Can it even be mid-January?  I only blinked.  Truly.  Crazy stuff.  I remember when I was a youngster and my mom used to tell me the older you got the faster time went.  Well:  mom was right.  Again.

And so, January is turning out to be as busy as December, if that’s even possible.  All good, I tell you.  All good.

The boys and I had a good trip to see my mom and her Hubby in Pa, despite the 3degree temp when we got off the plane (not including wind—-how DO people live like that????  Seriously thin blood here!).  The boys had never flown before and I made sure to book the bulkhead seats for their long-limbs, but I will tell you that when you open up those tray tables to spread out homework on, you WILL regret each and every Christmas cookie=makes for a long hour.

Snowball fight.  First things, first!

Steel Stacks in Bethlehem.  Crazy to see what made our country great and the desolation of it today. We had a good time just walking around and wondering what it was like “back in the day”.

Confirmation is this weekend for our 15 yo son and next week he gets his learner’s permit.  See?  Blinked.

Confirmation class 2015

And then, starting Monday, our company is having a 7 week health challenge (conveniently timed to end just as we do our annual wellness blood work, etc to qualify for money back on insurance!), so I agreed to captain our team.  Purely selfish.  You see, if I am captain I am completely accountable.  To everyone.  (It’s the whole reason I taught aerobics for years……free gym membership and I HAD to be there).  Needless to say, I have stocked up on veggies and fruit and last night the Hubs and I had date night and I thoroughly enjoyed my bread, calamari and pizza.  Every bite.

And so, as we blaze through this weekend with Confirmation retreat, work expo, London Philharmonic symphony concert, Confirmation-THE EVENT ITSELF and maybe, just maybe, trying to squeeze in a chance to see my sister…….I’ll take a few pictures and try to inhale and absorb each moment.  And not blink.

Selfies in the cold are HARD. Can you hear me gritting my teeth??

Blessings!

The craziest thing.  Ever.  NewYear’s Eve 2014 found the Hubs and I at Vigil Mass (not so crazy) and then afterward we went to dinner (crazy).  Our oldest son met us there.  Because…..ALL the other kids were at NYE sleepovers.(WHAT?!?!)

So.  After my first pick, favorite restaurant was a 2 hour wait (dinner on NYE is a thing ?!?!?!??!), we went to choice #2, 15 minute wait and pretty tasty.  Then home to tuck in the Hubs, text my missing children a happy, happy, set the alarm for the oldest (who had to work at 645 this morning–hence no sleepover for him), I sat down and binged on Nashville….my new favorite show.   Until Downton comes on this Sunday!!!

Today, it’s nasty and drizzly.  My house is way too quiet.  So, I drank my coffee…am pondering breakfast….paid bills…and am blogging.   Later, we will return this laptop (sticky space bar), shop for a microwave, have lunch in the mall and then head to a friend’s to watch the Noles play.

There ya go.

The blog, she’s picking up steam…..let’s see what 2015 brings!!

Hope your New Year’s Eve was fun and flu-free and that 2015 brings you blessings in abundance!

Happy 3rd day of Christmas to you!!

It’s been a good Christmas season.

Santa even brought Mama a new laptop……

So. Perhaps the blog will make a resurgence!!

Right now though, I have a book (Call the midwife) to finish and Sunday evening to enjoy!!

7:43 a.m.   I’ve been up since 6.  Out of bed since 6:20.  Kids are still sleeping.  This.  Is.  The.  Life.  jk….but, really, it is pretty windy, clearly gearing up to rain at some point and quite balmy.  I just finished my Dunkin Donuts caramel coffee cake coffee and figured I’d visit the blog for a quick minute or 20.

The good news is…..Christmas is coming and maybe a laptop, too?!  Totally on my Christmas list.  Rest assured.

Some  highlights….we hit the 40’s here this week and I had to break down and get our oldest a heavier jacket.  Today I’ll need to get our 15-year-old a couple more pair of pants and this week Thred up delivered RIGHT ON TIME with 2 pair of pants for  our youngest.  Yowza.  The problems of living in the Florida:  no cold weather gear.  I will stop “complaining” though because, Buffalo.  Surreal to  me.  All these pics.  I am morbidly fascinated, horrified and freaked at the amount of snow….BEFORE.  THANKSGIVING.  What the heck will winter bring?!?!??!  Anyway, I’ve been keeping tabs on Heather  at Mamaknowshoneychild on her Insta account and just, wow.  I want to bring them some soup.  And groceries.  And a personal snow plow.

What else?

Christmas pics done and I am impatiently waiting for  them to arrive so I can put them together and send them off.  I may have mentioned before, but I find it hard to wrap my mind around Christmas shopping until I get the cards out.  And with a short Christmas season again (thanks a lot late Thanksgiving!!), I don’t want to be rushed again like last year.  However, I have purchased the boys SURPRISE plane tix to see Mimi and John in January (providing we aren’t hampered by snow and I DID buy insurance for that reason alone!), and the girls’ Christmas PJs….so the shopping has officially begun.

I addition, I have purchased our youngest’s birthday present (June) to see her very favorite T-swizzle in Tampa in October.  And my own EDEL15 ticket to Charleston in July!!!  Woop woop.

The Hubs and I have decided to make Thursday nights and Saturday a.m. our “Spin Class” dates.  So, back in the saddle I go.  Surprisingly, it’s just like riding a bike.  ahem.  punny, right?  Anyhooooo…..good sweat and heading into the food fest that is November and December followed by insurance blood work and body comp in February (which incidentally, can lower our insurance rates by 1/2……) it seems like a good idea to go ahead and do this.  I’m sure my jeans will thank me, too!

I now have a heavy-duty staple gun and am ready to go.  I have already repaired the bottom of the couch.  Next up is the recovering of the girls’ bulletin boards to match their room re-do and recovering the piano bench to go in our room at the foot of our bed.  Be scared.  And then be awed.

The girls and I enjoyed the FSU homecoming game two weeks ago with my step-dad, sister and nephew and step-bro and nephew.  Tailgating with friends, Trader Joe’s and staying up way too late post game chatting with my girlfriend.   Was a fab weekend!!  I’ll be back up in Tally in December to babysit my nephews <blatant HINT HINT> on December 13 and I think I’ll take the boys to Thomasville to see some fun decorations and such…we will have just missed the Victorian Christmas festival, but maybe YOU can go!!

I’m out.  The kids are stirring.  It’s been a great 25 minutes…peace out and Happy thanksgiving!!