How we are "ringing in the New Year"

Black ice + truck = wipeout

Good Grief!

I am so happy Christmas is over! Not that I don't love Christmas, because I do. But with 4 children it gets overwhelming. We had a "toned down" Christmas with fewer and more meaningful gifts. I was was worried there would be sad faces and maybe hurt feelings. There weren't and as a matter of fact, the kids seemed more calm and not so "over the top". The house isn't a mess like Christmases past (as there was less waste......less gifts = less paper and stuff) and the kids have been playing together. Yes, playing together! Santa was still generous, don't get me wrong, but he was a little more mindful of what is really important during the holidays. So, the kids are happy, mom is happy and dad is happy.

The boys (Nate and Tom) got a Nintendo Wii.....which by the way is AWESOME!! Abby got her "Chou Chou, Mommy make me better doll" and Jamie got a high value ("high value" for a 15 year old) Discover gift card. And then a few odds and ends (how can you buy a gaming system and not a couple games? And we live in Massachusetts, so we needed new sleds.....oh and Jamie wrecked his sneakers so Santa brought him new ones).

We spent a few hours with my mom and sister (and my sister's in-laws.....who are more than just "my sister's in-laws" to us, they are just as much our family as hers.....) and the girls and Dennis. My gifts to the girls were well received (I get a gold star from Dev.....she was quite happy). Just let me tell you, www.disneyshopping.com is awesome. I got some great deals there this shopping season, with free personalization AND free shipping. And since having nieces and a daughter, Disney is a a very important "name" around here.

So all in all, Christmas was good.

Now we just need to wait for the new year to arrive. I just know this year is going to be a great year for us! And I hope it is a great year for you as well....

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stupid Camera

My camera is stupid. It's a dumb, broken, stupid, piece of junk camera. Why o why now? It's the holiday season, I need to take pictures. I am mad beyond belief, especially at myself. Of course I didn't get the service warranty (why should I? That would be a SMART thing to do.......). I tried to get a couple good pictures of the kids, you know, to put in the Christmas cards. I think out of 20 pictures (when I actually got the camera to work (by smacking it around a bit).....*note to those having camera issues, calling your camera a little f*cker does NOT help.......it also doesn't help when you call the broken, stupid thermostat a little f*cker either...just sayin') maybe one is actually acceptable. So we'll see. I need to try and remember where I put all my photo paper.....it's around here somewhere.

After I print the pictures and mail the cards I will post the picture. I hope everyone likes it!

In the mean time, I need to go clean the house, find the photo paper, search the web for a new digital camera and take the chicken out of the fridge to finish defrosting for dinner (and bake some cookies for Tommy......the poor kid was tortured at the dentist yesterday....now I know how people develop fears of seeing the dentist, they have an experience like Tommy had and it scars them for life!!).

See ya tomorrow!

I saw this over at Karen's blog so I decided to "steal" it.

Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper all the way! Who likes to open a gift bag? Tearing at the wrapping paper is, in my opinion, the 'essence' of Christmas

2. Real or artificial tree? I love fake trees, less mess. Billy likes real because he says they smell nice (I think they smell like cat urine). We used to do real, then fake, then real again and now we are back to fake (base board heating scares me so we decided against a real one....I am secretly ecstatic!)

3. When do you put up the tree? When we had a real tree we would wait until the 16th or so. Now with the fake one we put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down? December 26th, sometimes a little later but definitely way before New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Ick, yuk, no way. The only one who likes it is Nate and then he only has it at his friend's house because I don't buy it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? How could I choose? When I was a kid I loved all my presents. My mom took great care in picking out gifts for us. And now as an adult I love all the gifts I am given. My family is very thoughtful when it comes to gift giving. But if I HAD to choose I would say all the cute gifts my kids have given me over the years!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Usually no one. But this year Tommy, my 9 year old, is proving to be hard to shop for. He is at that age where they are getting too old for toys (and there is nothing 'new' out there that they don't already have) and not quite old enough for all the electronic gadgets that teens like.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Abby by far! I could go into Toys R Us and pretty much buy her whatever and she will be happy.

10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? I honestly can't think of anything!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Do people really email Christmas cards!!??? I mail mine, which are ready to go, I just need stamps.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I just started. It seems like every time I go to the mall something happens and I need to hurry home. Of course if I had started in October like some of my friend's I wouldn't need to be at the crowded mall in the first place.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope, never.

15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? My mother is making spaghetti and meatballs, a family tradition, which happens to be my favorite food!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored!!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night, Josh Grobin does a beautiful version. His new Christmas CD "Noel" is awesome (thanks Louise!).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, we just drive to my sister's a half hour away, if you call that traveling. But other than that, we spend the entire Holiday season at home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Um, no, I can't......

20. Angel or star on top of tree? A tacky, all lit up with lights, silver star!! It's a beauty!

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Always on Christmas morning. Except when my mom comes over, then we open one gift each (my mom gets the kids their Christmas PJ's which they look forward to every year!)

22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Spending money I don't have.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? Yup. The theme: tacky as all get out. Color: all of them!

24. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk usually. This year we are changing it up a bit and leaving some Kahlua and milk and a Hershey bar (that's what Santa really loves!!). As for the reindeer, a carrot, to share.

Some pictures to share