Vacation ReCap

I can't believe its Friday already. My week was very busy.

Tony was off on Tuesday, so we spent the day at the mall shopping the after xmas sales. Didn't really see a whole lot.

Weds I had a doctor appt in the morning and met an old girlfried for lunch. The doctor appointment was with a new doctor who will be able to perform my surgery. Believe it or not, surgery is already scheduled for the beginning of February. This doctor made it sound a little more involved than my regular doctor. The only bad feeling I have about the whole thing is that its on my brother's birthday. He died of throat cancer at 39. Maybe, the date is a good thing, maybe its nothing, maybe its a not so good thing. We shall see. I did like the doctor though. Very nice office. Maybe I will switch to her for good after the surgery. I'm not too happy how my regular doctor handled the whole thing. A little unprofessional in my opinion. We shall see.

Thursday was more shopping with my Mom. Between Rebecca and my Mom, they just wore me out. We did get Rebecca her arts supplies with the giftcard from Janet. She was very excited about that. We'll try fingerpainting tommorrow.

Friday, I went to see Happy Feet with my mother-in-law and my neice, Rachel. It was a cute movie. It kind of took a detour at the end with the environmental stuff. But, it got back on track for the ending.

Saturday, just getting ready for the big New Years gathering. Although, on New Years Eve I have a afternoon date with my daughter to see the Doodlebops. I know she's going to love it!!!

TTFN!!

Vacation Is Exhausting

I didn't know taking a week off work and doing nothing would be so exhausting. My days filled up pretty quickly. Its Thursday before I knew it. Its all going too fast. I haven't really accomplished much this week. I think I do more when I'm working.

Pictures of Christmas

In No Particular Order

Merry Christmas!!!

What a wonderful Christmas its been too!!! Rebecca really made out like a bandit this year. I'm not sure what toy she likes best. She's really good about playing with them all. Although, she got a fishing game just like David did when he was little and she keeps going back to it.

It really was a great Holiday!!!

Whoooo Hooooo!!!!

Things to Whooo Hooo about . . . .

1. Its Friday. Its Friday and I get to go home early!!! Whooo Hooo

2. Its the beginning of my Christmas vaation!!! Little over a week of fun!! Whoo Hooo

3. Its Christmas!!! The best time of the year!!! I love it!!!

4. I'm baking this afternoon and making mice. I love baking and making mice!!!

5. I have a great family to celebrate with!!! I can't wait to see their expressions when they open their presents!!! Whooo Hoo!!!

6. My Daughter!!! She's so precious!!

7. My Son!!! The pain he is, is really a great kid!!

8. My Husband!!! He's the best!!! Whoo Hoooo!!!!

Ok, can you tell I'm overjoyed and excited. Can't help it. I get this way every year at Christmas time. I just love the season.

Hmmmm, Here's to a blessed weekend. May everyone have a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Joys of Speed Cleaning

So, yesterday I took home a copy paper box for the purpose of dejunking my kitchen. I was very successful. I filled my box and all the little stuff that seems to gather in the kitchen is gone!!! I just didn't realize that much stuff was in there. I also clean out the little rack that we slip assorted papers in. It was stuffed to the brim. I'm proud. Its all sorted and looks rather neat.

Tony worked hard in the pit. OMG!!! We have furniture in there. Its really our family room downstairs. But, Tony took over and it got kind of junked up. Not anymore.

David cleaned his bathroom (somewhat)!!! Gasp!!!! I can't believe it. Did a pretty decent job. Make my recleaning so much easier. He also did his laundry and removed it from the laundry room.

I think we are making progress in the organization and cleaning department. Now just waiting for the arrival of Santa!!!

Pictures I Promised

Little Town of Winter Garden

Last night after the Christmas Party we drove through the little town of Winter Garden. They have a historic downtown area that is so quaint. Every year the decorate it for the holidays and its beautiful. So, we jumped out and took a picture in their town square Christmas tree. (I have to upload them still, will post them tonight.) Rebecca loves looking at all the lights. In addition to their usual display they added white reindeer through the town. In all the green areas there would be herds of white plywood deer. It was very cute.

From there we went to the Christmas house. Its the same as the Halloween house that I've shown pictures of. They go on decorating overload for Christmas too. (I have pictures of it too, you'll just have to wait for tonight).

Today is our little office luncheon. The girls do a gift exchange and we go out with the big bosses. This is the last year for Roger. He's retired in February. He has been so generous to us in the past. He will be sorely missed. Its gone to be a fun day!!

Happy Monday

Hard to believe one week from today is Christmas. I can't wait. We have such fun planned.

Sunday turned out ok. I've got a terrible cold. But, I still went and wrapped presents at the mall. Tony took Rebecca with him to St. Petersburgh. By the time I was done, I was ready to lay down and die.

