at 4:00 in the morning

Not much goes on at 4:00 in the morning at my house. I made the coffee, let the Dukie dog out, wiped his paws and then played a game on facebook. The paper hasn't been delivered yet and everyone else is still off in the Land of Nod. This is the second morning this week that I've been awake so darn early. I will most likely require a nap later this afternoon, time permitting, or else I will be quite grumpy by early evening.

I managed to get my Christmas cards out to those who sent to me thus far plus a few extras. I need to purchase more stamps, but can accomplish that task at the grocery store today. I also finished, I hope, the rest of the holiday gift shopping. I had the nieces and nephew to buy for yesterday, and was able to complete that mission without too many problems. The parking lot at our mall was a bit treacherous. The pedestrian friendly design leaves a bit to be desired when the weather is cold and the place is busy with cars far out numbering walkers. The roundabout in the center continues to boggle the minds of several shoppers making for some interesting moments as people couldn't quite decide which exit they really wanted. I hope I don't have to return to that shopping mecca until 2010.

My friend Anne continues to improve. Her hubby said in his latest update that she has enough tubes and such attached to her that she reminds him of an old horror movie character, but that her coloring is much improved and her spirits continue to be good. I wrote her a rather lengthy post on her Caring Bridge site. I'm so used to chatting with her via the internet each day, I really miss that connection.

Started a new book by an author I've never heard of before, MLN Hanover, "Unclean Spirits." So far so good.

Well, it is now almost 5:30 and the girls will start to swing into action. I best make my shopping list. The second cup of coffee isn't quite clearing my head and if the fogginess persists, the pantry stocking trip could be an exercise in futility as I will forget half of what I need and buy things that will go unused.

Happy Wednesday!!

a rash of stuff

Looks like after I pick up the cake for the Library Christmas party and deliver it I will be heading out to shopping central, otherwise known as the mall, to finish what I wasn't able to do yesterday.

Youngest kid was home with some weird rash. Almost looks like Fifth's, but I thought he had it already and you aren't supposed to be able to get it twice. Well, once he wakes up, I will need to check his legs and see what is happening. He feels fine other than a very fine, bumpy rash...who knows, we may be off to the doc today.

But, until I can diagnose and decide, the plan is to hit three stores and be home right after. No dilly dallying allowed. I know what I need to purchase and I know that I need to get out of there quick.

My buddy Kim asked what cookies I make. Well, I make a variety but every year a few are special requests. I make rocky road candy and I make skillet cookies then I make whatever else sounds good. I may make peanut blossoms this year and we are talking about making kieflies too, but only if i can recruit helpers on that project. Too labor intensive for just one Mommy.

Being gone, I haven't done any major baking for the past two holidays. I'm sort of out of the groove. I also need to get those darn cards out! I am dragging my feet on that for the first time ever. I usually have them mailed the day after Thanksgiving and this year I have zero interest in sitting down and doing that. Not quite sure what my problem is, but I need to mail at least a few to family and close friends.

Just a rash of stuff to do, so let's hope the rash on the youngest has subsided so I can get busy.

let the mad rush begin

I do not enjoy shopping at the last minute and the things I need to take care of today will, I hope, avoid that phenomena from happening. I need to pick up things from a variety of stores and really have only two hours to accomplish those tasks. Then I need to hightail it back home so I can prepare 24 maids of honor tarts for the oldest to take to her English class, yep, they are doing a Twelfth night celebration as they are reading Twelfth Night by old Willie S. I wanted to simmer up some wassail for her to take, but she vetoed that idea. So, tarts it is!

The big kids have finals this week, so I hope for them it is a light homework week and more of a study and review week.

The youngest kid will just be on pins and needles until school is finished. I don't imagine they will be doing anything important this week and their Christmas party is Friday afternoon.

I've done zero baking of yet. I really need to clean my house. I did no laundry this weekend unless you count washing the oldest kid's soccer gear twice after just one game! Oh, the mud, the mud, the mud. She was covered from head to toe and that was before the game started. We actually hosed down her cleats and had to prerinse every single item she had on BEFORE we started the washer and I still had to wash them again!!

The latest House of Night book is firmly in my rear view window now. Ugh. It was most definitely a solid 5 on a 10 scale. On the other hand, I picked up Lili St. Crow's latest Dru Anderson book and am LOVING IT. Gosh can that woman write.

