Cranberry or Pineapple??

[ImMarcik]

Awwwww, I don't too much care for eggnogg but I collect cows. I love that picture.

 

[ImMarcik]

Is there any rule on when Sunday we open our present???

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Morning guys,

We really didn't say a time but I honestly think we can open at anytime. Just remember to post what and who. I am excited too!!!

Marcie, that thank you card gave me the goose bumps. It was so sweet!

Karen, you got me laughing about enclosing your name in the gift. You are way too cute.

Where is Ms. Selena? I am missing her.

Heidi, that was a cute picture.

It is a snowy Saturday in CO. We are too remain very cold for about a week. Yuk! I hate shopping in a coat.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

That eggnog pic is so funny!! And I did the same thing as Karen! I totally thought it was still supposed to be a secret! Oh, well!

Anyway, I, too am feeling stressed for time even though I'm almost done. Bought everyone's gift except for 4 gift certificates I'm getting and some type of baskets to put all the stationery sets I bought in. Got my parents a freezer from PC Richard for over 100 dollars cheaper than Sears wanted. I'm so psyched about that! I *almost* went to Starbucks yesterday, but the one in the Barnes and Noble didn't take gift cards and I have 30 dollars in gift cards to use, so I skipped it for the time being. Saved some calories, anyway . . .

Thank you to Sandy and Karen for the beautiful cards. Sandy- my mom (whose name is also Sandy) saw your picture on the card and thinks that it is such a beautiful picture she now says she almost wants to do a disney cruise herself, even though she is *petrified* of boats and water. lol.

Today is my brother's 40th birthday party and I have to get ready to go, though I have no idea what I'm wearing yet. It's hard to dress up when it's so bitingly cold outside, isn't it?

I don't know about any special events for New Years on the Wonder, but I heard on the Dis somewhere that they would be doing the champagne toast. All other events will be a surprise I guess. Lobster would definitely be a good surprise to me!

Well, I will be on tomorrow when we can open our presents. Yay!

Enjoy your weekend, monkeys!!!

 

[ImMarcik]

Happy Saturday Monkeys! I just got home from shopping. I stopped at Starbucks and got the Peppermint Mocha Frappucino. It was awesome!!! Between last night and today I am getting close to finishing up my shopping. We got Aerial the Nano Ipod. I still want to buy her some Pjs. Right now I am listening to Christmas music and thinking about decorating. I have to wait until at least tomorrow though because Aerial isn't home. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

 

[dreamakermom]

Hi guys!!! I did some running around today also... got some chocolate vodka, malibu rum (Heidi), banana rum.... now I need to lose a bit more weight so I can try these recipes.
Lulu~ Glad I am not the only secret santa!!
OK guys.... I too went to Starbucks today. I bought a couple gift cards. They had these neat little packets to hang them on the tree. Way too cute!!
Going to go make supper now. Bye guys!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Hello, had a few minutes and decided to check on you guys.

Man, is it ever cold again in CO!! It snowed last night and it is so beautiful out.

Lulu, glad you liked your card. Tell your mom I never, ever wanted to cruise but sucked it up on our 25th anniversary. I wanted to do something special and checked out all inclusive resorts and the cruise. I made the right choice. We have now cruised 5 times in 5 years and have the 6th planned for Sept 06. Your parents are very lucky to get a freezer from you. Yes, it is horrible to dress up when it is so cold!!

Marci, I need to get serious and get my shopping done before the crunch. Sounds like you are doing a great job!

Karen, yum, I wish you live next to me. I would love to sample everything you bought!!!!

See ya!

 

[Jsme]

I can not beleive not one person has posted today.

Guys I know I have been absent but we were to open our gifts today.

This is to my Secret Santa....
before I let the cat out of the bag and tell who it was...
I opened mine up just a few minutes ago. We were starting to decorate the tree and the kids had to know what was in my box. They were going a little crazy over it. So we go into the kitchen and get the scissors to help me open it.