Tony's day turned into a marathon day. He didn't get home with Rebecca till 6:30 and then he still had to deliver a boy home. It was 8:30 before he was home for good. That was not how we expected the day to go.

I have 4 more presents to wrap, a party for tonight and a weekend of festivities to get ready for. We did test the spiked egg nog on Saturday night to make sure it was ok for our guest. Definetly passed the test.

Its a Wrap!!!

The presents are wrapped and the oookies were delivered this morning. I'm dying though. Crappy time to get a cold. I better be better tommorrow. That's all I got to say.

Weekend of Giving!!

This is why I love the holidays!!! This is the weekend of giving. I really mean it when I say that it puts joy in heart to give my time and talents. Its like a fast track to the holiday spirit.

Tonight I'm baking cookies to donate to the packages going to the shut ins. They are for the members of the organization I belong to that are either in the nursing home or confined to home. They really love when we visit them and bring a Christmas package. They truly appreciate the company. I imagine they get so lonely. So, Saturday morning, I'm helping putting the packages together and delivering them.

Sunday, I'm wrapping presents at the mall for BETA Center. I just love doing this. I think I've done at least 10 years now. I would never miss it.

While, I'm wrapping presents, Tony is taking Rebecca to St. Pete with him to deliver goodies and Christmas cards to the Masonic Home. I wish I was two people. I would love to go with them.

Then, in the afternoon, we do our annual Christmas cookie baking and decorating with my Mom. Gosh Christmas doesn't get any better than this weekend. This is what makes my holiday memories merry!!!

Thursday???

Are you sure its not Friday??? We have 4 kittens total. 3 tabbies and a black. Chloe is a good mommy. We are going to try hard to find homes for them, including the older kitten. We still want to keep Chloe. She's really sweet.

Dance tonight. Rebecca has new ballet slippers. She is so excited about going.

I really, really need to wrap. I haven't wrapped a thing. Hopefully, during nap time on Saturday I can knock out a bunch.

Kittens!!!!

That's right. The cat wasn't just fat, she had kittens. I'm not sure of the final count. She has them hidden away. But, they will be ready for a perfect Valentine's gift. 8 weeks at about Valentine's Day. So, keep that in mind if you are in a quandry about what to get your sweetie. I know we have at least four. I'll update this evening with pictures.

Cancelled!!!!!

How do you not know you are going to have a problem 5:04 the night before an event. Caterers just don't screw up that late in the game. I highly doubt that it was the caterer. My Volunteer Holiday Lunch at Leu Gardens was cancelled for today. The notice was sent at 5:04 last night. Hello, do you honestly think anyone saw it before this morning. I would have never cancelled at this late in the game. Relocated, yes. But, never cancelled. I'm really disappointed.

Hope its not a sign of things to come. I have another Holiday event tonight at Barney's Steakhouse. Yummmm. Very pricey, but very good.

Happy Holiday, postponed????

Two Weeks and Counting

Can you believe it!!! Two weeks till Christmas. My shoppings done, but I haven't wrapped a single thing. Guess I'll have to buckle down this weekend and get it done.

We had such a nice weekend. Sea World was very nice yesterday. The kids had so much fun together.

The dogs finally got a haircut. Tony took the trimmers to them. They don't look pretty, but I bet they feel better.

This weekend is my annual wrapping presents at the mall. The proceeds benefit the BETA Center. I've been doing this for about 9 years now. It is so much fun. Mostly men use this service and its always interesting to see what they pick out for thier wives and significant others. This really puts me in the spirit and I'm looking forward to it. I'm a little nervous though. Tony has to go to Tampa, so he's taking Rebecca for the day. Can you believe it, time to myself??? But, I really don't want her to go. Is that bad? I should enjoy the time to myself. I even have a gift certificate to J C Penney's to use. But, I really don't want her to go that far without me. I've made up my mind to enjoy it though. He'll do fine. I hope . . . . . .

1/2 Way Through

Saturday just blew by. Wasn't planning on being gone the whole day. But, I think we just needed a day to go have fun.

We started out at the Dance store getting Rebecca new ballet slippers. I lost one the other night after our dinner fiasco. I love the little dance store in our downtown. Nice people. After that we headed to my Mom's to work on her computer. Thank God the family has a tech on call. Tony can fix anything it seems.

From there we took my Mom with us and Tony dropped us off at Old Time Pottery. I love that store. Tony was like "Call me when you're done" Ummmmm, he eventually pulled us out of the store. They have such good deals there.

On to the Rainbow Girl fish fry. It was ok. We were kind of obligated to go. We didn't stay long. We were due in Winter Springs for a 30th birthday party for a friend of ours, Mark. It was at a beautiful park and they had a cookout.

