A highlight of 2009

The end of the year is always a time of reflection and planning.  It's a great time to take stock of events that have occured and decide what you would like to conquer in the coming year.  I have decided to pick out one highlight and one lowlight of the year to share with you.

One of the biggest highlights of 2009 was celebrating my 10th Wedding Anniversary with my husband.  In this day and age it seems that marriage is becoming more and more disposable and so I wanted to take the time to recognize this milestone.  We've also been quite busy in our 10 years together and thought taking time to reconnect would be fun.  We decided to have children right away and I became pregnant with our oldest just 6 months after walking down the aisle and we've been going non-stop since.  The thought of a little trip sounded like heaven to us and so we consulted our babysitters: my parents.

I asked my mom several months in advance if she would be willing to take the kids for a weekend so that the hubby and I could go away for our anniversary.  She said she was willing to consider it (which always means yes) and that we could work out the details later.

Deciding where to go was the hardest part.  We tossed around several ideas and when my husband suggested Vegas I was intrigued.  I've never been there and it was certainly a destination I'd never dream of taking the kids to.  Vegas it was.  When we started discussing dates and babysitting options my weekend turned into a surprising 5 nights away!  I was super excited and a little nervous at the same time.  We've left the kids before but we've never been that far away, away for so long without them, or flown without them.  As it grew closer my anxieties about flying without them were growing (remember that pilot that died in flight?  It was right before we were scheduled to go).  But, I kept trying to focus on the excitement. 

I was nervous right up until we landed in Las Vegas.  Then the excitement took over.  We had 5 glorious nights to ourselves!  We packed A LOT into those few days and kept joking how we were on a 5 day date.  We left the strip to go to the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon and on the strip we saw shows, ate out and did a little gambling.  There was no arguing, there was no guilt over the unmade beds or piles of laundry, no worries about what we were making for dinner.  Just relaxation and enjoyment.  Do you know what we discovered?  We still liked each other after 10 years and it was nice to have something to talk about other than the kids and the endless chores of our lives. 

The strip dazzles with lights at night

It was weird seeing a miniaturized version of NY

The new bridge being built around the Hoover Dam

Vegas wouldn't be the same without a little bit of Liberace

Hubby and the Blue Man Group

We have to have at least one picture together!

Aren't they cute?

Recognize this pic?  That is Red Rock Canyon in the background.

We aren't big gamblers but you can't leave Vegas without trying your luck.

We got to meet Penn and Teller. 

Penn is so tall I don't even reach his shoulders!

(okay, I'm a little on the short side too)

On our last night we went downtown.

Terrific Tuesday

I'm very late getting my terrific tuesday post up!  Today I made myself walk into weight watchers and get on that scale.  I even dragged the kids with me since they had no school.  I really didn't know what that scale would say just a few days after Christmas.  I enjoyed my cookies and I ate good both Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  I didn't get to go to weigh in last week so my only hope was that I lost enough last week to make up for this week and balance out.  I was just hoping for no gain or just the itsy bitsy slightest of gain. 

Know what?  I lost.  Yup, even eating my Christmas cookies and my chips and dip on Christmas Eve, I lost.  1.8 pounds to be exact.  So if you heard some strange noise in the distance around 10am this morning and couldn't place it that was me cheering and doing my little victory dance.  I'm only 2.6 pounds from my goal.  Can you believe it????  I'm so excited.

However, as terrific as that was it was dangerous to get that news today.  See, tonight I had plans to go out with the girls for our annual "we survived Christmas drink".  Drinks and appetizers.  So what did I do?  I dove in face first.  Two yummy fruity drinks, cheese fries, spinach dip, I didn't hold back.  But you know what?  It was pretty terrific.  The food was yummy and the company was great.  We shared some good laughs, a few eye rolls, accused one of our friends of being crazy and  it was a terrific way to unwind and top off Terrific Tuesday. 

What terrific thing is happening in your life?

A successful day

Evidence of a successful Christmas:

And now we embark on today's tradtion:  Pajama Day

When I had first had kids Christmas was spent running from house to house and we didn't have much time to sit at home and enjoy our new gifts.  So, I declared the day after Christmas pajama day where we stay in our jammies all day and open and play with all of our new goodies.

