Team Focker Watch Chat - Version 7.0: It Slices, Dices and Rolls Up Socks

[HomeschoolMama]

Good idea! But I'll have to mail mine a day-ish early as mine has further to travel.

We could send them on the date Kristi said, but adjust it if your gift/ornament is going farther.

(Haha! I typed 'farter' instead of farther! I'm a dork!)

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Holiday Exchange reminder:


card exchange
gift exchange
ornament exchange
after Christmas White Elephant/unwanted/tacky gift exchange


Rules:
Card exchange: no rules really. Anyone?
Gift exchange: Does $7 before shipping sound ok?
Ornament: same as above except $5 before shipping.


I would suggest that gifts and ornaments are shipped by 12/18.

For the unwanted gift exchange, shall we say sign up by 12/25 and ship by 1/2?

Here's the info from pg 108. Mailing on the 18th gives the stuff a week to get to it's person. Why don't we aim to mail them from the 15th to the 18th? Does that sound good? Then again, some people may be traveling and won't get it before they leave.
Whatcha think, Fockers?

 

[Goofyluver]

I'd say the 15th or so.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I'd say the 15th or so.

I agree!

Don't you love Chevy Chase?

Funny story: One night a friend and I were returning from a night partying in Hollywood, back to her auntie's house in Glendale and we came across the street "Chevy Chase Blvd" - I couldn't stop busting up, thinking they named a freakin' street after the actor. Then we stopped at light right in front of "Chevy Chase Church" - OMG! I totally busted a gut laughing as I said out loud that in the front of the church they probably had a huge statue of Chevy Chase with his crazy smile and thumbs up!

Hmmm... guess you had to be there. Oh and be drunk, too.

 

[rachel3]

I agree!

Don't you love Chevy Chase?

Funny story: One night a friend and I were returning from a night partying in Hollywood, back to her auntie's house in Glendale and we came across the street "Chevy Chase Blvd" - I couldn't stop busting up, thinking they named a freakin' street after the actor. Then we stopped at light right in front of "Chevy Chase Church" - OMG! I totally busted a gut laughing as I said out loud that in the front of the church they probably had a huge statue of Chevy Chase with his crazy smile and thumbs up!

Hmmm... guess you had to be there. Oh and be drunk, too.

 

[cmp1111]

Um, yeah, 30 pages. I'm not catching up. I read the first after I left and this last one, but I did start quoting...

i just wanted to say that you guys are great!! i've only been here since may, but you guys feel like a second family to me! a lot of times , i come here and talk to you girls about things before i even talk to my family. you girls really understand me!! i can't wait to meet you all someday!!

So thank you all for being there for me! i appreciate it more than you know!

And I agree. I come here for comfort...sometimes before I go anywhere else.

All of you are so wonderful.

Love ya! *sniffly sniff sniff*

I agree with you both, Rachel and Jen. I come here before I talk to my friends IRL all the time.

I "fourth" this. Half my "real" friends don't know near as much about what's going on in my life as all of you. I love you.

****************************************************
Anyone want to give me a catch-up?

Thanksgiving was great, traffic issues aside. We wound up deciding after the long stops on Wed. that we should drive back Saturday night, so we got home somewhere around the 2:00 a.m. mark.

Yesterday D did laundry, repacked, and got the leaves gone JUST as it started snowing (it's since melted...)

The boys and I decorated, so I'm in a happy mood!

Then, my cousin, whom we stayed with and I love (she and I are only children and the only cousins on that side, she grew up in TX and me in IL but were as close as could be) called just this afternoon that she had her baby girl this morning!!!!

I only wish we could have stayed to help. Her mom (not my biological relative) is rather odd (my cousin will say this) and got her plane ticket for Saturday as the baby wasn't due until Sunday (because that always works out ) and so now the only person there to help with the 2 year old is my annoying aunt who was here with me a couple of weeks back. Poor cousin!

I hear everything went well and she has a head of red hair (daddy is a redhead) and I have only one phone picture so far, but I'll share when I get more.

