:snowball1 go on Sandi, open your gifties and have some chocolate, a cookie...my little man has his arm all fired up and aiming for your mouth. Snowball will wash it down real nice, don't ya think?

Maybe I should turn his arm toward my head, I am already almost to my max. calories for the day...thank goodness for fitday or I wouldn't have realized it, doesn't seem I ate that much, but what I did eat really counted big time. That's okay, fresh veggies and water until, big salad with no dressing for supper, and I'll be fine. I don't even feel like eating anymore, think that drive is gone I feel so miserable.

Melissa, so glad to hear he gave you some $$. Even if it doesn't count, take all he'll give you, those kids deserve to be cared for and you need the help. Hopefully he will really show up Christmas for Josh. I am really glad too that no one is bailing Kate out, you are so strong for standing firm with her. Let her suffer this one out and hopefully she will learn something from it and start to change. Maybe once sober for awhile she will miss her children. I think if that maternal drive kicks in she might really find some true motivation to change for the better and see them again. That might be wishing too much, but I think it could happen. She has to want to change for herself first though.

Theresa

sandi, sorry about your fall. that sounds like it hurt.
wow, can't anyone give a gift that isn't candy or cookies? geez, those sound pretty hard to resist.
well, i am leaving to go visit my family in texas in few hours. i am so far behind on december goal, mostly because the past few days have been bad calorie-wise. last night we had a christmas party with folks from church. i didn't think it would too bad at first -- mostly rice, veggies, and a couple of small "bad" things, nothing too outrageous. but then i saw the red bean pastries. i had three of those. i don't know what the damage on those were and i don't want to know. well there is no way to find out anyway since i don't even know what they are called. but they are so good. everything was. well today will be better!

Have fun in Texas! SIL was just outside Amarillo yesterday heading back home for Christmas. All 4 kids were wonderful at the store today-I mean stupendous! It is so quiet here at the moment since they are all eating LOL. I finally got to cross something off my list of things that have to be done by Friday! We got the cake mix for Jesus' birthday cake and Odessa is excited about birthday although I really don't think she understands it all yet. I am just happy I don't have one store to go to now-I am done done done. Everything now is all internal and boy is there alot to do. Yesterday both girls were busy making out of the ordinary messes, my phone never stopped ringing and Logan was wanting lots of Nanna time. I made it through though and even if I only get one more thing done today, I feel better. We are now on the big countdown and life can go back to normal whatever that is lol-I am starting to wonder these days.
Melissa

Hi all, catching up on all the activity here takes awhile!!
Melissa-I wanna see the pictures too! Sounds like you did great dealing with them all for pictures. It was hard doing mine and they are older. I wish I were as done as you with all this Christmas stuff! I still have to go to Reno Wed. with the 2 little ones to pick up oldest from airport. Then she wants to go shopping! Shopping in Reno 3 days before Christmas :fr: :no: :crazy:
Theresa-We have a 120 lb. black lab, the biggest baby you'll ever see! We love him to death!
Sandi-Hope your owies are feeling better today! Take it easy! Have fun watching Narnia! Can't wait until it makes it here to my little town! We all want to see it, but our only choices this week are King Kong and Yours, Mine and Ours. So we gotta wait.
I am with everyone here on losing control over :tree: party food:( The spinach dip and bread were my downfall and I ate so much that last I felt sick all night. I didn't even get on the scale this morning. I don't think I did too well Saturday either, with hubby home I eat more than usual. I really have to watch out next week, hubby has 9 days off! :eek: And in the middle of that we will be in Reno for 2 days. My mom is flying in on the morning of the 27th and my daughter leaves the next morning. Somebody has got to keep me away from the Olive Garden! HELP!
Well, the troops think they are starving, so I better figure out something for dinner!
Have a great night everyone!!
Kathy
:ginger: :snowglo:

I sent you the picture Kathy and it really looks like we are all in the same boat. As much as I adore Christmas, I will be glad when it is all over with and I can really concentrate and be on track. I am supposed to go in for a physical in February and I really wanted to be in the 180's when I went. I don't like seeing myself naked, I just can't bring myself to subject someone else to it no matter how much they are paid. I am hoping SIL gets in early enough and comes over so I can sneak and go see Narnia myself, otherwise I will have to wait for it to come out on rental. I will start beggin him now lol.
Melissa

I guess I was almost OP today. Do a chocolate kiss and 1/2 a cookie have to count?
I made my first batch of baklava tonight and I didn't eat any. I need to do it again tomorrow so I have enough for 3 of my kids.
2 of my sons are having troubles. My oldest, who lost his baby last month, is very unhappy. His inlaws came to stay with them the week before they lost the baby. They are building a new house and it was not ready on time so they came to my son's 2 bedroom condo. So 6 people are there and my son and DIL have had no privacy. His MIL is sleeping in his bed with DIL and he and FIL are on the couch. My son and DIL are way too polite and have not told them to go to a motel, but he is so upset. I am amazed at the nerve of these people at a time like this. I have stayed far away because I am afraid of what I would say to this woman if I went there.
I am venting here.
Laura

I toss a chocolate cookie in mouth as i RUN , Duck and HIDE from Theresa and her famous :snowball1
NO -seriously- I DIDN'T eat any of it.Oh i wanted too tho - So I packed up all my gifties and took to the youth Dept. down the hall - we took everything out of the packages and put them in plastic containers so the givers wouldn't find out i gave them away ( we are sneaky)The teens can indulge Wednesday night
I also got a cheesecake :love: but that i took home and put in the freezer to take to inlaws for Christmas. and I also got 3 "hickory farm" type boxes. 1 hubby can munch on and the other two I am re-gifting to his bosses! i see nothing wrong with re-gifting bad foods that I will eat until I explode :bomb:

Melissa, I'd love to see a pic of the kids too! I bet they are adorable! we had a happy Birthday Jesus party Sunday Night for teh childrens dept. Some of the little ones didn't get it but they had a blast and loved singing happy birthday and feeling the joy.
Kathy- Olive garden = :snowball1 shopping does = exercise tho :D
Candace have a great time in texas! I hope you have a blast!
Laura- i agree eating better does make one feel better.
we are postponing Narnia till Monday as the rec. department is taking busses of kids there to the movies tues & weds during the school break. this way hubby can go too.
As long as i keep trying to make wise choices i am not going to stress over food and eating.
So tomorrow is grocery shopping :eek:
got to get thru just a few more days and the knee will be ok and i can ride the bike/exercise again. it's pretty ugly looking but i will survive!
My oldest daughter told me she's getting me all the biggest loser stuff for Christmas the DVD and the other book so we'll see if they are helpful or not. I don't really care if they are helpful i just like :present:
Well i was hoping to make 150's by my birthday on jan. 5- but i don't think it's gonna happen - haven't gained so thats good.
See ya'll tomorrow
Sandi:snow4: ( I can imagine we have snow anyway- not that i've ever really been in snow:chin: )

Check email sandi girl as I sent to ya and no there is nothing wrong with regifting-especially when it just doesn't fit your lifestyle and you know someone who would really enjoy it.

Well Kate may be pregnant again. Can you see me running and screaming and pulling my hair out????? Time will tell and if she is, I will have to move again. I am hoping it is just a sympathy ploy as she has done that before in the past. That would mean the only year she missed was 2004. It scares me too because she just isn't giving her body a chance even to recover from pregnancies. So everyone pray like crazy she isn't. I will love and take care of the baby if she is but the selfish part of me just doesn't want to take care of anymore babies. I am going to be 59 as it is by the time I get Logan graduated. Poor little people are gonna have to push Nanna in the wheelchair.
Melissa

Oh Melissa! :hug: I hope Kate is just trying to get to you and isn't really pregnant! But don't let her get to you!!! Stay strong! Our prayers are with you :grouphug: and with her. Those little one's need their mom and hopefully she will get the help she needs and one day be able to care for them.
Just breathe and let God take care of it.
Don't worry about anything, pray about everything!!

