I can’t believe you went to the mall today! I thought Monday’s trip was miserable.
I wouldn't have gone for myself, but DD really wanted to go... and as that is the only place around here with a
Disney store, I am hoping that she shopped there for me!!
Did you ask Santa for anything health or fitness related for Christmas or did you buy anything health or fitness related for someone else that will join you on your weight loss/fitness journey? It so what was it?
Yep, asked for some winter outdoor wear but I doubt I'll get it. Target has a really nice lightweight down type jacket.
Do what I did.... buy it, wrap it, put it under the tree, and mark it "To Mom From Mom!"
If you could go or do go to Disney around the holidays, do you take part in the holiday Santa's from Epcot's World Showcase and if so, which one do you enjoy the most and why?
Yep, we go in Dec as often as we can and love the Santa's. I think our favorite is the Monkey King in China, he is very animated and the kids love him.
Never heard of the Monkey King~! Does he bring gifts?
CC the field trip was easy. It's a 5 minute walk to the town library from the school and only 11 kids to shepard. We stay for an hour and have story time, a craft and sometimes a snack, then back to school for lunch. they do it every Thursday and the parents rotate weeks.
Doesn't sound too bad. Did the kids have "Christmas-itis"?
Good evening all. Today was busy. I had to take Mom to work so I could go to Target 
scared1
to pick up some prescriptions for her and then to WalMart scared1:
) to return some items for her. And then one of the items I tried to return wasn't even from there. 
When I came home, I was put in charge of wrapping all my brother's presents, and I made his CDs that I will be giving him. I'm still working on Mom's photo album but will finish that tomorrow. I finished vaccuming downstairs and did five loads of laundry. Need to do a sixth but that can wait. Have to go pick up Mom and my brother in a few minutes; he was supposed to come home tomorrow but is coming tonight instead. He and I are going to Grandma's tomorrow (I think). He likes to go spend time there, and I have to go with in case he has another seizure-which he hasn't since the last time I mentioned it.
Sweet of you to be so helpful to Mom. Glad your brother hasn't suffered another seizure. Hopefully your holidays will be peaceful and healthy.
The mortgage refi is underway, all presents are wrapped including the "important" ones. I've got Christmas dessert 2/3 finished. I just need to make the topping and get that on in time for it to chill. I may do that tonight. My eating has been really good as I can't stomach a lot and really am not craving sweets or food in general for that matter. My SIL made turkey tonight and when I ran some gift certificates over she made me a plate. I had turkey, mashed potato, corn and cranberry sauce. No gravy. Chris and the boys had mac and cheese and hotdogs so I feel much better about my much healthier meal.
Tomorrow we'll go to my parent's house after lunch. We'll do their tree then Mom is making a complete Ham dinner for us all. Sunday we'll do apps here. It will be nice to just stay home and let the kids enjoy their gifts.
Oh my.... busy, busy lady... as usual. What are you making for dessert? I made one of those super easy semi-homemade ice cream cakes for DD's swim team supper the other day.... they are SO delicious and the kids LOVED it. I need to remember to make it more often when I am asked to bring a dessert somewhere.
Glad you are keeping up with the healthy eating as much as possible. I stayed totally OP yesterday, despite the craziness and the holidays looming on the horizon and was rewarded with a full 1 pound drop on the scale since yesterday! It was a big woohoo for me to see a decent number before the year ended!! And it spurs me to stay on track over the holidays!
I seem to remember a Zumba game for the Wii - but it seems like a month ago I wrapped it. I did wrap it last month. LOL I need to dust off the presents before I put them under the tree.
I have been to Disney during December and I don't think I have heard of the Santa's?? I did do the CP one year and that was great.
My work detail ended Thursday night. I had such a great group of people working for me - I was bored stiff for the last two weeks. They needed no supervision. I went back to my building today, the man I work with (my work husband
) gave me some really nice gifts, pair of driving gloves, some Yankee Candles and a box of Godiva chocolate. When I brought them home, DH made a comment that the gentleman I work with had shopped more than DH had. LOL
That was sweet of that man to remember you with those gifts.
I found out that the class I was to go to in a couple of weeks in Oklahoma was cancelled, to be rescheduled in late February or March. My boss asked me if I would be able to work days (Heck YES!!!!) to be involved with some upcoming projects. After working nights since 1987 - I have about had it. But on the flip side the idea of commuting into Boston during the morning rush isn't that appealing either.
You have worked nights for 24 years!!???
Wowza. I imagine it would be exciting to get back to days, but I agree with the driving into Boston. Could you take the commuter rail? Or maybe work a slightly off shift, like 6am - 3pm or something like that?
DS is in 9th grade and just started wrestling. As some may remember he is small. He weighs about 93 pounds and is 5'5". But it's working for him - he is on the Varsity wrestling team and is close to earning his jacket. As long as he is able to keep his grades up, it's been a great experience for him. He has kyphosis (hunched back) and the Doctor says that as long as he isn't lifting weights, etc. it's a great sport for him.
Wow, he is super slim! It's great that he has found a sport that can embrace his smaller size!
The 2nd and 3rd floor of the house are spotless. It will only take about 30 minutes to clean the 1st and I am ready for company. We will be visiting a few of my aunts tomorrow and then have 20 for dinner on Christmas. I will start cooking tomorrow night. I will cook the sweet potatoes, squash, turnip, mix together the stuffing for the mushrooms, cook the pork roast for dinner. Make the whole wheat dinner rolls. So all we would have left for Christmas is cook the ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and asparagus. Make soft dinner rolls. Throw the Holiday Brie and the stuffed mushrooms in the oven 1/2 hour before the guests arrive, This year I have to remember to defrost the shrimp - last year I forgot. I know I have forgotten something.
