Friday Fill-ins

Well, I am still trying to catch my thoughts as they fly by on the lazy susan in my brain. I figure if I miss them, they will be around again!!! No really, I just have had no time to sit and write out a decent post.

Today was my last day of work and I have all next week off. So, plenty of time to write the posts....or at least that is what I hope.

Until then, enjoy my Friday Fill in!



1. No, we will NOT put the dancing Santa out this year. The song drives me CRAZY. Besides, I need to find it first.....Jason has hidden it too well. (see this post for explanation).
2. Such great memories of family dinners at the old kitchen table.
3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: aahhhhh!
4. Though it may not seem like it, it's all going to be okay.
5. I'll take the last piece of chocolate cake....after I go exercise! :)
6. I have the best family ever, at least from my point of view.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a relaxing night with the family, tomorrow my plans include relaxing with the family and Sunday, I want to enjoy church and then.......relax! that is the theme of my weekend!


Happy Friday!!!

WYAW

I have so much to blog about that I can't even begin to figure out where to start!!

So, while I try to pull all my thoughts together....which is not easy as they seem to all be on a lazy susan in my mind installed by menopause.........I'll leave you with a few questions for Linda's What's Your Answer Wednesday!


1. Do you fill stockings for Christmas and if so, do you wrap each item?

2. What is your tradition on Christmas morning?

3. Turkey, beef or ham on Christmas day?

4. Matching Christmas pajamas?


Answers:

1. Yes, we fill the stockings. But, no, I don't wrap each item. I might wrap on or two, but mostly they just go right in.....less work that way! :)

2. My kids are early risers....even as teenagers!! So, they have to come to our room first and stay in there while Steve and I get the coffee (a must if I am going to enjoy it) on and set up any last minute items and the camera. Then the kids have to put on their Santa hats and come out doing the "Bowyer dance". They dance through the dining room around to where the Advent calendar is and put the angel on top of the tree. Then they come in the family room. We first open stockings, then santa bags (sent by my mom). After that, we pass out all the presents and then open them one at a time. After all the presents are opened, I make a Christmas tree out of cinnamon rolls for breakfast and we spend most of the day in our PJs just hanging out!!!

3. We have beef tenderloin or if I can afford it, prime rib.

4. I have made the kids matching Pjs since they were little. One year I bought them and the kids had a FIT....so I went back to making them. However, this has been a very busy and draining year and I made the decision to buy them.....my kids were wonderful and understanding and told me how great they were.....I love my children!!

Merry Wednesday!!!

Project 365 - Week 50....and a future give-away and contest!

Week FIFTY!! I can't believe we have only TWO weeks left of this project!!

I promised a give-away on the last week and after considering the options, decided to give-away a $20 gift card to blurb. It just seems fitting to the project and I know we will all want to make a book of our year.

Here are the rules.......1) you have to post on the last week, 2) you have to have participated a majority of the year. Many of you came in in the middle but have consistently participated and some of you have had to take breaks..that's ok! 3) you have to post about your book when you finish it!!!

I took the week+ off of blogging and I have to say that it really gave me time to get caught up, get in the Christmas spirit (yea!) and to do some reevaluating. And I have come to the conclusion that I just can't imagine not doing project 365 again next year. I have so enjoyed chronicling my life and also getting a glimpse into yours! I want to keep it up! So, I will be hosting this project again in 2010 (hey, that rhymes!).....to those of you who offered to take it over, thank you!!! I am thrilled that others want to keep going too!!! Are you in?!

Here is where the contest comes in! I think we will need a new button. So, I would like to challenge you creative types (because I am lacking in that category) to design one. Post it on your last weeks of project 365 and I will pick one to start the New Year with!!!

Now on to my week:

Sunday

We decorated our tree tonight.
Putting the angel on the top was even more meaningful this year.
My Aunt gave Steve and me this angel the 1st year of our marriage.

I am missing her so much.

Monday

Mom and I worked all day on a digital calendar for her 60th High School reunion.
It turned out so good!

Tuesday

my boys had their Christmas band concert tonight.
It was AWESOME!!

But THIS was hilarious.....

This would happen to be my husband's car!

Wednesday

Mom and Dad left this morning and I was back to work.
I spent my time learning a new computer system we now have....ugh!

Thursday

Making spiced ornaments tonight.
Wow, do they smell good!!

go here for the recipe!

Friday

Holiday Chex Mix!!
I like Cheerios in mine and no nuts.
now it's Christmas!! :)

Saturday

These are 2 of my neighbors.
Mandy (the in black) battled colon cancer this year and beat it!!
Last weekend, she walked a 1/2 marathon. So we decided we needed celebratory pedicures!!!
I am so fortunate to have such great neighbors and friends!!!

What have you been up to this week?

Project 365 - Week 49

Week 49 and counting down!!!

this week started out very depressing for me and put me in a Bah Hum Bug mood. I loved having my best friend's family and my daughter here for the Thanksgiving weekend. The house was FULL and LOUD and WONDERFUL!!! I was in heaven!!!

Just a little, ok... a lot, of Holiday let down set in on Sunday.