I open it and see my card. I put the card to my head to see if I could visualize who it was from. My kids are laughing so hard at me. And of course yelling open it up!!! I laugh and open the card.....still not saying who you are...read the card and proceed to my gift bags. Yes it was plural. I open it up to see that there is two gifts in one bag. I say oh such and such did too much. Remember two gifts in just one bag and I have two bags. I open the first gift and it has to be the sweetest snowman angel I have ever seen. I tell the kids this and go on and on about it to them. BUt being kids they just want to see the next surprise. So I open the next one to see it is another sweet snowman angel. I am telling you I have never seen such sweet ornaments. I have tears in my eyes and the kids are looking at me like I am totally nuts. I open my other bag....I ahve to say those tears came out when I open it. I have the most wonderful ornament in the world. My Secret Santa made me this wonderful ornament that has the Funky Monkey and Got Juice. The tears really ran then. Still are....

THANK YOU SANDY. I love you dearly.

Also thank you for the wonderful Christmas card I received yesterday. I love it. I screamed when I saw it. My kids really think I am nuts now.



Wait did Heidi and Stacey send the Funky Monkey one??? Oh I do not want to leave out anyone. Thanks Thanks Thanks. I would not give naything for those 3 ornaments!

 

[ImMarcik]

So I am not the only one who had tears in their eyes when they opened their gift??? I had 2 different packages. The first one I opened had a card at the top, when I opened it, it said...I am not your secret santa but still was thinking of you..from Sandy & Heidi. And it was a ball with Got juice and Funky Monkeys on it. It brought tears to my eyes. It is going to be so neat to have the same ornament as all my funky monkeys. We just put the tree up and will be decorating soon. Okay and then I open the second box. The ornament was the most beautiful snowman I ever saw. It's a white snowman with a red and white hat a red scarf and red dangling skates. From one hand is a green danging tree and the other hand has a red and white dangling candy. The snowman itself is glass and it got here all in one piece. Then I opened the card to see who it was from. My secret santa was Selena. Thank you so much Selena. And the letter you sent me once again brought tears to my eyes. I would never have thought I would have become such good friends with all of you by reading about juice. I've just almost finished the worst year of my life and yet I had all of you to vent to, laugh with, become addicted to BBCs with hahaha. Thank you again Selena for the letter and beautiful ornament. And everyone thank you for your funky monkey friendships. What a wonderful Christmas this will be.

Now, where is everyone else?????

P.S. Selena we've missed you the last few days.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Dear Secret Santa Lulu. After a horrible day at the hospice I came home to open your gift. I open the box and see it beautiful decorated and with Mickey and Minnie candy canes on it. I got the goosebumps. Then I open the gift and see an adorable Mickey and Miinnie ornament. They have their arms around each other and are watching The Wonderful World of Disney on TV. My eyes tear as my husband, Ted, is putting in the batteries. We pushed the on button and the TV has fireworks, sounds and all. Thank you so much. I will always treasure it. I love all you Funkey Monkeys. You have helped me through a bad time as well.

 

[Jsme]

I just want to take the time to say how much each of you mean to me. I have come to think of you as my sisters. I am so blessed to have found tis thread. Thank God for you Sandy for making the very first post. You are truly my snowman angel. I will always cherish my ornaments. They mean so very much to me.

Heidi what a wonderful idea with the ornament. As Marcie said what a great thing to know that each of us have one. It gives me chili bumps to think each of us in the coming years will always think of one another as we unwrap this ornament.

I am sitting here now with tears running down my face with the love that I feel.

We were suppose to go to the Panthers football game today. We have season tickets. But for one reason or another we did not go. Instead we decided to finish putting up our tree. God really does work in wonderful ways. I am so glad I waited to finish decorating my tree until today.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Oh Selena, your post made me feel so warm and fuzzy. It is amazing what a board and thread can do. We have become so close. Why would this thread do it and not another? Strange how it happened and so thankful it did!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I can't wait until Heidi has access to a computer tomorrow. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is running through my head as I read and post.

 

[Jsme]

Sandy what a wonderful song to think of and how appropriate it is for us all.

