Good morning, ladies! Pull up a chair and grab some hot chocolate (no coffee here, you know!) We have the beginnings of some holiday baking for you. Some fudge or a sugar cookie, or if you REALLY want to indulge, how about a coconut, chocolate chip macaroon? YUM!

We are fully in the throws of the holiday season...and I am exhausted! We have listened to our adult choir's music, the children's choir music, had parties at the tutorial shopped and shopped and shopped some more. And we are almost done! My hopes is that, other than a tiny bit of last minute shopping and baking, after this weekend, we will be able to slow down and enjoy Christmas week. We still have a busy weekend ahead. Starting with tonight when my sweet Tigerfan will take me to our local theater's rendition of my all time favorite Christmas movie:

I'm a little giddy just thinking about it! Of course, no one can replace Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, but it is still White Christmas and I CANNOT WAIT!!! We may even hit Olive Garden for a little date night before hand because one of my precious tutorial students gave me one of the most generous gifts I have ever received as a teacher...a gift card for $30.00!

Tomorrow, we will go to Bethlehem Breakfast at our church and then do a little more shopping...the kids have yet to get one another something and we are running out of time! Sunday, Tigerfan gets the opportunity to head to Nashville to watch the Titans play so I will be a single mom at church and then Sunday Night we are going to his parent's church to hear their Christmas music. My plan is by Monday to be mostly done with all the running around and enjoy the week. Do some baking, let the kids have friends over, maybe visit with one of my friends, go see Christmas lights...aaaaaah, sounds great, doesn't it?

As for other happenings. I am pleased to announce that B.B. took first place in the Elementary Biological division of the science fair, so it is off to regionals in March. F.B.'s project did not fair as well. BUT--his partner and he came up with the topic and all the experimentation totally by themselves. They did a FANTASTIC job and the main problem with their project was lack of data because a lot of their subjects dropped out before it was complete. They learned a TON and had fun doing it, so it was TOTALLY worth it. And because I am a complete glutton for punishment...we have already began looking into what we want to do next year...even emailed trying to get a scientist on board as a mentor...Ugh, I'll never learn!

So what about you...how are Christmas preparations going on your end? Of course, I know Mrs. Lea (CiCi's Corner) is finished and enjoying every moment...anyone else out there scrambling to just keep your head above water like me?

OH! And I almost forgot! Tigercub is potty trained (insert wild happy dance here)! Waiting until he was almost three was a very wise decision. Training was really a breeze and we are happily DIAPER free in the Tigerden...well, almost diaper free...although he wakes up dry every morning, paranoid mommy makes him sleep in one. Just think, no more diapers until I'm a grandma...and that is a long time off!

Have a great weekend and I look forward to visiting with all my sweet Company Girl friends. Be sure to check out Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk.

Coffee Talk 12.10.10

Good morning Ladies,

I would love to chat about my week, but I have a ten year old boy that needs some cuddle time with mom this morning! Hope to visit with you this weekend. Blessings!

For Coffee Talk go to Home Sanctuary

Coffee Talk 12.3.10

Good Morning, Merry Christmas, and hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

I was hoping to post a little bit throughout the week of our Disney adventure...that didn't happen. These days, I find that I just cannot carve out time for blogging except on Fridays, so this morning, you will just get the very brief summary because not only is it the holiday season and the end of a semester but it is also Science Fair time and if you have been around here for any length of time, you know that I have a love-hate relationship with Science Fair. I am its BIGGEST advocate...until a week or so before it is due...then I am cursing myself for putting us through the torture and wondering why I EVER THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA. This week...I am wondering why I ever thought this was a good idea! Because Tuesday is the day we bring them to tutorial and this year...I have two Science Fair participants. That means two projects, two papers, two boards and two nervous breakdowns! :) On a happy note, hopefully by the end of today, both projects will be complete and for the first time since Science Fair began, it won't be hanging over our heads over the Christmas holidays! HURRAY!

Do I have a gift for making a short post long or what?

Anyway...here is a little slice of our week at Disney:

Driving into the Magic Kingdom. Can I just say that, while it is fun, the true magic is probably that the children actually come out alive! Because, despite the claim of being the "happiest place on earth" there was much screaming and gnashing of teeth...by both children and parents.

One day as I was "lovingly" directing my precious angels to stop whining, stop touching each other and watch the parade because WE ARE HAVING FUN, another mother leaned over to tell me she was so glad to be beside us...it made her feel like a normal parent!

Our clan at Epcot...there is actually a sweet little Christmas vignette behind us...we are just too big (in more ways than one) and we cover it up. This is about the most decent family shot we got. We look happy...I think because everyone knows we are headed to go eat...food brings out the best in all of us!

And here we have all the kids and a couple of extras with the Monsters Inc. crew. We have about forty thousand similar shots to this with Pooh, Mickey, Goofy, etc. But my favorite picture is probably this one:

I think I may frame it to remind myself during the fits, accidents, screaming, etc. of the toddler years that he really is a prince. Notice the lipstick stain on his other cheek...that would be from one of the stepsisters.

We also did the American Idol experience for the first time. This was really neat. During the day, people audition and then they have shows similar to the TV show where the best perform, are judged and then voted on by the audience. The last show of the day is the finale and the winners from each of the day's shows compete against one another. The winner gets a ticket to go to the front of the line of the auditions for the real show in the city closest to them. Last year, apparently, one of the guys that made it pretty far on the show got on this way! It was fun!

And, of course, you can't mention a holiday trip to Disney without the lights. We got to see them light up the streets of Hollywood Studios, which was amazing and even included "snow" which thrilled the children to no end. But my favorite had to be Cinderella's castle all decked out for the holidays!

It was a fun experience, and a long experience and while it was fun...there really is nothing better than just getting back home...nothing like being away to make you appreciate the ordinary! Can't wait to visit all of you this weekend! Make sure to stop by Home Sanctuary for more Coffee Talk.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet baby sister! I wish I lived closer and I could pamper you today. I am so blessed to have been given two AWESOME sisters and friends! Love you!