That’s in a Christmas Carol…right…

And I’m with Kathy, I have failed miserably, the challenge, but I’m no quitter   While the Northerners are snowed in, I ran my tooshie off yesterday and still have not done my own Christmas shopping.  I’m nothing if not a procrastinator and from my college grades you can tell that I actually work well under pressure.  I think that’s why God gave me three kids…I really haven’t figured that one out yet, for sure.

So Saturday we have Girl Scouts, so I incorporated them into my Adopt a Grandparent Plan for the nursing home I adopted here in Garland.  My girls also had two play practices and their big program last night.

We toured the police station with one of the girls dad’s.  He showed the kids the holding cells for the juveniles and that was something that every kid should see.  The looks on their faces were priceless.

So then we take the startled little ones to the Nursing Home to deliver goodies…much lighter note

They were terrific!!!

140 bags of hand lotions wrapped and tagged with sponsorships from businesses and some of my customers and friends!

They were so sweet…

My Laci came running down one hall at one point screaming, “that lady just kissed me!”, but she was grinning from ear to ear!

It made all the packaging and ordering worth it!

Then off to play practice again and the program last night…and today I start getting ready for Christmas and PLEASE don’t remind me how close it is

                              Tyler was very sick…he missed alot of the action and pictures…I’m sad about that. But he got in one family shot…at the program…

Merry Christmas, my bloggy friends…

I’m going to go act like it’s really coming now!

Daina

Me/Amy and our boys..

Seriously, I’m blogging. I know I completely bombed the challenge and I have to tell you that reading everyone else’s blogs has been the highlight of this!  Seeing my friends lives from afar and what’s going on makes me feel closer to you all at Christmas…I get it…I get the spirit and warm cozy feelings…YAY, us!

So today, I write to tell you about a couple of friends…

I’m going thru a “tough” time and I’m discovering so much about friends.  Mostly good, some harsh.  All life lessons in this chapter book of life.

Amy, my longest and dearest friend from high school…She wrote about my kids one day on her blog…and it was at a time when I felt like I was burdening her with my children because I needed childcare.  We should not always assume that our friends HELPING us is a burden, but mother’s do that OH so naturally.  She not only kept my kids, but made some sweet memories with them and then gave me pictures and the story on top of it all.  She’s fabulous for so many reasons, but I wanted to send a kiss to her today for that. 

Amy is over there on that blog roll, in case I can’t figure out the link things I’m still learning this wordpress stuff.

Elizabeth…oh dear me, Elizabeth.  She is the bestie that I have here in town that has been BLESSED to have to be right by side through all this “junk” and WOW.  I have to tell you I’m so grateful for her, also!

Elizabeth is my drug dealer…don’t get excited….my drug of choice is COFFEE.  It has always been a habit, but lately, a survival tool.  She bought me a sign for Christmas that says “Jesus…Coffee…Texas A&M”  So there are my priorities summed up on a plaque in my kitchen.  If  Mary Kay was on it, my life would be completely covered there.   And I keep it by my coffee pot to remember to keep Jesus first in this coffee season of my life

It’s not just coffee, either.  She has to grind that stuff at Central Market everytime she goes and it’s called Taste of San Antonio.  Awesome. That’s all, awesome.

My church friends (some I didn’t realize I had already made at our new church), my PTA buddies at school, my kids teachers, my Mary Kay sister family, and so many others have been a bright shining light to me  in a rather dark time and I feel so blessed I could pop.

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I dare not even mention my sister or family (for the need of tissue) and how understanding and caring they have been.  Truely God gives us siblings to have forever for a reason. 

Ladd Siblings

My sister is by far, the best friend in the world, and NO it wasn’t always that way But God knew it would be and He put her here for me.  That’s what I think.  Stuart thinks it was for him…teeheee.  My brother has been amazing, too.  I’m a grateful sibling.  I have even made friends with some of Kathy’s friends and I’m so glad she shared!

So this is nothing more than I good ol’ fashion shout out to friends and family over the holidays.  I could never have enough money to thank you with gifts, but I pray my life and my actions bless you back!  I’m a grateful friend.  I have learned to ask  for help when I need it and say no to volunteer things that make me a crazy mom   I’m learning and growing through this time and I do know that God will bless my friends for me until I can again.  He holds my hand and heart everyday and I do not understand how people survive the tough times without the hope that I have in Christ.  I know He set all this up so that these people would be in my life, “for such a time as this”.

I must mention that this is also a promise in the Bible of reaping and sowing.  I have put years and tons of time and effort into making and having friends and always will.  There are good times and bad in friendships and you have to be willing to take both to keep friends .