I am so glad Marcie's ornament made it to her in one piece!! Marice you know how much I wrapped the little guy/gal. I am glad you like him/her. I thought it was just adorable and had to purchase it. I actually carried it and another one in my hand for about 30 minutes. As I carried them I just kept on and on looking at the one you have. My kids wanted me to buy the other but I just could not do it. I know in my heart if I would have done that I would have been right back to get this one for you. And now I cannot even tell you what the other one looked like!


Well please pray it does not snow here. If it does we will be out of school. If you get snow here they close all the schools. How stupid! If we are out of school that means my last day of work will be the 23rd instead of the 22nd. Several counties to the west of us are suppose to get some type of winter weather. I really would like to be out on the 23rd. We only get a week out of school this year. In the past we had two weeks out.

I just can not wait to hear from the others and see who had whose name and hear all about it.

Well I think I am going to break into the carb eggnog I bought. It is good. Especially with amaretto in it...but alas that is not in my diet so I will pour a good amount of rum in it.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Selena, eggnog? Boy does that sound good. I almost bought some but my little conscience wouldn't allow it. That little guy sits in the back of my head yelling at me if I want something off diet. I am looking forward to some hot chocolate tonight. It is soooo cold out. The snow is still here and more expected on Wed. It is to remain in the 20's for the next few days. Brrrrrr. I hope you don't get any snow. I will cross my fingers.

 

[dreamakermom]

Hi guys!!!!!!!!!!! JUST got home (from the opers...Carmen) and opened my Secret Santa.... I DID cry... like a baby!!! Sandy and Heidi... thank you SO much!! I was blown away!!!!! OMG!! This is going to be my favorite gift!!!! It is right in the front of my tree!!!!! I bragged to e whole family!!!!
Heidi . . . thank you so much. Isn't that neat that we both got ezch other?! Yes, I am the one who forgot to put the card in there. When I saw the card that said "To Karen From Heidi... it was just as if it was coming from my sister... and I just felt JUST as close to you and your mom (AND ALL THE FUNKY MONKEYS) as I do my own sister . Man this group has truly been a life saver for me this year. You guys complete me!!!
Thank ALL of you for being here for me. I just can't say enough. . . and I am SO emotional this year..... these are happy tears for you guys!!! Thanks again. Love, Karen
PS Sandy and Heidi I WAS on your track... I was looking all opver for banana ornaments!!!! Hahaha.

 

[dreamakermom]

Just saw my post and thought I SHOULD have spell checked it before posting. I was so excited when I got home and after I opened the box.... I didn't even read your guys' posts... I just wrote. Now, after going throught them all.... I am thinking of the song "We Are F-A-M-I-L-Y.... I got all my sisters and me....." I feel like jamming!!!! This thread is just perfect. Once again... thanks. Karen

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hi Monkeys!!
Today is our virtual Christmas Party! I hope everyone loved their ornaments!!!

Secret Santa Marcie! Thank you so much for the adorable ornament! I think it was actually sent to me from the Disney Cruise! Which makes it even more special (and "cruise related", lol) It is a classic Mickey standing with his arm around his Minnie, gazing at a miniature Mickey head ornament together! Soo adorable! And I absolutely adore Mickey and Minnie together!

Sandy and Heidi- I absolutely loved my Funky Monkey ornament!! So thoughtful and sweet! It made me smile today! I felt so special! These 2 ornaments were the very first Christmas gifts I've opened and it was such a nice way to start this holiday season! I am so glad that we are able to have a place to check in and chat. A cozy little online, Disney Cruise, "juice" loving home!

Sandy, I am so glad you liked the ornament and that we were able to bring a little of the Christmas spirit to you in this difficult holiday season.

I had a very nice time at my brother's 40th birthday yesterday, though I did have to brave the cold in a skirt! I decided on wearing a camel colored camisole, a camel colored cardigan with rhinestone buttons and a burgundy skirt, and camel suede shoes. They had a ton of great food- all Italian specialties and about 10 people walking around with appetizers. Everyone had a really great time and my 2 year old nephew was talking about going to "Disney World to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Grumpy" (he named them all everytime!) the whole night. They (he, my SIL I don't like and my bro) left this morning. I hope they have a great time! I've never seen a kid so young so excited about it!

