last night was exhausting! Didn't get home from church/choir until almost 9:30 p.m.

I'm here just a busy week. I'll write more this weekend. Our weather is balmy too and it will make for a short winter. I hope it stays warmer and with less snow and ice.
TGIF!!!!!

Jenny

Very quick weekend. I've been busy making my lists, shopping for stocking stuffers, getting Christmas cards printed, and riding my bike in doors. I've been able to get two rides in this weekend and sat in the hot tub 3 times, twice in one day. I love the tub! It feels wonderful with the cool air on my face and the warmth of the water. Any suggestion on stocking stuffers for adult children, male and female? I have a good start but need a few more things for each of them. They always get socks and their favorite childhood candy. Toothbrushes and other odds and ends. Iva is the most fun to get things for since she is female and I get her things I would like. The boys are a little more difficult.

I may have a sinus infection to Shirley. Not sure but my teeth hurt and sometimes it shoots up into my head. Congestion and hard to clear my sinuses. Isaac is growing so fast! You will have a fun Christmas with him. Hope you all feel better by then.

Marla- I'm sure you are running here and there and very busy. I hope you get to take some days off around the holiday.

Hi Ang and Amy!

Jenny

still whipped - had to go listen to Caleb's grade school band play during cookiefest - and then take him to bball - make dinner, etc - that was all I could manage - am hoping tonight to do cards - we'll see - headache - fortunately I have a massage today - so woohooo - looking forward to that - I'll have her focus of my head and neck probably today and just general relaxation -

it's rainy here too Jenny - thankfully it hasn't gotten cold enough to ice -

I have no clue what to do for the boys for Christmas - mom and my sis got the things they had really wanted - leaving me going hmmmmm.... - I think Zach is going to get stuck with getting a new driver (golf) because even I though I invested in a very nice mid range set for him this summer - he trashed the driver during an open golf session - doesn't feel very fun - but those things are expensive! And Caleb - the only other thing he really asked for is an ipod and I don't know why - he has an ipad - he can do all the same stuff on the pad can't he? I don't want anymore electronics to deal with - but then what else? Mffffttttt. I am getting the family a YMCA membership (mostly for Caleb to get more active - and that thing is spendy too) but I am feeling like I am failing at giving them there wows.

OMG Ladies ! I'm so excited with myself .

I actually made a plan and am sticking to it ! I woke up and exercised and I stopped drinking soda yesterday . Two big issues for me.


I feel amazing and every bit as determined as I was two years ago.
I am tracking again . happy day .

Amy


Oh Hi every one I hope you all have a great day ! I'm at work and typing as a client is in the audio booth! ha.

Finally some time to check in with all of you!

The work holiday party was loud but fun. Not a huge showing of employees but enough to hold a party. I had a couple of margaritas and at the taco bar that was featured.
They had many drawings for prizes and a gift exchange if you chose to participate. I won $10 which almost paid for my party fee of $13. Yes we have to pay to go to
our own holiday parties. School districts funded by gov't can't spend money on their employees, taxpayers' would have a fit. Nice evening and lots of laughs.

My Christmas cards are done and half are sent out. The rest will be sent today. Russ and I went to Christmas church last night so now we just have to plan the dinner for Christmas
Eve. We are meeting Jeff and Iva at a restaurant on Tuesday to give Iva her gifts. She is going to Milwaukee to spend Christmas with her Croatian grandmother who says it will
be her last Christmas visiting in the U.S. Jeff is staying here for work and to be with his family. It will be a small group on Christmas Eve. Jeff, Rory, Russ and I.... We are going to
have Dump Dinner (like a shrimp boil) and exchange gifts.

I need to pick up a few more stocking stuffers today, make my list for baking, and clean Rory's bathroom and put sheets on his bed. He comes home tonight, yay. He plans to
be home for 10 days and then go back to Grand Forks to work and make money before classes start. He thinks he got straight A's this semester. I hope he did. He worked very hard!