We don't run around as much on Christmas day any longer.  In fact we didn't get dressed until 3pm yesterday before going to my inlaws for dinner.  However, we are still keeping pajama day alive and strong.  It is a day to recoup after 2 days of late nights and crazy excitement.  It is a day to enjoy one another and all our new goodies. 

That is me in all of my pajama glory checking out my new kindle!

Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

Good tidings we bring

to you and your kin

Good tidings for Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

May you all be surrounded by love and joy for Christmas!

I look forward to catching up with everyone after Christmas and hearing all about your holiday.

Secret Santa Surprise

Today is Tuesday which means its time for Terrific Tuesday.  I'm going to skip the usual things I post about for Terrific Tuesday and tell you about something else pretty terrific.

I participated in the Last Chance Secret Santa hosted by Eve at Tranquility....and Turmoil and I was so excited to get my package in the mail today.  We were given the choice to open it right away or wait until Christmas but I can NEVER wait when a present is involved.  This is what I found:

A closer look:

A beautiful scarf, a fun Christmas ornament, some pretty hand made earrings, some whimsical

Christmas earrings and hand made soap.

She even included some goodies for the kids which I thought was an awfully sweet touch.

Thank you Eve, for hosting the gift exchange and for being my Secret Santa.  I hope you and all of the other Secret Santas have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and laughter. 

May the New Year bring you all great blessings and good health.

Snow Day

It's snowing.  Hard.  I'm not a big fan of the snow.  There is a reason I don't live in the mountains of Colorado, upstate New York or anywhere else that gets a lot of snow.  I live at the Jersey Shore.  I like the beach. 

Everything is white and pretty right now.  But, please make it stop.  Really.  Because it shows no signs of stopping.  We are expecting up to a foot.  The worst is yet to come.  Sigh. 

I don't mind one good snow storm a year IF, and that is a BIG if, it happens at a convenient time.  Like, next weekend I could get on board with a good snow storm.  It is right after Christmas, there are no big plans for the weekend and the kids will have new gifts to keep them entertained.  This weekend I have plans.  Plans that are getting cancelled one by one.  THIS does NOT make me happy.  At all. 

To top it off the hubby is working.  He always has a knack for having to work when there is a snow storm.  He comes home to a nicely shoveled driveway and if I was really energetic and ambitious, even all the sidewalks are shoveled.  The e-n-d-l-e-s-s sidewalks of a corner lot.  He comes home full of energy because he didn't have to shovel and he did not have to put up with rambunctious kids.  He packed himself an overnight bag in case he can't make it home later.  He works at a hospital and is considered essential personell.  If the next shift doesn't make it in he gets stuck staying. 

The kids are already begging me to go out and play in the snow.  I've already had to break up fights.  My sanity is already being tested and it only 9:30 am.  We have a lot more snow to come.  Have I mentioned I'm not a big fan of the snow? 

Here is what my yard looks like right now in the snow.  I admit it looks pretty.  However, the pretty fades quickly.

Maybe I'll post more pics later when the van is actually burried.

I'll have to find SOME way to entertain myself today :)

Friday Fragments

Today I'm participating in Friday Fragments for the first time.  I figure this is perfect for me because most of my thoughts are fragmented.  My brain works so quickly that I'm on to the next thought before I finish the first one. This sometimes drives the hubby crazy, especially since I'm always convinced I expressed my full thoughts. 

Today is my daughters kindergarten Holiday Show.  She is very excited and is all dressed up.  Not to brag or anything but she got picked to be an announcer and she is a Jingle Bell Dancer. 

I'm feeling a little more caught up with the Christmas Chaos.  My son was home sick earlier in the week keeping me in and I utilized the time wisely to start wrapping and getting myself a bit more organized.

This blog thing is still somewhat new to me but I'm enjoying it.  I like visiting so many different sites and learning about people and finding great links and ideas.  I'm learning a bit more about it all the time.

