Can't We Just Travel by Map? Oct 2013 PTR

[solana131]

Your plans sound great oopsi! I love Christmas too....by far my favorite of all holidays ever. We have lots of traditions, but a new one I am most excited about is our books. I found this idea somewhere online. We have 24 Christmas/Holiday/Winter themed books. We wrap them all individually and put them under the tree on Dec 1st. Each night in Dec we open a book and read it for a bedtime story. The first one will be Elf on a Shelf so we can "call" our elf back to us from Santa. He will appear that next morning And the last book will of course be Night Before Christmas. I think this idea is great and Bradey just loves books, so it fits in perfectly for our house. Plus, it will make the tree look great without putting any "Santa presents" under there.

 

[disny_luvr]

Our very favorite Christmas tradition is to ride the Hershey Trolley through Chocolatetown. We ride it every year with the Mom's of Multiple group that I'm in. It's a cute trolley ride where we sing Christmas carols and learn the history of Milton Hershey by driving around Hershey. Throughout the trolley ride, there is a story that is played out with a young man who needs to get to the chocolate factory for work. He gets on and off the trolley throughout the ride (and goes to the back of the trolley - outside - and changes outfits and roles). At the end of the ride he comes onto the trolley as Santa and calls out every good little boy and girl's name on the trolley and gives them a present (a small Hershey ornament). My boys love, love, love this. Seriously, they start asking me around September when is it time to "ride the trolley". It really is cute and fun!

This year we are also going to start the Elf on the Shelf. On Saturday, my boys are going to receive a "special package" from the North Pole with our elf and book. I know they'll love this new tradition.

Other traditions are our annual Christmas caroling outing and baking Christmas cookies.

I love this time of year!

 

[DMGeurts]

Last night I was looking through a Christmas Advent book that I have, and I started making plans that I am so excited about I decided to share!

I actually pulled our wall calendar down, and started "scheduling" things I want to do every Saturday and Sunday night starting this Saturday. Here is what I have planned...

Saturday, DEC 1: Decorate Tree, read "The Legend of the Christmas Tree", watch Elf on ABC Family

Sunday, DEC 2: Make White Chocolate Pretzels, Week 2 of Advent Wreath, watch A Charlie Brown Christmas

Saturday, DEC 8: Fill out and address Christmas cards, read "Christmas Cards" (history of the tradition) from Christmas Advent book

Sunday, DEC 9: Make Chocolate Drop Shortbread Cookies, Week 3 of Advent Wreath, watch The Mistle-Tones on ABC Family

Saturday, DEC 15: Read "The Legend of the Candy Cane", make Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sticks to give as gifts to friends and teachers

Sunday, DEC 16: Make "special recipe" Hot Cocoa, Week 4 of Advent Wreath, watch Polar Express

Saturday, DEC 22: Read "12 Days of Christmas" (scriptural comparisons) from Christmas Advent book, make popcorn and hot cocoa "to go", go see Christmas lights at the Fairgrounds and around town

Sunday, DEC 23: Make kid's choice of cookies or candy, Week 5 of the Advent Wreath, watch The Nativity Story

What do you think? Do any of you have special things planned? Traditions that are unique to your family? I am just really excited about Christmas this year, and want to make it as special as possible for our children.

Your plans sound great oopsi! I love Christmas too....by far my favorite of all holidays ever. We have lots of traditions, but a new one I am most excited about is our books. I found this idea somewhere online. We have 24 Christmas/Holiday/Winter themed books. We wrap them all individually and put them under the tree on Dec 1st. Each night in Dec we open a book and read it for a bedtime story. The first one will be Elf on a Shelf so we can "call" our elf back to us from Santa. He will appear that next morning And the last book will of course be Night Before Christmas. I think this idea is great and Bradey just loves books, so it fits in perfectly for our house. Plus, it will make the tree look great without putting any "Santa presents" under there.

Our very favorite Christmas tradition is to ride the Hershey Trolley through Chocolatetown. We ride it every year with the Mom's of Multiple group that I'm in. It's a cute trolley ride where we sing Christmas carols and learn the history of Milton Hershey by driving around Hershey. Throughout the trolley ride, there is a story that is played out with a young man who needs to get to the chocolate factory for work. He gets on and off the trolley throughout the ride (and goes to the back of the trolley - outside - and changes outfits and roles). At the end of the ride he comes onto the trolley as Santa and calls out every good little boy and girl's name on the trolley and gives them a present (a small Hershey ornament). My boys love, love, love this. Seriously, they start asking me around September when is it time to "ride the trolley". It really is cute and fun!

