The Temple Household New Year's Eve Party

We decided to have our own party made especially to the liking of our kids...You cannot go wrong with kid friendly finger foods and a lot of Wii...(We now even have the Carnival Games)

We will be having chicken tenders, not frozen, freshly made, deviled seafood eggs, french fries and Triple Red Shirley Temple's. Then just play games until 9:00ish or if the kids pass out before that....We are not drinkers, do not go to parties, so to speak and actually do not like being out on New Year's Eve!!! So this is perfect for us!!! George and I will watch the ball drop and come to the conclusion that yet another year passed and move forward to the next year. I have some personal goals, one being to let go of the control I like to have of people and situations....I am aiming high and not slamming myself with a lot of goals. The losing weight goal is ongoing...with proper eating and my love for the gym, that cannot be a true resolution...I've pretty much resolved that one and just need to maintain my enthusiasm for this...LOL!

Tomorrow is the Amazing (2 hour) Workout....It is called the Amazing Workout, I didn't make that one up...We have household things we want to take care of and just spend some relaxing time at home. George will be making me my fav. dinner of all times...Lamb Chops...Yum...He's keeping everything a secret about our dinner, but Lamb is on the menu....

I hope that everyone that reads this, my Myspace and or Facebook, including family, friends, people I do not see anymore, but everyone that has touched my life has a glorious and safe New Year's!!!

Enjoying Vacation Time....

I had a busy day with the girls...Went to the gym 2x's but besides that, took Elizabeth to the doctor for the annoying cough that she has had for almost 4 weeks. They are treating her for a sinus infection with the post nasal drip, swollen nostril's, raspy cough and voice....But she is not really sick, just needed to take care of things.

Then after lunch, we played Wii and a few games of Disney's DVD Bingo Game. There are a lot of games I do enjoy, but this one was so, so much fun. I highly recommend it!!! Jillian fell asleep around 4:00 and we let her...She was beat...Since being home from school, the little girl has been going nonstop...But we woke her after 1/2 an hour, went out and when we came home, had a late dinner. Its 8:12, Jillian just fell asleep and Elizabeth is watching a Barbie movie in her room. Movies are allowed on non-school night.

Tomorrow, we have a friend from church coming over for the day when her mom goes back to work...So it will be another busy, but fun day!!!

Christmas with the Temple's

We had a wonderful holiday....First on Christmas Eve, we went to Church. The girl's looked like little princesses in their dresses and acted like little princesses. By time we came home and ate, the girl's didn't get to bed until around 9:00. Now Elizabeth is usually sleeping by 8:00, so she was excited and ready. Jillian feel asleep before we left cookies and snacks for Santa and his reindeer, so Elizabeth did it with Daddy and wrote a note. Then George, Jeremiah (George's son) and myself stayed up until after midnight playing Wii.





























The girl's slept until 7:00. That is late for Christmas morning. A tradition my brother-in-law did as a young boy in England was that him and his siblings left a pillowcase at the foot of his bed. When Santa came to visit, Santa needs to check to make sure all the children are sleeping. So he pop's a surprise or two in their own "sacks" to wake up to. So in the a.m., both girl's hopped in Elizabeth's bed and did that. Then it went quickly, the excitement of the gifts, presents to open, a nice big breakfast and just a good time playing with new things. One thing Elizabeth told me when we ran to Walgreen's for batteries (because this was the first year I forgot to check and make sure we had what we needed) was that Christmas is not about all the presents....Its about spending time with your family!! How nice for a 6 yr old to say! I said that was true and she should remember that, but she can also have fun remembering and playing with her gifts.





























The hot item this year was the great savings on Black Friday with the scooters. Jillian has a princess one while Elizabeth has a Razor. So we needed to go out and play.


































When the kids went to bed, George and I finished watching Prison Break that we had taped and played my new Wii game, Jillian Michael's 2009 Fitness. (JM is a trainor, a tough trainor from The Biggest Loser!)

So today starts the playdates with 3 girl's coming over to make homemade pizza's and to play....This holiday was a little more lowkey regarding presents, nothing extragnant and staying without budgets and I have to say, it was the best yet!!!

