Somebody Pinch Me....

Mike has completed his last final. No really, his VERY LAST final. And he promised me and made me promise to hold him to it, that he is NEVER going back to school. I am about to burst, but I won't. I won't do it. Not until he walks across that stage sometime after 10am on Thursday December 20th and receives that piece of paper that says "Gina we, the University of Maryland, hereby give you back your husband".
I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!!!!

Some Holiday Advice

Most people struggle with the problem of debt or even the desire to buy a thing or two on credit. Well, I saw this today and it changed my life. Great advice from the most unlikely of place too! Hmmm.
Enjoy!

First Snow

Yeah!!!!!!!! I love the transformation a blanket of snow makes on the landscape. And with all the trees in our yard it is so beautiful.
I am not the biggest fan of playing in the snow, but I was excited for my kids to enjoy this amazing part of nature. And by the way, this was Sammy's first time playing in the snow and could quite possibly be his last real winter if we relocate to the south. So I made the best of it..... and asked Uncle Chase to take them out. Well, that's only half true. I did ask him, but I joined them. Mike was at school. So Uncle Chase, Sammy, Thea and I had a blast in the snow and we even made a snowman!!!!! I admit it was fun, but I was ready to go in after about 1/2 an hour and so was Thea. Like mother like daughter.

My Guilty Christmas Pleasure

I LOVE cheesy Christmas movies. You know, the kind that are on Lifetime all the time. Mostly different versions of a Christmas Carol. Soooo fun. And yet, sometimes painful. I also love the classics. Can't watch this one enough. This fast became a favorite. It is rare that a movie makes me laugh out loud, but it gets me every time. I can honestly watch my ALL TIME FAVORITE over and over and over again. They have 24 hour marathons of it every Christmas season and if time permitted I would sit all day enjoying Ralphie and his brother eating the same meal every night. With great anticipation, I would watch the dad open his prize package as if I didn't know what was inside. I feel like part of the family as "we" decorate the tree and open presents on Christmas morning. The wrapping reminds me of my childhood Christmases. Did anyone else's mom wrap gifts in the comic section of the newspaper? And the grand finale.... who doesn't love the best rendition EVER of Deck the Halls sung by the Asian staff at the restaurant? Oh the joy it brings. FAH RAHRAHRAHRAH RAHRAH RAH RAAAAAAAAAHHH!
But here is one classic that I just can't get into. I've tried, but no dice!
What are your favorite Christmas movies?

Too Good Not to Share

I was about to wash Sammy's face before bed tonight and as usual I narrate what I am about to do so there are no unexpected bolts out the door. So I said "I am going to...." and I couldn't get the words out (my brain stops communicating with the rest of my body at around 7:30pm) so Sammy in true Sammy fashion finishes the sentence for me and says........."soap me with loooove bubbles?"
WHAT IN THE WORLD????????????
Have a great night!

Magic Nose Trick

The above photo does not represent the following incident. This is just typical Thea at all meal times.

So........ Mike and Thea were hangin out last week, Thea eating raisins. Mike told me later that she was walking around pointing at and saying nose. He could tell she was trying to tell him something and she seemed uncomfortable. He suspected she had stuck a raisin up her nose. So he began the process of trying to dislodge the could-be raisin. No success! Well eventually she sneezed and out "flew" the raisin. Upon sharing this story with someone, they told Mike a trick to get stuck-in-the-nose-food dislodged. You simply plug the unobstructed nostril and blow through their mouth. Well, LAST night, Thea was spreading chicken pot pie all over her face as we repeatedly told her "no, no, no". She then began pointing to her nose and saying nose (which, by the way is soooo cute"). It occurred to us, the detectives we are, that there was food up there. So Mike executed the trick and out flew a huge chunk of chicken. It was AMAZING. It all happened so fast. I didn't even know he was doing it. I was giddy with excitement because it was sooooo funny. Now, I know food stuck up the nose is a serious thing. It can cause infection and all, but if this ever happens to you, you will laugh too........ just remember the trick.

Guess Where I Am From?

Hey this test is fun. Post a message and let me know where you fell. Even though, in my daily life I have lost my northern edge, my accent is in full force when I am chatting with my family and friends from LI.
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Be sure to take just a moment to remember just how very blessed you are. I know I will. Especially while I am eating my dad's Anti Pasta! YUMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!