Last night I went through some cook books to pull out cookie recipes.  I used to bake a lot with my mom for Christmas but since the kids came that has gone to the wayside.  I was feeling ambitious after getting caught up with my wrapping...check in with me next week to see if it actually got done!

My dog just found a pencil and the floor and has ran off to chew on it.  Lets see how long it takes someone other than me to notice.

Tonight the hubby and I are going to a Christmas party at a neighbors house.  I can't wait to go out and be an adult for a few hours.  It is a rare phenomenon that hubby and I get to partake in such a thing together.

My son was picked to participate in a "play" at CCD the other day.  They made him a star and he very loudly asked "Does that mean I'm the star of the show?"  He is my comedian.

The kids still haven't noticed the dog chewing on the pencil.

My boys need haircuts.  I think I shall take them after school today.

There is a winter storm watch.  Anywhere betweeen 2 inches and a foot is predicted.  In these parts that usually means a media hype and it will produce 2 flurries. 

I finally mentioned the dog to the kids...the oldest rescued the pencil.

I'm happy the Surviover finale is on Sunday.  I'll plan to curl up on the couch for a few hours after the kids are tucked away.

Oh, speaking of Sunday, I'm taking Baby Girl to see the Nutcracker on Sunday.  I'm SUPER EXCITED!

Same Baby Girl announced after dance class the other day that she doesn't want to take dance anymore.  WHAT?!?  This kid normally can't wait to go to dance.  Haven't gotten to the bottom of it. However, I paid for the recital costumes....she is stuck with dance until June.

I'm on a quest for the perfect job.  I've decided it doesn't exist.  I'm always open to suggestions.

Okay, I think that this is getting to be a lot of fragments.  I'll leave it here!

Terrific Tuesday

Today is Tuesday which means its time for Terrific Tuesday! 

My weigh in this morning was pretty terrific.  I'm down 2 pounds.  That felt really great after last weeks weigh in where I gained.  Something else that was pretty terrific was that I went shopping the other day and bought pants 2 sizes smaller than when I started my WW journey in September.  I got tired of having to pull my pants up and wanted at least one pair in my wardrobe that fit. 

My son has been home sick from school for 2 days now which isn't so terrific.  However, I got to play games with him and get some stuff done around the house. I think its pretty terrific that I conquered the pile of clutter on my dining room table, a few piles of laundry, I FINALLY got my Christmas cards written out and in the mail and made a small dent in wrapping presents.  If he wasn't home I may have found an excuse to keep ignoring all of those things that needed to get done. 

I'd like to hear something terrific from you too!  It didn't have to be something that happened today.  It doesn't even have to be something that happened.  Feel free to share a terrific recipe or tip.  Link up to share the "terrificness".  Don't have a blog?  No problem!  Just leave a comment below.

I'd like to encourage you to visit the link above yours and leave a comment for them on their site.  Let's face it....we all love to see comments on our blogs!  Share the love!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

As my kids keep pointing out how many days are left until Christmas I'm feeling more and more anxious.  There just never seems to be enough time to get everything done.  Even though I thought I was on top of things, I keep remembering people I didn't have on my list to get for.  My cards still aren't done and the wrapping seems like a daunting task. 

I've been feeling a little grinchy this year.  I didn't decorate as much which for some reason has me feeling guilty.  I really didn't feel like doing cards but guilt made me go buy them and now I need to get them done and in the mail.  I really just needed something to help jumpstart my spirit.  A sure way to do that.....picking out the Christmas tree.

I really liked this one but it never would have fit unless we had 15 foot ceilings.

There was talk of a Charlie Brown tree and this one definately would have fit the bill.

My daughter liked the one that was close to her size.

The boys spotted one they liked and are checking out the height

A closer inspection reveals a double trunk that is a bit crooked.  Never good for getting it stand up straight in the stand without toppling over.  (I tell you this from experience!)

We spot another one we like and it looks to be about the right height.

Yup, this will be the one!

(disclaimer:  I am not as huge as my very WARM coat makes me look)

Into the house it goes

My man unwrapping it and cutting off a few bottom branches

Getting it into the stand...trying to make it straight!