Ready for Christmas!!

Yes, I am officially set for Christmas. Yesterday, we had some friends over and baked, and baked, oh yea, and baked. Last night I made my first ever, Buche De Noel, ALL CHOCOLATE. I saw the recipe on ALL YOU, Walmart's magazine and I've always wanted to try to make one...Once I saw a recipe for all chocolate, I was sold. Well it was not that hard to do, time consuming more...After 4 + hours on my feet baking, then another almost 4 for this cake, boy, I was beat. This a.m. I made meatballs, sausage and homemade sauce as well as homemade toll house cookies...My stepson's fav...He gets a batch himself!!!















Cookie Making!!
















Buche De Noel!!

Lastly, tonight we become members of Limona Village Chapel as well as I will be bapitized! So it's a very special day for the Temple's....one well overdo, but worth the wait!

I just want to wish all my friends and family a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful Joyous New Years!!!

Christmas At Disney

What is there to say except it was way crowded, but very Christmasy!!! First I need to back up with my story.

My sister called me on Friday night. She had broken my niece's Ariel mug by accident. The mug is beautiful and they have one for each princess with Castle type windows and the princess picture in the window. Arlene (niece's name) did not know that it broken. So needless to say, my sister wanted me to see if I could find one. On ebay, the mug went for $22.00. My niece also just turned 13 on December 10th. Arlene also figured out, asked questions about the truth regarding Christmas. So my sister was very emotional about that, about the mug breaking and about her becoming a teenager.

So Saturday, we are off to Disney after lunch. First, we get there and go to Magic Kingdom. As I said a few months ago, there is no way I will pay $30 for a double stroller!!! As we were entering by the courtyard, a nice family was leaving and offered their double stroller. George first said no, but I said yes and how much I appreciated it. Their children dumped a whole bunch of food in it and I would of cleaned it, but the mom helped me. We saved $30.00 and EXTREMELY thankful this happened to us. (See there are nice people in the world!LOL!)

Then it was packed so we just parked it by the courtyard to watch the Parade, which of course, was the Holiday parade. How exciting and we avoided having to pay the $50 + a person for the nighttime festivities, which is mainly the parade the kids like. I can make instant hot chocolate and save $200. heehee!

After the parade, we went to the store where my sister remembered buying the mug. I couldn't find her, but found a "cast member" walking with mugs and followed her to the display. I didn't see the mug at first glance and as I was asking her...BOOM, it was there. 40% off! Well how lucky is that....So I told her how happy I was and briefly told her the story. Well I was so excited that when I went to the counter to pay, I BRIEFLY told the story. The two cast members at the register asked me my name, wrote it down and said, consider this a gift to you from us and to your niece. I know it wasn't my story and periodically they must do this, but the way the story went, my sister's emotional roller-coaster, it was like a true miracle!!

Then we battled to go to MGM, which is how long its been since I've been there. The name has changed to Hollywood Studios, but quite honestly, I do not like that name. I was there opening weekend of MGM back in the 1980 something and to me, I do not care who says differently, it is and will forever be MGM to me!! LOL!

Our last little bit of good luck was that there was no line for Ariel's show, even though it pretty much filled out and that we were 10th in line for Playhouse Disney!!

We ended the evening with the Osborne Lights, the main reason we went to MGM!!!

Jillian's Christmas Program

Yesterday Jillian had her Christmas party along with the class singing 3 songs. Much better than last year where Jillian just cried. This year, she was all into it...Of course it was all about the claps and laughs for Jillian. She is our performer, more on the spot and doing what she feels like doing...But that's my Jillian and she looked adorable as did the whole class.

But before school, both girls were excited that it was the last day of school....Both of them wearing their new Christmas lightup shirts....

Do they look happy or what???!!!!??

Fun Saturday

Elizabeth just left for her dance party and should be home by 11:30...Then we will eat lunch and head over to Disney, Magic Kingdom and of course, end the evening with the Osborne lights. I ready for the crowd....this is usually the weekend we would go anyway....So the excitement is rising, not just for the girls, but me too! LOL!