Let the mad rush begin, only 11 days until Christmas. It truly is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

potpourri

I returned all the borrowed Harry Dresden books yesterday and heartily wish a new one was on the horizon. Some authors just get better and better with each book and Jim Butcher is one of them. The stories, the characters, the whole thing is just so much fun! On the other hand, I started the latest House of Night book by the mom and daughter writing team of P.C. and Kristin Cast and am less than entertained. Only about a third of the way through and I'm disappointed in the the story, the characters, the writing in general. Oldest kid has read it and agreed, not as good as some of the earlier novels in the series. She did say it gets better towards the end. I sure hope so.

I have quite a bit of work to do today with this laptop. I have two genealogy packets to put together, one for my grandfather and one for a great aunt. I also have a bunch of Friends stuff to resolve, organize and handle. I want to put all that 'to bed' before next week.

Making pizza for supper tonight and that won't involve dialing for delivery. Going to watch the first four episodes from season one of Supernatural with my oldest. The DVD came from Netflix earlier in the week, but we put off enjoying the shows so she could work on The Fountainhead paper from HELL!! I've never read Ayn Rand's tome starting her devotion to Objectivism and after helping the kid with the mechanics of her paper, have no desire to do so.

Soccer, soccer, soccer this weekend. Three games and I hope three wins for the kid. Have some Christmas shopping to do for the nephew and nieces in Florida.

Ho, ho, ho....away we go!!!!

almost done

I forgot to blog on Wednesday! Yikes. I've been sleeping oddly of late. Twice this week I've over slept and that messes up my whole schedule.

Managed to get most of my to do list finished yesterday, of course, the press release wasn't written. Guess I will need to tackle that today after I get home from the Library. Need some face time with the sorting and store crew.

Today my friend Anne has her surgery. Praying for steady surgeon hands, good nurses and good fortune for her. I just don't know how either of us will cope without her steady emails, facebook posts etc!

Our rainy and balmy weather has blown away and been replaced by frigid temps. Well, frigid for here...it is in the 20's. Brrrrrr.

I finally finished the final Dresden book I had borrowed and plan on returning them today. Up next is the latest from mother-daughter writing duo P.C and Kristin Cast. Yeah!

The week is almost done....one more week of school for the kiddoes and then we can enjoy the final days before the Santa-man arrives.

the final push

I remember how difficult it was to stay focused the last few weeks of school before Christmas break. I feel sorry for my two oldest kiddoes as they try and finish up papers, projects and take tests plus begin to study for semester exams. Not fun at all.....

That final push, those last few yards to the shore is the hardest thing. Such a good life lesson. Of course, they don't see any of that now, but maybe some day they will. Reaching the realization that when you are almost 'there' it takes only a bit more effort to finish strong. It is also the time when the temptation to quit looms largest. Hubby and I spent a few moments yesterday cheering them on, encouraging them to focus and work hard for the next two weeks.

Quite a bit going on this week. My grandmother is home from rehab and has a slew of accompanying issues. Plus, my friend has surgery. Hoping and praying for the best for both of them.

I worked on the 2010 calender for the Friends of the Library group. It was a bit surreal to type out all those months and begin to add in the events and activities for the upcoming twelve months. If this past year is any indication, those days will fly by.

It is very hard to believe that one year ago we started to make our packing list for our trip to Europe. I can't believe sometimes that we actually were able to take the entire family and go to Germany and France. Even now, those memories make me so incredibly happy and so incredibly proud that we were able to take that trip with our children. It was a stretch and a sacrifice, but one that I would make again in an instant.

The final push towards the end of 2009 is here...and we are all pulling for the shore.

overslept

I woke at an ungodly hour and decided that I wasn't getting up, so I wound up falling back asleep and then overslept! On top of that, the girls' alarms didn't go off, or did so and they turned them off and didn't remember doing it. Needless to say, the morning is not off to a leisurely pace.

They made it out of the door on time, whew. I now have to make the coffee and get the paper.

And try to recapture the last two hours!!

I hate when this happens.

Up this week, meeting this morning. Meeting on Wednesday morning. Soccer on Tues/Thurs. Soccer all weekend. Cub Scouts tonight. Plus whatever rolls our way.

Still reading Harry Dresden, but very close to finishing.

Went to the Matthew Kelly program last night at church. Nice program, good music and some food for thought. Even the kids enjoyed it.

Happy Monday....where is that coffee???