[If you have a big age gap between children…]

When dd was around 3 we talked about it.  If we were younger we would have considered.

[I hate car shopping.]

Me too.  DH has been working on a deal for a couple of weeks.  I don't have patience for the back and forth.   

[Well-Trained Bodies March]

I signed up for bfit again and am looking forward to completing the 10 week challenge.

[Well-trained Bodies February 2024]

Hello all,  I'm still doing pretty much the same lifting heavy and getting my steps in.

Just a side note.  Those of you that are about a certain age and remember when we did aerobics and had to march in place to check your pulse and check that number on a chart to check your heart rate.....well today I was doing an old step aerobics video I use to do back in the 1990's and my age isn't represented in the chart😕. (I am off the chart by 2 years)Um talk about feeling old.......  But the bright side I can still keep up with the workout.😌

[Do you like seven layer salad?]

The couple times I've had it I did like it.    

[S/O: How old were you when you purchased your first house?]

We were 25 and 28.

[Trying to plan a surprise birthday party for my husband is not easy.]

I told.my boys a few months ago to plan the party amongst themselves and don't contact me about anything, just let me know what my and dds share is.  Dh is not big on surprises and figures things out thus the "don't contact me".  They are planning a weekend before his birthday.  We are now down to the last 6 days to pull this off.  I realize I am a control freak and the not knowing or controlling is giving me anxiety.   I can't clear the front room because he will catch on,  I can't prepare the guest bedroom for bil who is coming in for the party  because dh will catch on.  I don't have a poker face so coming up with excuses doesnt work for me, he'll know somethings up..  6 more days, I can hang in until then.  wish us luck to pull this off.  

[Today I learned]

Today I learned how to Tunisian crochet.  Never knew was such a thing.  Now to see what I can do with this knew skill.

[Is this normal for a high school senior]

Sounds normal.  Some refer to it as senioritis.... Aka burn out.  I was surprised when a couple friends told me their soccer and softball  children who played since 4\5 years old walked away from their sport and potential scholarships their senior year

[What is the purpose of bail?]

I believe laws have changed recently to prevent over crowding so non violent offenses could get released possible without bond 

[Can Duncan Hines cake mix be used past use by date]

7 minutes ago, Ellie said:

What *year*?

2022

[Can Duncan Hines cake mix be used past use by date]

The date is September 22.  I am reading 1-2 years is okay.  

Would it be okay?

[What does a typical day, or will a typical day, look like when you retire?]

I forgot to add the best part of retirement is the slow, relaxing mornings.  I really enjoy having coffee on the back porch with dh.   I feel we've earned this time after 25years of him going off to work and me getting kids off to school its nice to have our time.  

[Do you have a "wait ... what was that!?" story?]

I don't know if this counts but we took an early morning flight home from Alabama to Tucson when we got to Tucson my then kindergartener  insisted on going to school he was only an hour late.  I told his teacher that he might be a little tired because he woke up in Alabama.  

[What does a typical day, or will a typical day, look like when you retire?]

i told.dh he cant retire until he has a hobby.  We now have our own hobbies and some days are ordinary doing our own thing.    We do run errands and go to lunch a couple times a week.  We take day trips on the motorcycle or find trails to go trail riding in when the weather permits.  We like to hike and go to local national.parks. we visit the grandbabies.   We go to the beach a couple times a year.  Its nice not to have to work around a school.schedule.   we are planning some bigger trips and are currently booking for a camper  and do more traveling.

[So what did YOU get for Christmas?]

My family knows me very well.  I received a sweater, perfume,  a set of dumbbells(I needed heavier ones), Cheesecake Factory gift card, a beautiful poinsettia plant I'm hoping to keep alive, at least for a little while,  sesame candy , a coffee mug ( I have been wanting a big coffee mug and dd got me one that's the size I've been wanting to find and it's very pretty).  My very talented dd  also painted a beautiful picture for me and framed it, I love how she thinks.  The best gift of all is having all my kids under one roof.  

[When you don't like gifts immediate family gave you]

Dh and I usually just buy what we want but occasionally Ill  mention something in passing that I would like but waiting for a sale and most years he'll gift it to me.  The kids know me well and do pretty good.  My mom lived to far away and a couple visits a year didn't give her a good sense of what I like but made a good effort.

[After Christmas shopping deals]

I will be looking for some gifts next years get togethers.  Also I need some new Christmas picks for our tree and of course wrapping paper and gifts bags.  Got lucky last year at Michael's with 75% off.  I did observe that stores didn't seem to have as much Christmas stock as last year so not sure how after sales will be.

[Best or worst gift?]

Best gift for me all my kids were here.for Christmas first time in 5 years.  My mom heart was full.   Best gift we gave was to my granddaughter, she was wearing a similar dress to her our generation doll and when she opened it she was wide eyed and smiled saying  "Just what I always wanted!".  She didn't put it down for a moment.    There were no bad gifts.  Everyone was happy with their gifts.  

[When is you Holiday celebration?]

Ours is tomorrow afternoon.  Spent most of today prepping so tomorrow can flow easier.  Thankful my daughter doesn't  mind helping.  Looking forward to having all the kids together for Christmas first time in 5 years.   

[Bakers I need help adjusting a recipe.]

Over the years pull apart(monkey bread) has been our Christmas morning tradition.  Since its down to just dh, dd and I Christmas morning I just put everything into muffin tins and baked just watching not timing.   That brings us to this year my ds asked for monkey bread.  I thought of putting the ingredients in a loaf pan and sending it home to with him and dil tomorrow night.  My question is what instructions for him.  I know let rise and bake in 350 but for how long the bundt  pan was 30-35 min.   Would it be the same? Or what adjustments?   TIA   

PS Merry Christmas Eve, Eve

[I don’t think I did a good job with my retro tree]

Looks like the way my mom decorated in the 70's.  You did good. 

[Vacuum cleaner under $500?]

I've had a shark for 5 years in think we paid $100.   

[What gift for a 2 year old girl who is youngest of 3]

I really need some suggestions.  Tia

[Update on taking MIL to the Nutcracker. Happy update.]

How lovely.  Glad everything worked out.