This year we are also going to start the Elf on the Shelf. On Saturday, my boys are going to receive a "special package" from the North Pole with our elf and book. I know they'll love this new tradition.

Other traditions are our annual Christmas caroling outing and baking Christmas cookies.

I love this time of year!

Wow, everyone is so creative... I wish I would have been creative like this when the girls were little.

We don't have a lot of traditions... Cutting our own tree and decorating it is about it.

We make Christmas cookies every year...

We always go to lots of Christmas concerts - some of them by default, because the girls are in them.

Christmas Eve is always "ours"... That's been my requirement since the girls were little. Even if we have to be to some gathering, I've always insisted that we are home by dinner, so we can have Christmas Eve dinner (which is almost always something in a crock pot) and share our gifts with eachother.

I really adore the idea of the Elf on a Shelf - but I think my girls are way too old for him.

However - Oopsi - I think I will steal your idea of making "cocoa to go" and then go out and see the Christmas lights - that's fantastic.

Sigh - so many missed opportunities...

D~

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Your plans sound great oopsi! I love Christmas too....by far my favorite of all holidays ever. We have lots of traditions, but a new one I am most excited about is our books. I found this idea somewhere online. We have 24 Christmas/Holiday/Winter themed books. We wrap them all individually and put them under the tree on Dec 1st. Each night in Dec we open a book and read it for a bedtime story. The first one will be Elf on a Shelf so we can "call" our elf back to us from Santa. He will appear that next morning And the last book will of course be Night Before Christmas. I think this idea is great and Bradey just loves books, so it fits in perfectly for our house. Plus, it will make the tree look great without putting any "Santa presents" under there.

I remember reading on your PTR that you are going to do that! I that idea!! I wondered though...are you going to try to do that every year? Are there that many Christmas books out there? Bradey will have a wonderful collection of special books to one day pass on to his own children!

Our very favorite Christmas tradition is to ride the Hershey Trolley through Chocolatetown. We ride it every year with the Mom's of Multiple group that I'm in. It's a cute trolley ride where we sing Christmas carols and learn the history of Milton Hershey by driving around Hershey. Throughout the trolley ride, there is a story that is played out with a young man who needs to get to the chocolate factory for work. He gets on and off the trolley throughout the ride (and goes to the back of the trolley - outside - and changes outfits and roles). At the end of the ride he comes onto the trolley as Santa and calls out every good little boy and girl's name on the trolley and gives them a present (a small Hershey ornament). My boys love, love, love this. Seriously, they start asking me around September when is it time to "ride the trolley". It really is cute and fun!

This year we are also going to start the Elf on the Shelf. On Saturday, my boys are going to receive a "special package" from the North Pole with our elf and book. I know they'll love this new tradition.

Other traditions are our annual Christmas caroling outing and baking Christmas cookies.

I love this time of year!

Oh that sounds SO FUN!!!! We would really enjoy something like that too. My cousin and her family live in Northport, AL and they turn a portion of their downtown area into a Dickens Christmas. The area has cobblestone streets and old fashoined street lamps. There are actors in period costumes, carolers, etc. That would be another really great tradition. I just Christmas!!!!

Wow, everyone is so creative... I wish I would have been creative like this when the girls were little.

We don't have a lot of traditions... Cutting our own tree and decorating it is about it.

We make Christmas cookies every year...

We always go to lots of Christmas concerts - some of them by default, because the girls are in them.

Christmas Eve is always "ours"... That's been my requirement since the girls were little. Even if we have to be to some gathering, I've always insisted that we are home by dinner, so we can have Christmas Eve dinner (which is almost always something in a crock pot) and share our gifts with eachother.

I really adore the idea of the Elf on a Shelf - but I think my girls are way too old for him.

However - Oopsi - I think I will steal your idea of making "cocoa to go" and then go out and see the Christmas lights - that's fantastic.

Sigh - so many missed opportunities...