Amy- Good for you on finding your mojo! Good luck and I hope you accomplish your fitness goals. May the holidays be good to you also. I know it will be hard for your family.
Marla- I hope your Christmas gives you joy and relaxation with your family. You deserve a vacation from work too!
Shirley- Your retreat sounds nice! Do you like the new boyfriend? You are so organized and ready for celebration time. Retirement gives back time to a person, nice!

I've always loved to color since I was a kid. I've seen those adult coloring books. I want to get one so I can doodle and color while I relax. I read that it can be as beneficial as
meditation. Hmmm...

Well I better accomplish my list today. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Jenny

Has it really been nearly 3 weeks since I posted on here!!!?? Yikes! I've been so busy I've barely had any time to relax. Last night and tonight are the first nights I've had nothing to do in the evening when I got home. I last posted on the days leading up to the cantata at church. It went really great! My oldest nephew did a great job of playing the boy in the play. I certainly don't miss the songs! As much as I loved them, I got tired of hearing them by listening to them every day!

The following weekend after that was the ladies Christmas banquet. In the days leading up to it, I might have slept 8 hours total over 3 days. By the time the banquet was here, I was drained, but it was so worth it! Being able to get another location was a huge praise! It all came together and looked so great! The food was amazing! I didn't expect that much on my plate with over 100 people there. We had chicken, ham, stuffing, potato, gravy, carrots, corn and peas. There was also a HUGE plate of desserts brought to the table you could choose from. I've had many compliments from how it went. The next day we had a mandatory meeting at church in the afternoon that all who work with the kids ministries had to attend. After the evening service my pastor looked at me and said I looked more tired then I had the morning! When I got home I went straight to bed and slept over eight hours. That's rare for me.

I spent the first several days of last week in the evening getting caught up on the things that I needed to get done at home that I hadn't had time in the last two weeks due to the rehearsals and the banquet!

This past weekend I spent every minute I was home and awake baking for Christmas. I did two batches of Chocolate Chip Caramilk Surprise, one batch of Candy Cane Cookies, two batches of shortbread (they turned out for the first in years!!) and two batches of Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Truffles. 95% of them were gifts. I took most of them into work yesterday as my presents to everyone at work. I also did a up a tin and took it in Sunday night to the couple in my church who just had a baby girl. I have one more tin I did up for the family I rent from. I plan on giving it to them Christmas Eve. Sunday night I was once again ready to fall into bed when I got home from the evening service!

Sunday morning was our the Sunday School Christmas program. I had told my Sunday School class several weeks ago I wanted to hear all 7 of them sing a special. Well at the concert each class sang their own song, so my wish came true! It was really cute and the kids all did a great job. We did a play this year. Two of my students were cast members and most of the rest were narrators. My oldest nephew is in my class but he didn't have a part. He just had a big role in the cantata so they didn't give him anything. The "cast" then told the Christmas story and they little ones made up Mary, Joseph, 3 angels, 2 cows, 2 sheep and lots and lots of shepherds. We made a great find this year. Normally the shepherds costumes are bath robs. One of the ladies went to the local used clothing store and found someone had donated ALL their old costumes it seemed. She only got a couple but another lady went back and got almost everything they had! We got some great new costumes for future years!


Last night and tonight have been relaxing. I've had NOTHING to do! It's great! Cards are done and delivered. Gifts are bought and wrapped. Baking is done. Only thing left to prepare is Christmas breakfast!


Joseph is on his way down to South Carolina right now with his parents to see his sisters for Christmas. He was up for the cantata. He gave me two gifts (which he won't let me open to Christmas) and flowers! I still have the flowers. A couple are starting to die but the rest look good.

Work today I got my Christmas bonus. It was very welcome to help me out of a bind I put myself in. The main lawyer I work for also slipped some cash into the card and gift he gave me.

I will try to stay up to date on here more often!

Jenny - sounds like a nice day with Rory. Can't believe he is on the downside of college already - we have been chatting for so long - I think he was maybe a freshman or sophomore in high school! Sniff.

The boys are off to Star Wars today - they seemed excited. I had them open those last night so I could see -

Since I haven't figured out how to get to the thread from my phone - I may only post in the news feed for a few days - but wishing you all a joyous Christmas and much peace and blessings.

Hugs.