Here's my 2 year old "nephew" (I know he's my cousin's kid and not technically my nephew, but it is as close as I can get on my side) - isn't he gorgeous?

We enjoyed eating at my sort-of-other cousin's. He's truly my blood relative, but my annoying aunt had him out of wedlock back in 1963, so she gave him up for adoption. He found her back around 1995 or so, and so I've know him for only that long - and though I like him and his family very much, it gets hard for me to refer to him as my cousin. He and his wife are also deaf, (they have three children who are hearing) and so it's also a bit harder to get to know him, though I can stumble through some sign language and they are very good about lip-reading. But it was great to eat with them and they are a fantastic family.

We saw Bolt Friday afternoon, too - pretty cute. That was after being at the coolest playground I've seen in a long time. Here are Buzz, Woody, and DNeph on the slides:

Saturday, we went to the Festival of Trees at the Maryland state fairgrounds, which was a combo fund-raiser, craft fair and indoor carnival. The boys had a lot of fun!

I volunteered at PE again this morning, then went to Target. I was pretty lazy in the late afternoon, though.

I need to get on my Christmas shopping. I'm slightly annoyed as we have just finally figured out what the family exchanges are, but I have no excuse for not having bought things for my parents or Dr. Belle or whatever. Teachers, neighbors, kids... Sigh.

D is in Portugal for most of the week, but I have a few things going on. I have my regular tennis practice in the morning, then Wed. we have our second real match. Saturday the boys will start their little town basketball practices and it's our couple's night for playgroup, too.

Oh, in the good news department, my BIL and his fiancee have a date for the wedding, and it's going to be at the Art Institute in Chicago, which will be amazingly cool. It's the end of August, right at the normal Focker WDW week, so I can't sneak down this year, even if there's another meet planned. This one, though, I WANT to go to...

I'll be around a bit more this week, I hope, and I will probably even drop back in before bed.

Oh, and the mailing dates sound good for me. I'm only in on the ornament, but I can get that done.

 

[ncsjodi]

I agree!

Don't you love Chevy Chase?

Funny story: One night a friend and I were returning from a night partying in Hollywood, back to her auntie's house in Glendale and we came across the street "Chevy Chase Blvd" - I couldn't stop busting up, thinking they named a freakin' street after the actor. Then we stopped at light right in front of "Chevy Chase Church" - OMG! I totally busted a gut laughing as I said out loud that in the front of the church they probably had a huge statue of Chevy Chase with his crazy smile and thumbs up!

Hmmm... guess you had to be there. Oh and be drunk, too.

Of course they named a whole town in Maryland after him too....

 

[rachel3]

Um, yeah, 30 pages. I'm not catching up. I read the first after I left and this last one, but I did start quoting...





[/COLOR]

I "fourth" this. Half my "real" friends don't know near as much about what's going on in my life as all of you. I love you.

****************************************************
Anyone want to give me a catch-up?

Thanksgiving was great, traffic issues aside. We wound up deciding after the long stops on Wed. that we should drive back Saturday night, so we got home somewhere around the 2:00 a.m. mark.

Yesterday D did laundry, repacked, and got the leaves gone JUST as it started snowing (it's since melted...)

The boys and I decorated, so I'm in a happy mood!

Then, my cousin, whom we stayed with and I love (she and I are only children and the only cousins on that side, she grew up in TX and me in IL but were as close as could be) called just this afternoon that she had her baby girl this morning!!!!

I only wish we could have stayed to help. Her mom (not my biological relative) is rather odd (my cousin will say this) and got her plane ticket for Saturday as the baby wasn't due until Sunday (because that always works out ) and so now the only person there to help with the 2 year old is my annoying aunt who was here with me a couple of weeks back. Poor cousin!

I hear everything went well and she has a head of red hair (daddy is a redhead) and I have only one phone picture so far, but I'll share when I get more.

Here's my 2 year old "nephew" (I know he's my cousin's kid and not technically my nephew, but it is as close as I can get on my side) - isn't he gorgeous?

