Secret Santa in the Nick of Time!

I had heard that my secret Santa had some troubles toward the beginning of December, so I was not expecting a package. I was ok with this because I figure I am a better giver than receiver and we all have things that pop up and screw with our "plans". But, my secret Santa pulled through and I got a fabulous package today!!

It couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

For the past 3 days I have gone to 3 funerals of 3 wonderful Cape Codders. 2 past from heart attacks and 1 had valiantly fought a 4 year battle with cancer. All these people had ties to the fishing industry. Basically, it has been a tough vacation week.

So, when I went to my mailbox today and found the little yellow slip that meant "package!", I almost kissed the post office lady. I sped home and ripped into the sucker, I mean, I drove the speed limit and carefully and daintily opened the package.

There were lots of things wrapped up in this box. The first thing the girls and I spied were the M&Ms!! Yippee!

My secret Santa was so nice, she even included stockings for the girls. K is all about the peace sign, so she grabbed this one!

B loves the color blue, so she was happy to grab this one!

Then she nicely took a picture of me with all my great loot! I love Old Navy and my secret Santa bought the place out! And added an ornament and a snowman with hand soap!

Please let me know who you are so I can give you a big virtual hug!!! B was shouting out blog names trying to guess you. This cracked me up coming from my 11 year old who doesn't blog, but knows enough about my bloggy friends to know their names!

A big shout out to Georgie and Amy who put the Secret Santa soiree together!

Christmas Recap Sponsored by NyQuil

What do you get when you have days of excitement induced stress, lots of alcohol (the adults anyway), late nights and Christmas?

The Post Christmas Fever, of course! So I will write this between sneezing, taking K's temp and drinking tea.....

Christmas day was a blast! Well, actually it started Christmas Eve night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The girls got Uggs and were in Heaven!

Christmas day brought lots of fun stuff including,

a new saddle,

new goggles,

texting to friends about new saddle,

a really soft sweatshirt,

and my brother and his gf (Jenn) all cozy on the couch after many mozzarella/salami loaf on bread pieces (OK and maybe a few cocktails.)

The day after, K went to the mall decked out in her new duds...

and B strapped on her Cake Boss jacket and made some fancy dancy cupcakes with Jenn.

The evil cold that started with my dad has now gone to my mom, me, my sister in law and now K. B is walking around with gloves and a mask on and I suggest you Purel after you read this.

Christmas Letter 09

Twas a cold day in December and all on the floor,

Decorations were scattered full of xxxxxx lore.

Too overwhelmed to move, I sat in a chair,

In hopes that Merry Maids soon would be there.

The year has had some travel, near and away,

We had some fun in Maine and yes, F-L-A

While jump roping all over New England was B

We also hit Galveston, Texas for Nationals and a look.

B is in 5th grade and swims like a shark,

In the church choir and sings like a lark.

Loves the independence middle school brings,

Being with friends is one of her favorite things.

K just joined the Barnstable Pony Club,

She can jump a horse over rails and a shrub.

She played midfield for the middle school soccer team,

She flies down the field, while in her eyes a gleam.

She likes to go on long rides in Palmer with Dad,

Riding her horses is what makes her most glad.

She took a modeling and acting class,

Both long to be famous, isn't that a gas?

Holding it all together is like juggling balls,

But I manage to do it, while taking calls.

School Comm, and writing keep me busy,

And wedding photography leaves me dizzy!

Though life has thrown us some changes that left us disjointed

We would rather be grateful and gracious than disappointed.

We would love for you to stop by and stay for a few

Anytime is good, Love K, B and Sue

Merry Christmas everyone!

Trees and More Trees

Remember way back when I said I had 3 Christmas trees in my house? Well, Justine requested to see all 3. Guess that means you will all be seeing all 3 with a spotlight on a few of my favorite ornaments....

The real tree...

The fake tree I got for $1.90 at Target one year (after Christmas).

And the 3rd little tree..(Like my use of a tablecloth? I do not like that wooden thing under the cloth).

First , we have the sentimental ornaments. This is my cousin's handprint when she was 4. She is now 22.


One of the girls painted this last year..
This is from one of my favorite (am I allowed to say that) students when I was student teaching.
I have these from both girls from Kindergarten. I can't believe their hands were that small!

Then there are the novelty ornaments like Mickey Mouse heads everywhere!


Mmmmm, I could eat these guys up!

And if you live by the water, you of course, are going to have shell ornaments.

And if you have a VERY talented friend, you have some of her ornaments too!

A snow (sand) man....

And this jelly fish is new this year..

I am going to wrap it up for today (and get back to wrapping).

Walkin' In a Winter Wonderland

It was a marvelous winter wonderland here yesterday! The Cape doesn't get as much snow as the rest of Massachusetts, but yesterday we hit the jackpot! We got about a foot and a half of the white stuff. While the girls played, I shoveled. Today, I am feeling a few back muscles I had forgotten about. The best news was getting a call yesterday afternoon saying that schools were closed for today! It would have been cruel to send the kids to school when they could be outside sledding! I think my girls also might have some sledding off the back of a horse in their future today! So enjoy a few pictures from our winter wonderland. Later, I will go venture out and see what the beaches look like.....

Frag'n Friday!

Go see what holiday cheer Mrs. 4444s has going on this week. She is a busy girl! and so am I evidently, because I forgot today was Friday! Ugh!! So here goes, some thoughts on a frag'n Friday....

*We are due to get a big storm tomorrow night! Yee-ha! Cape Cod does not usually have a white Christmas, but it is looking like this is the year for it! Yes, any snow bums people out to no end, but I love it! I also love making snowmen, sledding and sshhh, even shoveling! Don't let the shoveling thing get out because I might find myself shoveling every grannie's walkway within a 5 mile radius!

*The secret santa thing that I joined up to do with Georgie and Amy has been very fun! I have not received my package yet, but I am loving seeing what everyone else is getting. For more information you can click on the SS link at the top of the page. I also have clearance to tell who I had the pleasure of being a secret santa to........Drum Roll Please!

Justine at Stupidisassisterdoes

It has been so great learning about Justine and her life in Florida! She has 2 sweet girls that could probably be pretty good friends with my girls if we lived less than a 3 hour plane ride away! So surprise, Justine, and the offer about switching sides for your secret santa, thoughtful, but not necessary!

*Lisa Genova (Still Alice) spoke at a fundraiser today for our kids' jump rope team. Damn, that girl is a great speaker! Very engaging!!!! And we got a sneak peak into her next book that she is more than half way through writing, but not coming out until a year from January!!! How am I going to wait for another year before I find out what happens?

*Christmas is coming fast and furious. I went to the mall yesterday to look for one thing and the deals were just so fantastic I had to buy a few more things for the girls (ok and 1 thing for me). And my email box is full of frantic last minute internet sales. For a girl who loves a bargain, I am having a hard time convincing myself not to buy things!!!

Have a great weekend and remember to breathe!!!!

Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow!!!!!!!

Good Deed

So, I wanted to teach the girls a lesson today in being thoughtful... compassionate..... nice.... pick the word....

As K was going to sleep I said, "I did something nice today".

She said, "Oh, I did something nice today. too. You know how I pick and eat my finger nails? Well today, I bit them and instead of putting them on the floor, I put them in the trash."

"Well, ok, you win."

"What was your good deed, Mommy?"

"Never mind."