Black Friday

I made Gerry go with me to Target and Kohls today. We didn't get up early, but it was still pretty crazy. Target was the most organized. We got what we wanted and got out in about 10 minutes. But I should have known that was too good to be true. We went to Kohls and the lines were terrible. We did save over $100 and got $10 in Kohls cash but we were in line for 45 minutes - Gerry timed it. I think they really need to work on the wait time.
We set up the Christmas tree today. I want it up for Robby. We got the nativity set up and the stockings hung. The girls then decided to clean the closet under the stairs. We found several things we had misplaced and quite a few things to donate to Goodwill. The family room is still a bit of a mess but I hope they aren't done yet.
Enjoy the beginning of the holiday season!!

Sixteen years together

Wow, Gerry and I have been together for 16 years tomorrow. Many people thought we wouldn't last.
A good friend of mine just shared with me that she is getting married in the spring. I am so excited for her - she deserves a great guy finally!
I love my family.
I am planning on putting up the Christmas tree on Friday. I really want Robby to have a great first Christmas. He is such an awesome addition to our family.
Gerry is going fishing on Friday. It is time to start filling the freezer with crappie. The kids love the fish. We broil it with lemon pepper and butter.
Holly is doing well at UIW but she really misses home cooking. We made my Aunt Bettye Jo's Potato Soup for dinner tonight. We usually don't have any leftovers on soup night.
Kelsey and Holly have their schedules for the spring. Kelsey is only taking 7 hours but they are very tough. She is taking Chemistry and Ant. & Phsy. Both science courses are very tough and she will have to take the second halves next semester. She has about 12 hours after spring semester before she applies to nursing school.
We got Kelsey's eyes checked & she is happy to have new contacts. Tim got his temporary crown today. I think he may have TMJ like his mom. After getting his mouth worked on he is having trouble opening his mouth. He does grind his teeth like I do.
Journal your Christmas starts on Dec 1st and I can't wait!

One more day...

If you know me, you know that teachers are often more excited about the holidays that students. And that is so the case this week. Every year there is that one class that drives you nuts. Or something has changed in your environment. Or you are just getting older.
I don't know the reason this year but I am very ready for the holiday break. I really love my students, but I need a break from the grind. Maybe I am feeling this way because I have been so sick lately. I don't know. I really want to get out of this funk I am in.
Today is the Culinary Class's luncheon. I am finally broke down and bought a ticket. Two of my students are in the class and they are really excited that I will be there. One is quite the accomplished chef and I see him going to the Culinary Institute. If he can get the scholarships. But I play to help him with applying for those next year!
I am trying to get back in the cooking mode, and last night I made a simple mac and cheese recipe. Tonight will probably be spaggetti, but I just use Prego. I tried for a while to make my own sauce but I really didn't think it was any good. My mother would have added sugar to my recipe, but I hope to be a bit healthier than that. And my family would probably prefer hot sauce anyway. I did find a shrimp and beer dip recipe on HEB.com. Its secret ingredient is Shiner Bock Beer.
Please keep Kelsey in your prayers today, she is very sick with a cold. She is having a really rough time with it and the timing. She had a test last night that she got her teacher to email her and a presentation on Tuesday night. Next semester she is taking Chemistry and Anatomy & Phys. She has about 20 hrs to go before she transfers to the Health Science Center.
Holly has also registered for the Spring Semester. She changed her major from pre-Med to English. She wants to teach English at the college level. That is going to be a hard one.
Did I mention that I am a provisional editor over at Rebel Tales? Rebel Tales is a new Ezine with fresh fiction - including paranormal, sci fi, fantasy and suspense. I am really excited to be working with these exciting authors and editors. We are hoping for a March/April release. If you write - check them out. Holly Lisle is the publisher and I am sure you have read one of her books. They are really good.
Last night I finished book 5 of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Wow, what a great book. I fear that it may be the last book of the series, it really ended well. But maybe there are a couple of strings not tied up. I can only hope for another one.
I am not going to make my goal for reading 144 books this year. I think I will be about 20 or so short. I have read 115 as of today. But, hey, maybe next year.
The jury is still out on the haircut. I can't seem to get it to look like Laura made it look. It has flippy ends that are just going crazy.

Weekend....

One week until Thanksgiving Break. I am really looking forward to a week off. I have an appointment for me booked on Monday and Kelsey on Tuesday. I went on Thursday to the eye doctor and got a new contact prescription. We had to switch eye doctors because of the new insurance and I had been delaying. We tried an eye doctor on DeZavala for Holly and I hated them. They didn't respect my time, and lost my business. Which in a house of 5 who all wear glasses - could be a pretty penny! The new doctor was able to see me early and apologize for a 15 minute wait. Bandera Vision was where I went. And I am booking all the family members....
Brie should be allowed home today. What a trooper! She is such a sweet little baby. Maddie, Cami and Grandma Gail are sewing cases for cheer today in Elk Grove.
We are going to California for Christmas. The downside is that with Gerry's parents getting older this could be our last Christmas with them. We have been blessed with many years with them and the kids just adore them. I wish my mother was still around. I miss her a lot at Christmas because that is when we lost her. 12/21/2001.
I am getting my December Daily/Journal your Christmas album together. I really enjoy Shimelle Laine's daily prompts for Christmas. It would be so easy for me to let my missing my mother over take my Christmas Spirit. I think that even though we are going to California, we still need to get the tree set up for Robby. I want him to enjoy the season. I am also pushing my self to complete my Christmas Cards this year. I haven't sent many cards out for the last 4 years.

Brie's surgery is done

And she made it through and is in ICU. They are giving her medication for the pain. From what I understand from the surgery, the real test of the surgery will be after the swelling goes down. The spinal cord was trapped in tissue at the base of the spine. If there was damage from the trapped area the damage may heal because she is so young. Hopefully, the damage is slight and she won't remember all of this when she is older.
I went and had my vision checked for new contacts. Same prescription as the one last August. So my vision has stabilized again after the dip the previous April. The blood sugar was ruled out as the reason. The MRI cleared any brain disfunction. So we have no clue as to why my vision got so bad. My hormones are dropping again. I hate getting old!

Gratitude Journal and eating right

I am working on two things right now.
Today is my second day of eating better at lunch. Yesterday, I had a frozen steamer dinner and today was a soup and sandwich frozen combo. Both were under 400 calories. If only I can continue the experiment. I have a bad habit of eating fast food for lunch!
The second experiment is encouraging my students to think about the holiday and what they are grateful for. We have had two days so far.
Cases for Cheer will be posting a video on Utube on how to make their pillowcases. I will finally be able to sew some cases for them! Cases for Cheer is a non-profit started by my great niece, Maddie. She makes pillow cases for people going through chemo to cheer them up! She started the charity when she was 10!

Praying for health for all

I have had a bout with bronchitis which lasted for about two weeks. Today I had Robby for the morning and then we went to Outback for dinner. It was a nice evening with Gerry, Kelsey, Tim &Robby. I am coughing a lot tonight but it should calm down after I rest a bit.
Next week, my niece will be having spinal surgery on 11/11. The little bit is barely a year and weighs less than 20 lbs.
Gerry's ear is taking a long time to heal. It was a huge cut.
Another friend's step-daughter had brain surgery and we are praying for her recovery.