Wonderful traditions Kathy. I especially love #6. Im sure they are toasting to you up in heaven too.
We are getting bil and his family a gc to the movies, some salt water taffy and Cheese Doodles. They can't get the last two out in Kansas. we wanted to send them some Taylor Ham (a jersey specialty) but it would have cost almost twice as much to ship it as it would have cost us. I just couldn't do it.
Some of our family live in texas..we dont exchange gifts but sometimes we do send them care packages. Tastykakes, lebanon bologna, chipped dried beef. They love it.
my grandfather hands out his gifts to us grandchildren. Grandpa loves to give us our gift each year and every year the moment becomes more and more special.
Cherish this CC. That is such a special way for your grandpa to show his love and something that you will remember always about him. He sounds like a very caring sweet person.
Life is good! we are so enjoying being home.
Glad you are having a wonderful time. I am so impressed that you are even thinking about being healthy and watching what your eating. Good for you. I hope the rest of your time is enjoyable!
This is such an interesting question. Had you asked me this 2 years ago I could have given you an extensive list, one like many of you have. Last year my perspective changed.
It is sad that something so severe has to happen to really remind us what it is all about. I only hope I can learn from yours and others experiences to remind me everyday to just be thankful for having each other and for what we have and not worry about all that we dont. Have a Merry Christmas!
Which meant I had to get something else for Sophie- found a really cheap little digital camera,$30, that I think she'll enjoy, if it works.
A friend said "We don't leave our house Christmas Day. If you want to see us on Christmas, come see us." Sometimes I wish I could be that way, but she's an only child, and her DH's family is 5 hours away. It's harder when your immediate family (brothers, wives, kids) has 16 people and your DH's family is also nearby. We also visit his Grandmother, 99, Christmas Day, and do Christmas Eve w/ MIL and FIL. Dh always opened gifts Christmas Eve as a child. They wanted Santa to come there on Christmas Eve, but NO WAY JOSE! I did put my foot down on that one!
I had that problem too. Found one thing for ryan that I "needed" to get for him.
so that made me "need" to get one more for nick. Now I wonder why I dont have money.
Thats life with more than one child. I was an only child so I tell my mom all the time she had it easy.
I say the same thing. I remember the last year I was "home" for xmas before we got married we had a huge storm. We made it out in the morning to my nana's and my dh's nana's but that evening no one could make it to our house. So it was a quiet evening of "playing" with new gifts and laying cozy in our pjs. It was very enjoyable and yet memorable too. I think god knew I needed that (I was so sad to leave home...complete mommy and daddy's girl).
I agree no presents on xmas eve.....santa doesnt come until we are asleep
When Thomas and I got first got married, we had Thanksgiving 4 times in one day. We went from my Dad's to his Dad's to his Mom's and then to my Mom's. After that, I made a rule that we had Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house and they were all invited. We had the only grandchild, so most of them just came to us. We did Christmas with my dad and stepmom the weekend before. Worked well for us when we were closer to family. Now we just stay home, just the 4 of us.
Hope everyone has a great!
thats just insane....we use to do that on christmas. our home, my parents, my inlaws, my grandparents, then back to my parents, then finally home. This stopped after my 1st sons 1st christmas. I enjoy it so much more now.
QOTD 12/21: Describe your favorite holiday decoration and why it is special to you.
I collect willow tree. My mom a few years ago surprised me with their manger and each year she has added to it. I finally have the whole set. Its beautiful and I let the kids help me set it up and teach them about the true story of christmas. This year they asked where santa was?? I explained that santa is just a way we celebrate jesus' bday. Then a few days later we were at my nana's and she has a santa down on a knee praying for baby jesus. They said see mom santa really does pray...then they asked my nana if they can have it to put in our manger.
I am going to join in on the alumni thread and try to be better about chatting
Hi Kristi...glad you hoped on and chatted. Congrats on being the biggest loser!!!!
Also, I'm very worried about next week's exercising. Our student rec center will be closed all week and I'm concerned that without it being open, I'll end up being lazy and skipping my runs
Maybe the fact that I'm concerned will be enough to motivate me and keep me disciplined
I'm almost considering doing a trial week at a local gym just to keep me focused. Any thoughts or suggestions?
I think the trial membership would be a good way and maybe a fun change. You could also bundle up and try a run outside for a change of pace. I bet since you are so concerned about missing that you will find a way to do something and even if it is less than normal it will be better than nothing at all.
Heres an update on the venue hunt.
