liked all the food I ate last night, my tummy was definitely jumbling!! and then I have this post nasal drip that kept me up all night. Finally put 4 pillows under my head and the coughing stopped. Slept in this am and it felt good.
Ok, on to the flapping:
~made bed
~swished bathrooms
~one load laundry drying, own in washing machine
~cleaned up kitchen
Still need to:
~21 fling boogies some stuff so we can get new stuff in from Christmas
~try new Fitmama excercise tape Dh gave me
~work 3-9. Thats about it. I feel like a slug.
Have a great day everyone, Love Jackie
Christmas Hangover
No, not from alcohol, from stuff! Lots and lots of stuff!
We had a good, but very busy holiday. Dinner at DSIL's Christmas Eve, I sang at midnight service, the rest of the family went to church Thurs. morning, and then on to Great Grandma's for noon. Home last night, and my parents joined us to eat our traditional Christmas night spaghetti dinner and play with the kids' toys. Phew, I'm beat.
so on to the PODA
laundry
250-fling boogie all over the house
long walk
make something healthy for dinner
help DD3 figure out how to play with her new toys
dig out the van (another 20 inches of snow last night)
get some essentials at the grocery store
Susannah, I also got spa-type stuff! A pumice stone and shea butter foot lotion, some aromatherapy scrub for my dry skin, and a really yummy smelling grapefruit candle for taking a candlelit bath. I think I may have to do that tonight!
The kids were very happy with their gifts. DS11 said this was his best Christmas ever! Wow!
DMIL gave DD3 two barbie sets with a million tiny pieces, and a make up kit.
DH gave me a gift certificate to a furniture store, which is very sweet as the furniture we have was bought used 16 years ago and is in really sad shape. He and I have planned an evening of shopping, just the two of us, and dinner. I can't wait!
Have a good day everyone!
We survived
Though I did end up thinking it would have been easier to wrap two identical copies of everything than have the kids squabble over each other's presents. We're knee-deep in gifts now, and overall pretty happy about it though.
The rib roast turned out well (served with asparagus and mashed potatoes), plus there was stollen, bar cookies, and rice pudding, as well as a first test loaf from the new bread machine.
Of course there's a litter of wrapping paper and boxes everywhere, but that'll be kindling for the next few days.
PODA:
- A bit of straightening
- Dinner
- Dishes
- Diapers
- Bake refrigerator cookies (dough is all made up, just need to slice and bake)
- Start a book chapter
- Tech edit one chapter of another book
- Write online column
Not too ambitious...I hope...
Christmas highlights
We too had a wonderful Christmas. My best gift this year was a castle ornament from DD17 with a wonderful note thanking me for taking her on the "scenic tours" to many castles in Germany this past fall. I am so blessed to have such a great daughter. I will miss her when she heads off to college next fall. My relationship with my own mother is not very good, so I thank God daily for the relationship I have with DD.
The Standing Rib roast was perfect. The preperations was a bit scary. I had it in a 450' oven for 25 minutes(to sear the outside) and then 16 min per pound at 325. Well, the 450' temp caused a great deal of smoke and the smoke alarms went off. We had to open the front and back door and a few windows in the kitchen. Once we passed the searing phase it went well. I actually received a call from my brother and he too was having rib roast. He called at the perfect time. He said to remove it from the oven once it reached 135-140 temp and it would continue to cook for the next half hour. So, I did and it reached 160 (medium not rare) just the way we like it.
The Icelandic meringue is a simple meringue cake (egg whites, sugar, brown sugar and rice krispies) with a whipped cream filling and chocolate covered raisins (bought on our trip to Iceland, their chocolate is the best). My mother is originally from Iceland so we occassionally have foods from that country.
I'm glad everyone is reporting happy times this holiday season.
DS12 has a friend over and the buzzer just went off for the pizza. So, I must go.
Until tomorrow,
Susan
Morning
Up 'til the wee hours again last night.
Susan, I'm glad you and DD have such a good relationship. I can only hope I will be that close to my daughters when they reach that age. What a nice Christmas you had! Glad the roast turned out good. The cake sounds wonderful too, only my DH will not eat raisins.
Mike I was LOL about the squabble factor! If you gave identical gifts, they'd each want both. It's a kid thing. I'm about to go nuts with that lately. We haven't been out of the house in a while. That usually helps.
Ouch! Little miss needs her nails clipped.
TA DA:
Perhaps they'll eventually learn from experience why it's easier to neaten up every once in a while.
I straightened downstairs last night. The upstairs is ankle-deep in toys, but I hardly ever have to go up there, so who cares? Rather than fuss over getting them to clean up last night, I told DD7 not to change a thing, it was lovely.
In the meantime, I intend to keep the rest of the house the way I like it...peaceful!
DH got me a mirror for our master bath for Christmas. We haven't had a mirror since we built the house four years ago. I've been doing my makeup in the guest hall bath all that time. I surely hope he puts it up today. I'm nervous about it. Nothing that comes into our house stays unscathed for long. He also kept back some winter rye seed from his last landscaping job. I'm anxious for that to be sown because it's a mud pit out there. Except for the driveway! Yay!
Well, today's my 37th birthday, but my treat comes tomorrow...I'm going to see ROTK with my mom and sister.
