All cleaned up and ready to go.

I am so excited about our trip to Hawaii. I wish the kids were going, but I know we are going to have a great time regardless. My romantical husband has already picked out some hot spots to visit. I love that we both love to travel the same way- with no plan in place. We have some highlights that we want to hit (Pearl Harbor, Chinatown, Barack Obama's childhood home) but we both want to just kind of wander and see what the day brings. Of course, I'll be in workshops for 4 days, but I'm even excited about those!
I'm ready for some vitamins in the form of sunshine and warmth, and the sandy beach. And it doesn't hurt my feelings to miss some work in the process. Hee Hee......

Christmas is all done and cleaned up. I loved Christmas and I loved all the family time, but I'm always so ready to pack it up and vacuum! We had such a good time and the kids have been so good and fun.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Years, and don't forget to eat your black eyed peas and stewed tomatoes. :-)

Holiday music

For your listening pleasure.....
Abbie sings a solo on the 2nd verse of "Go Tell It On the Mountain".
Mama's proud. :-)
http://www.citysingerschildrenschoirs.org/concerts/monumental_church/flashmp3player.html

Christmas spirit

I miss my mom.
Don't get me wrong. I love being "the mom". I love my kids with all my heart. But, tonight, as I laid in bed with Abbie, snuggling her, kissing her sweet little face, I thought about how much I, even at my age, would love to snuggle up with my mom. I would love to call her and make plans for tomorrow and Christmas day.

This year is going to be different for us. I'm dreading it in some ways, and in other ways, I'm very excited. We did Christmas with my dad and Jean on Sunday, and we will see Tony's parents on Saturday. I will see my sister tomorrow, and maybe late on Christmas day. But, Christmas morning, it will just be the four of us. Creme brulee french toast, Christmas music, mimosas for us and OJ for the kiddos. Presents, and just hunkering in for the day. It sounds wonderful, and I know it will be. I'm going non-traditional and making a huge pot of chili since we just finished up our T-giving leftovers and we had Christmas dinner on Sunday.
I know the kids are going to love everything Santa brings, and I can't wait to just hang out with them.

I just wish I didn't have to try so hard to get excited about Christmas. I know that morning it will come really easily, but right now, I'm having to work at it. :-( And I don't like feeling that way.....

life is good

I made it!!!!!!
Life is good.
We are home. The kids are making a Snoopy gingerbread house, which is very, very cute.
I'm making cookies.
Dinner is in the oven.
They don't go back to school for two full weeks.
I don't go back to work for three full weeks.
Could life be better??

Finally, an update....

It's been a crazy couple of weeks!
First off.... been kind of stressful. A good friend of mine was dating another good friend of mine. No! I did NOT set them up! Can you believe it?? Anyway.... it didn't work out, and I'm so sad. I know I need to let it go. I guess what makes it even harder was that they'd really make an awesome couple. One of them reallllly wants to make it work, and the odd thing is, they broke things off because of a COMPLETE misunderstanding. One of them is just being ridiculously stubborn.... grrr..... I'm still holding out hope, but it's looking doubtful.

Mason got a part in the SJMS play! I'm so excited for him. They are doing "ANNIE", one of my childhood favorites. He got the part of Drake, Daddy Warbuck's assistant. They start working on it in January. I'm so proud of my little actor!

We are all booked for Hawaii, and I'm working really hard on booking the second leg in Disney. I got the hotel booked. Tony and the kids can't come for the whole time, so we are trying to work that out- what part of the trip are they coming for, etc. I think I'm going to fly down alone (YIKES) and they'll come mid-trip and we'll all fly home together. We'll see. I feel guilty about going and leaving them here. I know I shouldn't- it's work stuff- and Tony does work stuff all the time. But I still feel badly.

What else is going on......
Well, we worked all weekend decorating the house. We had a great time and spent some well-needed and wanted family time together. I'm in the process of working on Christmas cards- trying to get one ordered- but I may not get to it. So, if you don't get one, don't take it personally. Just know that I didn't get my act together in time. :-)

gotta get moving- choir, school board meeting, and lots of work to do!