Those kids are ADORABLE!! Love that curly hair on Amanda!!! I'll have to find a pic of my oldest, Grace, she has that wild, curly hair, too! Beautiful!

Kathy

Melissa- I hope Kate is just late, which wouldn't be surprising considering her circumstances. She really pushes you. She knows you will always pick up after her. I wonder if this is just a ploy to get you to bail her out. Stay strong.
Laura

I appreciate all the prayers truly! I am hoping it is a ploy. I would have to move if she is-we are already at capacity in the house we are in now and holy cow can you imagine trying to grocery shop?? It boggles my mind so I am trying really hard not to think about it and just hope that it is a false alarm. I did find out though that she does want to get away from David and she is scared of him so we will do whatever we need to to help her get away from him. I knew that boy was no good from the minute I met him. This will be like his 9th felony so hopefully they will put him away for a long time and that will give kate opportunity to start over and get her life on track.
Melissa

I think David will be gone for a while. I really hope it's wake up time for Kate. She has been thru so much and so have you. Luckily, the kids have you.
Laura

I hope they put David away for a long time. It would be best for both Katy and society! Had a great therapy session with Josh's shrink and I came home with 4 bags of presents for the kids. They are going to have an awesome Christmas and I am excited to watch them. Doing the countdown for life to get normal again too. I am tired of being tired. House is starting to shape up though and SIL will be home I think tomorrow. I am going to try and get him to come up before the holiday so I can get a breather.
Melissa

Not so good today. Toooooo many little nibbles, and they surely do add up. I packed 27 perfect pieces of baklavah to send to son Dan and they were so perfect because it trimmed them with a sharp knife and bet you know where all the edges went. Then I made cheese crackers as a gift for a friend and I had to eat 5 of them because they didn't fit in the box, plus a large cookie, because it was there.
I can't wait till Jan 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laura

Oh Melissa- :hug: First I do hope they put David away for along time. I don't understand how judges just keep letting guys like him out - if theres no punishment for doing wrong he'll keep doing wrong. I hope Kates not Pregnant- i hope it is a sympathy ploy - again I don't want to see anyone go to jail but maybe it would either scare her enough to get straight or she can get counseling or learn a "job" so when she gets out she can get on a better path. You may want to check and see if there's a prison ministry or a chaplain who can talk to her - even most county jails have them available.
The kids are beautiful! Love the smiles on them! What a bunch of cuties- i would be so proud ! I am glad they are having a good Christamas too- with all they have been thru they deserve it!

Laura- I can't believe the inlaws- at this time especially when they need time alone together - I would have to be rude no matter who it upset.

I was given another 3 boxes of candy today and at lunch took them to hubbys work and told him DO NOT BRING THEM HOME so the guys at the factory got 3- 5 lb boxes of candy today. I guess it's the thought that counts.
I am getting organized slowly- cookies are baked - went to the store and got the ham today and got a little turkey for leftovers - i really :love:turkey and theres never any leftovers from the inlaws. so I am baking a 10 pound turkey on Saturday so i can have leftovers- turkey freezes nicely so i can do up packs for lunches. Now i have to hit target tomorrow night and super wally world and we'll be DONE :carrot: Just have to wrap Jocies stuff and hubby does that normally he is one of those who wrap PERFECTLY perfect. I believe in gift bags. - Zach is getting a fishing pole and tackle stuff & that's not easy to wrap. Hubby is off Friday morning and said he will get the house together as we are having company Friday. I think all of us are coming down with the sniffles- first it's 76 and then it's 56 - crazy Fla. temps. makes us all miserable.

Have a great night everyone!
Sandi
P.S. Hiding from Theresa and :snowball1
iateahamburgeratmcdonaldstoday- No fries, no double cheeseburger, just 1 plain hamburger. and iateacookie -only 1 cookie but still :(
I am going to beat head against wall now