This has been my busiest week ever (see this post if you are wondering why), but I am happy to say, that God has worked on my heart and it has been a wonderful weekend!!! I am tired, but everything was accomplished and came out awesome!!! I will be posting on some of it later this week.

Here it is:

Sunday
In case you were wondering....

.....goodbyes stink.

Monday

Back to setting the table for four.....
....this has made me very sad today.

Tuesday

some wonderful friend...
...knowing I have been a bit hormonal lately....
...left this on my doorstep!
So great!!

Wednesday

Decking the Halls at the church tonight!

so much fun!
We had cider, hot chocolate and desserts...
Christmas music AND
I am finally in the Christmas spirit!!!!

This helped.....

This is our youth pastor's new foster baby.
How sweet is he?!!!

Thursday

Waiting in my little cubicle to have my mammogram
and trying to prepare myself! ha!
This actually happened on Friday, but I didn't have a picture for Thursday.


Friday

IFO Christmas party
International Friendship Outreach

we had over 350 internationals at our church for a Christmas dinner, party and program.

each was given a gift and for many it was the first and maybe only time they will hear the message of Christ.

Saturday
My parents flew in today for a quick visit!!!
...and no, my mom is not a 2 fisted ice cream eater...
..she's holding MINE!

How was your week?

Update

So I am taking a mini break and thought I'd give you an update on my To Do List:

* work today
* make cider for Xmas party at church
* go to church for decorating party
* clean Thursday morning like mad (mom is coming)
this may or may not happen....
* work in afternoon
* help set up church for IFO party Friday
* Friday breakfast date with hubby
was wonderful!!
* Friday, cook 2 turkeys for IFO party that night at church
didn't think turkeys would smell so good this soon after Thanksgiving, but they smell so yummy!!!
* bake cake for IFO party that night at church
* have a mamogram
* Go to Sams for food for luncheon Sunday
hubby did this for me!
* IFO party and clean up
* put together dish for Romania team breakfast Saturday
* Romania team get together
* cook food for Sunday appreciation luncheon for Children's church teachers
the other ladies are handling this!
* pick up parents at airport
* decorate house and tree
* church Sunday
* appreciation luncheon
* crash on sofa
* help my mom create a digital calendar for her 50th HS reunion
(the reason she is coming for a visit)
* work
* make cookies for boys band concert
* boys band concert
* send my parents home
* try and figure out what to serve at staff/elder dinner on Sunday

Well, I'm feeling pretty good and think I have accomplished quite a bit!
AND I am feeling more and more in the Christmas spirit....yea God!
Looking forward to getting my decorations up!!! :)

blog break..........again.

Ugh!

I just can't seem to get caught up.

So, I need to take another blog break, I think.

I have one post I am working on about what we are doing for Christmas this year, but that will probably be it till.......I don't know when.

Why, you ask?

Here is my schedule for the next few days:

* work today
* make cider for Xmas party at church
* go to church for decorating party
* clean Thursday morning like mad (mom is coming)
* work in afternoon
* help set up church for IFO party Friday
* Friday breakfast date with hubby
(a must)
* Friday, cook 2 turkeys for IFO party that night at church
* bake cake for IFO party that night at church
(IFO is a ministry to international students in our area)

* have a mamogram

(ya, can you believe that is in there)

* Go to Sams for food for luncheon Sunday
* IFO party and clean up
* put together dish for Romania team breakfast Saturday
* Romania team get together
* cook food for Sunday appreciation luncheon for Children's church teachers
* pick up parents at airport
* decorate house and tree
* church Sunday
* appreciation luncheon
* crash on sofa
* help my mom create a digital calendar for her 50th HS reunion
(the reason she is coming for a visit)
* work
* make cookies for boys band concert
* boys band concert
* send my parents home
* try and figure out what to serve at staff/elder dinner on Sunday


What in the world am I doing on this computer?!!!!

Random Dozen

I am joining Linda today for Random dozen. I do have to say that these questions taxed my already somewhat foggy brain.....a little to deep for me!

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? seriously? I have no clue.......maybe the scarecrow because with menopause, my brain seems to have left my body.

2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? really? some people start with the same item first each day? I start with...how late am I and what is fastest......or......I am feeling fat today, let's go for the scrubs.......or.......I'm not leaving the house so let's stay in the PJs!

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? my first thought was mosquito......then I realized it is not an animal.....hmmmmm........how about a duck billed platapus.

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home? none yet......I'm still in semi humbug mode. But there eventually will be 3. First our big one in the family room, then my miniature one that my friends gave me when we moved from IN. They each gave me an ornament for it too. Then the 3rd will be out on our front porch.

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak? absolutely not. How could you even understand heartbreak without knowing the wonder of a high?

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression? yes.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music?yep!! I used to crank my Off the Wall album (yes, album) all the way up in my dorm room. I am still trying to find time to see the movie.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma? I don't know.

9. Enjoy horseback riding? a little. But the horses seem to know that I am afraid of them and then things tend to go very wrong.

10. Shoes--practical or stylish? yes.

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic. His name was Prince and he was an australian shepherd. I don't have a picture, they are at my moms house.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done? zero........thanks for reminding me.