We enjoyed eating at my sort-of-other cousin's. He's truly my blood relative, but my annoying aunt had him out of wedlock back in 1963, so she gave him up for adoption. He found her back around 1995 or so, and so I've know him for only that long - and though I like him and his family very much, it gets hard for me to refer to him as my cousin. He and his wife are also deaf, (they have three children who are hearing) and so it's also a bit harder to get to know him, though I can stumble through some sign language and they are very good about lip-reading. But it was great to eat with them and they are a fantastic family.

We saw Bolt Friday afternoon, too - pretty cute. That was after being at the coolest playground I've seen in a long time. Here are Buzz, Woody, and DNeph on the slides:

Saturday, we went to the Festival of Trees at the Maryland state fairgrounds, which was a combo fund-raiser, craft fair and indoor carnival. The boys had a lot of fun!

I volunteered at PE again this morning, then went to Target. I was pretty lazy in the late afternoon, though.

I need to get on my Christmas shopping. I'm slightly annoyed as we have just finally figured out what the family exchanges are, but I have no excuse for not having bought things for my parents or Dr. Belle or whatever. Teachers, neighbors, kids... Sigh.

D is in Portugal for most of the week, but I have a few things going on. I have my regular tennis practice in the morning, then Wed. we have our second real match. Saturday the boys will start their little town basketball practices and it's our couple's night for playgroup, too.

Oh, in the good news department, my BIL and his fiancee have a date for the wedding, and it's going to be at the Art Institute in Chicago, which will be amazingly cool. It's the end of August, right at the normal Focker WDW week, so I can't sneak down this year, even if there's another meet planned. This one, though, I WANT to go to...

I'll be around a bit more this week, I hope, and I will probably even drop back in before bed.

Oh, and the mailing dates sound good for me. I'm only in on the ornament, but I can get that done.

sounds like you had a great time. we missed you!!
congrats on being a new aunt!!

 

[cmp1111]

sounds like you had a great time. we missed you!!
congrats on being a new aunt!!

Thanks, and thanks! I should head to bed now, so good night.

 

[carrieannie]

Hi CE!! Welcome back!!! Seems like you had a nice trip. I dont know how you get everything done that you do. I`m in Awe of you! You do so much and are so organized and happy doing it! I cant seem to get my butt out of the house until 1 pm or so..
Steve did get mad at me today because I was out doing errands too late and he couldnt get out and get his haircut and go to the club like he wanted to. oops...

Kat, your do-over dinner looked great!! was it just you and KC?

Jen, How are you feeling? hows Jon feeling, whatever happened with that big bullying incident at school last month?

Katt!! Want to see a picture of a train?. no?

T, what the Kohls worker said to you was kinda funny. It reminds me of my friends sister who always has to tell my friend that she saw me in Wal Mart again. and that "jeesh Carrie is in Wal mart alot it seems" Well,,,,,AHEM!!! If she is seeing ME in Wal mart. doesn`t that mean shes there just AS MUCH as I am!!! DUH!!! I havent heard anything about it in a while..

Brack!!! Welcome back!!!

Mel!! How did you make out with snowblower?

Janet! You guys did a great job on the house! I love it. I love the picture of Jim and Jimmy in front of the christmas tree.

 

[lazydoxy66]

Hey CE! glad you are back and it looks like you had a great time! Here's my attempt at catch up since yesterday.

Good morning Fockers!!!
Thank you all so much for the prayers, well wishes, and thoughts!!! I was really touched.

So, here is the break down....I was perfectly fine until about 6pm on Friday and then I was in agonizing pain. Went to the ER and was literally begging for help. I am kind of embarrassed by my behavior....I yelled alot and threatened. I was too the point of offering up favors of the call girl kind to get drugs....and then the morphine kicked in.

So, my kidneys are a huge mess. Over a hundred stones tinkling around in there. The DR seems to not believe that I haven't been in any pain or had any issue with UTI and the like. The last UTI/kidney infection I had was seven years ago!!!!

The surgery went well...they took out what they could and put in the stint. I tried to be superwoman and quickly realized how stupid that was....so, I spent the rest of yesterday in bed reading. Finsihed the book BTW Jen....when can you drop off the next one???