First of all I love hearing about your wedding and the plans so feel free to continue to post about it. I know when I was planning our wedding I always felt everyone was getting tired of me talking about it but its exciting and you should feel free to talk away. So if at any point you think no one cares to hear about it any more just pop on here and chat away...you will at least have one listener.
I would say if you like the venue enough go for it and add memorable details and personalizations to it. Remember you will use the venue for not even a whole day and although it will be memorable and enjoyable your honeymoon will be spectacular. My advice would be spend the money on that where you two can really enjoy it and enjoy each other. Either way I am sure you will make the best desicion for you.
Hi guys. I just wanted to update the group about my knee. I just got home from the dr appointment. They found a stress fracture, a torn meniscus, torn cartiledge and LOTS of arthritis. He gave me something for the arthritis. Since it has been feeling better (not great but better) he doesn't want to do anything. I have an appointment for a month from now. I did get through yesterday and today without any medication. It did bother me last night but with the heating pad and tylenol I made it through the night.
Oh my dona. You are quite a trooper even walking around for weeks with all that going on. I hope it feels better and heals up on its own soon.
I had a pretty amazing day! I gave two massages and got one myself.
Yes I would call that an amazing day too. How nice.
I am constantly telling the kid I informally tutor that she needs to advocate for herself. Yep, I'm a hypocrite and venting and rambling and...
Its so much easier to give advice then it is to follow it yourself. I hope you do whats best for you and that it all works out.
Just spent the last hour sleeping on the couch. My cold is feeling worse tonight but I've got things that must get done tomorrow.
wow tracey you guys have had such a rough few months with colds and viruses. I hope you feel better soon.
Jumping in here. New to the whole BL thing. Just joined my first challenge. I'm hoping to be a loser, but I may have to be content with being a maintainer. I live with no adrenal glands after battling Cushing's Disease and take steroids every day to compensate for what my body no longer makes. It's pretty complicated. I put on over close to 80 pounds with the Cushing's and really want to take that off. It's coming off very slowly.... sigh. My goal is to try and work in at least 45 minutes of exercise every day.
Hi and welcome to our BL group. It is a great place to come to get motivated. It must be hard dealing with your disease but I commend you on taking the first step to tackle the weight gain. I think you have set a great goal for yourself.
1. Our TA's wife lost her battle yesterday morning.
2. Bragging mom moment.
3. Hoping to mega clean today.
1. so sorry to hear that. My heart and prayers go out to your friend and his child.
2. That is wonderful. I think your girls are learning such valued lessons that will help them so much through life.
3. When your done can you take a drive and clean up my house. I will leave the key under the door mat.
If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
I am trying to be happy but someone else has other plans for me today because our office is crazy and I am feeling very overwhelmed.
We went to DSH last night and rode tot in the dark--my favorite and then went to see the osbourne lights. In bed by 9. Not eating great (I had a piece of cake for dinner
) but we took over 20000 steps yesterday. Mike and I did a lap in the airport during our layover. Off to Magic Kingdom for opening this morning.
Glad you made it safe rose. Your night sounds like so much fun. I wish we were there too. Soon enough I will be.
I hope you enjoy your day at the MK.
Ok these replies took me 4 hours.
I kept getting pulled away. I fell asleep early last night at 830 while watching a movie with the boys and I got nothing done.
I still have to clean and I have to wrap all my gifts. I think tonight and tomorrow night will late nighters. I am determined to get everything done so xmas eve can be spent relaxing with my family...and a little time on here too since I am coaching that day.
Eating has been horrible. I mean horrible. I need to fix that!
Have a great day!!!!!!
pudge the fish! I have to say that is a very interesting user name and I am wondering the backstory behind it. I'm glad to see that you are jumping in and joining us. This is a great group of folks! 
I have so much to do and feel icky. I am trying to do basics at work and rest up. I work for a non- profit and believe me, we are just as busy as retail is this time of year.
We had the hardest time with names for our girls, I would say "No, I taught a kid with that name or so and so has a kid named that", and DH would come up with hideous nicknames for each!
They were both my 4 hour days, so I figured what the heck, I'd put my name up for cancel and low and behold I got it.
on both!
Congratulations! 
I didn't want to get up this morning and nearly dozed off at work. 
I will say that when I woke up post-nightmare, I started thinking about a way to prevent them. It won't prevent me from having to do something I'm not so keen on doing, but at least I'm advocating for myself. So, here is what I'm thinking. I'll have to do some research, but this would be ideal. Plus, my parents are still looking for Christmas gifts for me. I do take I.O.U.s. 
