Good morning everyone. Hope you switched your calendar over to December. How can that be? December is here and that means there's just a few more weeks of shopping time before Christmas. That's a bad thing except for those of you that already are done Unfortunately, I'm not there yet!

How's your holiday season going so far? We went with friends to cut down their Christmas tree in the Santa Cruz mountains. Three families go up every year but only one gets a tree. The other two are fake-tree people. That's me! We bring a huge brunch and it's quite a spread. Between us, there are 8 kids who romp through the hills and play for hours. Just a fun, cold day.

Really feeling the schoolwork at this time of the year. So many projects for my 5th graders. Hours of homework every day. Just too much if you ask me. I'm counting down the days to spring break.

Here are some questions for the week.

1. What are your favorite style of jeans?
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays?
3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual?
4. Is everyone healthy at your house?
5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine.

Another reminder - if you want to be part of the TC Holiday Card exchange, please send me an email at s a f e t y p a t r o l @ c o m c a s t . n e t (take out spaces). I'll add you to the list and send out an email weekly with any additions.

Sharon
10 year old b/b/b + 14 year old son

What a week ahead of me, dentist today for DD, school volunteering tomorrow, RS Christmas party on Wednesday, Karate on Thursday, and church Christmas party on Satuday. DD turns 4 on Wednesday, so it'll be cupcakes to her school, but we had her party here yesterday. Spent the weekend cleaning the house from top to bottom, but it looks fabulous. We put up our decorations and the kids had a good time helping this year.

1. What are your favorite style of jeans? I bought a new pair of Levis the other day that I like, but right now I don't have any favorites because I really need to loose some weight.
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays? Yes, just a few strands along the roof line and the porch though, nothing over the top. I have to do it by myself since DH is working out of town, if he was in town I'd probably do more.
3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual? Yes
4. Is everyone healthy at your house? A few stuffy noses and sniffles, but nothing big right now.
5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine. This time of year we always worry about work for DH, I think more from habit than anything.

Have a great week everyone!

Kim
Nate, Nick & Noel(36w4d)and Nia.

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1. What are your favorite style of jeans? I like low rise, boot cut. I'm short and it elongates my body to make me look taller.

2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays? Yes

3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual? we did previously

4. Is everyone healthy at your house? um, not sure! It's hard to be certain "tummy ache" is real or way to avoid responsibility

5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine.
a. economy-USD is declining worldwide
b. smooth trip to Italy
c. homeschool ability



Tracey

Michael (10)
Francesca (9)
Matthew, Alexis & Gabrielle (8)
Torunn (Norwegian DD,19)
Johannes (German DS,16)

Hi Tra,

Have a wonderful, safe, and smooth trip to Italy tomorrow!

Ciao,

7mozz

1. What are your favorite style of jeans?
- Gap
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays?
- Yep- I took the last two years off but ready to jump in there again.
3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual?
-Yes we do individual gifts for the holidays. I buy a bunch of cookie cutters and attach a cute note each teacher get three if they have all three from my girls.
4. Is everyone healthy at your house?
-Ummm seems each week someone has something but its gone by the end of the week only to start up with someone else by Sunday evening. It not the same thing oddly enough.
5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine.
-I worry about the world my children will be growing up in. Things that I take for granite and things I have watch come to pass. The list is too long to list everything but I am thinking along the lines of spending the night at friends houses as a kid and now if my girls were to ask I'd want a fingerprint on the parents if I don't know them to run a background check. I want to know that when my kids grow up it's still common to say Merry Christmas to one another and not be shunned or thought not PC b/c of their beliefs. That sort of thing.


I remember going up into the mountains while living in CA, it was the closest thing to winter for us. Lots of good times there. We decorated our tree last night. It was so much fun. I honestly don't think I have ever had a better time. our girls did most of the decorations only hubby and I did the hard stuff like lights and garland. But we have so many ornaments from the last few years that they had made. I was almost too scared to put them out in fear they might break thanks to our puppy who now things a tree skirt is her new bed. I feel in love with my kids all over again and with Christmas. We are learning more about Jesus through a neat Advent calendar. I am thrilled to have hubby home this week. Honestly it can't get any better...ok if I shed 10 pounds that would help.




