Good morning, and, in Kara's case, good evening!

Wacky weather here, it's already 54* here, but tomorrow's forecast is for ice and snow! This morning I'm baking my last batch of cookies, it's a soft biscotti with walnut/fudge filling. It's my favorite, but I'll try to control myself. I have to take the girls shopping after school to fill their "give a Christmas" stockings, we'll have to fit that in before their ballet lessons. Their gingerbread houses turned out great, I'll post some pictures later.

What's on your plate for today?

Still sick. Whatever antibiotic they put into my IV on Monday has given me the worst diarrhea. I had every intention of going to work today. I had to call out. Took some over the counter stuff (which only made me want to vomit) so we'll see. If it stops it, I'll go in. I hate being out 3 days in a row...I feel like I'm letting everyone down. I called one of the other assistans this morning and starting crying on the phone becuz I didnt know what to do. I'd be of no use to them in the bathroom all day...because that is where I've been here. I hate this.

Good morning Linda! Glad to hear the gingerbread houses came out well. We did gingerbread houses last year and had a blast! I think I'm going to try doing gingerbread men with the kids this year - I bet they'll have fun decorating them! I made them a couple years ago and remember they were a sticky mess. Anybody have an easy gingerbread recipe??? It doesn't have to be Beach-friendly as I won't be tempted (chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin is a completely different story!), but just something that would be easy with the kids. Friday we're going to turn our air conditioner into a Christmas tree and bake cookies, so that should get us in the holiday spirit!

Off to brush the kids' teeth and get them to bed. They're just finishing up their post-AWANA bowls of cereal. I'll check back in later, I'm sure.

Kara

Oh, Silly, I do hope you can figure out how to fix your bathroom issues. Have you called the doctor's office? My oldest had diarrhea for two months straight when he was almost three years old. We had no clue why and tried *everything* to fix it, but we were able to keep him hydrated and he worked through it. Weird. At least you know what caused yours, although that doesn't help any in figuring out how to fix it...

Big hugs!

Kara

Aw, Fluff, I'm so sorry you still have the crud! Try not to feel guilty about calling in sick - tell them I said it was OK.

Cottage, busy and fun day as usual for you. I've decided girls are much more fun than boys. I just got rejected by two when i suggested a gingerbread making day.

Tara, I used to make gingerbread people with my kids and hang them on the tree. (The dog used to eat the legs of the ones on the lower branches!) Rather than sticky icing, we used to decorate them with cookie paint - an egg yolk with a tiny bit of water and some food colouring. It was still a bit messy but better than little kids messing around with icing.

It's turkey cooking day around her (dinner and concert at the school), Donna is supposed to come to deep clean the bedrooms, I have pet therapy, hope to get a bit of shopping done and am off to the gym RIGHT NOW!

Have a Wednesday that's not too wacky!

at your dog eating gingerbread men off the tree!!!

Kara

Good Morning
Cottage I'm glad the gingerbread house was a success. Good luck with the biscotti. just in case.
Silly Don't give work a second thought. They'll be O.K. for a few days without you.
Kara Food TV.com has loads of gingerbread recipes. (I don't know how to post links and I don't know which ones are O.K.)
Ruth Sounds like you have another full day ahead of you. Have fun at the gym and shopping.

Me Nothing too exciting for me today. I had a bit of an off plan moment yesterday. One of my employee's daughters made fudge (she is 4) and brought me some. I shared with everyone else and when she was disappointed that I hadn't eaten any I took a tiny bite. I didn't want to disappoint the aspiring chef and I think the tenth of the oz. that I ate will probably be O.K.

Have a good day everyone and Kara sleep well.

Morning chickies. For some reason the kids were up an hour early today. I actually heard them talking an hour before that. And when I got home from my meeting last night they weren't asleep yet, so they are pretty peppy now, but I'm sure they'll crash eventually. Tonight we're going to drive to DD's school to watch her dance show, so they won't get to bed early tonight either. Otherwise, another day of laundry and work, and I think I'll scrub bathrooms for a special treat.

cottage, thanks for the food porn! Can't wait to see a picture of the houses.
Ruth, I can picture all those poor legless gingerbread men on the bottom of your tree.
Fluffy, so sorry you are under the weather. Hope it all works through for you soon! I was thinking about the stuff the pediatrician used to tell me to give the kids for the runs, and none of it is beachy except the tea! Remember BRAT?
Thinby, you did the right thing. In a position like that, how can one refuse?

