Merry Christmas!!

We are enjoying a lovely (and freezing) Christmas. The kids went outside and used the sleds for a very little bit yesterday. I went out to get a few pics and came right in for hot tea and to safely watch through the window. We went to the Children's Christmas Eve mass at 5pm and came home and ate a delicious tortiere. It is a french pork pie and it was my grandma's recipe. YUM!!

The kids opened their traditional Christmas Eve gift--pajamas, and I annoyed them all with pictures by the tree in their matching sweaters.

This morning we were all up early and had a great time opening wonderful gifts. Mike, my dad and my step-dad are all in the basement attempting to assemble a full sized air hockey game. I haven't heard any cussing, but I also haven't heard any air hockey playing. ha ha

We are having ham and mashed potatoes with scalloped pineapple for a midday dinner. I look forward to that. My weight watching isn't going so great, but I will be downstairs on the treadmill later tonite. We bought it last year and it hasn't helped me at all, so far. OH! You are supposed to turn it on?? I got it! My mom got me a bunch of shirts and hopefully I will be too skinny for them soon!!

Love and Happiness to all my readers!!

Tammy

This and That

Hello! Today has been a very weird one. My kids' school decided to have their Christmas parties today because they were worried that school would be cancelled tomorrow due to the nasty ice storm we are expecting. Middlest's teacher had someone come in and discuss table manners recently and they decided to have a brunch party and practice the manners. I look forward to hearing all about that later. My contribution was the egg casserole I posted in September from Jamie's baby shower. I got up at 6:00 to bake that. We got everybody ready for school and out the door with a fresh from the oven casserole wrapped in a bath towel. As we got into the classroom, Middlest remembers that her clarinet is still sitting in her room and would I please go get it??? Of course.
I ran home and got that and delivered it to the school. I then decide to head to BTown for my weight watchers meeting and to do some work things. I get to the meeting and had to wait forever for it to start. I almost left, but did wait the 40 mins. (I had the time wrong)
I didn't lose any weight this week, but I didn't gain any either. I am disappointed, but I figure that my 6.2 lbs from last week, averages out ok. Anyone buying this???? giggle
I then had a lunch date with my dad at Applebee's. They have a ww menu and it makes it easier for me so we go there just about every week. We had a nice time. During our lunch, I received a call from Oldest saying that they were being released from school at 12:40. Just in case the ice storm hits!!! I can't believe it! They had an it-might-snow-day!!! WTF???
Mike asked me to go to Lowe's for some table legs so he could turn an antique dining room table into a coffee table. I have a real problem with this plan, so I bought a 48 x 20 piece of wood to make a tabletop. I also got some beadboard for Oldest's bathroom walls. He is none to thrilled with me. As if he has time for all of this right now, but oh well.
My dad joined me at Lowe's and helped me select all the right boards. (No cracks, nicks, warping, etc) At the end of our shopping experience, he said"Tammy, you know what I like best about shopping with you?" I answered him with my matching wit, "Absolutely nothing??" I was correct!!

P.S. It is now 4:10 pm and there has been no crazy ice storm. Middlest didn't have band either. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY!!

I called and sang to you this morning, but wanted to blog a very Happy 36th to you today!!
I look forward to spending time with you on Friday and celebrating with you.
You are a really special friend and I am soo blessed to have you.
Love you,
Tammy

I'm a Weight Watcher

I just wanted to publicly announce that on December 4, 2008 I joined Weight Watchers...again. The program really does work if you follow the instructions. I am a lifetime member since 2001, so I KNOW it works!! The first week I lost 6.2 lbs. I have been really trying very hard. My mother-in-law sent us a fabulous box of cookies, and I have sampled those this week. DAMN!

Today, I am home and working on my list. Shannon suggested I write it down, and I think it is a great idea!! The kids had a 2 hour delay today, so that cut into my day a bit. I have already gotten my teeth cleaned at the dentist, and tanned today. I spoke to my sister-in-law earlier and invited her and her 2 boys over for dinner. B-I-L works second shift. Mike is en route from Boston and won't be home til late if everything happens as scheduled, so we will have a moms and kids dinner/evening. It will be fun. It also forces me to stick to my cleaning list. smile

My list for the rest of today

• switch Littlest's clothes out of her dresser and put winter ones in--I know, its snowy here.
• scrub all 3 bathrooms
• scrub kitchen floor
• vacuum the upstairs
• dust the furniture
• wrap some gifts for the kids and put them under the tree
• goto Walmart and get gifts for the kids' school exchange
• buy teacher gifts--I'm thinking of gift cards this year
• get ingredients for egg casserole for Middlest's class brunch tomorrow morning
• LAUNDRY--I could carve that part of the list in stone!!!
• photograph the kids for the Christmas card
• photograph baby Kane and his big brother
• be a charming hostess tonite
• fall into bed dead and in pain from this list

My mom and her husband will be here on Monday and I am having a Christmas potluck for all my work friends on Monday, so I am feeling soooo far behind. I am done Christmas shopping for the family though.

I spoke too soon!

Mike left at 4am today for Boston. I think he is supposed to return tomorrow, but the weather is quite nasty so we will see. Meanwhile, the kids got out of school at 12:40 and we are making chicken and noodles served over mashed potatoes. Oldest's boyfriend's mom gave us her recipe. I think I owe her a daughter now. LOL!!

I am so thankful for my family

Today Oldest and I volunteered at the local agency that helps people in need. It was the day that the clients got to come and get their turkey, misc. Christmas food and items, and gifts for their children. It was so wonderful to be able to help out this wonderful place. We really enjoyed it. There are so many people in town that need some help. It is astounding really. There were about 350 bags full of gifts for children. My children and I "adopted" a family and provided things for their 3 girls. It was fun and I think the kids are learning about opening their hearts. Oldest was really bothered that some of the bags only had a couple of items and that those kids wouldn't get anything else. She is really growing up and I am so proud of her. She just jumped right in and offered to carry bags and boxes for people to their cars, and made a little friend in a boy named Joe. He is 11 years old and they had a lot of fun. In fact, Joe said to her"You and I should go to Subway and eat with my dad's money" I thought that was so stinkin precious.

Meanwhile, Mike has been in town for about 3 weeks in a row, which is a real blessing. He took Middlest and Littlest to their bowling league today. It is funny... Middlest does so much better when I am not there. I think I am a jinx!!

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Tis the Season......

Hello everyone!
I have been soo busy lately I have been neglecting my blog. I feel guilty about that on top of everything else I feel I am doing half-assed. I am preparing for a lovely Christmas at home with my mom and her husband and my dad.....hmmmmm......should be interesting. ;)
I just got my little brother's wedding book back and am so excited to get it sent to him tomorrow. I hope he loves it. It turned out so much better than I dreamed. It really was worth the 5 hours of laying it all out. Giggle
Work is a little stressful due to year end reports that are coming due and meetings to wrap up the year. I am planning a potluck at my house on the 22nd for my work-friends. I am really excited about that!! My Oldest and I will be volunteering at the local "food pantry" on the 13th and Tandly and husbands are going to a comedy show out of town this weekend. I intend to try to just enjoy myself and my husband and friends and not stress about anything. We'll see.
I don't know if everyone else is fighting off the crud this year, but we have been passing it around like no other. I am thinking of us all going to the Dr. and getting Z-packs for everyone.
Mike and I went shopping on Friday and got a LOT of our shopping done. We decided to go for bigger ticket items this year. Less shopping, Less wrapping, Less crap laying all over the kids' bedroom floors. Win-Win-Win!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season and tries to take the time to smell the roses. I will try to be more thankful and just do one thing at a time. Its really all we can do, yes?