D~

Oh, D~ you are a great Mom. You and your girls are building all sorts of memories...you have your summers at the lake, Disney trips, Valley Fair, you have taught V to sew, and countless other traditions you have built with your family. Heck, your family includes a wonderful dog (not to forget dear Rufus as well). My kids have wanted a dog forever, and we won't allow it. Traditions and memories are different for everyone, and I have no doubt your girls cherish things you have probably never even thought twice about!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

LOVE all of your Christmas plans! That's so funny--I took my "notebook" (read that as "crazy spiral book that I write EVERYTHING in and without which I would be LOST") and wrote down weekend plans for the weekends leading up to Christmas, just the other day! I am so excited for this season! Mine are not as elaborate as yours. . .just Santa breakfast at DS's "school", a trip to Dollywood, and some other stuff. I can't wait to read all about yours!!

 

[solana131]

I remember reading on your PTR that you are going to do that! I that idea!! I wondered though...are you going to try to do that every year? Are there that many Christmas books out there? Bradey will have a wonderful collection of special books to one day pass on to his own children.

Most of them are "classics" like the Night Before Christmas and the Grinch and Rudolph. So they can be read year after year. We will have to get a few each year as Bradey grows up. But now that I know we are doing it...I can keep my eyes open at yard sales and clearance sections.

 

[Chicago Mo]

HI! I've missed my Dis hackers!
Your thanksgiving plans made my head spin!!! hope all was well! Elf with Will Ferrel? anything with syrup!!!
The elf on the shelf story creeps me out. We have the original one and the stuffy girl. with the unique names of Elfie and snowflake. Then again i am not a fan of dolls especially when they walk around at night. eek!
I LOVE your Christmas Plans!!! I might have to steal a few.
Glad to hear everyone is doing better! prayers are always with my friends!!!

 

[Pluto0809]

Finally getting caught up on everyone's TR & PTR's! Your Christmas plans sound wonderful. With it just being me and DH (he can't travel around the Christmas holidays due to work so we don't make it home to Pennsylvania) mine will be pretty low key. I do need to bake some cookies for the work Christmas party that will be on the 18th.

I've got to do some serious Christmas shopping this weekend. I'm so far behind this year due to last week's trip to Disney. Not a bad reason to be behind though!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

LOVE all of your Christmas plans! That's so funny--I took my "notebook" (read that as "crazy spiral book that I write EVERYTHING in and without which I would be LOST") and wrote down weekend plans for the weekends leading up to Christmas, just the other day! I am so excited for this season! Mine are not as elaborate as yours. . .just Santa breakfast at DS's "school", a trip to Dollywood, and some other stuff. I can't wait to read all about yours!!

Your plans sound fun too!!! Christmas has become so special to me this year for some reason. I just love it!

Most of them are "classics" like the Night Before Christmas and the Grinch and Rudolph. So they can be read year after year. We will have to get a few each year as Bradey grows up. But now that I know we are doing it...I can keep my eyes open at yard sales and clearance sections.

Such a wonderful tradition to start. I can't wait to hear how Bradey enjoys it!

HI! I've missed my Dis hackers!
Your thanksgiving plans made my head spin!!! hope all was well! Elf with Will Ferrel? anything with syrup!!!
The elf on the shelf story creeps me out. We have the original one and the stuffy girl. with the unique names of Elfie and snowflake. Then again i am not a fan of dolls especially when they walk around at night. eek!
I LOVE your Christmas Plans!!! I might have to steal a few.
Glad to hear everyone is doing better! prayers are always with my friends!!!

MO is in da house, WHOOP WHOOP! Good to have you back! Thanksgiving was definitely busy, but it was so much fun too. Glad I got to see my Grandma doing better!

Oh yeah...THAT Elf! "SANTA!!!!! I know him, I know him!!!"What a hoot that Will Ferrell is!

Yeah, we haven't done the elf on the shelf, but I plan to do a similar "Hidden Mickey" game with the kids when we get close to time for our trip. MUST find a non-creepy looking Mickey to use...

Finally getting caught up on everyone's TR & PTR's! Your Christmas plans sound wonderful. With it just being me and DH (he can't travel around the Christmas holidays due to work so we don't make it home to Pennsylvania) mine will be pretty low key. I do need to bake some cookies for the work Christmas party that will be on the 18th.

I've got to do some serious Christmas shopping this weekend. I'm so far behind this year due to last week's trip to Disney. Not a bad reason to be behind though!

Welcome Home, Pluto!!! Cannot wait to start reading about your trip. I have been watching videos of the opening ceremonies for New Fantasyland and Re-Invented Test Track and it is making me so homesick for Disney!!!!

