A 'Nothing' Weekend!

I've totally failed at the December Photo Project - where you post a random picture each day from that day. I really was going to do it, but I claim that this is my first year blogging, but I will totally be ready (maybe?) for DPP next year.

Last week, Jason worked late each night. It was a long week that ended with a great weekend!

Saturday morning I made my Wal-Mart run in the morning and had the whole day ahead of me. Jason was going to paint all the trim in the hallway (last week he painted the hallway the same pale green as our living room) and my plan was to do some Christmas baking while he painted (I'd be at the end of the hall in the kitchen so we could sorta 'hang out' while we each worked) - somehow it is mid-December and I haven't done any baking yet? That is absolutely unheard of for me.

When Jason opened the trim paint he had just bought, it was red. He was just getting a basic white, but must have grabbed one of the base colors that was red (some would say he did it on purpose so he didn't have to paint :) ). Therefore, I didn't get any baking done.

Jason spent a lot of the day reading, which is really what he needed after such a long week. I was able to get a really good run in, which may not sound 'relaxing', but was treat because I can't always push myself with the kids around. [I've shifted my 'run' to 4-miles, which used to take 72 minutes, but Saturday I did it in 62 minutes. I was pleased with this time even though I was trying to get it under an hour. My first two miles took 28 minutes, but, by the last mile, I was really just walking].

Saturday night, we picked up pizza and went to hang out with my parents. Sometimes, when you live eight doors apart, you may see each other a lot, but you don't get to really 'hang out' a lot. Usually, when we are at Mom and Dad's it is Sunday afternoon, when other families are there and Dad is usually exhausted by preaching that morning. So, Saturday night was a treat to just be there!

On Sunday, we were supposed to meet with our Shepherding Group, so we told Mom we weren't coming for Sunday lunch. Our group got cancelled, but instead of going to Mom and Dad's for lunch we went home. It was wonderful! We had a PB&J lunch, everyone got in the PJ's (it was raining so there was no outside playtime ahead), the kids played downstairs, Jason went back to his book and I got to take a nap.

Unfortunately, all good things must end. This morning (Monday) started at 3:30 for me because Tavis had a migraine (he hadn't felt well last night and put himself to bed at 6:00). At 3:30 he came to my room and said he was going to throw up, and he did. For the next couple hours he slept on my floor (moaning) and ran to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so.

Oh, Well, the weekend was great!

Ladies Christmas Dinner

Last night was our Ladies Christmas Dinner at church. Mollee has gone with me every year since she was 6 weeks old. Of course, we always get a picture:

Mac didn't want to miss out on 'picture time':

It had been a very hectic evening. Jason was late getting home and so I was a little late getting to the dinner. I was hoping to get to sit with some girlfriends and was glad I got to eat with two great friends, Reba and Moriah (sorry for the blurry picture, Mollee took it):Moriah's 6-week old was joining via the carseat:

We also got to sit with one of Mollee's friends, Gracie (and her grandmother):
It was a nice 'girls' evening. The food was great and I, of course, ate way too much. They always have men in the church serve the ladies, and I was happy to get Jimbo serving our table. Unfortunately, we had to leave a little early so that Mollee could get to bed a decent time for school the following day.

Snow!

We enjoyed throwing snowballs at 8:00, (clothes to the dryer), and then again at 10:00, (clothes back the dryer).

Mac wasn't so sure about this cold wet stuff that everyone was excited about!Eleanor (my niece) spent the night Friday night so she got to enjoy the snow with us also.
I'm glad the kids got to enjoy some snow this year, it was only a little bit, but it was more than some other years! :)

Li Bien

This is my Ornaments, Part 2 entry.

Jason gets the kids the Li Bien Ornaments from Pier One each year. These are gorgeous, hand-painted ornaments. "Li Bien" means inside. These glass ornaments are painted on the inside through a small opening in the top.

It all started with Mollee's first Christmas when I requested that Jason get Mollee a special ornament. He is always drawn to Pier One for gift buying and this was the ornament he found. These ornaments are nice because the year is painted on the back of each one and they each come in a beautiful velvet box.

He then started to get me one of a manager scene each year, or an angel if they didn't have new ones (some years there are repeats from the previous years).

We usually are afraid to put these ornaments on the tree because we don't want them to get bumped off and break (they can't be replaced). So we always put the previous year on the dining room chandelier.
This year, I saw something similar to this in the Better Homes and Garden magazine on curtains, so I improvised on our cornice.
Thus ends the Christmas decor blogs!

DPP, Day 4 (technically)

I'm late on starting with the "December Photo Project". Today is supposed to be Day 4, for me it is Day 1, but here it is. Mac's typical grin!

Accomplishments.....and failures!

I guess I have to show both sides. If I'm going to brag on my diet accomplishments, do I have to come clean about the downside also? I've done well. Even through Thanksgiving I feel like I kept myself under control (in the eating department). I did 4-miles Thanksgiving morning and a few other days that long weekend to make up for eating such big meals, plus I continued to stay away from sweet tea and coke.

The last 48 hours, not so much (and I completely blame PMS). Yesterday, I needed junk food, you know that feeling? Today, I needed coke, and, I caved. Have you ever seen a 'large' at Burger King? It has to be 40+ ounces, and I enjoyed every last ounce.

I absolutely needed it! And you know what? When you don't have caffeine for 5 or 6 weeks, you can really feel it - and it is nice!

So, back to being 'good' tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have a light dinner and get on the treadmill for my 4 miles tonight. I just felt I wasn't being fair if I only praised myself and didn't share my struggles also. I have lost 13 lbs! I was due a treat, right?

Ornaments

Right before my computer crashed (my little sister bought a laptop because she is moving to Africa in March and she graciously gave us her desktop computer to use) I started working on this entry. I'm not sure I got all the pictures on here I wanted to, but you get the idea.

Each year Jason buys the kids a really nice ornament (more on that in another entry). I, on the other hand, try to get them a character ornament. I like to get something that goes along with their interests that particular year. I write the year and initial somewhere hidden on the ornament and hope to let the kids take what they want (my tree will be naked at that time) when they start their own homes.

For example, I think each child has gotten Elmo their first year:

Or another Sesame Street Favorite their second year:For the one year we had cable there were some Nickelodeon Characters:Of course, with four boys, we have a lot of Star Wars:

And Super Heroes:Mac was ecstatic last year to get Thomas, but couldn't understand why he couldn't play with it (can you tell he hung it?): And no Christmas is complete without the Grinch, right?:
Of course, Mollee's are easy to spot (pink, pink, and pink):And the ones that Grandma J made:While we are talking about homemade, here is a gem I made in 3rd grade. I remember making it and being so proud of it. Jason got a hold of it when we first got married and insists that it is on our tree each year:And I've got all my giraffes:I also think the 'Smores' collection is cute, I have a couple:...but was so excited to find this one for the kids to give Jason a few years ago: And there is our Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head:

And this is the one I look forward to each year. Jason isn't a gift giver or much for surprises. One of our first Christmases together I told him, "You must at least get me an ornament". I like Tigger so he got me this one and as I went to hang it on the tree, there was a white gold, aquamarine/diamond ring on Tigger's tail. It was a wonderful surprise that I hold dear. This is just a small taste of our tree. We have many other Star Wars, Bob the Builder, pink ones, etc. It is fun to look back on the memories of opening the ornaments and why each one got the one they did on a certain year.