Happy Monday! Jeff's alarm clock went off at 4:30. He's not my favorite.

It should be a quiet day, even a quiet week, at the office. Auston has school through Wednesday. It's Polar Express day today. He says he's NOT wearing pajamas. Man, I would!

Confession: I'm on a binge that started last week with homemade cheese straws. It's not pretty. sigh...

Other than that, the coffee is excellent today!

"Monday morning you sure look fine" - just thought you'd like a Fleetwod Mac ear-worm today. It sure beats some of the cruddy Christmas Mall music!

Great weekend although it sure was cold around here! It's moderating a bit today. We've had a "warm" fall so normal temps are a shocker. Rain is predicted and that will clear away the snow - looks like a green Christmas this year.

The children's Christmas pageant last night was just delightful and was not two hours long. It was about an hour and the audience was delighted. The children were just adorable with lots of ad libbing. Herod's little slave girl was a riot when she said "I am NOT fanning you. You are mean and want to kill the baby Jesus!" She was five and her line was "Yes, your Majesty." I served 200 cups of hot chocolate and twice as many cookies, store bought, not home made. (There goes my reputation!)

This morning I will go over to the Hall to supervise clean-up and then work on my own Christmas stuff. Claire and I decorated and thoroughly cleaned the Church yesterday after service so just need to light the candles on the Eve. I have a lot to do around here but have a comprehensive list. Food shopping will happen on Thursday but I am going to do lots of "cook aheads" before then. Seems to me I have invited about 35 people and when they bring along their guests and relatives .... It should be intimate in my smallish house, especially with dogs included.

Enough babbling. I'll make my rounds on the Board and then get with it.

How does your week look? Time to ?

Hi Chelby. Tell Auston that pajamas would be fun. I wish I could stay in mine all day today but ... It sucks to be a responsible adult!

Good morning!

Chelby - Ethan had PJ day last week, and said "NOOOO!", then I turn around...and there's Spidey!! It was quite funny when we went out to dinner that night (Chinese buffet, cough cough) and the kids were still wearing them . Hope it IS quiet at work this week!

Ruth - your town sounds like something Normal Rockwell would like! It's not nearly as tempting to steal store bought cookies, is it?

I'm always stunned at how much my weight can fluctuate! I dropped two pounds just by dropping out the grains yesterday. I need to be better (and Christmas will be a planned cheat!)....I have the typical bad day, and turn to the emotional eating.

Today I'm running to get some Target gift cards for some unsuspecting people , then off to work, then mail out some gifts, then be a chili for supper. Yum!

OH - and we have a foster kitten...he's TOO ADORABLE!!

Good morning!

Yesterday Jake and I spent a delightful morning attending services at my DD's church in New Jersey and watching the children's pageant. Carley was a bell ringer angel, and took her part very seriously. One of the highlights of the pageant was when a mischievous little boy started jabbing the other angels around him with his elbow and they started reciprocating, all with big, innocent smiles on their faces. I DO enjoy watching children perform, as you never know what to expect!

Chelby, Auston doesn't know how lucky he is to get to wear PJs to school! Does he have a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt that would pass? Be strong and hang on to your Willpower this week! I had a 'moment' with cookies, but they gave me such a bad case of heartburn, that I won't get into them again!

Ruth, I'm glad your children's pageant went well, and that little girl's twist to her lines must have brought down the house!

I'm expecting a busy week with a lot of Christmas activities, both in school and afterwards. At least I'm all set here at home, except for the grocery shopping, and that will happen on Friday.

Morning, Twynn! Your new kitten is adorable, I saw the picture on FB.

I just heard it's in the teens outside. I'd better dress warmly!

Good morning It's very cold right now, just hoping they are right and it really does make it into the 30s today
DW is home. We are just taking it as it comes right now.

Chel - grab the bull by the horns today and hop back on until Sunday. At least you will have a few days of on plan eating before the big day.

Twynn- I could never foster any animal because I'd never be able to give them up. That kitten is adorable and looks so cute with your DD

Ruth - love that line Sounds like a fun evening

Cottage - Friday shopping, you are a brave woman I'm aiming for tomorrow if all is well here.

I've got a squash in the oven for Elana's Squash Pie. I made it a couple of years ago and I think we liked it. Should be just right for DW. I'm hoping for a quiet and uneventful day, lots to get done!

Happy Monday, chicks!

Chelby - You and me both! Can't even remember what triggered my binge. My teen used to wear pajama pants to high school!

Ruth - Oh, I had to think hard to find that tune in my head. Got it!

Twynn - Amazing how grains can do that.

Linda - Sounds like fun to watch.

Cyndi - Glad to hear DW is home. Enjoy your day.

My oldest flies home tonight and my youngest gets in late tomorrow. We are expecting rain unless it gets cold enough for ice or snow so fingers are crossed. I'm off to the gym soon with my mom and trainer. We are modifying so that I don't aggravate my calf. Whatever we did on Friday gave me sore quads!

My eating this weekend was very bad Just needed to confess. Darn neighbors and holiday treats as gifts! Okay, I guess I have to accept responsibility and not blame others. Sigh. And not doing cardio is just killing me! It was such a great way to keep from snacking. I wish I could remember that off plan food only tastes good for an instant, but then I'm never really "satisfied" and I feel so much better if I don't eat it!

Morning, er, Noon!

LOL

went a bit off plan this weekend but back on track and no cravings which is good. So hard not to sound "picky" when eating at 4 different people's houses!

off to work

Sounds like we've all been bad eating lately!! I got off work late, and am trying to make sure I don't eat something bad to make up for working without lunch again. (I had some leftover cabbage and a cheese stick though) This delightful coffee is making up for it!

We do not even want to discuss how I have been eating lately. Nope, not for a moment. January 3 (first day back at work) is Day 1 of Phase 1 for a full two weeks.

Hi all, today I decided I was going to have a mint chocolate brownie, and I did! That was the only bad thing I ate, considering today was pot luck at work, and there was more food than you could envision. So, I felt good about the little ole brownie. And it's over and done with.

Chicken and salad for me tonight.