You mean you didn't just do ALL of your Christmas shopping AT Disney? Surely everyone loves that mouse as much as we do!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

In honor of Christmas I am doing this update in RED. I have been kind of blah this week, so it has taken me this long to get on here and get our Christmas tree pictures up.

My neice and her baby boy were in town last weekend, and helped us decorate for Christmas. We had such a great time, and I LOVED having a new "audience" to share all my stories with about EACH and EVERY ORNAMENT that went on the tree. This is her first Christmas with her fiance and baby boy as a family, so she really did want to hear about all of it as she will be starting traditions of her own this year. It was really special and I loved it.

Here is our tree:

And here is the tree with our fireplace, Nativity scene and stockings:

It is still hard to get in the Christmas spirit since it has been 70 stinking degrees for the past week or so. Yeah, the fireplace is lit for the picture...but only for the picture. It got pretty hot in there for the few minutes I was snapping pictures.

I need colder weather! I need to burn holiday scented candles and light the fireplace with the lights turned low. I need to drink hot cocoa and listen to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. I need to do the Christmas baking in a kitchen warmed only by the ovens. Instead we have our windows open and ceiling fans going.

This weekend we will be filling out and addressing Christmas cards. We will bake Chocolate Drop Shortbread Cookies (in the HOT kitchen ) and watch an ABC Family original movie called the Mistle Tones. Next week is filled with work, school, and church Christmas festivities...gonna be a busy one for sure.

Feliz Navidad everyone!

 

[DMGeurts]

Loved the update Oopsi! Your tree is gorgeous, and I just love it with your fireplace. And all of your stockings are so perfect hanging there.

I envy you your warm temps... We are supposed to get 1" of snow tonight, and another 4-6" on Sunday... I actually don't mind the snow, I just can't stand the cold - and I hate both of them after New Years.

Your holiday preperations sound magnificant... We've been in a holiday movie mood for a few weeks - it's so much fun to sit down and watch them all.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

D~

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Loved the update Oopsi! Your tree is gorgeous, and I just love it with your fireplace. And all of your stockings are so perfect hanging there.

I envy you your warm temps... We are supposed to get 1" of snow tonight, and another 4-6" on Sunday... I actually don't mind the snow, I just can't stand the cold - and I hate both of them after New Years.

Your holiday preperations sound magnificant... We've been in a holiday movie mood for a few weeks - it's so much fun to sit down and watch them all.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

D~

Thank you, D~! The kids get full credit for the tree...I sit in a chair and open the ornaments for them, they do all the decorating. Jillian strung the pearls this year. This was the first year I had let them do that. The only thing they didn't do was that Brian put the angel on top.

See that big red gingham stocking? That is mine, and my mom sewed it for me when I was just 4 years old. It is so GIANT compared to the other stockings. And to top that off, she stitched my name on the wrong side so that it hangs backwards. Brian's stocking doesn't have a front/back so we hang his backwards to match mine!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Love your tree! We're of the "every ornament has a story" group, too!

I cannot get over this weather we're having! DS had Santa pics this week at school, and it was almost 70 that day! It's hard to get my mind around temps like that in December!

Love your Christmas weekend plans!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Thank you, D~! The kids get full credit for the tree...I sit in a chair and open the ornaments for them, they do all the decorating. Jillian strung the pearls this year. This was the first year I had let them do that. The only thing they didn't do was that Brian put the angel on top.

See that big red gingham stocking? That is mine, and my mom sewed it for me when I was just 4 years old. It is so GIANT compared to the other stockings. And to top that off, she stitched my name on the wrong side so that it hangs backwards. Brian's stocking doesn't have a front/back so we hang his backwards to match mine!

LOL... Well, the kids did a great job...

I think that MM has done such a magnificant job about not touching the tree - I am half tempted to finish decorating the bottom half of ours, and possibly add a bit more bling to it.

I LOVE that big red gingham stocking - it's so marvelous that you have something that your mom made to hang. I have huge ambitions of making Josh's brother, his wife and little one on the way a set of coordinating stockings with a matching tree skirt for Christmas next year... I will talk about it more in my PTR, because this is going to be hugely ambitious for me. I ordered the last of the fabric for it yesterday though - so I hope to work on it a bit here and there through out the year.