From there we were around the corner from the Oviedo Marketplace (mall). So, our friend, Athena went with us and we hooked up with her son and his wife to shop the mall. We had a blast at the mall. Rebecca got a headband with candy canes sticking up and she wore it the whole time we were there.

All in all it was a fun day. Just hanging out and not cleaning, doing chores or such. I love days like this.

Today, I have to do a few things to keep the house running and then after lunch we are hooking up with other friends at Sea World to see their new night time firework show and snow.

I love weekends like this.

Toys For Tots Wrap Up

Today was the final collection day for Toys for Tots. We had a great response. I'll have pictures Monday to show how generous the employees of the City of Orlando are. This is the stuff that really puts me in the holiday mood.

City Hall was nice this morning. The CNL building had dickens carolers out on the bridge between the buildings. They were really good.

Today was holiday bonus day too!!!

Great weekend planned. I'm ready. Bring on the fun!!!

Flu Shots

I took Rebecca for her flu shot this morning. Didn't even flinch. I've decided not to get one this year. I usually never get sick (knock on wood). But, for the last two years I've gotten flu shots, I am constantly sick. So, I'm risking it this year.

I have a good night sleep. I was supposed to even get to sleep in a little this morning due to Rebecca's doctor appt. But, my sweet husband, woke me up at my usual time to make sure I wasn't late for work. Wasn't that nice. So, much for a little extra sleep. I did give him the memo.

Its going to be a loooooonnnnggggg day!!!

I've had very little sleep the last two nights and I'm tired. Its a full moon. I was in a traffic jam on the way to work this morning. I have a feeling its going to be a long day.

I'm off to the Post Office for stamps to mail our Christmas Cards. Now if I could just get some elfs to come wrap my presents and some fairies to sprinkle some holiday spirit on my husband and we'll be all set.

Oh, and think of my friend, Pattie. She's stuck in frozen St Louis area with no electricity. Here's some warm thoughts for you girl!!!

One Party Down

First holiday party of the season was last night. Actually, I'm president of the association. So, I was hosting the dinner. Good friend of mine, Athena, came and helped me put the dinner on. It was a nice time and I think all the members enjoyed it. I have a ton of food leftover. Guess what we'll be eating all week???

Just think, 19 shopping days till Christmas. Are you done yet? I am!!!!

The Thing Is . . . . .

I have to weigh what it more important, connecting with all my friends online or allowing the one person I wish would just leave me alone to interrupt my life. I say screw her. If she is that obsessed about me and what I'm doing, let her waste her time. I really want to stay connected with my readers, so I'm opening up my blog again.

I just really wish that she would leave me alone.

Mission Christmas

Well, I think the holiday spirit has caught up with me. We've spent the whole weekend doing holiday things. I'm finally getting in the mood.

Friday we went to our little downtown,(like 3 blocks) and they had their annual lighting of the Christmas tree. It was really nice. They had a handbell choir that was awesome. The best part was the 3-D glasses they gave out to look at all the lights. Rebecca insisted on wearing hers the whole time.

On Saturday, I took Rebecca to the Christmas parade. We had such a great time. Haven't been to a parade in a long time. Rebecca made out like a bandit with candy, a stuffed animal and a book. She was thrilled with everything she saw.

That night we went to the 50th anniversary celebration of the Citrus Tower. The gentleman who owns the citrus tower paid for the whole event as a thank you to the community. It was really nice. It was an almost carnival atmosphere. He also had a stage with a 50's band playing. The best part was the symphony he brought in to play in sync with the fireworks. The fireworks were great. Although, Rebecca was scared of the booming so we ended up leaving half way through. Oh, I forgot, the 50's music, Rebecca danced and danced and danced. She is such a doll.

Sunday, we decorated. Tree, lights, house. Its all done. I'm exhausted. Well, not to much after my 2 hours nap this afternoon. I have a dinner I'm hosting tommorrow night for my association I am President of. I'll be glad when that's over, it was a lot of work.

Merry Christmas!!!

Our Santa Encounter

So, on Friday, I went to Walmart on my lunch hour. You will never guess who was there!!! It was the Santa from Coca Cola. I had to have a picture with him. I also found out that he would be at the Walmart near my house that afternoon.

So, I loaded up Rebecca and Tony when I got home and we went to see Santa!!! It was too cool. Here's the pics.

Countdown to Christmas!!!

Can't believe its December 1 already!!! Tonight we are going to Light Up Clermont. Our little town has a street party with a lighting ceremony of a floating Christmas in the lake in downtown. Its kind of hokey, but I enjoy it.

Sunday we are decorating the tree. Maybe the spirit is starting to sink into me!!! YAY for Christmas.

I found out we are having guests for Christmas morning breakfast. I love entertaining. My mind is already reeling with all the things I want to do and make. So, girls, if you ever want to come visit me, I love to entertain. I will make your visit a treat!!!