Kaia came home...Damian was much nicer than he had been (jerk). I had told him if he brought her home I would put him up in a room. Well, I have no money...what with the not working for a while and the trip to Maryland next weekend. So, I had to ask him to stay here. He slept with Kaia and will take her to school in the morning. The GF (who we refer to as Crunchy) was not all too happy....that was interesting.

I still feel like doody....call to set up my follow up appt in a few hours. I'll keep everyone posted. And I promise no more driving!!!!

Glad to hear from you. I hope you get back to 100% quick!

Morning, everybody. It's back to school time around here. It was nice to have a break while it lasted. Of course, there wasn't much resting, just lots of shoping and decorating.

I think Camryn's sick today. Last night she said her tummy hurt. She woke Kirt up this morning and told him the cat threw up in her room. Kirt said there was evidence that it wasn't the cat, but Camryn swears it wasn't her. Weird. So, she's on watch.

Aiden needs a haircut today- bad! He looks like an ewok! Baylie's chain on her braces looks like it's coming off, so I guess we need to head over to the orthodontist today. Target's begging me to come back and we resume dance today. So, it's a busy day. IF Camryn holds up and stays well.

What's everyone else up to?

OK can everybody just stop getting sick now. I've been pumping the zinc and swabbing everything with Lysol!

Crunchy wasn't happy? Awwwww. Crunchy needs to get a grip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm home sick. I was up all night long with a fever, chills, aches, etc.

I can't even get comfy enough to sleep. Blah.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. (I washed my hands before I gave that hug so as not to spread germs)

See above! Hope you get better soon!

Baylie put both of her contacts in all by herself for the first time this morning!

I swear I think my cat has a dogs soul trapped inside her body as she just loves to play fetch. My mom bought her a new toy a few days ago and she just loves the thing. It is a small red glittery mouse. Well Amber will not stop harassing me to play fetch with her with this darn toy. My arm is sore from having thrown it a million times over the past 3 days. If I try and ignore her and her mouse she just sits there and cries and cries.

My cat used to greet me at the door when I got off work. I thought that was a dog thing.

Jimmy and Daddy Building the Tree

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x262/jcc0621/Miscellaneous

Living Room/Dining Room
[IMG]http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x262/jcc0621/Miscellaneous/NewLivingRoomChristmas16.jpg

I love it! Lots of light!

13 children in Ellies class were off sick today I've told her she's not allowed to be ill and I'm definitely not allowed to be

I've finally got my contract but they're only allowing me the same amount of $ for flights for my free trip as the Americans and it comes up at least $1,000 short I can't pay for my free trip!!!!

Stupid Americans!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

well turkey day re do was a huge success! Heres the food porn to prove it...

Our Table

we had a good meal and will be having it again tonight! so today i am going to move on w the holidays and get out the xmas stuff so we can do the tree tonight. KC may be away for a day or two this weekend so I wanna get it done soon! first i have to clean the casa! so i'll be in and out today.... have a great day!

I'll chime in and say if you are ever in Indiana, let me know! Man that looks good!

I wedged my pinky finger between a pair of 30 pound weights I was putting away this morning at the gym. I posted the impact of the injury on my typing this morning on FB.

It's not a great day for that type of injury. I had to put my accountant/book keeper hat on this morning to generate and send invoices for last month's work. It's amazing how many ones and twos I typed this morning, and I now appreciate more how much that pinky finger does when I'm typing.

I just don't know what to say except I hope it gets better soon.

Sorry I've been AWOL lately but we had a great trip to Dallas with our DS and DDIL but that 1380 mile one way trip was a bear.

We have our yearly audit this week so I will not have much chance to read the 400+ posts that I am behind. I promise to catch up by the weekend though.

Everyone have a good few days.

Hi Brack. We'll be here! Good luck with the audit.

I sorta wondered the same thing. I mean, there's only me and Kristel from Indiana, so the postmark is going to give it away, right?

