Dec 26-29

Hello! It's been a few days.
Dec 26 we took our tree and holiday decor down, and in the evening headed to my parents' house. We stayed overnight, spent the day with family on the 27th, and then headed home in the evening, returning home about 9:30, 10 o'clock. It was a quick visit, which is always hard during the holidays.
The 28th, we went to church, headed to the in laws' for lunch, then the girls went with their aunt to see Bedtime Stories. They thought it was a cute movie. While they were gone, the husband and I went to Lowe's to plan how we'll spend our Christmas gift $. We are repainting the kitchen. It has needed it for a while. We are also getting new countertops, which won't arrive for around 5 weeks, but will look very nice when we get them! :) We had a lot of fun looking and are excited to get the process started. Then we went out to eat!
Today we met my mother and sister in law at a breakfast place, then headed to a bookstore (where we all had gift cards to spend), then onto the mall to have the daughters pick out an outfit with designated Christmas $. They also got to go to Target to use the rest on a toy/thing of their choosing, once the outfit had been purchased. We arrived home, the girls had lunch, then our youngest had a "playdate", so I took her there and then I got a run in! Garmin Girl beat me today, I might add, due to the wind that kicked my rear! :) I have ran 4 times in the last 6 days, and felt pretty good for most of them.
I also put out 75% of my snowmen decorations last night, but decided the 100% was overkill.
In my kitchen I have had cobalt blue glass for about 8 years. It is not staying in the "new" kitchen decor, so the hubby got all that down from the top of the cupboards last night. I still have that to clean and pack away today. It's a good feeling, the new plan . :)
I have also picked out my one little word for 2009, which I will talk about in another post.
Tomorrow we have no plans, so that is a good feeling, as well.

Did you know?

Did you know there is a "countdown" on the USA network website to countdown until the next half of the Psych season begins? It's like an advent calendar with clips, facts and a couple of laughs thrown in. My absolute favorite show! My in laws went to New York over Thanksgiving, for a quick vacation, and while there, they bought me this shirt. It is great! :) Can't wait till Psych starts on January 9! :)

Dec 25

Merry Christmas! {yawn}
The girls were "late" risers this year and only got up at 6:30. :) It wasn't around 5am like last year, which resulted in me sending them back to bed until 6! :) They opened their gifts from Santa, we had our traditional breakfast and were done by 8.
I ran yesterday. Probably will again today. Yesterday I got in 4.25 miles, with my new friend, Garmin Girl 1, my gift from the hubby. Who needs diamonds?? :) He looked for a good deal on different sites, better than what's listed on the garmin site. I'd like to help the economy, but wow! :)
My Nike watch quit, my Nike+ went out when keeping track of my time and distance... I still need the ipod for music, but the garmin helps me keep my time on task, and keeps track of my route. I need to keep working at my goals.
We ended up making 5 kinds of the cookies. We ran out of time with cleaning and cooking for the in laws to come last night. We made:

• crab dip
• spinach dip
• cheese fondue
• fruit salsa and cinnamon chips, they didn't have strawberries at the store, so we used a red pear and it was yummy!
  
• store bought pimento cheese spread, and ham salad
• lots of crackers, veggies, and bread to dip
• and some wine. :)

The food turned out well, and then we headed to church. It was a lovely service. A good way to spend Christmas Eve.

Well, off for family time. :) Merry Christmas!!!

Dec 23 & 24

Our oldest does have to have her wisdom teeth out on Jan 2. Please keep her well being in your thoughts. She's anxious already. She's supposed to go back to school on Jan 5, so we're hoping she's feeling well enough, but we'll see. We don't want to rush anything!

We made four kinds of cookies, thus far, amidst other activities.

We are done with our shopping, but not quite all the wrapping.

Tonight we have my in laws (mother, father, grandmother and sister) over for the annual Christmas eve dinner. We try to do different things every year. This year is "appetizers/dips" and then we'll attend church.

I would also like to get a run in today, as well as all the cooking and cleaning... think it'll happen? :)

Yesterday we went out, picked up my youngest from a sleepover (her friend's birthday is so close to Christmas, but it all worked out for her to have her party and all her friends could come!), went to the in-laws to play with the nieces and nephews, as well as get two games of euchre in with my husband's grandma. Then we headed home, got a few things done here, and then headed back out to finish stocking stuffers for the in laws. We always do parents' stocking stuffers. :) Then we exchanged gifts!

I know, I know, it wasn't even Christmas eve! Here, the only gifts opened on Christmas morning are from Santa. So, we all exchange gifts on Christmas Eve day. Since my husband had to work today, he will get home just in time to sit down and eat. Then we'll head off to church, and then it will be time for them to nestle all snug in the basement (it's a tradition that they sleep together every Christmas Eve, and wake up on Christmas morning together). So, we really didn't have time to just open them together, the four of us, after last night. Thus, we opened them. We all gave each other really nice gifts.

Now I have a list a mile long of things I need to get done before family arrives tonight! Then why am I blogging, you ask? :) Well, to wish all of you a wonderful holiday and send the regular readers a great big hug! Merry Christmas!!

Dec 22

Hello!
Yes, my cookie baking list is ambitious, we'll see if I actually accomplish it!
But, I'm going to try.

Today we have our oldest daughter's pre surgery appt for her wisdom teeth removal. We're hoping she doesn't have to have them removed considering the reason they gave us for removal was that the wisdom teeth were holding in her 12 yr molars. Two of her molars have begun to poke through in the last month, so... but they're both the bottom, so he may suggest just top removal? I would just like to hold off on surgeries if possible. :)

We also have to shop for a friend of my youngest daughter's, as her birthday is today and her party is tonight-an overnight.

We have a busy afternoon, as well.

We went to a women's college basketball game as a family yesterday, too. It was a rival game and our team won by twent points! It was a fun event for all of us, and our seats were pretty good!

Have also begun the thoughts on the "one little word" for 2009. Faith was my 2008 word and I really worked on it.

I am off to start the day! I hope your Monday is magnificent! :)