(you can't see the man lying on his belly under the tree tightening the stand up)

Next come the lights

My daughter wanted in on the lights too

(which is fine because I hate putting the lights on!)

Then come the ornaments

And a few more ornaments

And we are all done

(except for the tinsel which I apparently don't have any of)

The tree always looks better with no flash and soft lights

Add a dressed up dog

Now I'm finally feeling in the spirit!

Can you hear me?

Apparently I talk to myself too much.  I've always talked to myself.  It started when I was a kid playing with my dolls.  Nobody thinks its weird then.  But apparently people think its weird now. 

I was in the grocery store the other day staring at a shelf and talking to myself.  They didn't have what I was looking for and I picked something else up and said "this one is too big and that one is too small".  A lady next to me turned to me and asked if I always talk to myself.  She didn't look amused, she looked perturbed.  I said, "Yes, actually I do!"  She walked away.

Today I was running into a store and I caught myself talking to myself and I just laughed at myself and thought, perhaps I do talk to myself a bit too much.  I'd like to say its only a problem if I answer myself but I've been known to do that too.  Then it got me thinking back to the lady in the grocery store.  Perhaps if she talked to herself once in a while she would have a sense of humor and laughed me off rather than looking annoyed and scurrying away!  So, now that you all know I talk to myself...A LOT...please don't think I'm weird.  And if you catch me talking to myself please don't go scurrying away like you are mad (or perhaps afraid?) at me!

Change in Plans

I'm drenched right now.  Like so soaked through that the water has no where else to go and is therefore just dripping off me like a running river kind of drenched.  Its mornings like this that makes me wonder why I ever got a dog or wanted kids.  I was perfectly content snuggled warmly (and DRY I might add) in my bed this morning.  Then the alarm went off and all of the critters in this house began to awaken. 

I usually make the boys walk the dog in the morning but being the good mom I am I didn't want them to head out into the monsoon.  So I bundled up and braved the weather.  My dog apparently hates the rain as much as I do and so decided he wasn't going to do his business.  Which made me want to strangle prod him to moving along a little quicker.  Which he really wasn't having any part of.  I really couldn't blame him being that the wind gusts kept kicking up so fierce I thought he might end up flying like a kite at the end of his leash.  However, I didn't want any accidents in the house so I persisted for a few more minutes...then he finally started pulling with all of his might towards the house and I gave in muttering profanity the whole way.  Why can't I just have a dog that will run out the back door, quickly do his business and then run right back in??

So back in the house I tromped to face 3 hungry faces who were warned I was in no mood to deal with their shenanigans this morning.  For the most part they took heed except for the Little Princess who has been quite whiny and unbearable these past few days (I really must get to the bottom of it, she really has been out of sorts).  After feeding them, prodding them to get dressed and getting their lunches packed it was time to head BACK OUT into the monsoon.  My kids walk to school....being the nice mom that I am I wasn't about to make them walk in a monsoon so I piled them into the van (including the dog) and very nicely dropped them at the front door of the school where they only had to dodge rain drops for a few feet.

With the kiddies dropped off its BACK OUT INO THE MONSOON with the dog so we can avoid an inevitable accident in the house.  When cars drove by I just shrugged down in my coat further so I didn't have to make eye contact with any of the neighbors who were surely thinking I was a sucker for putting up with a dog who insists we walk in this kind of weather.  If they could hear what I was muttering they would have surely had some other thoughts going through their heads.  I'm sure a few might have even wanted to ship me off to the loony bin.  FINALLY success and I made him RUN back into the house.

My plans for the day included a lot of errands.  I have a list a mile long for Target, I need to exchange the dog crate I bought yesterday and there is something at the mall I wanted to check out.  However I am not heading back out into that monsoon until I absolutely have to later today for a doctor appointment.  So now for a change of plans.

Perhaps I'll finally tackle those Christmas cards I've been putting off.  Or maybe I'll wrap a few gifts.  Or better yet, maybe I'll pour myself another cup of coffee and catch up on things in the blogosphere and check in on my friends on facebook.  These plans all sound dry!