I believe there is one other from Indiana - TheDisneyFamily.

worked all weekend, now i'm beat. my house is a disaster, but i'll get to it tomorrow!!

we went shopping sat and i spent over $600 at walmart alone!! and that was mostly for the kids. i don't usually spend that much money on them , but they are nervous about moving, so i guess i'm making up for it with material possessions. not the best parental strategy, but i figure a great christmas can't hurt!

the house we're renting won't be ready before christmas, so i guess i'll be here in ohio. hopefully, it's ready by the first of the year or i'll be moving in with my mom for a couple weeks.. double

i'm starting my new job in jan and the kids are starting new school in jan, so we have to be down there. i figure we'll just stay there during the week and come home on the weekends. hopefully it will only be for a couple weeks at the most.

hope everyone is doing okay. i can keep up better during the week cuz im not working.

Take care of yourself, Rachel. You are handling a lot right now.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It snowed all day. Not heavy, thank goodness. I think we had about an inch and a half. I don't think there is any more snow in the forecast. Looks like rain on Wednesday!

I have to get up early in the morning to take 2 of the furbabies in for their annual check-ups and shots. Then I have to get some errands run in the afternoon. I hope it is safe to go in the mall now!

Have a great evening and day!

 

[DisneyJo]

What's wrong with them?!?!?!? Didn't they realize it costs more to fly overseas?!!?!?

I know!!!!

Since my mom's out of town I'm going to take advantage of that and invade the kitchen table with all my scrapbooking stuff and get to work on finishing the Christmas Cards and some scrapping.

Have fun!

jo--sorry about your grandfather.
and i know they will straighten out the airline money!! it wouldn't be fair if they didn't.

Thanks and I hope so!

we went shopping sat and i spent over $600 at walmart alone!! and that was mostly for the kids. i don't usually spend that much money on them , but they are nervous about moving, so i guess i'm making up for it with material possessions. not the best parental strategy, but i figure a great christmas can't hurt!

I think that's a great strategy and your kids will agree

Then, my cousin, whom we stayed with and I love (she and I are only children and the only cousins on that side, she grew up in TX and me in IL but were as close as could be) called just this afternoon that she had her baby girl this morning!!!!

Congratulations CE and it sounds like you had a lovely time

Stupid Americans!

You find the cutest pictures



I'm off to golf again today, just 9 holes though in a friendly competition. I'm not teeing off till 11.50am so have time to clean the bathrooms before I go, another job will be ticked off my list


Angela and V what clothes should I pack?????

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Did someone say Indiana and SNOW? Yes, we're up in Northwest IN and get lake effect snow all the time. Yesterday wasn't too bad for us, but my power went out for most of the day because someone slid into a pole and knocked down some power lines by us. My hubby was happy about the snow though because he could try out his new snowblower...

Bad pic, but it was dark out there.

Sorry I'm not quite up to multi-quoting everyone yet, but I'm trying! It will get easier for me to stay caught up over here after we get back. I've got all of my Focker Christmas cards done yesterday (thanks to the blackout) and will be mailing those and my ornament and Secret Santa gift in the next few days. If I wait to do it closer to my trip, it might not get done. I tend to go a little nuts right before we leave, and the more I have taken care of ahead of time, the better. I did sign my name for the Secret Santa gift on the card, but put only my address on the box, just in case there's a problem.

Jo - if I don't get a chance to talk to you again before you leave, HAVE A GREAT TIME! Don't stress too much and just try to enjoy yourself!

TTYL,
Michelle

 

[Muffinygood]

Mmmm... cookies! Ooh, and a PIE! Purty please?

Sure, T. What's your favorite!? (And can you please tell me your WDW dates again....I'm going at the end of Jan.)

Don't you love Chevy Chase?

Hmmm... guess you had to be there. Oh and be drunk, too.

Yep. Yep. Yep.

I'll be around a bit more this week, I hope, and I will probably even drop back in before bed.

Oh, and the mailing dates sound good for me. I'm only in on the ornament, but I can get that done.

HI CE!
Congrats on the new nephew! Glad you had fun in Maryland!
We missed you!

Mel!! How did you make out with snowblower?

