TKers Take the Fifth!

[whgrn]

Having the pros put up your lights is real big around here. I think the guy I got the quote from must be the most expensive one though, since I really can't imagine paying that kind of money. I do see his signs on quite alot of lawns though. Must be nice to have that kind of cash to toss around! Quite honestly, some of the yards he does are just so overdone it makes me nauseous! I don't want my yard to look like someone barfed up Christmas lights everywhere! I just want my red and white bushes, a couple of traditional Christmas trees, and one tree where all the branches are individually wrapped (I think that looks SO cool, and I'll probably leave those lights up year round anyway. Add in my 2 inflatables (not near as cute as D&D's racecar!) and a wreath on my front door, and that's it for outdoor decor.

I've even cut way back inside. We do the tree, I have some Christmas baskets and pictures, and we hang our stockings. That's about it.

Right now I am listening to 2 very unhappy kids moaning about having to rake leaves. You would think I was asking them to sacrifice their lives. They've been in the house at least 4 times to complain. And now DD had the nerve to say 'at least I'm not lazy". Well guess who's not cooking dinner tonite!!! That will teach her. She'll be ready to go to swim practice but there will be no dinner for her. I guess she'll have to make a sandwich. Oh well.

Can you tell I am in a TOTALLY snarky mood today? It all started when the kids didn't get in until 5 of 11 last night. I'm sorry, that's not appropriate. I woke them up this morning and of course they were grouchy. Then my ride to church had to cancel, so we had to ride in with the youth minister, who goes in 30-40 minutes before we would have needed to be there, so we had to rush, and then sit around for 45 minutes doing nothing. I forgot to take a pain pill, so I was not real comfortable. Also, the ex had picked up DS's pills and forgot to drop them off last night when he brought them home. So DS called and said we needed them asap, within 30 minutes. 45 minutes later we had to leave, but no pills, so I had to give DS a smaller dose which is never enough to keep him sane.

I WANT A NEW LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[D&DDisney]

Just browsing the ol' newspaper today and came across this. It ties in with our previous discussion about cheesecake and pumpkin pie. Check the link for recipe. Mmmmm!!! Gained 10lb just reading the ingredients.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/70216812.html
Layered Pumpkin Torte

 

[Pikester]

Hello ladies!

I hope you have all been enjoying your Sunday. I see whgrn has been dealing with a couple of complainers. That was my 2 yesterday. Do we have to clean our rooms? Can I be done yet? Whine. Whine. Whine.

Not much going on today. Just doing my chores and making more lists for things I feel that I just have to have at Disney.

Only 7 days until I am at Disney!

 

[Pikester]

Oops! I forgot to post that Sukie says Hello. Her computer is at the Drs and she is hoping it will be ready tomorrow. She is going nuts not having access to the DIS.

 

[JOCAmom]

Helloooooooo. I had such a nice day today. We were all busy around the house and my 2 little ones barely fought all day. Right now, they are watching Up while DH naps on the couch. I also did all my grocery shopping for the holiday and spent a lot less than I thought I would.

D&DDisney, just looking at the cake is making me gain some weight. But it sure looks good. And I saving that recipe for Christmas. It's ok to have pumpkin desserts at Christmas right?

DL55, even if there were pictures, there is no way in heck those would ever be shown anywhere. I don't even like the kids to see my pictures from high school with the big 80's hair.

whgrn, I told DS to clean up all the leaves in front of the house on Saturday. He did a half-butt job on it and now will be doing it again tomorrow instead on the weekend. Besides taking out the trash that was his only other chore. He thinks it's a joke to help out around the house. Drives me insane.

Pikester, tell Sukie I said hi and I hope her computer is on the mend.

 

[Pikester]

Did anyone hear about the possible canned pumpkin shortage from Libby's? I guess their pumpkin suppliers have had a bad growing year making it hard for Nestle, who owns Libby, to have enough product.

 

[JOCAmom]

Pikester, I saw that on another thread here. I wonder if that has to do something with the prices of pumpkin pies I saw in the store today. They just seemed to be so much more than I remember.