Terrific Tuesday

When I started this blog I started Terrific Tuesday to document my success at my weigh-ins at Weight Watchers.  Then I started adding some other terrific things that happened during the day.  This week was NOT so terrific on the scale.

You see, I had a great weekend.  A party filled weekend.  A food filled weekend.  It was a busy weekend but a terrific one.  And today it showed on the scale. 

But that is okay, this is my first week with a gain and I'm going to shrug it off and get back on track.  Instead of coming home and stuffing my face full of chocolate (which is what I wanted to do), I walked the dog, I tackled the dishes, set up the new dog crate and started picking up the stray socks, shoes....you know, the trail the kids left in their wake.  Skipping the chocolate and staying busy seems like a terrific choice.  (and I'll try not to reward myself for it with chocolate).

For the next terrific thing of the day, instead of moaning that the dog figured out how to break the door on his crate and the locksmith was back today and how those both amounted to more bills....I'm going to focus on the fact that I got the dog a NEW crate instead of the hand-me-down we were using and it fits MUCH better in the corner we have it in.  I'm going to be HAPPY that the front door now works properly and I won't be calling the locksmith again begging him to come let me in. 

Today its about reframing my outlook.  I could easily let today turn into a bad day and count off all the little annoyances of the day and lament about the extra money put out.  But I'm choosing to reframe the way I look at things today and find the positive in them...thus keeping today Terrific Tuesday. 

Now to figure out how to reframe the whining that is going on in my ear.....

Ornaments, Oh My!

I love Christmas ornaments.  I could easily decorate five trees (or more!) with all of the ornaments I have.  The collection continues to grow each and every year.  Whenever we go on vacation I search for an ornament to bring home as a memento.  I love reliving the memories as I pull them out of the boxes and put them on the tree.  Each year I get my children ornaments and when they are old enough to move out they will be set with their own collection to decorate their first tree.  So of course when I found out about a bloggers ornament exchange I very quickly joined.  And a few years ago when I met my friend who hosts an ornament exchange party, I was delighted to get an invitation and look forward to it each year. 

I'd like to thank Liz from An Encourager for the first ornament of the week.  She was my partner in the Bloggers Ornament Exchange and this is the ornament she chose for me:

Last night was my friends Ornament Exchange party which I wrote about a few weeks back.  To learn more about it click here.  These are the ornaments I brought home last night:

My favorite is the snowman.

I can't wait to get me tree this weekend and decorate it with all my new ornaments as well as with my old favorites!!

Getting To Know You-Christmas Style

My pal Felicia over at Living Just Like Grandma tagged me.  I figured what the heck...I can play along. 

1.) Have you started your Christmas shopping?
Of course!!!!!  I'm done except for the teachers gifts.  Since those are just g.c. its just a matter of getting out and grabbing them.
2.) Tell me about one of your special traditions.
The kids and I make and decorate sugar cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. 
3.) When do you put up your Tree?
It depends.  Since we get a live tree we can't get it too early or its dead by Christmas.  It usually depends on when we have a chance to go as a family to pick one out.  The past few years we've been going to a cut your own farm which is tons of fun.  I think we'll be going on the 12th this year for our tree and it will get put up that weekend.
4.) Are you a Black Friday shopper?
No.  Every year I go through the sales flyers but I just can't get out of bed that early and fight all those crowds.  I occasionally will shop online though if I can get some good deals for the occasion!
5.) Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?
On Christmas Eve we travel 45 min. to visit my parents and my brother.  Chirstmas day we stay home most of the day and then go have dinner with the inlaws who live on the other side of town.
6.) What is your funniest Christmas memory?
I can't think of any too funny.
7.) What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?
The Christmas Story.  I laugh so hard every time I watch it.  This year my dad told my son he was going to get him a pink bunny suit like Ralphie's.  My son is afraid he might actually get it!
8.)Do you do your own Christmas Baking, what’s your favorite treat?
I bake cookies but that is usually it. 
9.) Fake or Real Tree?
Real!  My hubby is on a campaign for an artificial but I'd miss a real one. 
10.) What day (as a Mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Halloween.  LOL
11.) Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Not usually but it has happened.
12.) What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
All of it!  However, I love piling everyone in the car and driving around town looking at everyones Christmas lights and decorations.
13.) What Christmas craft do you like the best?
Ornaments.
14.) Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?
It wouldn't be Christmas without the music!  I could never pick just one.  However I must hear Dominick the Donkey at least once before Christmas. 
15.) When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
I will finish up this coming week.


