In the Night Kitchen

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Fifi's New Year's party is tomorrow and we are in charge of cookies for the dessert. Since Bootie and Poppa's party was today, and we helped out with that, we decided it would be best to make our cookies last night before heading to bed. Of course - night time bakers are a little wacky(I remember from my midnight shifts at Dunkin' Donuts before I got married!)(Check out my new toy too! We made 3 batches of cookies in less than 3 hours - spritz, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin!)

Fine Art

I love when my boys bring home art work they've done in school - and it's not just for the front of the fridge! Jake's angel has been at the top of my tree for 13 years now! Max made the ginger bread house at school, and it's on our mantel, and Zach's Santa picture is hanging above our kitchen table. To me - they are the best decorations I own!

The Best Present.....

.......is always the one way under the tree! (Bootie!)

Just What I Wanted!

As Zach proclaimed - "Santa really listened - he knew what I wanted!"

Merry Christmas to All.......

........and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve

The boys have been waiting all day to open gifts from out of state. So tonight after church and before they would let Tim or Jake get a bite to eat, we ripped into the wrap, and found Transformers, and puzzles, and pirates, and craft goodies.........and now we are just waiting for Santa.

Toy Story - Intro Song -

Many Gifts of Christmas #12

We will wrap it up here - no pun intended. It's been a lot of fun trying to think of things I would give if money were no object. I would still like to give all of you: maid service for a year, a beach house, flying lessons............but for our last gift I wish you friends. For brothers and sisters and cousins who are also considered friends, Kris, Chelle,Kevin and Kim. For co-workers, who still keep in touch who are considered friends - Caryn and Meghan. For people who we've known so long, they're like family - Judy, Laura, Mark, Diane, Eric.......and for all the new friends we've made since we've moved down here - especially Betty and Robin. I wish all of you friends like I have and I wish you good times, and lots 'o' love when it comes to your friends! Happy Holidays!

Many Gifts of Christmas #11

PlayStation.com - PLAYSTATION®3

This one comes from Jake - he would like to give all of you a PS3 with the Guitar Hero bundle. He and his friends enjoy this game so much - whether it's on X360 or PS3. They are even trying to convince me to play.

Christmas On The Square

Last night the boys and I went to the square to see Santa and decorations around the square. It was really not to crowded, the temp was in the 40's but the wind was whipping, so it made it feel really Christmasy. The boys got in to see Santa after 40 minutes - that was really good!!!! So I think we're ready now. Santa has the list, the decorations are up, gifts have been sent to Illinois, - yep..........bring it on!

Many Gifts of Christmas #10

Something money can't buy - time. Whether it's time to take a nap(like Max is here) or time to do things you want (like wrap Max's gifts while he sleeps)I wish you just a little more time for you. Take an hour - take a day - it's yours!

Many Gifts of Christmas #9

A Diamond Is Forever | The Diamond Source

Everyone needs a little bling this time of year - pick out something nice - but not to flashy! (I think I'll pick myself up some new earrings while I shop for you!)

Many Gifts of Hanukkah

MillionaireMate - Exclusive Online Personals for Wealthy, Sophisticated Singles. Where Affluence and Beauty come Together for an Elite Dating Experience

Caryn - this is just for you :)

Many Gifts of Christmas #8

Hot tub, Hot tubs - Sundancespas.com

After a rough day of shopping, or working, or just sitting on the floor to wrap gifts, it would be nice to sit in a spa and relax. Unwind and let the day go. My gift for you today, is the spa of your choice, up to 6 people, and you pick the color, and the jets, and the stereo - have fun - money is no object. (it's all a dream........)(I think I'll take the Certa-pictured)

A Christmas Work of Art

Let me just say, a pre-fab gingerbread house is the way to go. First off, the pieces are uniform, and secondly, you don't have to waste the attention span with the cooking. Do you understand? So, after eating icing, and sticking all the candy to the house, they wanted to eat it right away!!!!!! Who does that?? I just want to look at it for a couple of days, and admire how 2 little boys who I believe are still on the naughty list for not having a clean room, can make such a work of art - peacefully - together - happy holidays! :)

Many Gifts of Christmas #7

Cookies! Homemade Christmas Cookies!! Lots of them - Spritz, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip - whatever your heart desires. (If you ask nice, I'm sure the boys will bake up a batch of Spritz and send them off to you- if they don't ship well - even the crumbs taste good!)

Many Gifts of Christmas #6

Max thought I should buy all of you a blue car. So today, I buy you your choice of blue car (you can spend up to $50,000) I chose today's picture because it's probably something I would like to buy for Tim if I had the money - and hey, it's blue!

