November 7, 2009 ~~~~ AHOY ST.CROIX ~~~~

[AverysMommy]

Bump

Hope everyone is doing well and are preparing for the holiday. The tree is up here but the cookies I baked are almost gone so that is my project for this weekend - or until I run out of flour...

Have a good weekend!

Tree went up last Friday - Of course a real tree!! Are you guys real tree or artificial tree people?

We used to spend a forture on our trees but this year we went and got one for $25 and its beautiful. Very happy - kids really loved decorating it this year as they were old enough to get far more involved (I wasnt so worried that everythign would break)

My parents come in on Friday from Florida and I am hoping to convince my Mom to do some baking with the kids next week. MY son and and daughter both really love cooking.

What do you guys bake?

I am thinking of making Creme Brulee for Christmas Dessert this year? Any good recipes out there?

 

[AverysMommy]

I am looking for ideas for Christmas day.

I am very different then my family - I love playnig games with my kids and doing silly things....but my parents and brother and sister are both more "adult" than I am. They like to just sit around and talk.

So I am trying to find things to do on Christmas Day that will make everyone happy - any ideas?

We got Rock Band for Spencer so I am hoping people will play that.

 

[glindamood]

Tree went up last Friday - Of course a real tree!! Are you guys real tree or artificial tree people?

We used to spend a forture on our trees but this year we went and got one for $25 and its beautiful. Very happy - kids really loved decorating it this year as they were old enough to get far more involved (I wasnt so worried that everythign would break)

My parents come in on Friday from Florida and I am hoping to convince my Mom to do some baking with the kids next week. MY son and and daughter both really love cooking.

What do you guys bake?

I am thinking of making Creme Brulee for Christmas Dessert this year? Any good recipes out there?

Well, in my youth (when it was a popular TV show, I was thirty-something so, if you are math or memory challenged, that makes me fifty-something now) we always did real trees. I HATE DRIED OUT NEEDLES IN MY FEET IN APRIL - and I always found them the hard way so we invested in a good artificial tree and I love it. Don't have to water it, don't have to worry about leaving the lights on nor cleaning up after it comes down. I can get the smell from the smaller fresh items in the arragements around the house.

Cookies - I ran out of oil, darn it. But, the second wave is dwindling. I have done no bakes, choc chip, peanut butter, shortbread and choc. crinkles. I need to do more no bakes, more choc chip and some 7-layers too and then I will call it good. I used to do lots and lots and lots but, my hips don't need lots so I am cutting back. I want to take some to Ohio if I get to go so I need to do a couple batches each evening this week to get things where they should be. And then, hopefully, no snow storms.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Well, I always grew up with real trees, and I love them! DH grew up with an artificial tree and preferred that. For many years we had the real tree. Our house now has a vaulted ceiling in the living room, so we were spending a fortune on huge trees, and the cats were dragging the pine needles everywhere! And inevitably the tree would dry out, too. So a few years ago we got a big, beautiful fake tree. Not pre-lit, because I prefer LOTS of little colored lights on my tree. So we still have to string the lights. And frankly, putting it up and taking it down takes as much time as it did before. No nice smell either!! But I couldn't afford to keep getting 9 1/2 foot trees, and we have so many ornaments!!! Many I have made with the kids, and we collect ornaments from all our trips as well. So we need a big ole tree!

Christine

 

[glindamood]

Bumping from page three. I hope all are well and you are not snowbound. We aren't but I sure am tired of it. We got dumped on Friday again - the drive to work was awful as it kept freezing on my windshield and I couldn't see. Had it been daylight it would not have been quite so bad but I had to stop three times to clean off my blades. YUCKOOO.

Tree is up, Santas are out but I have not wrapped anything so that is the plan for the day - bag and bake (yeah, they are gone again).

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Merry Christmas everyone! Tomorrow my kids get their big reveal ... They find out about the cruise! I have a scavenger hunt all ready, and the kids will put together a puzzle with a picture of the ship at CC and text added that has our cruise dates on it.

I'm so excited!!!!
Christine

 

[glindamood]

Merry Christmas everyone! Tomorrow my kids get their big reveal ... They find out about the cruise! I have a scavenger hunt all ready, and the kids will put together a puzzle with a picture of the ship at CC and text added that has our cruise dates on it.

I'm so excited!!!!
Christine

I can't wait to hear all about it when you get a chance to share. What a great surprise.

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[minniemouse71]

Merry Christmas everyone!! With all of the grandkids here today, it will be a long, hectic, but very special day.