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Hey all, no time to catch up (yet again) but wanted to pop by and say walter is doing lots better and show him off a bit.

We really miss everyone.

 

[Pikester]

Pikester, I saw that on another thread here. I wonder if that has to do something with the prices of pumpkin pies I saw in the store today. They just seemed to be so much more than I remember.

Probably!

 

[Pikester]

Walter is a cutie LITC!

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Thanks so much!!!

 

[JOCAmom]

Awww, LITC. He is so adorable. I just want to give than little guy a thousand kisses. But you at least give him one from me and tell him to get all better soon.

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Thanks JOCA!!

 

[JOCAmom]

I was wondering if I could ask you all a favor. It's our first Christmas in a house where we can actually decorate. At our old place, even inside, we didn't do much because it was so small. Could y'all post some pictures of what you do to decorate?

I think I've got Thanksgiving under control but in the back of my mind is what to do for Christmas.

 

[mariezp]

Good evening ladies! My goodness but it has been a long day! We started with church this morning. Made a mad dash back home after the service to change clothes then set out again. Drove 45 minutes away to drop off our Operation Christmas shoes boxes. When we arrived no one was there. Thank heavens someone showed up right before I started to panic. It was posted that they would be there 12:00-2:00. For the life of me I cannot figure out why they would have not left at least one person there since they were only going to be opened for 2 hours... but I guess I should just be happy that someone did show up. Anyhoo....

We stopped off for lunch at a Chinese place we had not been to in years. Food was only so-so. However, I must say I won the fat woman's dream fortune cookie lotto! "Be good to yourself. Dessert three times per week is OK." So there you have it! I have been granted permission by the fortune cookie gods to help myself! Three days a week is gonna be quite a nice allowance around here during a normal week. Of course, while I am at WDW I may have to cheat even a bit more over my recommended weekly allowance. That yummy looking Pumkin Torte looks like a good starter!

So anyway.... after lunch we made our way over to the gym to watch DS do some Jiu-Jitsu since we were already in town where the 3rd of DS's 4 schools is located. I much prefer our local classes! These classes are unfortunately in the same building as the cheerleading academy. I do not mean to offend anyone around here if you have a little cheerleader. I just mean to say that it is not all that much fun to watch if it is not your own little cheerleader you are watching and you end up spending 2 hours arguing with your whiny and persistent DD about why she cannot play on the equipment or go tumble with everyone else since we are not members of the place, only paid up for Jiu-Jitsu. It is good to take DS but next time DD and I will be staying home! Gotta say that I still do not understand the current dress codes that are allowed on children these days. Skimpy seems to be universally acceptable. I am pretty used to that but why would cheerleaders be wearing t-shirts which read "Maverick's Mafia"? Is that supposed to be funny or something? I just don't get.

We made it through that 2 hours. Grabbed some take out to bring home and finally made it home sometime around 7:00. As we were doing all that driving DS pointed out to me the fact that we are now down to single digits until our trip! 9 days baby! Boy, am I ready!

whgrn, sounds like a hectic morning at your house.

Pikester, you mean you only get complainers at your house every now and then? I think my DD is making it her life goal! And no fighting? You must be doing something right! Care to share your secret?

LITC, Walter is adorable! DD was here when I scrolled the page down and you should have heard the "Oh he's so cute!". What a beautiful little smile on that precious little face! Just makes your heart swell with love, doesn't it?

Hi DL55, D&D, and Sukie.

JOCAmom, I would love it if my DD would play hairdresser! No pictures, of course. It just feels so good to have someone else brush my hair. Weird, huh?
I am scaling back on decorations this year. Here's a bit of what I have done in previous years.
Here's my kitchen. Here's a few of my silly old blow molds and some of my Santas.

Santa on top of the fridge.

Then we have a long shelf in our living room which is usually filled with stuff.

And snowmen over the mantle.

More Santas above my computer.

Some Disney characters for DD.

Santa hangs out so DD can dance with him.

Even the doors need a little something.

And the extent of my outdoor decorating last year when all the friggin light bulbs were burnt out and this was all I had left.

 

[whgrn]

WOW Marie!!!! You really go all out with the decorating!!!!!