Can't wait to catch up with Frodo, Sam, Aragorn and all the gang.
Have a happy day everyone!
Love,
Susannah
hohoho!!!
Happy Birthday Susannah!!!
Well, sounds like everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!! I know I did! Except Chance was sick, and now dd4 is sick. Always happens after they are around a certain cousin. Hmmmm....
Anyway, the kids got lots of stuff, including the Barbie things with lots of pieces. DD4 is disappointed that she didn't get the Barbie of Swan Lake that she wanted. My dad gave me money to get the kids something from him, maybe I'll just get that for her. DD6 hugged me and said this was the best Christmas ever! She is so sweet! She got a potholder loom and has already made me a potholder. It still looks like the tree threw up in the living room, not to mention the kids rooms.
I got LOTR box set, now I can read those before seeing the movies. Finished Cold Mountain BTW. I think DH and I may try to get the inlaws to babysit so we can have our belated anniversary dinner and see it. Would be the first time just DH and I went to the movies in 6 1/2 years! Think it will happen? Also got some nice subbing clothes (Wrangler Riata's) and some jeans for everyday (Wrangler 20Xs), some shirts, a waffle Iron, a nice big crockpot, and other various kitchen items. I gave DH a new shotgun he wanted, Chance gave DH a calander of a nearly naked Brooke Burke, Chance gave me PJs that said "HOTTIE".
Yesterday we did absolutely nothing but watch TV. Discovery Channel had an American Chopper Marathon (DH's new obsession to watch, even though he has never rode a motorcycle). I like to watch it too, because I think Paul Jr. is an absolute HOTTIE!!! And the dad is just so cool, I just love him! 8 or 9 hours later... LOL!! So I'm playing catchup today. Laundry going, dishes are done.
This is the time of year that I like to think about my New Year Goals (I don't like to call it Resolutions). One of them is that I have to spend less time on the computer (going on 30 minutes now just writing this and reading). I know, I say it every month, but something has really got to be done about it now.
Ya'll have a great day!!!
Good luck!
Good luck Jenny! DD5 got a couple of the Swan Lake Barbs for Birthday and Christmas - they are neat. Sounds like you got some nice gifts. We'll have to try some new crock pot recipes - I got a new one about a month ago.
Sounds like everyone had a nice holiday - we did too. I was forced to declutter because we're having a dinner party tonite (small) - so most of the Christmas mess is picked up. DD and I just went through her room for about 15 minutes.
Hope you get your mirror up Susannah! And happy birthday to you!
Well, I'm off to catch a quick nap, I hope.
Andrea
Sunny Saturday
Well, it's official. This was the snowiest December on record. Today the sky is bright blue and the snow sparkles like glitter. It's so beautiful it almost doesn't look real.
TADA
dishes
counters
kitchen and LR floors
LR clutter
meal planned
groceries (forgot the list, there goes the plan)
3 loads laundry
got DSs to organize CD/VHS/DVD shelf and shovel the deck
returned Pirates of the Carribean-it was good!
PODA
find a new system for tiny little barbie things in DD's room
laundry, 3 more loads
make parmesan fish and sauteed snow peas, mushrooms, and onions for dinner
clean up the computer desk
listen to Prairie Home Companion
wrap 2 gifts for the last Christmas celebration tomorrow at Great Grandma's
help DD3 clean up her art table area
update rolodex and throw away card envelopes
early to bed I hope, my internal clock is all messed up
DS11 wants to spend the night in his tent in the woods behind our house. He built a shelter with a tarp, snow, and low-hanging evergreen branches and set his tent up in it. I don't know how comfortable I feel about that, but I admire his hardiness. Hopefully DH will be home soon from moving snowbanks with his loader so he can help make a decision.
Type at you later!
-Jo
Jennye, we watched a lot of t
Jennye, we watched a lot of that, too! We love to watch the two Pauls get "into it"! Too funny! We watch all of those custom chopper shows.
Our tree threw up in our house, too. DD got waaaaay too much stuff. She had such a wonderful time, though. It was just magical watching her so amazed at getting so many gifts! I cried a little, too, thinking about the 3 Christmases she didn't get anything & may have even not had enough to eat. But, all I can do is make sure she gets everything she needs and some of what she wants from this point forward!
We are turning over a new leaf financially for 2004. I bought a household budget book that we're going to use, bought a box to file paperwork so we can find it when we need it; have all of our tax return info ready so we can file our taxes as soon as we get our W-2's. We should get it all back from federal this year because of the adoption tax credit, so we want to file it ASAP. We're going to make a plan of how often we're allowed to go out to eat. That's our biggest problem - we waste too much money going out to eat. And it is so dumb, too, because I LOVE to cook. It's just simple lack of having a plan.
Anyway, timer just buzzed to let me know our pizza is ready, so I'd better go.
Talk to you all later!
And happy birthday, Susannah!!!!
Vonnie
Where is everyone?
Is my computer acting up or is everyone hibernating? I don't see any action for yesterday, that can't be right!
TADA
had unexpected guests yesterday, and my house was ok.
PODA
laundry
dishes
still working on DD's room
treadmill
dinner (broccoli cheddar soup and baked sweet potatoes)
do some work work
I guess I'll check back later to see what everyone has been up to.
New thread
Come on over!
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