Post Holiday Madness

It wouldn't be the Day after Thanksgiving if I didn't embark on the "day after" shopping experience with The Girls! We figure out at lunch that we have been making this pilgrimage for six years as a group. Without one, the trio doesn't have as much fun. With the quartet, watch out!!!!

I was the designated driver this year (we rotate each year) so I had the pleasure of getting up at the ungodly hour of 3:15 am to begin picking up at 4:00. Picked up Wanda at 3:45 am, Heather at 4am and Carrie last at 4:15 - we were at the local Wally World by 4:30 am, along with about sixty other nuts! At precisely 5am, we were let in and I'm happy to say that it was a rather mellow morning. No running, biting, pinching, screaming...actually, lots of laughter and "we must be C-R-A-Z-Y for doing this!"

We spent a better part of the day shopping, laughing so hard that we made Wanda snort Coke up her nose!!! I think Carrie needed a bathroom break every hour (or so it seemed). Poor Heather; she had an upset stomach at first but we shoved a hot tea down her throat and she was FINE!!! I ended up with a bear of a headache at about 4pm so I downed four tylenol and kept moving!

We drove 90 miles; spent the better part of 15 hours together and we are already making our plans to do it again next year! It's our one day out as girls; not as moms, but as girls on a mission! Crazy? You betcha! FUN? ALWAYS!! Can't wait until next year!! only 364 days left until next year :)

Holiday Memories

As we get ready for yet another feast of Thanksgiving, I remember the happenings of the past year. It's been a year of many changes, some positive, some negative.

My divorce is done as of October and I am now a single mother raising three kids alone. It's been an emotional roller coaster for the last month as I struggle to balance kids, work and school. I have been plagued with doubts but thank God I have a good therapist and someone to pat me on the back when I need it.

I have discovered quite a bit about myself and what I'm all about. There are several parts of me that I've been pulling apart and closely examining. The biggest thing I've discovered is that while I have three kids that are with me basically 24/7, I do miss the companionship of a guy. I don't need a guy to complete me; just nice to have someone to hang with, go out for a meal, see a movie. It's fun to do all these things with the kids too; sometimes it's just nice to be a girl for a while and not Mom. I'm getting used to being alone even though I don't like it.

I spent most of today running hither and yon picking up kids, dropping off kids, chasing dogs..lol I managed to make eight loaves of zucchini bread as well as a chocolate pudding pie (that MAY last until Thanksgiving but I seriously doubt it will!). Tomorrow I'm making cookies and a pumpkin pie (that WILL last until Thursday because it's not the kids' favorite pie). Dudley has requested several of the zucchini loaves (in fact, he just stopped by to pick up three of them!) I consider it payback for rescuing this damsel in distress Friday night. I went out to the movies by myself (the kids were with their father for the night) rather than stay home alone and stare at the dog. I even bought myself dinner!

Coming home from the movies, the car sputtered and died on the side of a rather dark, lonely backroad here in town. After waiting for about an hour, I broke down and called Dudley to come rescue my backside. He came and towed me back to my house. An 18-minute trip home from the movies took TWO HOURS!!

So anyhow, the holidays are upon us again and it will be our first as a new family. The kids and I will be spending half with my friend Wanda and her family and half will be with their dad. Christmas should be interesting - my parents are coming from Florida and my brother and his family will join us for dinner. AYE! More people than this little house can hold but we'll squish in.

So to all who may read this, I offer this Thanksgiving blessing to you and yours: may there be room at the table for all, food for each belly, and love to blanket your homes.

Updates

I just got my grades from last week - holy cow! I got a 92 on my pharmacology test, a 98 on my Phlebotomy exam and a 90 on my procedures test. Boy is it too much to ask that I got a good grade on the dreaded A&P? I won't know that one until next week.

The settlement check arrived and now I'm paying bills like a woman possessed! Hopefully we'll stay on budget and not mess this whole thing up! LOL I can dream can't I?!

Baby's First Halloween

Here she is! Ms Piglet in her first Halloween costume. Isn't she just the sweetest little thing?!