Impressive! I've only got two floors and only one of them is reasonably clean at the moment. And I would have a MELTDOWN if I had to have dinner for 20 on the table for Christmas. I hate cooking and it makes me nutty!!
I really enjoyed peoples pictures of their trees. I will try to post a picture of mine. The rate the needles are falling off - I better take the picture quick.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone. Look for the new 2012 BL No Excuses Challenge thread soon after. I will be searching for coaches, and a co-hostess for one of the team threads.
Janis
Merry Christmas Janis! Glad you were with us for the challenge. Enjoy your dinner.... hope you get a chance to relax and eat... being the hostess can be stressful.
Happy Christmas Eve everyone.
Had a busy day yesterday. I went grocery shopping, cooked the meatballs and sausage, made homemade pizza for dinner, and dh finished wrapping the presents.
Today I have to make an apple pie, pick up the platters for today and tomorrow, get presents organized to take with us.
We are going to go up to my parents this afternoon. We can't leave too early since they live right near the stadium where the jets and giants play. This game may also delay Christmas. My bil is a real jet fanatic. If they lose he may not make it(yes it has happened for a Sunday dinner). We will be home about 9 tonight.
Tomorrow I have to make an another apple pie and a pumpkin pie. Then I have to reheat the meatballs and sausage, and get the cheese and pepperoni tray set and pack for the transport. If I get home early enough tonight I may make the pies.
Today is pretty easy. Tomorrow is the tough day. Dh and ds's willl help out so it will work out.
Have a happy and healthy day.
Again Merry Christmas
Wow.... another busy cook! Makes me realize how much I DON'T cook!
Everything sounds delicious!
I hear you about the football traffic. My DSIL and her husband live near Gillette Stadium (well, not real near, but close enough) and we have to be careful this time of year what time of day/week we visit! Nothing like sitting in traffic for a game you're not going to!!
Good morning everyone and a very Merry Christmas Eve to all!!
It's been a busy week, but I've stayed pretty low stress. My antique cell phone died and that stressed me out to add a trip to the verizon store on the to-do list, but it all worked out, and now I can actually text.
Ooooh... now I can text you!! 
I try not to stress and just enjoy the holidays but once in a while it gets to you. Today is my busy day, lots of cooking and cleaning to finish up and we have the whole family over tonight. I'll leave the cleaning til last, and then
if I run out of time, I'll have a drink and figure the house is clean enough.
I definitely need to adopt that attitude! I kept trying to convince DD that the pasta supper should be a candlelight supper.... it is hard to see dirt and dust in candlelight! Unfortunately she didn't buy the idea.
Thanks to all the coaches this week! It's great to see such an active thread during such a busy holiday time. We have a pretty low key Christmas morning, so I hope to read back properly and catch up with all of you here.
Congratulations Lisa!!
Our biggest loser!!! I am so happy for you, and you, too Never Give Up and you are shining this year!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!!
Merry Christmas my friend!!
***********
First of all.... Merry Christmas Eve to all of my friends!!
Second.... HUGE thank you to those of you who sent me a Christmas card. Sorry I didn't reciprocate... never managed to fit card making into the schedule this year. And I find it funny that I got more cards from my "imaginary friends" (as my family calls you all) than I did from my side of the family!!!
Okay...... today is the dreaded "cooking" day. I hate it, but it must be done. So far I've diced and toasted the bread for tomorrow's bread pudding, made two huge apple crisps (one for tonight, one to take to DSIL's on Monday), and started the broth for the broccoli cheddar soup that is for lunch today (Thanks to our dear friend Laura for the recipe!). Tonight's lasagna is already done (thanks to DH this summer!) and defrosting nicely, as is the garlic bread (store bought...oh well).
I need to make the salad for tonight and tomorrow (having spinach salad for breakfast with the quiche), quiche for tomorrow morning and finish the soup and that will probably be it for today's cooking. SO not too bad. Tomorrow morning I will just warm the quiches and make the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (sure, homemade would be great, but I DON'T bake!). We will have a late breakfast, mid-afternoon munchies (taco dip, hummus and veggies, chips), and then make-your-own pizzas and bread pudding for Christmas night dinner. Not too fancy, but something that makes everyone happy!
DD is at the pool right now. I had DH take her. I had fully intended to go and get in a good hour's workout myself, but when I started thinking about it I realized how very far behind I was and realized that it wasn't going to happen. If I have time this afternoon I may take a walk with my Mom, but that will be it for a workout until at least Monday. I'm not going to stress about it.
DH and DD should be back by 10:15 or so. My parents are due here at 11 am. DD's room and bathroom haven't even been TOUCHED yet. Then I will need to pull out the trundle bed make up both beds in there for my folks. DD's "bed" on our floor is already made up.
After lunch I will do the last bit of "Santa" wrapping, set the table for Christmas Eve dinner, and get ready for late afternoon church (4pm service). We will be home from church about 5:30 or so. Hopefully the lasagna will be fully warmed by then, we will throw in the garlic bread, and eat by 6:30... 7pm at the latest. Then some relaxing, maybe a game or two and then a reasonable bedtime for everyone!
I may or may not be on here tomorrow.... depends on how the day goes. I will take this moment to SINCERELY thank each and every one of you for being the most WONDERFUL group of "imaginary friends" that a girl could ask for. I hope you each have a peaceful, healthful, and relaxing Christmas holiday.
May Santa bring you the unequaled gift of better health for next year.
Much love to you all........................Pamela
And a trip to WDW wouldn't hurt either! 
Thank you, Buffy!
Thanks for hostessing the Spring Challenge. Looks like a lot of fun! 
Hey look at that! That house is already clean! 
I keep waiting for it to die, but a natural death seems to be taking a long time 
because, while I love to bake, I'm a messy baker. 