Merry Christmas…just a few more days away.  Count your blessings, not gifts.

d

WHOLY night. A whole in my blog during a Christmas CHALLENGE?

My dog ate my homework? I didn’t feel good? I left my folder at school?  I forgot…

One of those work, right?

All is calm, so I’m taking a the bright night off.

I promise it’s just a build up for tomorrow.

I dare not write about the movie night at school tonight…hurt feelings from blogs are sad.  Those poor teachers, really a friday night???

Again, I will say, it’s not dec.12…it’s still Dec 11 in Texas and 10:42…Gig em…Look at me…not even 11…

Home Cough Remedy and BED with heated blanket.  Life is good.

d

yes it screams in NEON, I'm a mom and a MK lady...so shoot me

DEAR WORDpress Friends:  First of all: it’s still the 10th in TEXAS and NOT midnight (yet)

It sounds like a dripping, leaky faucet.  You know that drip drip drip when you are trying to sleep?  I’m going to rant again Just a little.  Just  for fun.  I didn’t mean to do this, it’s just funny how natural it comes.  Ok, it’s not funny at all …heheee. So to help with the ranting, I’m adding a scripture.  Ladies, don’t be a leaky faucet.  Plus, I seem to be not writing anything about Christmas in this blog challenge …who knew?

Proverbs 19:13

 ¹³ A foolish child^[a] is a calamity to a father;
      a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. (NIV)

13- A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child;
   a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.   That is the Message. It says stupid…teehee.

A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip on a rainy day. How can you keep her quiet? Have you ever tried to stop the wind or ever tried to hold a handful of oil? (GNB: Prov 27.15)  

ok…So I’ll start by saying OUCH.  But note, it says nagging wife, not nagging friends, so read on my friends!

Then, continuing…but at least in a blog, YOU only listen if you chose to READ heehee

OK…I get like ALOT of emails everyday and only a few that mean anything .  I am an over eater as most know.  If you aren’t sure, go back and look at pictures and watch me continue to GROW at the age of 35.  All that to say, I got an email from Chili’s and promptly opened it thinking I could print it out and have another super coupon to tell my bestie about and save some cash while having some Mommy time out with good food and such.  So I plug the printer in, open the email and they have asked me to FILL out a survey.  OK, I might, so I can get that coupon. NOPE, I read further and all I get is a CHANCE to win a dinner.  Ummmm…REALLY???

So, unlike me, and just like I have time, I’m going to fill out that survey.  Wanna know what GOT me? All in that email (and maybe you got one too) they kept saying, “TELL us what you think…”  WELL…that’s always dangerous with me…It said it like three times.

So I’m going to fill it out and copy and paste the following in the comment section.  I promise I will get right back to you and let you know if I win the free dinner!

GET YOU SOME!

I think that Christmas comes way too fast every year since I had my own kids and never seemed to come when I was a kid! whats up with that?

I think that public school is…ok, I’ll blog about that in January.

I think that Facebook is fun, but I can’t believe I have a kid old enough (almost) to have an account and have to worry about who he is talking to and keeping up with everyday.

I think that nativity scenes are the best Christmas decoration.

I think that Diet Coke is laced with CRACK/Cocaine. (as well as Goldfish, McNuggets, and Hershey kisses)

I think that someone should require cheerleaders to put a few more pieces of cotton on so men can watch the game and mommas can still be proud that their daughter is in a “sport”

I think that school teachers get frustrated with kids and forget that they are kids.

I think that my dad’s coffee maker is the best coffee ever, 2nd is my bestie’s coffee that she buys me at Central Market.

I think that if I keep  writing you won’t keep reading, but I don’t care.

I think that Mary Kay is the best career move I ever made and never meant to.

I think that Casa Ole has the best Queso, but I guess Chili’s is good too.

I think that pedestrians are a little too brave at the mall.

I think that getting old has great advantages.

I think that people who talk thru band concerts just to get to have a snack at the end and say they were there are disrespectful and I would have paid them to go to the store and get their own cookies last night.

I think that school lunches aren’t as bad as people make them sound for the amount of kids those women have to feed.  I would never want to try to do better.

I think TV is a family/life/ and personality brain sucker.

I think I like my new hair cut.

I think I’m not (wasn’t) a leaky faucet.

I think I’m going to write about CHristmas tomorrow (maybe)

I think I hear my bed calling

PS…Chili’s has good food, great service, and I like the big glasses and tile tables.  The chips, queso, and salsa are fab! Keep up the good work!

Merry Christmas…Hope I win!

Daina Gall

BUT…JACK is warm.