And thanks to your beautiful fire place/mantle display... I was on pinterest all night last night trying to come up with a way to display our stockings. In our old house (which I miss so much), we had an open staircase... All year long, the girls would slide down the banister (to annoy me, I am sure), but at Christmas time, I would wrap it in pine garland and hang our stockings from it... I loved the charm of that old house. I really haven't been in the "Holiday decorating mood" since we moved into this house 6+ years ago, because it's really not all that fun to decorate... So, thanks to your gorgeous pictures... I think I have come up with a display idea for our stockings. I am not sure if I will get it done this weekend, because of all the snow - but I might try.

I hope you have a nice weekend.

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

In honor of Christmas I am doing this update in RED. I have been kind of blah this week, so it has taken me this long to get on here and get our Christmas tree pictures up.

My neice and her baby boy were in town last weekend, and helped us decorate for Christmas. We had such a great time, and I LOVED having a new "audience" to share all my stories with about EACH and EVERY ORNAMENT that went on the tree. This is her first Christmas with her fiance and baby boy as a family, so she really did want to hear about all of it as she will be starting traditions of her own this year. It was really special and I loved it.

Here is our tree:
And here is the tree with our fireplace, Nativity scene and stockings:

It is still hard to get in the Christmas spirit since it has been 70 stinking degrees for the past week or so. Yeah, the fireplace is lit for the picture...but only for the picture. It got pretty hot in there for the few minutes I was snapping pictures.

I need colder weather! I need to burn holiday scented candles and light the fireplace with the lights turned low. I need to drink hot cocoa and listen to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. I need to do the Christmas baking in a kitchen warmed only by the ovens. Instead we have our windows open and ceiling fans going.

This weekend we will be filling out and addressing Christmas cards. We will bake Chocolate Drop Shortbread Cookies (in the HOT kitchen ) and watch an ABC Family original movie called the Mistle Tones. Next week is filled with work, school, and church Christmas festivities...gonna be a busy one for sure.

Feliz Navidad everyone!

SING IT SISTER!!!! LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW

Love your tree! do you have my address for the cookie drop off???
I just told D~ i'm starting the drive to her house See you there?? then stealing the Jack bag. I have motives.... muha ha ha ha ha.
I did half my decorations. there isn't "IT STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS" in Chicago... I might make my own very soon...

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Love your tree! We're of the "every ornament has a story" group, too!

I cannot get over this weather we're having! DS had Santa pics this week at school, and it was almost 70 that day! It's hard to get my mind around temps like that in December!

Love your Christmas weekend plans!!

So we asked for colder temps, and we are getting some...with a ton of rain...for just a few days. Not sure where in East Tennessee you are, but they are saying that some places in the higher elevations could see some flurries. I grew up in FL and it never FELT like Christmas. There were so many years when we would be watching folks water ski as we headed out of town to celebrate Christmas. I just hope that doesn't happen in our neck of the woods this year.

LOL... Well, the kids did a great job...

I think that MM has done such a magnificant job about not touching the tree - I am half tempted to finish decorating the bottom half of ours, and possibly add a bit more bling to it.

I LOVE that big red gingham stocking - it's so marvelous that you have something that your mom made to hang. I have huge ambitions of making Josh's brother, his wife and little one on the way a set of coordinating stockings with a matching tree skirt for Christmas next year... I will talk about it more in my PTR, because this is going to be hugely ambitious for me. I ordered the last of the fabric for it yesterday though - so I hope to work on it a bit here and there through out the year.

And thanks to your beautiful fire place/mantle display... I was on pinterest all night last night trying to come up with a way to display our stockings. In our old house (which I miss so much), we had an open staircase... All year long, the girls would slide down the banister (to annoy me, I am sure), but at Christmas time, I would wrap it in pine garland and hang our stockings from it... I loved the charm of that old house. I really haven't been in the "Holiday decorating mood" since we moved into this house 6+ years ago, because it's really not all that fun to decorate... So, thanks to your gorgeous pictures... I think I have come up with a display idea for our stockings. I am not sure if I will get it done this weekend, because of all the snow - but I might try.

I hope you have a nice weekend.

D~

Well, I do get to take credit for the mantle. I won't let the kids touch that nativity set...I have had it since the second year Brian and I were married and not a piece has been broken so far. I intend to keep it that way! I hope your stocking display idea turns out beautiful for you. You do intend to post pictures, right?