Hi Ed!
Well, I didn't. I couldn't find it. (Must be in the shed, somewhere, which likely means that Bob's emptied the gas tank and pulled the spark plug. BOTH of which make in nearly impossible for me to use it if I DID find it.) I called the cute kid across the street to come over and do it. He shovelled OMG SO HEAVY and I paid him $15. He was thrilled! So, it's done but I hope that it doesn't keep snowing or I'll be broke. (No, really I'll just make SD do it!!!)

I have to get up early in the morning to take 2 of the furbabies in for their annual check-ups and shots. Then I have to get some errands run in the afternoon. I hope it is safe to go in the mall now!

Have a great evening and day!

Hi Kristel!
The mall was pretty dead here yesterday. Good luck!

**************************
So, fun night here! Made spaghetti, sauce, italian sausage for dinner. Got Gus in bed at 8:30 pm (yay, on time!) and he woke up and HURLED everywhere at 9:30 pm. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Poor guy. I feel really bad for him. He did finally get to sleep about 11. I am assuming he will NOT be going to school today. I am supposed to meet a friend for lunch a mile from here, so I will probably do that (he's 11, he can be home for an hour...) and then I have to pick up SD and get him to the dentist.

It's STILL snowing!!!! My nice cleanly shovelled driveway is snowy again, but this time it's light enough for me to handle.

I haven't heard from Bob at all since Saturday night (which was sunday am for him) I know he flew to Korea but that's it. Must not have internet access at the hotel, though I can't BELIEVE that nowadays!!!!????

Hope you guys are all doing well.
(OH, and HI!!! JODI!!!)
I am going to update my TR today. I know, I know. Don't all fall down from shock.

MEL

 

[askelton]

Angela and V what clothes should I pack?????

Of course this could change any time!

Thursday, Dec 4

Increasing clouds
Low: 54 °F
High: 75 °F




Friday, Dec 5

Chance of a shower
Low: 54 °F
High: 73 °F

Saturday, Dec 6

Mostly sunny and pleasant
Low: 50 °F
High: 72 °F




Sunday, Dec 7

Pleasant with plenty of sun
Low: 50 °F
High: 70 °F




Monday, Dec 8

Sunshine and patchy clouds
Low: 51 °F
High: 70 °F






I mailed my Secret Santa yesterday so be on the lookout! I did put a note and a return address. The ornament was mailed Friday, I think.

Today my goal is to wrap everything, ha! But I'm tired of it all on my kitchen table and I thought I had something else for my mother but can't remember what it is.

 

[kykatt2]

I don't know. I wrapped the gift with a tag that said my name on the inside of the present. On the outside I just put from secret santa or something. I don't plan on putting my name on the reurn label so hopefully it'll be a surprise until she/he unwraps it.

Here's the info from pg 108. Mailing on the 18th gives the stuff a week to get to it's person. Why don't we aim to mail them from the 15th to the 18th? Does that sound good? Then again, some people may be traveling and won't get it before they leave.
Whatcha think, Fockers?

I agree!

Sounds like a plan

Don't you love Chevy Chase?

Funny story: One night a friend and I were returning from a night partying in Hollywood, back to her auntie's house in Glendale and we came across the street "Chevy Chase Blvd" - I couldn't stop busting up, thinking they named a freakin' street after the actor. Then we stopped at light right in front of "Chevy Chase Church" - OMG! I totally busted a gut laughing as I said out loud that in the front of the church they probably had a huge statue of Chevy Chase with his crazy smile and thumbs up!

Of course they named a whole town in Maryland after him too....

IN Lexington Ky... there is a shopping area and a residential area called Chevy Chase

Katt!! Want to see a picture of a train?. no?

"You better watch out .. Somebody might CRY ..I am somebodies Secret Santa.... and the Trains are gonna die"

And if I am Dawn's.... she's getting coal and switches

 

[cmp1111]

Hi CE!! Welcome back!!! Seems like you had a nice trip. I dont know how you get everything done that you do. I`m in Awe of you! You do so much and are so organized and happy doing it! I cant seem to get my butt out of the house until 1 pm or so..