I hope you all have a lovely hump day. Off to walk through the fog and mist and see if we can find a school out there somewhere...

Morning all...running a tad late, so no time for personals...but wishing every one a great (or at least better!) day...

Found out my dinner party has to be pushed up to Friday instead of Saturday because of one of the couple's plans (they had a last minute wedding to attend on Sat). I was planning spending Friday evening and all day saturday getting ready for this soiree, so I'm about to get to panic mode...my table is still not ready and the furniture place is closed today..so I left a message and said I HAD to have it for tomorrow. So now I have to work on Friday morning and then scramble to be ready for 6. I'll make the cake layers and freeze them tonight, then make the soup and creme brulee tomorrow, then do the rest of the meal (including decorating the cake) on Friday. For the main course, I'm grilling tilapia on alder boards and serving it on top of a huge salad, so that will be easy. It'll get done, but I'll be stressed.

Peck peck peckin at the door! Morning you bodacious beach babes!

Femme: IIIeeeeeee! I can just see you whippin round that kitchen -cake pans a flyin! Have no doubt you'll gitter done,but hooowaaa, thats some tall order!

SillyFluff-feel better right quick! how about Imodian?
Kara: Nighty night girl!

Thin: You must havem strong I would have inhaled it!
Ruth legless gingermen..priceless!
Shmoodle: yeah theyll flame out early and perhaps you'll get some me time!

Cottage: I think I'm gaining weight just reading about all your baking

Just a quick timeout, I had a meeting at 6:00 this morning.. my company is based in Dublin so it was 11 am Irish time... Thats pretty easy compared to calls with the Aussies and Kiwis-- there like 12 + hours ahead.... good thing I'm a morning lark... Ok-- now I got another meeting to prepare for... its wonderful when I'm not on the road I get to be at home to work.. I call us Work at Home folks "the bunny slipper brigade" but it looks like most all of January I'll be in Dublin or Nebraska ok gotta go........................whoosh!

Happy Hump Day! It's my birthday, I'm the princess and no one can take that away! How is that for a positive attitude on a dreary wednesday when you turn 39????

Cottage My baking begins this weekend, I have never made biscotti but you have almost inspired me to give it a try!

Silly Gosh I hope you get to feeling better soon. Don't worry about missing work, I am sure they don't want whatever you have and like you said you wouldn't be of much help anyway. Rest and get better!

Kara Wish I could help with the gingerbread but I seem to remember my one attempt was a disaster of epic proportions!

Ruth I'm with you on girls being more fun that boys, although I have gotten pretty lucky when it comes to my son. People laugh when they see my tree because the bottom branches are bare due to the furkids thinking the ornaments are new play things for them, especially the little stuffed bears.

Thin You did the right thing with the fudge. I would not have been able to turn it down either.

Schmoodle Oh scrubbing the bathroom sounds super duper special. Uh on second thought, nah!

Cat There is no doubt in my mind you will pull this dinner party off without a hitch!

Me Did I mention it's my birthday and I am the princess??? Oops got sidetracked, my sista called, she says she thinks after all these years she might like me now! LOL

DS comes home from college tonight so the house will be hopping, and I am sure he will bring me a present of laundry! Whooooo Hooooo!

Alright I gotta get my butt in gear! Have a great day chicks, check back later!

Happy hump day everybody!!!!

Cottage your cookies sound delish

Silly I hope you get to feeling better real soon

Kara enjoy your time with the kids

Ruth have a great workout and enjoy pet therapy

Dawn that lil piece of fudge won't hurt all your hard work so don't even fret over it and remeber it was for a good cause.

Schmoodle enjoy the dance

Cat good luck and I hope everything falls right in place for you

Schatzi have a great day!

Stephanie

I am feelin a bit better today - I'm gonna make it through. Be back to check on yall later.

Cottage, you are doing so much (as always!). How is your ankle doing? Crazy weather...lots of rain here and I'm wishing for snow...