SING IT SISTER!!!! LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW

Love your tree! do you have my address for the cookie drop off???
I just told D~ i'm starting the drive to her house See you there?? then stealing the Jack bag. I have motives.... muha ha ha ha ha.
I did half my decorations. there isn't "IT STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS" in Chicago... I might make my own very soon...

YES! LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!! We actually ended up NOT baking those delicious cookies. Brian spotted some Italian chocolate chip bread thing at the grocery that he had had at work at some point and wanted to get one. So we had that instead....he thought it was great and went on and on about how good it was. Just tasted like sweet bread with chocolate chips in it to me. Same old "bready" texture, and not at all moist. Oh well, he rarely asks for anything special, so I was happy to do it for him ...really I was.

While you are making some of your very own snow, can you make a little to share with a Southern friend?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time for my Monday Mickey savings update! Did you notice I didn't post one last week? Well, I actually went OVER on the grocery budget last week, so I had nothing to put in the Mickey jar.

Saved this week: $13
New Balance: $116

My total is going up sloooooooooooooowly, but every little bit helps!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

My week will be off to a slow start, but will pick up speed quickly by Wednesday night. I have to make dinner for the family that night in addition to a pot of Taco Soup I need to make for a work function.

Thursday morning our University is hosting a holiday "brunch" from 7:30-9:30 am for all faculty and staff. Is it just me or should it be called "breakfast" instead of "brunch" so dang early in the morning? Anywho, the faculty in our department voted to also have our department holiday party for lunch that day. So, for that we will be having a soup and chili lunch....after eating a big "brunch" that morning.

Friday...Oy, Friday!!! I have taken the day off work...will it be a leisurely day of relaxing and pampering? Nope! This day will be INSANE...

I need to go and visit my best friend who had her baby three weeks ago. I visited them while she was still in the hospital, but haven't been able to see them since then. I will be picking up take-out from her favorite Japanese grill to have for lunch with her.

THEN, I am picking Jillian up early from school. Brian is meeting she and I at Gabe and Charity's school for their annual Christmas musical.

THEN, we will all run home long enough to shower and get dressed and all dolled up, because we will all be headed to dinner and then Brian and I are taking the kids to their very first "real" concert. For any of you familiar with Contemporary Christian music, we are headed into Nashville to a Toby Mac concert. For those of you not familiar with him, he is a hip-hop style singer. We his music! We got the tickets for this MONTHS ago, and we cannot wait for the concert!

Ah, but the night is still not over, folks....

After the concert, Jillian and I will be dropping Brian and the little ones off at home, then she and I are headed to the church for an all night youth lock-in. Yes, we had already decided to let Jillian go to it after the concert. This lock-in is something the youth group at church does every Christmas. The highlight of it is a midnight shopping spree at Walmart to buy Christmas gifts for Angel Tree children. Well, I somehow got roped into helping with it this year So, this old lady has to figure out how to stay awake all night without getting grumpy!

Saturday morning, I will still have to get groceries. Then I can finally get some much needed zzzzzz's....

But THEN, we have yet another busy day Sunday. We have church that morning, then that evening our church choir will be performing their Christmas contata. I am not performing in it (mind you I was invited, but politely delcined), but we will still attend, and then there will be the church Christmas fellowship after it is over. Yep, gonna be a busy week and weekend...

Anyone have some Zanax or Valium I could borrow???

 

[Chicago Mo]

5 hour energy... LOTS of it.
i can't wait to hear how this goes....
Send your address. I will send you snow,cookies, and Bailey's...

 

[DMGeurts]

Geez... I go to the dentist, and I come home to Oopsi's PTR all blown up... ANd everyone knows I can't keep my mouth shut.

SING IT SISTER!!!! LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW

Love your tree! do you have my address for the cookie drop off???
I just told D~ i'm starting the drive to her house See you there?? then stealing the Jack bag. I have motives.... muha ha ha ha ha.
I did half my decorations. there isn't "IT STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS" in Chicago... I might make my own very soon...

The Jack bag will be in the mail just shortly before you arrive - but I love having guests... I am Crisco-ing the sled for you as I type.

So we asked for colder temps, and we are getting some...with a ton of rain...for just a few days. Not sure where in East Tennessee you are, but they are saying that some places in the higher elevations could see some flurries. I grew up in FL and it never FELT like Christmas. There were so many years when we would be watching folks water ski as we headed out of town to celebrate Christmas. I just hope that doesn't happen in our neck of the woods this year.



