Christmas Eve...

As I sit here in my pj's with wet hair, I can't help but wonder what next Christmas will be like. Will the kids be home for Christmas break from college? Will it ever be the same? The answer is no...at this moment, we still have a little control. And they have been home to snoop thru their presents, and make lists, and leave a messy kitchen, and leave tooth paste on their sink, and fight me via text over curfew, and give me a big hug when I get in from work., then ask what's for dinner! Seems like such a short time ago that they were rolling around on the floor playing with boxes...ignoring the toys. Also seems like only yesterday that we just had Ashley for Christmas and I hid toys in every corner of the house, so that we could still believe in Santa just one more year. Last night as I danced and bowled with the boys until midnight, I saw a glimmer of days past with Ashley...gosh we had a lot of fun! Can still see her ripping into those packages with a smile, on all our faces.

Today we will be in Greenville first, then off to Emory. Then back home to have the last "Santa" in the morning. Let's hope he makes it!

Love to all and Merry Christmas Eve!
PK

A nice Dinner

Went to Bob's Chop House in Grapevine last night, with all the managers and spouses from the office. It was delicious! It takes a little work to participate...as in leaving the office at 3pm, flying to the mall for a sweater and leggings, and a green shirt in case I do not like the sweater. Race home, shower, get ready, end up in the sweater....Danny in slacks and a red shirt (we matched, LOL) and then we leave for Grapevine....at 5:15. We make great time until we exit Bass Pro...just a little traffic. Okay a LOT of traffic....we make it at 6:30 on the dot! Nice dinner and laughs. Home at 10:30pm...unwind until almost midnight and now I am back up, showered and about to get ready to head to Lewisville. The Tollway Authority should send me Christmas cards...in appreciation for all I spend on tolls!

Hoping to get out of the office a little early today, to pick up 3 more gifts...and then I can say DONE!

Happy Friday everyone....and Merry almost Christmas! Let's hope it is not a white Christmas, because Danny will have to work...

Pam

Banana Pudding AGAIN!

Danny has been with TxDot for over a year....when he first started, they had a luncheon. He asked me to make banana pudding, so I made a triple recipe. The only thing he brought home was the spoon. This started requests from his co-workers, every time they have a spread, that I make banana pudding. So, tonight he and I are mixing the pudding and chopping bananas, for what seems like the 10th time in a little over a year.... The famous TxDot Recipe by PK (taken from an Eagle Brand Milk can at least 15 or 16 years ago) is as follows:

6-7 ripe bananas
Box of vanilla wafers
Couple of tablespoons of lemon juice
4 serving box of vanilla pudding
1 can of eagle brand milk
1 1/2 cups of COLD water
Small tub of cool whip

Slice bananas thinly (um...peal them first) and put lemon juice all over them, coating completely. This keeps the bananas from turning brown. Do not add anymore lemon juice....it will make them tart!

Take a hammer, rolling pin, mallet or what ever you have and crush the wafers in the bag they come in

Mix eagle brand milk and water in a bowl. Once mixed well, add pudding and stir together with a whisk. Place this mixture in the frig for 10 or so minutes, until it thickens

Once thickened, stir in cool whip, with a whisk, until mixed well

Take a large bowl and start layering....pudding on the bottom, crushed wafers, bananas. Pudding, crushed wafers, bananas. You want to end with pudding on top, sprinkle a few wafer crumbs around the edge of the bowl and add a couple of banana slices in the middle. Cover and refrigerate. Not sure how long it will keep in the frig, because it never lasts more than two days at our house.

Back to the drawing board...

So, Saturday I was on the hunt for the boots Chelsey wants for Christmas....only option was to get them at Nordstrom and have them shipped store to store. The guy called....had the boots pulled, gave all info, paid for boots and shipping. Today he calls and it didn't happen...boots didn't get flagged. Someone else got them... So, we are now to Plan B, as soon as I figure out what is!

Again, is it January yet?

PK

It's clean!!!

The old house is cleaned out!!!! Only thing left is 3 area rugs and my cleaning supplies. Good lord what a chore! Danny and Colby took two truck loads to storage. THEY still have a couple of items, but I am DONE with that house...

Colby is cooking a pie. Half blueberry half peach. Chelsey made potatoes. Danny and I ate out. LOL. Nothing wrong with that sentence....

Just gave Tank and Lily a bath. House is a mess....the kids can clean tomorrow, since they are out for two weeks. Chelsey couldn't wait for Thomas to get home (he and his Mom flew to Florida for the Bucs/Cowboys game. He is a Bucs fan and his Mom is died hard Cowboys according to Chelsey. I may just have to meet her one day... His plane got in late, so their movies and dinner have to wait. She is kinda stopped up, so I do not think she is too disappointed. He's taking her to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. I think that speaks volumes about this guy!

Back to work tomorrow and then count down the days until Christmas!

Have a good week all!

PK

Just a moment of panic....

Up and out this morning to finish up Chelsey and Colby's Christmas gifts...Frisco bound. Had my list. Knew exactly where I needed to go and even had it kinda planned in my mind, so I would only have to make one trip around the mall. First and second stop were for really small gifts, so to keep from having to drag around multiple sacks, I got one larger sack at my first stop, then added to it as I progressed thru the mall. After a couple more stops, i had to add another sack Went upstairs for a couple of items, got them really quick and started toward the last store. As I am walking I realize that I left the first sack at my last stop. Panic set in....I almost ran back and luckily, my sack was still sitting there. Thank goodness, was so relieved. Went to Champs, grasping my two sacks, and while looking around, I saw a lady looking at t-shirts. She was in decision mode, you could just tell. I walked around then headed back to the tshirts once more....on top of the shirts, was a Coach bag. I realized that the woman left it....so I stood by it, looking for her. Finally she went up to the register and I picked up the purse and said "I think you forgot this". She looked at me in shock and said OMG thank you!!! She didn't even realize that she had laid it down and walked away. I said Merry Christmas and continued shopping. So....some strange lady is probably happy that someone honest saw her purse and I am glad that someone dishonest missed out on my sack. Whew....we were both lucky!

After I got home, I snuck everything to our bedroom and wrapped...all under the tree. Chelsey and Colby will have to spend the next week trying to figure out which gift belongs to who...no name tags. LOL. Keeps them on their toes...

Cowboys are winning...better go savor that statement and hope like heck they do not blow this lead!

PK

Making cookies...

Chelsey spent her Friday night with me making peanut clusters and pretzel cookies. Becca came buy as well. Fun night with the girls!

Planning on just a couple more things for Christmas during my shopping tomorrow. No, Chelsey is NOT getting her entire list.... Then I am done January yet?

Least it didn't rain today...
Pam