Wow, I'm blushing. Seriously, I just try to coordinate stuff and so forth, so that I have time to DIS (or nap.) If you saw my house, you probably wouldn't call me organized - though my CD's and bookcases are in alphabetical order.

Hey CE! glad you are back and it looks like you had a great time! Here's my attempt at catch up since yesterday.

Thanks! We did! And, thanks for quoting Janet's pictures so I could see them! Love it!

It snowed all day. Not heavy, thank goodness. I think we had about an inch and a half. I don't think there is any more snow in the forecast. Looks like rain on Wednesday!

My parents, in central IL, sent pictures Sunday morning of perfect, beautiful, fluffy snow at about 2 inches. They said it snowed yesterday, too, but no school closings or anything. We had a little dusting Sunday, but it all melted off yesterday and the rest of my week looks clear!

Congratulations CE and it sounds like you had a lovely time

Thanks, and we sure did!

I'm off to golf again today, just 9 holes though in a friendly competition. I'm not teeing off till 11.50am so have time to clean the bathrooms before I go, another job will be ticked off my list

Have fun, and enjoy the bathroom cleaning.

I've got all of my Focker Christmas cards done yesterday (thanks to the blackout) and will be mailing those and my ornament and Secret Santa gift in the next few days.

Look at you, all organized! We haven't taken the picture to use for our cards yet. Yikes!

HI CE!
Congrats on the new nephew! Glad you had fun in Maryland!
We missed you!

Thanks! We did have fun. The baby is a girl, though.

It's STILL snowing!!!! My nice cleanly shovelled driveway is snowy again, but this time it's light enough for me to handle.

Ugh.

I haven't heard from Bob at all since Saturday night (which was sunday am for him) I know he flew to Korea but that's it. Must not have internet access at the hotel, though I can't BELIEVE that nowadays!!!!????

I think Dr. Belle had a bad time communicating from Korea (though she loved it) - D's not been.

I'm sorry Gus is sick.

***************************************
Morning!

Kids are on the bus. I need to eat and get out of here for my tennis drills, but I wanted to check in.

Thanks to some quoting, I caught a few more things.

So, hugs to Tera.

Janet, love the room!

Jen, since I've been gone, have you found out more about the timing of Jon's surgery?

Jo, hope the airfare works out.

OK, I'll be back after tennis. I don't have much else to do today until I have to get the boys from school for their tennis lessons.

 

[Hedy]

Um, yeah, 30 pages. I'm not catching up. I read the first after I left and this last one, but I did start quoting...





[/COLOR]

I "fourth" this. Half my "real" friends don't know near as much about what's going on in my life as all of you. I love you.

****************************************************
Anyone want to give me a catch-up?

Thanksgiving was great, traffic issues aside. We wound up deciding after the long stops on Wed. that we should drive back Saturday night, so we got home somewhere around the 2:00 a.m. mark.

Yesterday D did laundry, repacked, and got the leaves gone JUST as it started snowing (it's since melted...)

The boys and I decorated, so I'm in a happy mood!

Then, my cousin, whom we stayed with and I love (she and I are only children and the only cousins on that side, she grew up in TX and me in IL but were as close as could be) called just this afternoon that she had her baby girl this morning!!!!

I only wish we could have stayed to help. Her mom (not my biological relative) is rather odd (my cousin will say this) and got her plane ticket for Saturday as the baby wasn't due until Sunday (because that always works out ) and so now the only person there to help with the 2 year old is my annoying aunt who was here with me a couple of weeks back. Poor cousin!

I hear everything went well and she has a head of red hair (daddy is a redhead) and I have only one phone picture so far, but I'll share when I get more.

Here's my 2 year old "nephew" (I know he's my cousin's kid and not technically my nephew, but it is as close as I can get on my side) - isn't he gorgeous?

