December 27th Daybook

Outside my window...

...about a foot of snow!  They called it a blizzard, and although we have seen much worse, we did lose power twice and had heavy winds all night.  Perfect timing for a day when nobody had to go to school or work anyway.

I am thinking...

...about how much I want to eat a tuna sandwich and a diet coke.  Tuna is a once a week treat while pregnant and diet anything is a no-no.  So sad :(

I am thankful for...

...my husband who shoveled this morning, my kids who have been busy playing with their Christmas gifts, a friend who is giving me her newish baby car seat, and a wonderful holiday shared with family.

From the kitchen...

...I'm going to bake chocolate chip zucchini bread later today.  Phil made blueberry pancakes this morning.  Yum!

I am wearing...

...Maternity jeans (yes, maternity...sigh) and a black shirt.  No socks and my feet are freezing!

I am creating...

...another baby.  Can I just keep using this answer for the next 7 months?

I am going...

...to my sister's house to let the cousins play together, to do some work for my kid's school, and then vacuum.  I love to vacuum!

I am reading...

...The Eat Clean Diet book and America's Test Kitchen Healthy Recipe Book.  Both are great!

I am hoping...

...for some good news from our ultrasound on Wednesday.  The good news being that everything looks great and I'm further along than I think.

I am hearing...

...Phil and Andrew playing a card game, John-Paul sorting legos, and the little ones sleeping on the monitors.

Around the house...

...it's a Christmas mess, but we're enjoying it!

One of my favorite things...

...tuna and diet coke.  Did I already mention that?

A few plans for the rest of the week:

   ~Dentist visits

   ~An appointment to a new primary care physician

   ~An ultrasound and midwife visit

   ~A trip with my handsome hubby to Indianapolis over New Year's Eve and Day to a friend's wedding :)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

Christmas Morning on the stairs waiting to see the presents!

 

(From The Simple Woman's Daybook)

Christmas Day 2010

Waiting to come downstairs on Christmas morning:

Woo-hoo, presents galore!!

Maggie gets a new book (which has been great to bring to Mass):

Eamon is thrilled with his personalized piggy bank from Nana.  Now he's just like the big boys!

This was a popular movie this year...we received three of them!  Good thing Wal-Mart accepts most returns :)

Horses from Nana (I wonder if Aunt Diana had any part in picking these out??):

Yes!  More lego's!!

This little girl only asked for one Christmas gift - a baby Cinderella doll!  How fitting; a princess for a princess:

Boys and their toys...

This Christmas was very special, because we had a BIG gift to give to the kids.  But we didn't just want to tell them what it was, so we set up a scavenger hunt with clues.  Each clue led them to a scrabble letter, and another clue, until they found all 11 letters.

Then the unscrambling of the letters began:

What ever could it spell?

They finally figured out the second half with a little help:

And Andrew thought he had solved it with this:

With a little shuffle, they finally got it right!

Please don't mind the tired and frumpy mom with the video camera:

Grandpa and the boys are all smiles!

Now they just have to wait until February.  It just.might.kill.them!

Holiday Eating Tips

 HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

　

　

1.  Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? 

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 

8. Same for pies. Apple

 

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: 

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" 

Have a great 

Christmas and New Year Season!!! 

, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? 

Our Christmas Card (if you didn't already receive one!)

Oh Holy Night Religious Christmas Card

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Digital Christmas

Christmas Pageant 2010 in Pictures