Omg! My parents' freezer was delivered today. I kept my dad busy while my bf took care of the delivery. He moved it into the basement and we covered it with like 20 black garbage bags and a roll of packing tape. Not much of a secret, but I'm hoping they don't know what it is! No one's said anything yet, but I'm sure the next person that enters the garage will definitely know something is different! lol!

Eggnog with ammaretto, yum! Though I am sure rum is just as good! "Tis the season for breaking diets, I guess! I've tried to be good, but I've been at a B or a C instead of an A lately, so I'm a little mad at myself. I still do my oatmeal for breakfast and my lean cuisine and veggie sticks for lunch, but dinners have been grab and go instead of the grilled stuff and salads of the summer. Over the past year, I've lost about 25 lbs. but it has been a very slow up and down process and I still have 25-30 to go. I have some health conditions that make losing weight really difficult. My doctor wants to start me on Meridia, but since I shouldn't drink alcohol, while on it, I am waiting till I get back from my vacation to start it.

I went to Sephora and bought some gifts. If you guys know the "3 in 1's" from them, I got those for the ladies I have lunch with in the faculty room- 1 candy cane, 1 hot chocolate, 1 eggnog and 1 apple cider. There is another teacher who likes to say things that are a little raunchy or such to make me blush or get me embarrassed, so I bought her the "purity" one! She'll laugh so much!

Anyway, you guys are the best! Such a nice, Christmasy day! We need some Christmasy or wintry icons. This guy doesn't look like he's in the spirit, lol!

Have a great day and I will talk to you all soon!!

 

[ImMarcik]

I forgot to say earlier, that my card also had a lot of red pixie dust in it. Thank you Selena And yes Selena you were right. I have lots of snowmen and snowflake ornaments because we don't get any snow here. A few years ago I was wanting to change up my ornaments and that year Aerial kept talking about how she wished it was snow here. So I decided to bring the snow inside and got all snow type ornaments. I really love my snowmen now. Before that I had an all disney tree, now I use some disney ornaments along with my snowmen.

Lulu yes I was very lucky with us having the mall still closed that I went to Disney just in time to get my ornament. I did not get to sign it or put a card because I mailed it straight from there. I did look online before I left and found a very nice pineapple ornament which I thought would have been neat since juice is what we are all about LOL. But, I couldn't pass up getting your ornament at Disney.

I know I'm small but I have a few minor health problems that seem to pop out when I gain weight. I get bouts of pancreatitis, which is what my dad passed away from. I had it before him, but I guess now we know why I get it, it's hereditary. Also my sugar goes wacky even though I do not have diabetes, and my cholesterol goes up too. So I really have to keep my weight down to be healthy. Last year the doctor was to the point of going to put my on medicine for my cholesterol. He gave me 3 months to get it down. Well that's when I got stirct on my diet. Altogether I lost 17 pounds throughout the year and my cholesterol went down to normal. My doctor praised me this year. I can't believe how much I gained on the cruise, 9 pounds. But I just have 3 more to lose to get back to what I was the day I got on the cruise. Pretty much I just try to eat low fat healthy foods. A lot of lean cuisine and oatmeal like Lulu.

This Christmas I am having so many mixed emotions. Everytime I really start getting in the Christmas spirit I think of my Dad and get sad. But I am happy mostly. Usually I am such a big kid full of excitement and this year that part is not here. Aerial keeps me in the spirit though. Gotta love kids.

My new kitty is now 5 months old, this is her first Christmas and the Christmas tree has excited her so much. Should be interesting.

 

[dreamakermom]

Man, this really has been a hard year (and actually past 2 years) for all of us. We have found each other in that though... and that is a gift we did not have last year!!! We are all here to help each other. This season will be particularly sad for a bunch of us monkeys, but we can talk to each other to help us all get through... thats what make the holiday great... sharing.... sharing love, life and memories. Tis the season... I am having an Amaretto and nog on us guys!! Cheers! Karen