New Year's Resolutions

In the past I have made the same resolutions for the upcoming year: "Lose some weight, eat more vegetables, start exercising more", but where has that gotten me? Overweight because I get depressed over not eating more vegetables and not having the motivation to excercise. Year after year the vicious cycle runs. This year I reslove to make different resolutions. I have decided to spend more time with my friends. Yes, I do belong to a MOMS Club, but I very rarely get to attend most activities because of the times they are held. I enjoy the activities I attend, and I need to make an effort to attend more of them, BUT I also need to make the effort to call friends up and have them over for playdates and cocktails (or to go OUT for the cocktails). I find I am a happier person and a more patient Mom, if I spend time outside of MOMS Club events exploring my own interests. So that is how I am going to start 2008!

Let it Snow!

WOW! Today is the first day of December, and how fitting is it that our first HUGE snow storm of the year started today? We have many inches (don't know an exact stat), and it keeps falling! If I ever get dressed today, maybe I will get a picture on here. I was going to head out to the grocery store this morning, but the snow isn't letting up. This is one morning I especially wish I had a Starbucks in my kitchen! Let's hope it stops soon...AND that it will start up again Christmas Eve, so we can have a white Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to give a "shout out" to my friend Katie who is hosting her first Thanksgiving this year. Good Luck getting everything together, and good luck with having your family (9 extra people) stay with you! (If you have to sneak a shot or two of vodka to help keep you sane, we'll all understand!) (I'm so glad my house isn't big enough to host Thanksgiving dinner...I'd even more of a wreck right now than I already am!)

Tradition

Now that October is over, I have started thinking about Thanksgiving. (Novel idea huh, thinking about the Holiday IN THE MONTH the holiday occurs...WOW! Wish retailers would follow my example!) My sister and I started talking about Thanksgiving dinner, and who should provide which dishes (it is the year we all spend it with my parents/family) and it got me wondering about my friend's traditions. In the last few years, my Dad started Deep Frying the turkey. My hubby and Dad (sometimes my brother) stand around the turkey fryer in the backyard, holding a beer or two or three (my brother sans beer), while the women try to get the rest of the meal ready at the same time or even before the turkey is done. How fair is that? The turkey of course is cooked to perfection, AND we don't have to run to the neighbors to cook the rolls or dressing. But it never fails....the women are rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off (I know cliche, but I haven't had my caffeine yet this morning) and the men get to stand around "watching to make sure the turkey doesn't start on fire". Now I ask you "How many men does it take to make sure a turkey doesn't burn??" in our case "Four, 1 to actually watch the turkey (my firefighter brother) and 3 others to tell him how to watch it".

So now it is your turn...let me know what your Thanksgiving traditions are!

"Friends"

OK, so I need a bit of advice, or I guess I'd like to hear your views/experiences on something that is hard to do. My family and I have some friends that have been friends for a long time. It started out with our hubbies working together. Once we started having kids we all became friends, and would hang out occasionally, and see each other at company functions. We would even send birthday/Christmas gifts through our husbands to each other/kids etc. I even joined the wife's book club, since we have a love of reading in common. Since May of 2006 the guys haven't worked together, but they keep in touch. Since earlier this month, I don't attend the book club anymore. I actually can't stand the wife anymore, she talks tooo much about her bratty kids and how "cute" their antics are, AND she is not the kind of parent I strive to be (I actually reprimand MY kids when they run amok in other people's homes). I think my change in attitude is me finally becoming more aware of what I like and do not like in a friend. AND I am finally starting to make friends on my own (without having to use hubby's "work" as a starting ground). How do I "break-up" with them? I don't mind if my hubby stays in touch with her hubby, I just don't want to hang out with them ever again (with or without the kids)! I am getting sick of having to send gifts for B-Days, and having to come up with something for Christmas. AND it is getting expensive. Do I finish out the year with the same type of gifts I always buy (I DO want to be fair, don't I?), and then start next year anew, with just cards for B-Days and Christmas? (there is only 1 b-day then Christmas left this year) OR do I just cut off ties completely? They are the only non-family people we don't see on a regular basis that we have this "tradition" with. I don't want to hurt feelings, I just want to be done with it. So any advice you have, I would be grateful for.

Halloween

Halloween is usually one of my favorite holidays. This year, I just can't get into it! Normally on or around October 1st we have "Opened Halloween" (my son's phrase) by getting all of my decorations out and making sure the huge spider/spiderweb in the front window is just perfect. I really don't want to do it this year. I'm not sure if it is because it is soo much trouble to get it all out, or if I just want to prolong fall as long as possible. I'm so NOT ready for winter. And I think if I trick myself into thinking Halloween is NOT just around the corner, winter won't be either!

Missing Girl Found

Today they found Kamberlie. She fell into the murky waters of Lake Powell and drowned. I hope I never have to even imagine what it is like to have something like that happen to one of my children. My heart goes out to the Binks family, and my thoughts are with them as they grieve for such an adorable little girl.