Children’s Medical Center in Dallas has a 12 year old on the news tonight that captured my heart and probably thousands of others…

His name is Jack and we have a connection because we both love Snuggies.

He just has a REAL reason.  He has cancer, so when he is getting treatments and is cold, he can still keep his hands outside the blanket and play video games.

Well, I have a 12 year old, so I know if you can distract them from the negative, they will be better off.  I cannot imagine my baby in that chair at the hospital and what that must be like.

But that’s not even the story.  He loves his Snuggie so much, he went on a mission to get all the other cancer kiddos at the hospital Snuggies.  His school mates back at school raised money and the Snuggie company has donated 100 to kick it off there at the hospital!

TEARS…YANK.  Heart Strings…PULL.

Besides me having a 12 year old, I just ran out last week while MY MOM was in the hospital and grabbed her a Snuggie so that when she sat in the chair there, so could do stuff with her hands.  It is pretty, fun, really.  How do I know? Well, of course I tried it out and played in it while she was in the bed and secretly hoped that she would NOT like it, but she did and I’m glad (stop laughing, I”m happy for her).

So…all this to say…if you go to nbcdfw.com

and search : snuggie (creative, right), you too can help Jack buy more snuggies for Children’s Medical Center.  I’m in. Ha.  Good times.

Gig em, Jack. Snuggle Up, Play Wii, and Get Better Baby Boy!

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/12-Year-Old_Works_to_Get_Snuggies_for_Child_Cancer_Patients_Dallas-Fort_Worth.html

Daina

swear…it’s still decebmer 9th…10:43 pm I know what time it is in Maryland…uggggg….night night, sister!

Seriously, this will be short.

I have a dog…

His name is Pyper.  I’m not a dog person. Wait, I wasn’t a dog person, until  I got one for my mom for Christmas a few years ago.  I named that little nutty dog Maggie and she was fabulous.  Mom kept her for a few months and came to visit me and left that dog here.  She decided we were going to have joint custody of sweet Maggie because Maggie a little too spirited for Mom.  Through joint custody, I found the love/hate relationship that most new dog owners develop with their new dogs that tingle frequently and chew things up.

So on one of Mom’s longer custody battles, I thought Maggie was going to stay in Beaumont with mom and found myself actually missing the nutty pup.  So in May that year,  I snuck off to the pound by myself one day and low and behold there was a fuzzy little dog there that wanted to come home with me.  His name was (and still is Pyper).  Two months later, my mom started most of her ins and outs of the hospitals and Maggie, the nutty dog, came to live with me.

I’m not a dog person, therefore, I’m really not a TWO dog person.  So a I convinced my friend’s 5 kids that they loved either one of my dogs and let them pick one.  They picked Maggie and off she went…bouncy trouncy to her new home.

That was almost 4 years ago.  WHY am I writing this in my Christmas blog? Because I forgot to tell those 5 kids that they wanted the dog that required GROOMING!

I thought it was no big deal…a few haircuts.  This P-dog needs professional help that costs close to my haircare! REALLY?

SO…last week, I make the mistake of bringing my kids to pick up precious Pyper-Dog from the Dog House (Groomer) and they have MORE things you can buy there.

So as a confession this dark, LATE, holiday night, I’m writing to tell you that I haven’t shopped for my kid’s presents yet, but my adorable, white, handsome, west highlander terrior mix has jingle bells around his neck for only a mere 4.98 more than that arm and leg hair cut they just gave him.

God Bless All of You ( and me) in marketing in sales this holiday season…

As Tyler, my son, said, as I paid an extra .80 for the shiny, beautiful, eye catching box of PUFFS last night, “YOU HAVE BEEN TARGETED…”

Goodnight to all…day 2…HA! phew! 11:37 in Texas…

Ok…First of all, I know that’s not actually the name of a Christmas Carol, but if no one complains, I would like to claim it.

I also wasn’t sure if in the challenge to blog in Christmas Carol titles over the next 13 days if it had to be actual Christmas topics or if I could rant.  AS you may have realized from previous blogs or simply knowing me, I rant.

So, I have three kids… FACT.

All three are now in the wonderous (love/hate) years of public childcare that we affectionately call, Public Education.  So weekday mornings are full of  increasing mother tones around the house until the climatic drop off in the car pool lane around the first bell and “walk fast, but don’t run in the hall” speech!

But I have to ask, as other parents might, why it happens that when they are infants and toddlers they  are awake before any semblence of sunlight and ready  for the day.

Plus, on any given Saturday or Sunday morning, I come out of  my room to them playing video games, trying to pour cereal, getting dressed to sneak out to the swingset and such. WHAT? You can do all this by yourself?