SillyFluff! It all sounds awful! Have you tried eating yogurt? Antibiotics can cause diarrhea because they can kill all the good bacteria in your digestive tract. Eating probiotics, like yogurt with live, active cultures, can help put those bacteria back. In the meantime, just make sure you're getting plenty of water, okay?

Kara, sounds like there's lots of Christmas fun at your house!

Ruth, have fun at the gym, girl!

Dawn, glad you made a compromise you can live with. I bet your employee's daughter felt so proud!

Schmoodle, you poor dear! Kids should NOT wake up early! I guess it beats having to drag them out of bed in the morning...I'll be cleaning bathrooms too, hon!

Wow, Cat! You're a great friend to move your party like that! I'd be a wreck, but it sounds like you have things in hand.

Schatzi, Dublin is fun, but Nebraska??? indeed! Glad you're home in your bunny slippers for now!

Happy Birthday, Princess Stephanie! I hope it's a very, very special day! I hear you about furkids and the tree. My friends who are also bunny-slaves sometimes decorate the bottom 1/4 of the tree with ornaments that are safe for bunnies to pull off and nibble, like grapevine wreath balls and such.

Hope everyone to come has a great day!

Me: Yikes, I keep going to bed late on the night before I have to go to work. I'm exhausted and each time, my sinus issues come running back. All I want to do is go home and put my head under the covers!!! After work today, I'm off to the gym, then home to eat a fast dinner and clean bathrooms. I also have to put tomorrow night's dinner in the crockpot, and make dough for the rugelach we're making tomorrow night. Our party is in just a couple days, so lots to do!

Have a great day! Stay warm!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Stephanie, Happy Birthday to you!



Cottage: That is wacky weather! We've got the same thing going on...Monday night we actually had thunderstorms!! I can't wait to see the gingerbread pics!

SillyFluff: Oh man, that's terrible! I hope you get to feeling better soon! I'm sure your work understands that you can't be there.

Kara: Oooh, gingerbread with the kiddos sounds like a lot of fun! Your Christmas A/C idea sounds so cute! Send us some pics!

Ruth: about the legless gingerbread people hanging on the tree! You sound like your usual busy self today! I hope all your running and doing is a lot of fun!

Dawn: I agree with Schmoodle, how could you refuse? Too cute! 4-year-olds making fudge!

Cat: How nice of you to change your dinner party day for your friends. I'm sure you'll get everything done in time - you're the entertaining queen as far as I can tell!

Schatzi: Oooooooh, Dublin! I've always wanted to go there! Have you been there yet? You'll have to send us all pics of your trip there. (Hopefully you'll have time to sight-see while you're there!)

Stephanie: Again, Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day!

GonnaBe:

Laurie: WOW! Everyone's running around getting ready for their big parties! I'm having one couple over for dinner and I'm freaking out! Sounds like you've got it all under control, though!

Me: Not much to do at work today. It's cold and muggy/foggy outside and I'm glad I'm working instead of out running around in it! W-I this morning was good. In spite of Aunt Flow being here, I'm down 2.5 lbs since last Wednesday. I've been doing really well with working out every other day. DH and I decided our goal was to work out every other day until the new year. After the holiday traveling, we'll pick it up to 6 days a week.

Tonight I've got some pre-cleaning for our dinner Friday night, plus I need to finalize the menu and make the grocery list. Last night DH and I watched Ghost Rider which was actually a good movie. I was a bit leery at first and actually walked into my room to get on the computer but came back when it sounded interesting. I was impressed. Our other Netflix movie didn't come in so I had to send them an missing DVD report. Hopefully it will get here before Christmas.

Finally, I did promise a pic of my "Christmas Ring", so here it is! I hope you all have a great day!

~Kim

morning chicks, we did not get the storm just a bit of snow and then some rain this morning. This is another quick post as I have a baby on my lap that is in one cranky mood.... Lord you would think with Santa watching they would be much happier. Did not get to Wally World last night as hubby was a crank pot... I am thinking about building a little padded room all for me....lol... well gotta to dash. A million things to do.... plus get the kids lunch and then nap time.... I may need one as well.... have a great day.