Uh Oh.....I got the fever

the Christmas FEVER!

The last few years have just really been ho hum. Part of it is because the people that I lived with didn't really care if the house was decorated or if there was anything resembling Christmas spririt anywhere's near them. Or then again, maybe they just said that.

Anyways.........I'm excited for it and I think this year I am going to make it BIG!

I have bought a couple of Christmas presents and I really am excited to decorate the house this year. In fact, I talked to the eldest son tonight and told him I need him to get all the stuff down so I can decorate. My husband is closing 5 nights this week.......so since I have a lot of time by myself -- guess I'll decorate!

We'll be having our next Family Dinner around the 15th of the month -- so I want to have the house decorated and I have some other "secrets" planned for that party. I really miss having little kids around and all the excitement that resembles Christmas.

So watch out family......we are having a BIG Christmas at this house this year whether you like it or not. No bah humbugs here!

Ha ha.....I'll keep you posted!

Family Dinner Night: Operation Lasagna

Another fun night of frivolity at our family dinner night. I really wish that we had thought of doing this long before now. It's really fun trying to outdo the previous event. I hope I'm not stressing myself out too much each month trying to plan these things.

This month's events brought out a demonstration of a heavily tattooed guest:



Another notable importance at this event was the addition of 4 new members to our dinner.





It was a little crowded fitting 13 people around a table in the living room, but it's much more fun to have everyone eating together. The menu included Lasagna, Garlic Bread, and Salad. Jessica brought homemade Cherry and Apple pies, which were very yummy!



The evening ended with the ceremonial group picture and the decision of who would bring next month's dessert and what the main course meal would be.

Wait until December's party -- I have all sorts of things planned for a great night!

It's the night before Thanksgiving......

and all through the house......
I'm preparing the dinner ..... but first I need soused

After a freshly poured beer and a crappy TV show.....
I'm ready to go after it -- I'm ready to go.....



The veggies need cutting
The bird needs a wash
The dips need a mixing
I need help...oh my gosh!



But I quickly exclaimed as I crammed food out of sight.....
"Happy Thanksgiving to all and I've had a great night!



*P.S. The use of the word "souse" above was used for rhyming purposes only and did not accurately describe the condition of the author.

Blessings galore

This is the time of the year when we should reflect on our life and be thankful for all that we have. I have to tell you that I do that all year long. I feel so blessed.

#1 - I am so blessed to have a husband who works so hard for us. This allows me the wonderful freedom of working from the house. I can't tell you how wonderful it is really is to have your own business. Yeah....it's stressful, but there are also so many freedoms that come with it. Added blessing here is my brother coming out to helpfully take some of the workload off my husband and hopefully grow our business and eventually give us more money and freedom to really enjoy some of the things that we really enjoy (like traveling). Meeting Paul was one of best things that ever happened to me and my boys......huge huGE HUGE blessing!

#2 - I am so blessed for my kids. They are so grown up and I just can't believe it. They still are the little boys that I see when I look at them. I am thankful for all that they have accomplished and will enjoy watching them work towards their next goals in life.

#3 - I am blessed to still have my parents. We don't get to see them much -- but always have a fun time when we do get the opportunity to get back to our "hometown". I am also blessed to have a crazy sister and brother-in-law -- who always show us a good time when we come. I seriously enjoy spending time with my mom and sister -- we laugh the entire time and it's great to sit around and talk about the "good old days".

There is of course many, many, many more things that I am blessed with -- but to me these are the 3 most important things.

I am so blessed in a million ways.

Highway Mile Markers

As I was sitting here working and entering these boring old numbers, I was letting my mind wander off again.

I was thinking about road trips and when driving down the highway you see the signs for the upcoming cities with their "miles to go". As you approach that city -- it's so familiar in your mind because you've been counting down the miles until you would reach it.



Then as you pass that city, it's time to see what the next highway destination city will be. As you travel on, the last city you went through begins to fade from your mind as you focus on the next one to come. All the little city and town names become so familiar as you continue on that journey. But once you get home, they soon become a distant memory and eventually you can't even remember their names --

It's kind of like that in life. You jump from one major event to another. Always focusing so much on the first one and then once it's past you look ahead to the next one. Whether it's planning a trip, having a family gathering, or even a work deadline that needs to be accomplished -- it still works the same as traveling down that highway.



Interesting.......wonder what it all means? Maybe I need to go on a road trip and do some more research!

Being Paul's Wife

The last blog I wrote centered around all the changes that come from getting older and the kids moving out.

One sentance that I included was "changing from a Mom into Paul's wife".

After talking with my own mom today, I really thought more about that statement.

What a huge transition it was from being a mom to changing into somebody's wife.

Being a mom means sacrificing everything:

*Making sure that you take little portions on your plate so that there is enough for everyone else.
*Always being available for every single phone call and handling every emergency that they can throw at you.
*Making sure that everyone always has an ample supply of underwear, socks, and clean clothes.
*And so many other things that it would take me an hour to write them down.

But changing into someone's wife is a whole different level.

*Enjoying the quiet moments with each other when it's just the two of you in the house.
*Skipping out and doing something totally spontaneous when one of you is bored and just can't make themselves do necessary work.
*Finding things that you can enjoy together
*Having the ability to devote 100% of your attention to your spouse, because after all -- it's just the two of you now
*Being there to listen to each other, try and help each other when one of you is stressed out, lending a hand and helping out when one is really busy.

I like being a wife -- and the new found fun that we are having.

But I also like being a mother. There is nothing more special than being the FIRST person your child calls when they have exciting news to share or when they have sad news to share (I don't really like that part).

But I do have to say -- it's much more fun to be a wife without all the other obligations that you have when the kids are still around.

Does this make sense?

Reflecting on changing

I was just thinking about how much things have changed recently. It's been just about a year now that the boys have moved out and we are in the process of changing.

Changing rooms that once belonged to kids into a guest room and an office.

Changing a game room where boys used to gather and play pool, video games, or watch movies into an excercise room.

Changing a house that once held a noisy, busy family into a quiet home with just middle-aged adults.

Changing myself from being a mom to solely committed to being Paul's wife.

Change is good........