Ladies Night Out Christmas Cookie Exchange

Last night was LNO - and this month - being December - we did a cookie exchange. Yummy cookies! They were all sampled for my breakfast. Out of twelve people making cookies, only two did the same kind which are great because they are the Ritz crackers with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate - everyone's favorite!?!

We had so much fun last night...there were lots of new faces and all of us seasoned veterans (Pauline if you are reading this we missed you!). We ate, laughed, played games, laughed, chatted, ate, laughed so hard liquid almost spewed (several times), and ate some more. It is so much fun to get together and laughed. Lisa brought some new games that will be coming soon to a store near you so she could review them. They were fun games! K was such a good little girl through it all...someone even commented on how she never even heard her cry all night! She was cooing and talking, loving all the attention.

Group Shot...

Action Shot...

The boys were enjoying time at home with their favorite Auntie so I had no worries over them. They were hankered down for the night with snacks watching Frosty movies and the new Flight Before Christmas movie. They conned her into watching TinkerBell afterwards so they could stay up later because they didn't get to watch it all the last time she was over.

Looking forward to January LNO already!!

Where does time go???

As I sit here, sipping my Russian Tea that I made for tomorrow night's LNO (I had to taste it - so yummy), waiting for my two cakes to get done in the oven and it is only 11:30 at night, I think where has this week flown off to? My last post was actually done on Friday night and once again it is almost Friday (actually is by the time I posted this)! Let me give you a little rundown on what has happened.

Saturday Night was the Old Fashioned Christmas Dinner and a show at church. I (supposed to be Dan and I) hosted two tables with our GREAT friends Donnie and Lisa. We decorated one that was a little fancy for the ladies to eat at and then we decorated one Outdoorsie/Hunting for the guys to eat at. Once the entertainment started we went to sit with our hubbies - Thank you Anna for being my "date." I was getting a little afraid you were going to back out on me too. ;) Anyway, here is a picture of each of the tables...See if you can guess who's is who's?

Yep - You're right! Was it the beef jerky that gave it away or the orange on the guy with the four wheeler? Anyway, a good time was had by all - it was fun to hang with my girlies and visit with some old friends as well.

Sunday, I dropped the boys off at Donnie and Lisa's and "kidnapped" Lisa to go to the Granite City Sound Chorus Presents: Songs of the Season, a Christmas Tea. Our friends, Sarah and Jean were singing - along with an old friend that I've known since High School - yes, way back then LK! Here is a picture of the group...It is a little foggy because it is so stinking cold outside!!!

Monday and Tuesday I worked, Monday night I had a meeting and with the snow didn't get home until late. Tuesday night we stopped to get groceries because I still hadn't made my 12 dozen cookies for the Cookie Exchange and some of the food for LNO. Wednesday we were home and I know I did something - I just don't remember what it was. Wednesday night was AWANA, D went to cubbies and C & K were in the nursery with me.

Today, I baked my goodies for the Exchange, baked yummy beer bread some other food for tomorrow night. The Pound Cakes (almond and chocolate) came out of the oven about 20 minutes ago and smell so delicious I want to go grab a fork and start eating! Tomorrow I will finish the food for LNO and bag up my goodies...Lisa, Do you still need help decorating???

And of course, in there somewhere, I took care of the kiddos - feeding them, giving them a bath, reading stories, etc. Or actually, dealing with temper tantrums and tring to keep them from making too much of a mess (most days, I am not very successful at this). They like to make these "machines" or "contraptions" with anything and everything they can find. I usually trip over everything, if I even have the courage to attempt to walk across my livingroom. And then of course there is taking care of my Miss K - feeding her every three hours, snuggling with her, getting her to fall asleep, and praying she will always be the even-tempered, happy-go-lucky girl she is now.

Now I should really go to bed but I might just have to take a look see to find any good giveaways for Christmas before I go...that is after all what they make caffeine for isn't it?!?

Updates from Yesterday and Today...

Last night was LNO (Ladies Night Out)...so much fun hanging with the gals and playing games. Where else can you talk about chewy BO? I guess you had to be there! K was so good too. She slept through most of it and when I got home at 3am I fed her hoping she would cooperate some more with sleeping. She did - she slept for six more hours and Dan graciously got up with the boys so I got about five and a half hours of sleep. Dan usually gets up with the boys on Saturday...my one day to sleep in.

Today, Lisa had a HouseParty for Philidephia Cream Cheese, Aerobeds, Golf something and some music. I just went because I think cream cheese is one of the best foods invented - YUMMY. All we did was eat some yummy food made with the cream cheese, played a game that of course Paula won (again - had to be there) and chatted...felt almost like an extended LNO except I had my kids. These HouseParties are fun - they are sponsored by some big names and parties are held on the same day nationwide. I am trying to get a Ziploc one organized, if I get chosen. They send a bunch of the product, some gifts, coupons, lots of goodies, etc. We are all still a little jealous of Sarah, who did an awesome one for Fisher Price.

Anyway, K is getting fussy, I think she needs a little snooze...better run. I still have to finish the cake for my MIL's B-day, get everyone a bath and then get them off to bed so I can enter some more Christmas giveaways and contests!