There seems to be some kind of weekday handicap, special needs that kicks in and I don’t think I have a complete understanding of how it got here.

I might add, that technically, as a mother with a degree…I actually do know that children are trained and I “guess” maybe some of this is my fault, but REALLY??? All of it??? I just don’t get it…that’s all.

I’m a morning person and love the really really quiet time in the morning with my bible, coffee, laundry, computer and all the other things I get done while NOT A CREATURE IS STIRRING  

Merry Christmas…

Oops...I took a nap!

Chris Garza…Here I go again…some soap boxes are worth standing on…

I have to tell you what I saw yesterday and it went right along with you asking for another Ladd sister blog, so I dedicate this to all the hard workers out there asking for tips and POOR Chris Garza at Market Basket in 1998 who didn’t get one for carrying my groceries…AND CAN’T let it go

When I met Christopher he was a friend of my sisters in HS in Beaumont and I had just moved there from Maine.  My husband and I had just made an irrational hormonal (on my part) decision after having our first baby to leave every job security and come back to Texas to be close to family.  Chris was this great sacker at Market Basket where I carefully figured how much I could buy every week, as most stay at home moms do when they go to the grocery store.

On my way out, Chris offered to help me with my groceries and I offered to give him my opinion on tipping which has forever been embedded into our friendship.  There is a TIP expection that comes along with accepting help to your car for loading, but the store plainly says that these sweet young men do not accept them…BS.  So I just let him know that I appreciate help, but was not inclined to give him a tip.

Now, you should know, that I have a profound skill for voicing my opinion at the wrong time to the wrong people and this was obviously one of them…he has not forgotten his tipless help to the car and I have not forgotten the nickname he gave me when he told Kathy he met her sister at the store

I do not pride myself in the amount of apologies that I offer on a weekly basis sometimes, but only that I see that sometimes they are neccesary and do them…so again, Chris…I’m sorry…and again, not for NOT TIPPING YOU:) but for mentioning my opinion on it…NOT SMART>>>OK??

BUT>>>> I’m led to this from a little clear Dixie Cup on the counter yesterday marked clearly “TIPS”.  and it brings me to my favorite question in life….

REALLY??????????

I know you have all seen it and been there…You are paying a small fortune for a good cup of coffee and these adorable, helpful people are making that coffee for you for only 4 dollars.  So you stare at this TIP CUP and wonder…REALLY???

I get the Sonic “expectation”, and I totally get the waiting tables thing…when you bring me food…and you have helped feed my kids and serve and clean up dinner…by God, you are getting a TIP from me…but coffee or a diet coke? REALLY?

Brings me back to this…what did I pay for to begin with ?

Take this for a TIP…make a nice TIP JAR…not a ghetto dixie cup…

I do not put a TIP jar on my desk when I teach school…Firemen don’t leave a TIP jar at the scene of an accident…I do not have a TIP MAKE UP BAG at my skin care classes or parties for Mary Kay…and I have yet to see my hard working…ass busting father stick a TIP jar on his desk after working in the 100 degree heat welding or planning a scrapmetal purchase for anyone…

That’s my REALLY for the day…the next one will revolve around two things…

1. The flyer at that coffee shop offering to take care of my pets after the RAPTURE for a small deposit … (seriously)

or 2. The lady that came door to door selling something the other day and it was 103…tell me she doesn’t need to sell Mary Kay! GEEZ …

Have a good day and leave someone a tip…or save your tip and give it to someone who doesn’t EXPECT anything of you …like the people in the drivethru behind you at Mcdonalds…

On Jan.23, 2007 while cooking dinner, my girls played with scissors.  I remember the day, the moment I walked in the room.  The gasp, the feeling of complete failure as a mother.  Loading them in the car to go get it “fixed” with Ms. Candy who thank goodness worked on it for a while and gave me moments out of the room.

We stopped at the firestation to see Daddy and the firemen…it was embarrassing, but I needed to see Daddy.  Someone had to hold me up for minute to finish off the evening.

PS…they never ate that dinner I was cooking.

You see, I’ve been saving my New Year Blog, just like I’ve been avoiding the gym, all for good reason…

Waiting for the resolution rush to die down …urban dictionary defines it well….

so, I’m off to a late start…my holidays last a little longer than others, but here I am, all excited about 2009, mostly become 2008 is over.  Another year of watching my kids get older and seeing where this life takes me

OK…and all that will happen probably around the time I lose the weight that I keep meaning to lose every year hee hee…

On another note, I would like to say that it’s my birthday tomorrow….35 years of Daina