Daisy Troop Visit to Residential Home

Today at our troop meeting, we made a special trip to a local Residential Home to deliver homemade Christmas cards and cookies. The home is Superior off of Providence Ridge Rd.


When we arrived (there was about 8 girls and their mom's) the girls were so excited to go in and see the people that lived there. They asked me if they were going to sing and originally, it was not part of the plan. Some of the girls are shy so I did not want to press it. But the girls really wanted to do this and I said that was fine. So we went in and met with the Executive Director.


She took all of us to one section of the home, where the resident's with Alzeheimer's live. The girls handed out cards, said their Merry Christmas's and had a wonderful time visiting. They sand Jingle Bells and Rudolph for entertainment.


After that, we went to the section where the resident's had dementia. That was sadder and when the girls finished handing out the cards and started to sing, I thought I would break a little with tears. But I pulled myself together. They sang Frosty and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. One girl did want to sing Silent Night, but that would of just done me in!!!! Here is a picture of my troop at the Home...

















Our Troop is invited to go back and I am considering Valentine's Day! But we are all in agreement that this was a special thing to do for Christmas and I truly saw happiness in the girl's faces as the resident's responded and enjoyed having their visit!!!

Daisy Troop 556, you are all the BEST!!!

Tomorrow is Friday! YAY!!!

I say that now...I am looking forward to tomorrow and no particular schedule for 2 weeks.

Tomorrow Jillian has her Christmas Party and so does Elizabeth. Its such a lazy, fun day, that the girl's will be popping out of bed as soon as I tell them its time to get up.

More importantly, is a project my Daisy Troop has finished. As a group, we have made Holiday cards for a Residential Home, along with some Christmas ornaments and cookies. (Cookies going to staff to disbursed due to dietary needs.) I am so proud of my girl's, the eagerness and willingness to do for others. Prior to delivering our gifts, we have our first badge ceremony. We are squeezing a lot in to one meeting, but for 5 and 6 yr olds, that's fine. But doing what we did as a group, is just what Scouting is about...Helping others in our community.

Well, tonight we had some "Family Wii time", which really is not an occasional thing. We seem to have a lot of Wii nights. Jillian is amazing with the bowling, but she does not display good sportsmanship. We do have to work on that, but she is only 4. Hell, I know some older kids and adults that aren't...LOL!

Tomorrow night we have George's holiday dinner with his work. I am looking forward to that, adult time...I'll take some alone adult time whenever! But wouldn't we all...LOL!

Christmas and double duty schedules

Tonight, Elizabeth had her first Christmas party at dance while Jillian had her pizza party with choir. Unfortunately, we all could not be at 2 places at once. But it all worked out. George took Jillian while I took Elizabeth. Elizabeth has another dance party Sat. a.m., which George can take her to before we go to Disney!!!

Elizabeth did a cute dance to the Can Can ballet song. I taped it, but where I sat in the room, you could hardly see her. But I have to say, while she takes dancing so serious, she also is loose and enjoys it. That is what is more important than anything else.

Today I met with my Troop's Cookie Mom and we have a game plan for cookie sales. So anyone that reads this, make sure you go to your GS rep to get your thin mints and other cookies...the time is coming up. My troop has 13 girls and I think the troop as a whole will be motivated to sell.

On another note, I've been exhausted lately. I know I've been busy, but I feel on edge at times....like yes, I can snap any moment. So to those I might snap at or offend, I'm sorry! Just a warning...I might be like this on and off for the next week or two, or for the next 7 years....maybe I'm perimenapausal...LOL!

The End of Another Week

Can it be possible....my title of this blog is similiar to last Sunday's...Just when the weekend is over. I have no time to really blog or much of anything else lately, so once a week is good for me..

Last night, Jillian had her performance at our church with the Choir. Let me just say, she stole the show. She was very cute, basically doing her own thing, grabbing the admiration of the lookers, especially the elder's. I was not embarassed by her, just felt a little bad because she was stealing and getting the attention during certain parts when she shared the stage is so many other children. But as a mom, that's my Jilly! She didn't misbehave although she didn't constantly follow directions. But she is 4 yrs old and she was on stage for quite a long time....Longer than I think some 4 yr olds can hold their attention.