We enjoyed eating at my sort-of-other cousin's. He's truly my blood relative, but my annoying aunt had him out of wedlock back in 1963, so she gave him up for adoption. He found her back around 1995 or so, and so I've know him for only that long - and though I like him and his family very much, it gets hard for me to refer to him as my cousin. He and his wife are also deaf, (they have three children who are hearing) and so it's also a bit harder to get to know him, though I can stumble through some sign language and they are very good about lip-reading. But it was great to eat with them and they are a fantastic family.

We saw Bolt Friday afternoon, too - pretty cute. That was after being at the coolest playground I've seen in a long time. Here are Buzz, Woody, and DNeph on the slides:

Saturday, we went to the Festival of Trees at the Maryland state fairgrounds, which was a combo fund-raiser, craft fair and indoor carnival. The boys had a lot of fun!

I volunteered at PE again this morning, then went to Target. I was pretty lazy in the late afternoon, though.

I need to get on my Christmas shopping. I'm slightly annoyed as we have just finally figured out what the family exchanges are, but I have no excuse for not having bought things for my parents or Dr. Belle or whatever. Teachers, neighbors, kids... Sigh.

D is in Portugal for most of the week, but I have a few things going on. I have my regular tennis practice in the morning, then Wed. we have our second real match. Saturday the boys will start their little town basketball practices and it's our couple's night for playgroup, too.

Oh, in the good news department, my BIL and his fiancee have a date for the wedding, and it's going to be at the Art Institute in Chicago, which will be amazingly cool. It's the end of August, right at the normal Focker WDW week, so I can't sneak down this year, even if there's another meet planned. This one, though, I WANT to go to...

I'll be around a bit more this week, I hope, and I will probably even drop back in before bed.

Oh, and the mailing dates sound good for me. I'm only in on the ornament, but I can get that done.

Cool! Chicago is such a pretty city.

 

[PrincessV]

Morning! Baby, it's COLD outside! We may not even hit 60 today. Don't worry, I'm not complaining.


Jo - any word from WDW?

Hope everyone's having a good Tuesday!

 

[ncsjodi]

I believe there is one other from Indiana - TheDisneyFamily.


It snowed all day. Not heavy, thank goodness. I think we had about an inch and a half. I don't think there is any more snow in the forecast. Looks like rain on Wednesday!

You're right, Kristel! How could I forget Michelle??? Sorry! But she's from "up north". In fact, she's more of a Chicagoan than a Hoosier!

Hope you guys are all doing well.
(OH, and HI!!! JODI!!!)
I am going to update my TR today. I know, I know. Don't all fall down from shock.

Hi Mel! Thanks for noticing me..... Hope Gus is feeling better today. Sick kids stink.

"You better watch out .. Somebody might CRY ..I am somebodies Secret Santa.... and the Trains are gonna die"

And if I am Dawn's.... she's getting coal and switches

Don't worry, Katt. I won't be posting any train pics. I've got enough in my basement for everyone! In fact, the only thing DH has mentioned wanting for Christmas is a book about making multi-deck layouts!

~~~~~~~~~~
Well, my cousin's wife had her double mastectomy yesterday. I got a text from my cousin at 7:00pm and she had just gotten into a room, so I didn't drive downtown to visit her. She's at the University hospital where Kristel's DH is getting treatment. Everything went as planned and she's doing fine. Just dealing with pain now.

I'm watching my friend Jenny's kids this morning while she goes to radiation. I usually do it with another friend at her house, but she has a doctor's appointment this morning, so I've got them by myself at my house. It's no big deal. Jenny has a five year old and a two year old. Plus, my four year old. They'll play nicely for an hour or so and that will be it.

We've got some really pretty snow here too. Just a dusting on the roads and sidewalks, but almost covering the grass in the yard. Probably about two inches or so. It's still coming down in flurries, but isn't supposed to cause any problems. I love looking at the stuff, but I don't particularly like driving in it!

My plan is to get the rest of my decorations up today (except for the tree). We'll probably do that on Saturday. My MIL is flying to the motherland today (not to WDW, but to Orlando to visit her father) and my FIL is taking my girls out to Bob Evans for dinner tonight. DH has class, so I'm going to stay home and wrap some presents!

Other than working out this afternoon, it's going to be a lazy day at home for me!