Hi Ladies!
It is time to say Season's Greetings! I put up a little chalk board up in my classroom (from the dollar store) that you can write a countdown to Christmas on. It says, "__________days 'til Christmas!" The high school kids love it. They are, afer all, still kids. It's pretty sweet to see them so bright eyed and excited about something.

Me? My husband brought home the cold that keeps on giving. I've been under the weather for a couple of days. Nothing like a lot of stress (finals were a week ago) to bring on a cold! I will have to be vigilant about the vitamin C. Exercise has been good, diet frustrating, but I will weather through it!

I know what you mean about seeing family when you can, Donna. As my in-laws get older, we try to make it down to see them as often as we can; they are so dear and don't travel anymore. FIL has macular degeneration so he can no longer drive and MIL has never been a long distance driver. We live far away from any family members, so most of our vacations are spent traveling to see family. I worry about not seeing my kids when they are grown. It must be sad for parents whose children live far, far away. I just loved the delight in my son's voice when I suggested our get together for Thanksgiving. He's such a sweetheart and too far away for my liking. But, kids, they grow up and have to have a life of their own.

Isabella-Did you know there is a website where you can plug in the miles you pedal and "pretend" you are taking a trip? How cool is that? Someone on a challenge told me about it. I'll hunt down the link and send it your way. It seems like a great way to stay interested and motivated about pedalling. I hope all goes well with your pageant. When is the show? If you take some pictures you should post them for a little holiday cheer!

I am going to be taking most of the school on a field trip to see a Raiders football game and then shopping in Union Square in San Francisco right before Christmas. Every year I fund raise for a couple of all-school field trips and then the students get to choose where we will go. Although, I am thinking this year in the spring I am going to take a select few students to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

Francis-Your tree sounds pretty and your decorated house, too. I live so rural and down a lane where no one can see the decorations, so we don't do up the outside of the house, but the inside is always cheerful with lots of holiday decorations. I am glad to hear that you are up and about again! Will this blood clot resolve itself soon, do you know? I am wishing for a speedy recovery for you! I love to make gift baskets for my good friends. It is such a great way of personalizing a gift so that you give them a few little things that show you know them and care about what they love. You know what is funny...last year my very dear friend and I got each other almost the same things in our gift baskets to one another. We do so many activities together that we got each other things like aprons, notebooks, and little photo albums! I think that was the best gift of all, the closeness.

Meowee-Hope you and your kitties are staying warm and cozy during this holiday season!
Well, gotta go do some reading for a lesson plan...take care ladies!

Sheri

Ah, Sheri, those fundraisers for field trips. I remember them well.

Just running through. Had a really busy Thursday, Friday and Saturday. So tomorrow if I have the energy I'll post a bit more.

Hi all,
Haven't been around for a few days. It's nice to read the posts.

Sheri I have no idea how long it'll take this clot to go bye bye. The doctor says I may still have pain and some swelling when the clot is gone because of damage to the vein. So I have no idea how i'm going to know. I'm about ready to request another ultrasound.

I watched Christmas movies all day yesterday. Thanks ABC Family channel. Hallmark and Lifetime are about to get in the Christmas groove too. To give you all an idea of what a Christmas fanatic I am I belong to several year-rouond Christmas forums. But I don't go there much during the spring and summer. Just an occasional visit.

Good morning. Things are getting back to normal after an exciting weekend. DS#2 and his GF got engaged and we've been in a flurry of excitement all weekend. I barely kept on plan but didn't do too badly. Lost 1.5 pounds in weigh in on Saturday morning so hopefully I didn't gain. I'll try and be extra vigilant this week and make sure there is no gain.

Well . . . congratulations to the Mother of the (almost) Groom . . .

yes, congratulations. I hope she'll be as much a blessing to you as my daughters-in-law are to me.

We've known DS's GF almost since she was born. Our families are good friends but DS had no interest in her as a GF until early this year. Something clicked in his brain and he realized how nice she is. They are so much alike it's uncanny. They are planning a late June or early July wedding. Just have to confirm the date with the minister. It will be mostly a family and close friends event. GF has a huge family and DH's is quite large too so that should just about fill the church. We'll have a buffet reception in the church hall following the ceremony and it should be a wonderful day for them.

I've had such an off plan weekend because of all the excitement of the last few days. Back on the wagon today and eating clean and got my exercise done.

Hi!
Isabella, congratulations on the engagement of your son. A wedding and a marriage are wonderful things to have happen! And, congratulations on your weight loss on your last weigh in! Good for you for having all that temptation and not gaining!

Devine-I am glad you are on the mend and that you are getting around more. I keep thinking about you as I get ready for the holiday season. I am taking a group of students to a Raiders football game and then to Union Square in San Francisco to go shopping. It is a fantasmagoria of Christmas sights and sounds. This year, I want to go to Nevada City to the Dickens Christmas festival. Of course, "A Christmas Carol" is part of the festival. And, I don't think I will go to see "The Nutcracker" as I probably can't drag anyone along...again! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Happy day everyone!
I am off to the house in Oregon. DS #1 is meeting us there for Thanksgiving! See you when I get back!

Sheri

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

. . . What she said . . .

Hi ladies!
It's been quiet here! I had a great Thanksgiving, but gained 3 pounds. I have got to discipline myself again. I am wanting all those goodies I had been denying myself...especially the gravy and stuffing. But I am back on track and I will have those pounds knocked off in no time. I was really depressed when I got on the scale...but denial is not a river in Egypt! It is wishful thinking about food!

How is everyone doing? Devine and Donna did you have a good Turkey Day?

Are you staying out of the wind and snow Isabella and Meowee?

Do any of you make holiday crafts? Cookies? Baskets? Preserves?

I used to make gingerbread wreaths, but haven't done so since my boys got older and I lost my work crew! Last year I made plates (glass) with fabric decoupaged to the plates. They are very pretty gifts to put breads and cookies on. I make a lemon-cranberry bread that people say they love. This year I made some really pretty cranberry applesauce preserves and I thought I would make some decorative lids and labels for them and give them as gifts.

My goal right now is to not gain the usual 10 pounds during the holidays!
Sheri

Good Morning . . .

Avoiding the usual holiday weight gain is my goal for this month, too. I used to be the family cookie baker when I was still living closer to everybody. Now, I have to restrain myself because I simply end up eating far too much if I go on the annual baking binge. It's hard though, it's almost a compulsion; especially shortbread.

Nothing too exciting around here for today -- need to get my wrapping finished so I can mail stuff tomorrow.

Have a great day . . .