Hi chicks, thought I'd get this started since I was up. I doubt I'll have a chance to check in in the morning! I got enough stuff done today, and I am ready for bed, but I drank a cup of coffee after dinner so I wouldn't go to sleep too early, and it hasn't worn off yet. Let's face it, Christmas won't be ruined if DH's present isn't wrapped or I didn't get the second batch of truffles made!
We visited my grandmother in the afternoon and took her cookies and some other food. My grandfather died on Christmas eve in 1979, and Christmas has been hard for her ever since, understandably. She was invited to my mom's for dinner, but decided to stay in, and I was worried about her being alone and sad. Then we had a nice dinner at home and watched Elf and It's a Wonderful Life. The kids checked Santa's progress on NORAD, and decided they'd better get to bed, but it took a while for them to go to sleep. Anyway, now Santa has been, and it's all downhill from here. By the way, DH fell asleep and I got to do it all!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that definitely one of my best presents this year is all the new friends I found at 3fc, and I'm so grateful for all the help, support, and advice! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope every one of you has a wonderful day tomorrow with the people you love.

Just wanted to stop by and say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I haven't had any time at all to come by and chat but I think about you all during the day whenever I eat or drink something lol As a bit of of tradition in our immediate family, we went to IHOP for breakfast this morning. I ordered something I won't post (total food porn) and then couldn't eat! I never thought I would get to the point where I couldn't cheat myself into eating cr*p. THANKS!! (no, really, I mean that!!!!)

Merry merry merry Christmas!

We're winding down from a big day here in Korea. My belly is stuffed and I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of the mountains of left-overs we have still here in the house. One day of indulgence is enough!!! I think my new year starts tomorrow.

Tom got me the new Nike shoes that have the iPod sensor in them. The whole system is so neat! I can program certain songs to come on at certain mileages in the run or track my time, distance, and/or calories burned. There are so many features and I haven't even discovered half of them...

Schmoodle, last year we went to the building on base that actually uses NORAD and got a tour on Christmas Eve. "Santa" called in while we were there and the kids all got a big kick out of it. That was a fun night!

Angela, have a great day! I'm so excited for you with your NSV at breakfast!

I didn't even have any turkey but I am feeling the effects. Early night for me!

Kara

Merry Christmas everyone...and a wonderful Tuesday to those who don't celebrate it!!

I had to get up at 5 to put up some "daily sale" stuff for a client and am now wide awake. Everyone else is still asleep and probably will be for hours. Going to do the big breakfast bit around 10 or so, then everyone is scattering in all directions. Yesterday's gumbo and bread pudding turned out great, but I am really looking forward to tomorrow when food porn will be gone. I really do feel kind of sluggish and am ready to loose the holiday "goodies". Going to do a kind of modified phase one for a few days. Haven't gained anything, but it will do me good. (I kind of "counted calories", ie, I had bread pudding for "dinner" last night) I feel like I have a white flour overload swimming through my veins!

Santa paid a visit here sometime during the night, we must have "passed" on his naughty or nice list!

I want to wish you all a very happy holiday before pandemonium breaks out around here. About 9 am we'll have over 30 people here for our annual Christmas breakfast, so I thought I'd better get in here now while I have the opportunity!

My love to you all!

Cat, I also am feeling white flour and sugar overload. Blah. I just feel so terrible and sluggish. I think a modified Phase 1 would be loverly!

Linda, enjoy your breakfast!

I forgot to tell you that Santa brought me four pounds overnight. He's so nice. I'm not letting it bother me, though. Tomorrow I'll be out in those new shoes working off whatever I ate today, and I'm sure the coal-filled four pounds will soon follow.

'Night, 'night.

Kara

Hersh and I were up before seven after a 3 AM bedtime. My kitchen is looking pretty cleaned up considering there were over 50 people here and five dogs! Three of my women fiends made me sit and supervise while they put leftover away and ran three loads through the dishwasher. Then we all sat and gabbed and sipped champagne.

Late this morning I'll go to visit Harry and have noon dinner with him. A nap will definitely be in order and then I go out to proper Christmas dinner with a family with children. Kids are so great at Christmas.

I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and may God bless you all today and every day.

I had a rough day yesturday and today doesn't seem much better. Seems all I can do is think about my dad not being here and then all I do is eat or cry or both.

Did not reach my christmas goal - I actually ended up with a 2lb gain

I did get one of the best gifts ever - my mom had a phot calendar made of pics of me & my dad through the years it was awesome! I cried like a baby.

Sorry for no personals right now but I will try real hard to get back later.

I haven't been on the sight for long but I want to say Thank You! you gals are awesome.

Big hugs to you, Gonna. I lost my dad just ten years ago and still miss him a lot. Don't let anyone tell you it gets easier as you get older.

Hey! I just had taco bake for breakfast with red pepper strips. Awesome! Now I am going to soak in the tub for a half hour and then start my Christmas phone calls to relatives.

Merry Xmas everyone.

The dishwasher is running and the kitchen is clean, everyone's gone home, now I can finally sit down. I've been going full tilt since about 8 this morning, but it's been fun. Good times with good company and good food, but thank God we have a whole year before we have to do it again. I'll be glad to get back to normal.

Normal, indeed, Linda! I have an urge to just walk up and down the street with my leftovers and give them away to anyone who will take them. I've had enough of the holiday eating and have no cravings at all for any more holiday foods (OK, a couple more cookies will probably cross my lips, but that's it!). It's almost painful to eat off plan now - I feel my body yelling at me for filling it with less than adequate fuel!

Ruth, hope your visit with Harry and dinner out with the kids was nice!

Gonna, we're here for you! I wish I could hug you in person but this will have to do.

Big ol' group hug now! (I thought there was a smiley for this but I couldn't find one.)

Back on track!!!



Kara

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I just bought turkey thighs (I know they are dark meat but it's once a year) and cooked them in the pressure cooker and made stewed turkey with whole wheat egg noodles for our dinner tonight since it is just the three of us.

Brian liked the stuff I got for him. Robert thought he would buy me a racquetball racquet, balls, and goggles and that I would agree to play racquetball at the gym with him. I told him to return them. He did get me a hat, scarf and gloves and I accepted them gratefully. I just have no desire to spend time at the gym with him.

Brian and I spent today taping his room and patching holes and then using a brush for the primer next to stuff. Tomorrow we will use a roller for the rest of the primer. There is a hole by his window to patch but I'm hoping Robert helps with that once Home Depot or Lowes opens tomorrow. We've put his twin mattress on the floor of our bedroom and Brian will sleep there until his room is totally painted and dried and the fumes are gone.

Brian and I made the chocolate cherry truffles last night. They were messy to make but really good. I've eaten too many so they will need to stay a holiday treat. I have to work the rest of the week but I'm doing it from home since Brian is out of school and I'm primary oncall.

Barbara, your dinner sounds yummy! I wish I knew how to cook small for the holidays, but I grew up in a big family and only know how to cook for eight or more! Scaling back is really hard for me - I worry about running out of things!

Sounds like Robert is trying to reconnect with you but isn't taking your priorities into account. He realizes exercise is important to you but didn't get that you'd already paid you gym membership so it wouldn't make sense for you to acquire a new one. What a mess.

Happy snoozing!

Kara