The week itself is somewhat of a blur. I missed the gym so much, but other things were needed. Elizabeth loves to go to Yates Winter Concert (went last year) and we went Thursday night. I think this will be an annual thing being that she loves music and the singing.

Today was a heavy duty laundry day. That's how bad this week was, I had 4 loads of laundry, which is a lot for me on the weekend. I usually do some during the week, but this week, there was no time. My husband was chosen to cater/serve for a Holiday Party ,so he has been gone since 10:30 this morning and not expected home until about that time in the p.m. Girls are asleep and now is some alone time...And yes, finally finished my Christmas Cards!!! LOL!

Another weekend, gone

We have had a very busy weekend. Friday, we went caroling with our church. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun. There had to be at least 20 families, some with 2 or 3 children. We had some warm soups before we left and then after we caroled. returned for cookies and cakes. Yummy! Jillian was in her glory, walking and skipping with Miss Heather, her music teacher!

Sat., gym, dance and a birthday party. The birthday party was at BCB Bowling. I love the "moonlight" bowling and the 80's hits they play! Without having a working computer in our family room, it was nice to sit down and watch a movie with George. We watched Disturbia, which was such an excellent movie, but kept me up playing on the laptop for a while...LOL!

Sunday we finished our class to become member's of our Church. So at the Christmas Eve service we will take our vows. ALSO, there is no proof that I was every bapitized. Its a big downfall when you have a mother who passed away at such a young age. My Dad had never been one to discuss a lot of family things. So I will be bapitized prior to taking our vows. I was a little uneasy about being bapitized at my age, but you know what, it will mean a lot to me and to have George and my girls along with friends from the Church there. I was thinking crazy has far as how will I look, a grown woman doing this now. But when our Pastor mentioned the dates available and we chose the 24th (how appropriate for this) I couldn't help but tear up.

I must add that the girls were very good at today's meeting. I am very proud of them. Tonight, we are planning to go see Santa and pay the ridiculous $$$ for our one picture, but a tradition is a tradition!!! LOL! Tomorrow, George and I took off of work for some shopping and together time. I am looking forward to that along with 50 more hours I am taking off of work this month.

Still down the main/work computer...Karlise, I know you offered and I am just waiting for our IT guy today. If he can get in through our Verizon wireless box, he might clear it up and then we are clear...If not and I get a towerless computer for work, then I need the house one with more speed...But I'll be in touch!!!

The Virus has hit

My computer has been hit with a nasty virus...my work computer of all computers...And our personal Dell, is slow as anything. Hopefully, I will be able to purchase a RAM to increase the speed...

It seems that after I left to pick up Jillian from school, something went on...Nothing we personally did since the computer was "home alone". But when I came home, OMG, it was going crazy. I love the convenience of going on the computer to do work, email, search, Facebook or MySpace things and now its not as simple. But we'll see...I know I'm taking off close to 60 hours this month from work, so that will help :)

Mommy Guilt At It's Best

Yesterday, we went to our church to meet with the Pastor. George's, along with myself's goal is to become members of our church (finally) for Christmas. Unfortunately and fortunately, there are two classes that need to be taken and childcare is provided (usually). EXCEPT yesterday. The one woman's son was in the hospital, holiday weekend, etc. none could be provided. I was hoping that the girl's would be on their best behavior, but no. Even bribery with the Eddy's Limited Edition of Peppermint Ice Cream did not do the trick. George ended up leaving with the girl's during the last 1/2 hour (at least) sitting in the van and letting me finish the first session. At one point, I went outside, opened the van door and threatened them with Christmas, saying and usually a very bad word the ripped my stomach apart. I was so mad, the one thing we wanted to do for the family. So now I sit here with all the guilt possible, even though this morning, the girl's seem unaffective to what happened. George was even pissed at me. If it wasn't for the rain, I would of went for a walk and just walked and walked. So instead, I cried and cried and went to bed at 8:30. Please do not post things to feel sorry for how bad I was feeling. I was so wrong about the incident and just needed to use this space to vent and to (confess) what a horrible mother I was at that particular time!!!!