Well, our party is over. It's almost 9:00 Pacific Time. We all ate ourselves sick with chips and dip, Christmas cookies and mozarella sticks and sparkling cider. We played UNO until DD got pouty because she wasn't winning all the games. I'm going to bed now. I've had a horrible sinus infection, went to the Dr., today and got a Z-pack, hopefully it kicks in soon! Happy New Year everyone!

That one had me laughing. Your poor sister, but at least she really didn't know the guy.

Mozarella sticks, Ruffles & onion dip, leftover Christmas cookies, sparkling cider.

You crack me up, because I am so like that. Though I hide behind the cantaloupes just to avoid making small talk with some I know, though maybe not that well. And I understand the mental thing. My mind goes blank, I get tongue tied and end up feeling like an idiot. Don't feel bad, you are not alone.

I have nothing planned, either. We'll probably play games and snack on chips and salsa or nachos or something.

That's what I would say. That's happened to me before, No biggie.

Well, I'm sick with a sinus infection today. I thought I'd be able to kick it w/out antibiotics, but it doesn't look that way. I feel like dirt. So, I stayed home from church with my two-year old and watched football all morning. We are taking another week off of school. My favorite comic..... I don't know. I loved Calvin and Hobbes.

I agree, and I have to say that your pirate name is the best. I love good names.

Oh Julie. Many hugs. I am praying for you right now. You will make it through this.

I never did those allergy tests, either. Oops!

I'm sorry, Ellen!

I was going to say the same thing. Send me some! We love berries and I can't grow them to save my life.

I am 44, dark brown hair, started going grey in my late 20's and started coloring then. I did it at home until about 3 years ago when I started going to the salon. I go every 8 weeks or so. It's the best $60 I ever spent. Seriously. It is a pain to color your own hair, it's messy. I don't go to an upscale salon, just the neighborhood beauty shop, but I'm happy with the results and it's an hour away from the kids and I can chat with my hairdresser and she does all the work.

I use pictures of my kids. I try not to use pics they'd be embarrassed about later on, but just regular pictures about whatever we're doing -vacation, school projects, decorating the tree, whatever. A lot of our relatives from out of state look at my blog and really like to see how the kids have grown, etc.

Same here. We are infertile. We adopted because we wanted a family, we wanted to be parents. It drives me nuts when people act like we're saints or something because we're "providing these children with a loving home". Our kids "saved" us as much as we "saved" them and the only "thanks" I want is for them to grow up to be good people and give me some grand kids before I'm too old to pick them up.

School days - quite structured. Saturdays - semi-structured. On Saturdays, the kids can't come out of their rooms for breakfast until rooms are cleaned. Then, after breakfast, they have their Saturday chores, which could take from 1/2 hour to.... well, all day depending on how much they dawdle. After chores are done, the day is theirs.

I thought it was 9.

As far as I know this is only with Native American children. Our children are all non-white and it was never a problem. I know people have had issues with the foster care system, but we've never had any problems. I guess we've been lucky.

Nothing wonderful here. Just taco salad. Chips, beans, seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream. We like it.

A friend/acquaintance of mine has adopted a lot (and I mean a lot) of children from the Ukraine and from all appearances they have all been successful. Some they even adopted from disruptions Once the children have been here in the States for a while. I have no idea why this family works, although it is large and I just wonder if kids who have been in these orphanages do better in larger families because they're used to that environment. If anyone is interested in checking out her blog, go to my blog (link is below) and her blog is linked in my sidebar. It's called Smiles and Trials.

I can watch: The Sound of Music Gone With the Wind A Christmas Carol When Harry Met Sally Baby Boom Overboard While You Were Sleeping There are some others, too.

I freeze my bread all the time. I have frozen dough for pizza, but that is all.

I enjoy Taste of Home, Martha Stewart Everyday Foods and Cuisine at Home

I'm so sorry, Julie. I hope you're feeling better today. Our church went through a situation like this several years ago with our former pastor. He stood before our congregation and categorically denied everything, but his house of cards eventually crumbled. Hugs to you, my friend.

Two bathrooms are cleaned, cookies chilling for Christmas tonight, hall vacuumed, 2 loads of laundry done, my bedroom is dusted and vacuumed. Now, to make lunch. Ugh.