Christmas Carolling

Some of the members of our Youth Group, and members of the Choir went around visiting some of our congregation's home bound. We sang some songs with great guitar accompaniment an shared some Christmas cheer. (You will probably be able to find this picture on Ascension's website as well.)

Shelby's Christmas Parade

The boys and I went to the parade today in our "Uptown". Kev and Logan joined us and Bootie stopped by for a little bit. It wasn't to bad when I got there and we sat on the sunny side of the street, near the end though, Max and I were cuddled up in my chair with his blanket. (a girl from Chicago getting chilled in low 40 degree weather - how sad)

Christmas Wrapping!

Max decided he was going to help me wrap the presents he and Zach bought for their cousins - and he did a pretty good job of cutting, he just needs to master taping!

Mother and Son Party

Every year for the last 5 years, Jake and I have had a Mother and Son Christmas party. We invite everyone to show up around 6, we serve lasgana, salad and bread around 7 pm. Then we have a grab bag, playing the "dirty Santa" game, where you can steal from other people (and we had some of that going on!). Finally we wrap up with a cookie exchange and a little dessert of cookies, ice cream and coffee if you want it. I like it, because all the mothers get to meet together, and complain or praise together, and the guys like it, because they play football in the beginning, eat big dinner, get gifts, play football again, and eat dessert! (We had 7 sets of Moms/Sons, so we had to have it at Booties - cuz there's just no room for 8 teenage boys AND their moms. - thanks again Boots!!!(and Poppa))

Many Gifts of Christmas #5

Giordano's World Famous Stuffed Pizza

Yum - more good stuff from Chicago!!! Chicago pizza actually came up in conversation at last week's dinner party. It prompted Tim to actually order one for his boss :) Online you can only order cheese or spinach or some veggie combo (all of them are fine by me! So, I send you a Large Cheese, and hope you will be able to come in from your holiday shopping, and while wrap or just put your feet up - enjoy your pizza! (11 days to go - can you believe it?????)

Many Gifts of Christmas #4

Arbor Place

A vacation in the Smokies (Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg)hang out in the cabin, do the tourist stuff, or if you go in the winter - ski! Enjoy, my gift is a weekend.

Just A Little Chuckle

Christmas Pageant

Yesterday was the Christmas Padgent at church. Max was a (crazy hyper)shepard, and Zach an inn's keeper, and I ended up as a shepard keeper. A covered dish, and a visit from Santa, wrapped up a really good day - minus the crazy hyper shepard's church antics.

Poor Lions

They went to state today to beat Reidville, but instead came home without the prize. A tough first half - 7 to 21, they came back in the second 20 to 28. But it just wasn't enough. Better luck next year - boys!!

Many Gifts of Christmas - #3

Joe Boxer Big Mens Crew Neck Fleece Top - Model 166622 at Kmart.com


I can't remember why I went to K-mart, but I found myself looking at sweatshirts. I picked up an off white one, and fell in love. It's huge, and it's soft. Jake liked mine so well, I went back and picked up 3 for him. Not an expensive gift today, but a cozy one. (of course we don't need cozy here in our 60+ degree weather.

Many Gifts Of Christmas #2

Flip Video - Ultra Series

In a word - fun! We are selling the 60 minute 1gb at work, and it's so easy and just really a neat little toy. So, if I had the cash in hand - this is what I would buy you as your second gift for Christmas. Record lots 'o' fun stuff your blog!!! Merry Christmas

Dinner - Yum!

the water oak restaurant



Tonight Tim's boss took us and another couple out to dinner for the holidays. We had a lovely time and the food was fab. Check out the menu - I had the Water Oak Salad and the Vegetable Lasagna, Tim had Lamb, and Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert.

The Many Gifts of Christmas - #1

Garrett Popcorn Shops

There's nothing like some carmelcorn or cheesecorn to kick off the holiday season. Grab a bag and mix the two together while you stroll along State St. looking at the windows. So, today (like Oprah) I send all of you one of my favorite things. Garrett's popcorn. I am wishing you 3.5 gallons of cheesecorn and carmelcorn in a Chicago Skyline tin - value $81.00. Enjoy!!!

Ok, I Had To Try It

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1187676901

Fifi found this and she had fun loading different pictures. I used a prom photo for mine - it'll be here till Jake's friends find out. :)

Zach's Christmas Program

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So, tonight was PTO and the kindergarten classes put on a Christmas show of singing and some dancing. Most of the pictures I took where far away, and this was actually one of the best with only Zach. I didn't have time to get permission from other parents to blog their kids - so here it is - looks like something from Village of the Damned.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Jake, Zach and Max have been helping me get the decorations up all weekend - and they do a pretty good job!!