JOCA, I am a minimalist, I guess. We put up the tree, hang our stockings, and I put out my Longaberger Christmas baskets. We also have some photos from past years that I put up. I used to put little red bows on the cupboard handles, but it's too much work these days. I do have a little stand up Santa who goes in the front hall, and some Christmas candles that go on the counter in the kitchen. That's really it. Don't have any pictures yet, but if I think of it, I'll take some on Friday when we decorate and post them here.

LITC, Walter is just too, too, too cute! Give that little man a kiss from his Auntie Wendy!

No kids today until 1 pm (half day, boohoohoo) But my friend is coming to take me to lunch at noon, so I won't be here when they get home. If they know what's good for them, they'll be out raking leaves when I return. I didnt' even get up this morning until they left.

My PT says I'm doing great. I'm a little stiff today, which I suspect means that rain is coming soon. Taking less pain medicine, which is good. I'll just be glad when I'm all healed and back to "normal". And when I can ride my new bike!

Only 32 days til Christmas!

 

[DL55]

LITC I want to hug little Walter so bad. Please give him a hug for me.
whgrn Glad you're on the mend before you know it you'll be "normal".
JOCAmom I'll try to remember to take some pictures of our decorations. I don't believe I've ever bothered to take pictures. We don't decorate as much as we did before. I used to set up a village but since we got the new cat I just don't want to bother trying to keep the little people from disappearing. I guess I'm just getting lazy.

 

[D&DDisney]

I'm enjoying a nice quiet day off. Refusing to do much of anything. Kinda a mental health day.
My kids have been whining a lot too. I gave them a list of chores to do on Sat. and they complained the entire time.
Disney seems to be doing much better. Hasn't had a seizure for 2 weeks. Eating seems back to normal and she's back to being a naughty pup. I wouldn't have it any other way.

LITC - Walter is just adorable. How can you put him down???

Whgrn - Did you get that bike from Wal-mart? Glad things are progressing back to normal for you.

JOCA - Except for my inflatable, I don't have pics of my decorations. A few simple things I recommend are...
If you have a fireplace mantle, get some weighted Christmas stocking holders and hang your stockings. I also take a string of lighted garland and set that on the mantle too.
For the staircase, I wrap pine garland through the ballesters and put a few bows on. Really dresses it up.
In the windows I let the kids put up some snowflake clings and I put an electric flicker candle in each of our windows. Looks simple but pretty from the outside.
I got 2 small lighted trees last year on clearance and I put those on the front porch. Then hang a wreath on the door. Since the weather was nice this year I also wrapped our maple trees w/ some lights.
Then we just put up the tree.

Marie - Love your snowman collection and your Disney decorations.
Only 9 days left.

Pikester - Only 4 for you!!!! Are you getting any sleep???

Hi DL55! Hows the weather there????

 

[DL55]

Hi D&DDisney It's cooler here, in the 30s in the am warms up to 60s usually. Still no rain. If I remember we did have rain on TG last year.

 

[Pikester]

Good afternoon TKers!

It is a very cloudy day here today. Temps are in the mid 40s and there is rain predicted for later this evening. It was a cool and slightly windy walk for me this morning but once I got going I warmed up real nice!

So, only 4 more sleeps until we leave for Disney!So excited but I'm sleeping fine so far. I'm sure Thursday night I'll be a little nervous but I'm hoping not too nervous to sleep. DH is the one that really needs to get his rest since he'll be doing all of the driving. Not sure if anyone remembers or not but I HATE driving. So glad DH loves me enough to do all the driving for me.

Kids are in school only 2 days this week. Tomorrow will be their last day and I have to make sure I remember to send notes in saying that they will be out of school until Dec 7th. Both of their teachers know that they will be missing school and the secretary at DS8 school has made note of it when I mentioned it too her but I need to leave a paper trail for them so they won't wonder where the boys are.

Spent some time today going through my travel stuff. I've got a box in the pantry that I'm putting stuff that I need to take in and I've made a list of items that I still need to pick up which I will do tomorrow.

I hope everyone is having a good day and I'll stop by again later.