Hi everyone! Last day of school here before the 2 week Christams break. Sounds good to me, as we are all hovering on the brink of exhaustion. Too many activities and late nights.

Kadia's car is winning so far in the competition!! (we were up until midnight Monday building a car with mouse-traps and rubberbands)

Today the kids get a 2 hour early dismissal. I am playing an elf, and wrapping all the gifts today, if I ever tear myself away from the computer!! I have my house-work done, all but hanging a load of laundry.

It is cold and frosty here in SE Ohio this morning. I am going to put on a pot of stew and make a loaf of wheat bread in the bread machine. Might try that angel food cake recipe for dessert. The girls have piano lessons this evening. Then we are done with outside committments for a while.

Tomorrow my Mom is taking us out for breakfast, and taking the kids Christmas shopping. They want to buy a gift for Cale and I. I am doing a little grocery shopping for the holiday, and that should be it for a while.

I hope you all have a good day!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 19, 2001

Answers

Thanks Melissa-I believe it WILL be a good day-yesterday was! My kids last day of school was friday, so they've been here a few days. We've settled nicly allready into a slower rhythem.

Yesterday, I got ALOT of house cleaning done-the pull the furniture out and mop and do windows kind of cleaning-we had a sunny, fairly warm day yesterday after what seemed like weeks of rain- I filled up that clothesline! I had had a sinus infection for two weeks and yesterday was the first day that I felt really good.

After careful consideration, we decided to get a live tree despite the kids allergies-Thanks to Leslies good advice! Since its far away from kids sleeping area, and they have been getting syrum shots and meds for some time, we decided to "risk" it So yesterday afternoon, the kids and I and the dog went for a long "Christmas Tree Spotting"walk-it was great to get outside for a while! We found a nice tree and when Dad got home, we had a quick supper then put up the tree. We watched a video- The Nutcracker that Marice Sendack designed-I love the Nutcracker! and we had popcorn and hot cocoa. It was a great day-the kids didn't squabble-we'd had some crabbiness at the end of School.

This morning the house is clean-downstairs anyway, and we have all our Christmas decorations up. I LOVE it when the house is clean! and its sunny now-I allready have a load of wash on, but its supposed to rain later this evening. This morning the kids are (supposivly) cleaning thier rooms getting ready for lots of cousins next week, (I hear some activity there anyway!) and after I finish here, I will work on Christmas gifts. After lunch, we will bake Christmas cookies and make up some trays to send to DH's office and Grandparents. I'm makeing split pea soup with the remains of a pork roast, and cornbread and we will have cookies for dessert.

I have one last "burst" of shopping left-On Friday, I will leave the kids with Grandparents and do a huge grocery shopping/errand running blitz. I have gift shopping done. (thats a relief!) I still have lots to do,but I am no where near the "Panic Mode" that I have been in in some previous years!

-- Kelly (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), December 19, 2001.