Well, I do get to take credit for the mantle. I won't let the kids touch that nativity set...I have had it since the second year Brian and I were married and not a piece has been broken so far. I intend to keep it that way! I hope your stocking display idea turns out beautiful for you. You do intend to post pictures, right?

I don't blame you there - my village has missing pieces everywhere...

[YES! LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!! We actually ended up NOT baking those delicious cookies. Brian spotted some Italian chocolate chip bread thing at the grocery that he had had at work at some point and wanted to get one. So we had that instead....he thought it was great and went on and on about how good it was. Just tasted like sweet bread with chocolate chips in it to me. Same old "bready" texture, and not at all moist. Oh well, he rarely asks for anything special, so I was happy to do it for him ...really I was.

That bread does sound amazing.

[While you are making some of your very own snow, can you make a little to share with a Southern friend?

You can just have ours - I don't mind sharing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Time for my Monday Mickey savings update! Did you notice I didn't post one last week? Well, I actually went OVER on the grocery budget last week, so I had nothing to put in the Mickey jar.

Saved this week: $13
New Balance: $116

My total is going up sloooooooooooooowly, but every little bit helps!

My savings hasn't been going so well. I took a little out for a bit of extra Christmas cheer for Josh - because I like to spend my "own money" on him. I also had a few extra bills come up in November that I wasn't expecting... Ahem, dentist anyone? So, lets just say that D~ might be planning another auction for the spring...

My week will be off to a slow start, but will pick up speed quickly by Wednesday night. I have to make dinner for the family that night in addition to a pot of Taco Soup I need to make for a work function.

Thursday morning our University is hosting a holiday "brunch" from 7:30-9:30 am for all faculty and staff. Is it just me or should it be called "breakfast" instead of "brunch" so dang early in the morning? Anywho, the faculty in our department voted to also have our department holiday party for lunch that day. So, for that we will be having a soup and chili lunch....after eating a big "brunch" that morning.

Friday...Oy, Friday!!! I have taken the day off work...will it be a leisurely day of relaxing and pampering? Nope! This day will be INSANE...

I need to go and visit my best friend who had her baby three weeks ago. I visited them while she was still in the hospital, but haven't been able to see them since then. I will be picking up take-out from her favorite Japanese grill to have for lunch with her.

THEN, I am picking Jillian up early from school. Brian is meeting she and I at Gabe and Charity's school for their annual Christmas musical.

THEN, we will all run home long enough to shower and get dressed and all dolled up, because we will all be headed to dinner and them Brian and are taking the kids to their very first "real" concert. For any of you familiar with Contemporary Christian music, we are headed into Nashville to a Toby Mac concert. For those of you not familiar with him, he is a hip-hop style singer. We his music! We got the tickets for this MONTHS ago, and we cannot wait for the concert!

Ah, but the night is still not over, folks....

After the concert, Jillian and I will be dropping Brian and the little ones off at home, then she and I are headed to the church for an all night youth lock-in. Yes, we had already decided to let Jillian go to it after the concert. This lock-in is something the youth group at church does every Christmas. The highlight of it is a midnight shopping spree at Walmart to buy Christmas gifts for Angel Tree children. Well, I somehow got roped into helping with it this year So, this old lady has to figure out how to stay awake all night without getting grumpy!

Saturday morning, I will still have to get groceries. Then I can finally get some much needed zzzzzz's....

But THEN, we have yet another busy day Sunday. We have church that morning, then that evening our church choir will be performing their Christmas contata. I am not performing in it (mind you I was invited, but politely delcined), but we will still attend, and then there will be the church Christmas fellowship after it is over. Yep, gonna be a busy week and weekend...

Anyone have some Zanax or Valium I could borrow???

Wow... I just don't even think I can comment on all of this... It's insane! And I think my life is crazy? Sounds like lots of amazing holiday fun though!

5 hour energy... LOTS of it.
i can't wait to hear how this goes....
Send your address. I will send you snow,cookies, and Bailey's...

I'll take some Bailey's too... You have it packed right?

D~

 

[Pluto0809]

Still having trouble keeping up with the DIS due to RL craziness right now but I just wanted to drop in and say I love your tree and stockings. With it just being DH and I, I just put out a ceramic tree this year but I did hang up our stockings along with the doggies stockings.

Hope your crazy week goes well!