Here is where I'm supposed to tag someone.  I'm not going to tag but invite everyone to join in.  Just copy and paste!

I have my baby back!

I haven't been on here posting nor reading much the past few days.  The power cord on my laptop fried over the weekend and so I've been without my trusted friend.  Our desktop is in our finished basement and far removed from the rest of what is going on in my day so its hard to find the time to get down there and log on.  I'm used to my laptop being on the main floor of my house and I'm on and off of it throughout the entire day.  My new power cord arrived today and I'm happy to have my baby back.  I felt very disconnected in these past days!  People email me because they know they will get a relatively prompt reply.  If they call me it may be hours, if not a day or two before they hear from me.  Leave a message on my cell and it may be a week before I even find the message.  I kept talking about my disconnected feeling and my husband told me I was starting to sound like a heroin addict looking for my next fix...actually he told me a heroin addict probably wouldn't be whining so much. 

I missed my Terrific Tuesday post this week.  I was down another .6 pounds.  Following Thanksgiving and pretty much not following my plan much at all last week, I take that as a huge success.  Now to stay on track this weekend...it will be full of parties...2 Christmas parties and 2 birthday parties to be exact!

Hmmm....what else has happened this week....I couldn't get in or out of my front door.  The lock busted.  And I don't have a key to my back door for some reason.  So, when I was standing on my front porch the other day with my hands full of bags from shopping and I couldn't open my front door I wondered what the heck to do.  Luckily the battery on my garage door opener was working and the inside door was unlocked because I don't have a key to that door either!  The locksmith was very nice to come and fix the front door, now I'm waiting for the replacement because it still isn't working right.  While he was here he made keys for the other doors as well.  By the way, locksmiths aren't cheap.

Then after he left I took my daughter to dance class where tuition was due and the recital costume deposits were due.  I can't figure out why they have the deposits due in December, like this month isn't hard enough financially.  The fact that the owner is only 26 with no kids of her own may have something to do with that logic. 

I need to find a new dog groomer.  I took the dog in yesterday and after a few hours I was awaiting to get on with the rest of my day so I was hoping to be able to pick him up.  I called the shop and asked if he was ready yet and they proceeded to tell me there was a problem.  What kind of a problem?!  I'm thinking something happened to my dog but he quickly assured me he was fine.  He asked if I had spoken with my husband because the owner had talked with him.  Hmmm...I know they have my home # and my cell # but I'm pretty sure I hadn't given them my husbands #'s so that didn't sound right to me.  He went on to describe a pooping incident which in the back of my head I was thinking, what do you want me to do about that?!  Then he told me he got bit by my dog.  WHAT?!?!?!?  Not Sebastian!  He is the sweetest thing on earth.  He tolerates anything.  Pooping, that wouldn't surprise me.  But biting?  No way.  I'm listening to the story and trying not to interupt, all the while feeling very upset and wondering how I was going to handle this.  As he was talking the owner came in and he asked her if she wanted to talk to me about the incident.  Turns out IT WASN'T MY DOG that had this incindent!  Its not like they are a huge shop with a zillion dogs running around where its hard to keep track of who is who.  There was only 1 other dog there.  And they look nothing alike.  Perhaps I could have even forgiven the fact that he confused us and chalked it up to the fact that he was rattled after being bitten.  But, a similar thing happened last time I was there which was our first visit.  I had chosen to chalk that up to a bad day.  Yesterday made me feel that they aren't attentive and probably completely forgot our conversation about the dogs skin allergies.  So, time to find someone new.

Okay, I think you are all caught up in my week!  Anything interesting happen to any of you in my absence?  I think I'll go and catch up with some of my favorite blogs now!