Almost over...

Well what took hours to wrap and put together nicely only took minutes to tear apart lol.. see the mounds of boxes and torn wrapping paper?! We had a great Christmas despite everything right now. My husband was able to have a good one with his mom in Florida and the kids and I had a peaceful one here in Va. We opened presents, ate good food at noon then the oldest went to his girlfriends, the middle one hibernated in his room and the youngest was busy playing with her toys. See what I mean about it being a peaceful day?

The kids always get money from their grandparents and the tradition is to hit the stores the day after so they can get what they want. Usually hubby holds us all up and we get a late start but this year we were out of the house by 9am and done by 1pm! Found some great bargains and crowds were not too bad.

Now it is deja vu again and everyone is where they were yesterday about this time! Now I have to find the energy to take down the tree and start putting up decorations. I usually do that New Years weekend and for some reason this year I am just dreading it!

Well that is it from my corner.... hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from our home to yours! May you not forget the real reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus. I know a lot of times we get caught up in all the hustle and bustle and excitement of the season ( I am just as guilty) but this year I have tried to take a little time each day to really think about the why! I hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with love and family.


Our Christmas is a little sad this year but I keep ,and will continue, to remind myself of the many blessings that God has given us each day. My mother in law's cancer has returned and spread to her brain. She has had seizures and periods of incoherency. They have been giving her some medicine and radiation to decrease the inflammation in her brain and so far it is working. The dr said the time for quality time is NOW so my husband flew out today to spend Christmas with his mom. They are suppose to try an experimental chemo treatment that is being conducted at her hospital to see if they can give her more time. We know it is totally up to God when her time is up here on earth.

So if you think about it say a prayer for my husband's family, his mother Sue, and the kids and I as we spend Christmas here alone but together. It will not be the same without him that is for sure!

I debated on saying anything because I do not want to dampen anyone's holiday but I know prayer is all we have right now and we are all truly doing ok through all of this. We are at peace with it and know it is in God's hands!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO ALL OF YOU AND MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

my girls and SNOW

I think this picture says it all.. this is my neighbor's house and their cars are almost buried!! I think the official count for our area was 22 inches with drifts higher. Yesterday after lunch Ashley wanted to go play with the neighbor girl. We suited up.. took a few steps off the front porch and then could go no further. The drifts were up to my waist in some places and you could not tell how deep it was in the yard. We stood there a few minutes and Dad came to the rescue! He picked up Ashley and just plowed through the ones in the driveway to the street lol.. My oldest and hubby took turns trying to clear a part of the driveway so we could at least get the 4-wheel drive truck out if needed.

So needless to say today is another snow day... on the agenda.. NOTHING! We will go out and play a little in the snow and watch some Christmas shows on tv...

Computer time is a little difficult with these girls.. this was me trying to check my email this morning! They are having a very difficult time deciding how to use the bathroom outside lol..

We have snow!!

It started snowing last night and it has not stopped since. Last I heard it was well over a foot we could get up to 25 inches. The dogs had some trouble trying to go outside this morning. My son had to shovel a path off the deck so they could just get to the yard. By lunch time we had to shovel again!! The younger dog, Ella, does not like to go in the snow. Not sure if she has gone all day lol...

So what is one thing you can do when snowed in.... decorate cookies that we have not had time to do!

Those are done and almost all eaten... We have plenty of junk food, milk, bread and TP.. so we are set for a few days.. which is good because we are not going anywhere!! I am so glad that all my shopping was done and have no need to go out at all!

How is the weather in your corner??

Cookies....

I really need to start back my kickboxing!!! Hopefully this Wednesday I will get the all clear and go back. It is horrible how it takes about 4 months to lose some weight and tone up and only 6 weeks to gain it back! Of course the holidays don't help!

I was really motivated the other day and baked some snickerdoodles, spice cookies and cranberry/chocolate chip cookies. I have some spicy oatmeal cookie dough in the freezer to bake next week. I have to make some fudge this week sometime. Thank goodness I am not a huge fan of fudge and can make it and not take one bite! The muddy buddy chex mix I made the other day is another story... as I said I really need to get back to exercise!

I was suppose to work today but was put on call. It was nice to crawl back in bed at 5:30am when it was icing/sleeting outside. Busy week this week with dr appointments, Christmas parties, last minute wrapping and buying before school gets out not to mention the routine things like baton, karate and church on Wednesday night! Busy... busy...

Trying to wrap...

I sat down on the floor today and tried to get the Christmas presents wrapped. I got a few done when one by one the girls creeped over and made themselves comfortable. They are laying right where I was spreading out the paper!! I didn't have the heart to move them so I gave them some love and tried to wrap in a much smaller space! I guess they thought they were going to miss out on something....

I am so happy so say that all my shopping is done! I usually start at the beginning of November and try to have it done before middle of December. I love to have it all done and wrapped so I can enjoy the holidays with my family and not have to worry about it all.

Are you almost ready???

I am off to finish dinner and then we have church tonight. With this storm raging across the country everyone stay warm! Oh yeah.. dinner tonight is Paula Deen's chicken pot pie!

Crying with Tim

Tonight was brutal and heartbreaking!! Hubby was downstairs in his man-cave, I was upstairs. Our cheers were loud enough to make my anxious dog start to have an anxiety attack so had to break out her anxiety pills to help her.. almost had to take one myself but resisted!!

We lost.. Tim cried.. hubby had a huge grin.. I cried.. at least the dog is very happy right now (meds have kicked it)..... no National Championship for us but we do have the Sugar Bowl. Now can I bring myself to cheer for the Tide?? The verdict is still out on that one.. it has been a bitter pill to swallow.. maybe I should try one of the dogs anxiety pills.. just kidding!!!

I do have to say one thing. If you have watched any of the football games this year Tim puts a Bible verse on his black lines under his eyes. I have heard the football commentators read those Bible verses on the tv the last few games. I thought to myself that if nothing else comes from this whole season hearing Bible verses read on live tv to an audience of millions is worth it all. What a testimony that is in itself! I think he might have known tonight.. here was his verse tonight:

John 16:33
³³"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I still love my Gators and am very proud of them! Now I am off to have a personal pity party and cry with Tim...