 

[glindamood]

I hope that you all had a very special holiday with your families and friends. Ours was nice as well, even though I didn't get home to Ohio to see my folks. Just lousy weather all the way around and I was not willing to risk not getting back - for the holiday or work. Drew has gone off to work at Boy Scout camp while the oldest and his fiancee are with her family and then will travel to Chicago for NYE. To be young again....

Is anyone thinking about MVMCP before our cruise? I got all excited and then looked at the dates again and I just don't think it would work out based on this year's dates. I was looking at the December dates and thinking I was looking at November - dang. But, I guess I can wait until they post the dates and see. We would have to add a day after the trip to go by the looks of it and I don't know if I am willing to wait that long to book my airfare since I would like to fly on FF miles. Traverse City doesn't get that many and that is my preferred airport since it is only about 50 minutes from the house. Guess we shall see.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

 

[minniemouse71]

Hope that everyone had a great Holiday. We did, until today, my husband called me at work and said that the police were on their way to our home, someone had scaled a six foot chain link fence, kicked our back door in and took our flat screen t.v. a jar with about $180.00 in change that we were saving for our vacation, a bottle of vicadin, my laptop, and emptied my jewelry boxes. We had to have someone come and board up our back door and now I am afraid that they will come back while we are sleeping tonight, so I will probably be up all night. All of this in broad daylight. Needless to say, we have now ordered a security system that will be installed before the end of the week. What a nightmare!!

 

[glindamood]

Hope that everyone had a great Holiday. We did, until today, my husband called me at work and said that the police were on their way to our home, someone had scaled a six foot chain link fence, kicked our back door in and took our flat screen t.v. a jar with about $180.00 in change that we were saving for our vacation, a bottle of vicadin, my laptop, and emptied my jewelry boxes. We had to have someone come and board up our back door and now I am afraid that they will come back while we are sleeping tonight, so I will probably be up all night. All of this in broad daylight. Needless to say, we have now ordered a security system that will be installed before the end of the week. What a nightmare!!

OMG!!! I am so sorry. What bad things it says about our society. Your insurance will most likely cover the material things but your peace of mind has been shaken and that is a super scary thing. to both of you.

 

[minniemouse71]

Gail,
Thanks, at least we are all ok and they didn't hurt my dog. I am almost afraid to leave my house today. Poor Dan, I made him sleep on the couch last night. I just felt safer. I have someone coming to put in a whole house security system before weeks end. They came and boarded up my back door last night. Now it is just a waiting game, on the insurance company.
Take Care,
Vickie

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

So sorry to hear about your break in. My gosh how scary. I'd be freaked out too. I hope you can rest easier once your security system is up and running. Sending you good thoughts!
Christine

 

[minniemouse71]

Thanks everyone, it is still a little freaky, I had to work a half day today, and got home about an hour before DH, I was kinda scared to go into my own home by myself. I will feel much better once the security system is up and running. We are both off tomorrow, and they will be here on Friday to install the security system, so I am sure that will help. Thanks again for all of your kind words.

 

[minniemouse71]

Happy New Year everyone. Now we are going on a cruise THIS YEAR!!
Vickie

 

[glindamood]

Caught it - we were almost ready to slip to page 3 and that just won't do.

I hope that everyone had a nice holiday and you are all ready to get back in the swing of things. Nasty, icy here but the schools were open. I didn't think I would get the ice off my car this morning though. I think we will clean the garage this summer and find homes for some of the junk that is there so my car can be in there. I am so tired of scraping.

Have a great day all!

 

[TiggerzFan]

5. TiggerzFan (Donna) - DD7, DD3, Florida

Ok, so I'm a wee bit behind on posts ...

DD7 is Alyssa
DD3 is Maddie

Thanks! The holidays are over, I will get caught up soon!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!!

 

[TiggerzFan]

I know!! I'm in 5520. I've got some friends joining us also on this cruise, and if only 5524 were available as well- $...

HI Christine!

Sorry, but we're the ones in 5524, but wouldn't mind moving to another SPH... the 24s are the most obstructed as I recall. Friends that are traveling with us are 5020 ( I think).

 

[inukshuk]

Hi everyone,
I too booked this as a surprise for my family. I made homemade Christmas crackers and wrote inside that everyone had won a trip to St Thomas, (we live in St Thomas, On) they all moaned, then I told them about the cruise. Hi Christine and Donna, nice to see some familar names. My older daughter's are coming with us on this trip, so I am very excitied! I have booked two rooms. Can you request rooms with two beds?
DD and Dh got very sick when we were on the ship in November, hopefully this time everyone will stay healthy.
Take care
Jenn

 

[glindamood]

Inukshuk

I could never do that as everyone within 100 miles of me knows when I book a cruise!