Sure you can home school your kids: www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf
*†¯`·.,*† ¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*† .¸¸.·*†(¯`·.¸*†¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*†
I BELIEVE in miracles
g/g/g- June 2002
fs - November 1988
Married to my best friend

1. What are your favorite style of jeans? low-rise boot cut. I found two pair at Abercrombie that I LOVE!
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays? Yes
3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual? Yes, for the triplets only.
4. Is everyone healthy at your house? Yes, knock on wood.
5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine. Most defintately, my dd's diagnostic testing to be done on the 12th. Those tests will determine whether or not she needs cranio-facial surgery. I have a panic attack every morning, because that is the first thing I think of when I wake up. THANK GOD, for anti-anxiety meds or I would be totally useless right now. Also, I am worried about my dfil. Christmas Day is the 1st anniversary of dmil's passing and he is struggling with certain issues regarding her death. Please pray for him, so that he may find some peace.

Our new puppy is doing wonderfully, although, I am ready to wring her little neck. She is keeping me on my toes! Potty training is going very well and dd taught her how to sit yesterday! She is 9 weeks now and growing like a weed! As much trouble as she is, she is providing our family with so much joy and happiness! I love her to pieces! I will post a pic when I have a chance, in other words, when my oldest dd has a chance,lol!
Gina
13yo G
10yo BGG

Hi Sharon et. al.,

I am getting into the holiday season with each passing day. I caught myself humming, "Feliz Navidad" yesterday, yikes!

1. I like the low rise jeans. I still like the flair style.

2. Oh yes!

3. Yes, we gave our teacher her gifts already.
Each kid gave her one gift.

4. Yes, thankfully!

5. Hmmmm, not too much right at the moment. I just want to get through the holiday season sanely!

Have a great week/end everyone!

7mozz

What are your favorite style of jeans?
nothing gets between me and my calvins, but if we're stepping outside the 80's, i like levi mid waist.

2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays?

we live in a flat...so no!

3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual?

the whole class clubs in together to give the teachers a day at the spa.

4. Is everyone healthy at your house?

no way! we've got nebulisers out and vomit out as well. egad what a mess. no wonder i don't like eggnog.

5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine.

i am worried my oldest is getting overwhelmed at school.


tess
mummy to 6yr old ds & the triumverate born 2004

"the days are slow but the years fly by quickly"

1. Mid-rise with a slight flare or bootcut. Don't have a preference for any certain brand they just have to fit me right. Also they just have to be the stretch kind..Love em! ..I can't even stand to wear a pair of regular non-stretch jeans anymore.

2. A little .. no lights just some garland and our family snowman.

3. Yes a small gift from each kid. I give disposable cameras every year and the teachers love them. Great for keeping in the classroom or using during the holidays with their families.

4. No not really, 4 out of 6 of us have colds & coughs , but nothing major.

5. Debt and money. I'm optimistic and try not to dwell on it much but still in the back of my mind I don't see the debt going away any time soon and the cost of living is just getting ridiculous. Cost of gas & food and even the cost of just having some what should be "inexpensive family fun" I know we'll never really get ahead but I'd love to break even sometime. KWIM?


........... Kris & Co. ..........

Hi all - Happy December!!!!
1-low rise, relaxed fit
2-yes - I love it! Of course this year it was freezing so dh wins a medal for putting it all up and freezing his fingers off! (and he took care to put permanent screws in and wired everything tight as we get lots of wind here!)
3-yes - 2 boys share a teacher so we just get each teacher a gift cert (bigger for the one who has 2 of them) and they each make something for them - this year it will be little gingerbread men
4-for the most part - ds has tonsilitis but feels and acts fine - just major swollen glands
5-well I was stress free and so excited for the holidays when I got a subpeona to testify for a client I have not seen in a year. UGH! Spent 6 hrs there yesterday and have to go back again.

Tonight we are going to see George Winston, staying over at my mom's, taking tomorrow off and doing some shopping. Yeah!
hope you all have a good week1
Suzanne
Proud mommy to Seamus, Brendan and Casey 4/17/00

1. What are your favorite style of jeans?
love love LOVE GAP boot cut stretch denim. worth every penny

2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays?
Well STBX did but not sure I'll do it

3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual?
kids already pickd out gifts for their teachers but we often go with the group

4. Is everyone healthy at your house?
Healthy as little oxen!

5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine.
actually, things are pretty good. My biggest concern is that I have NO time to clean my house now that I'm basically a single mom (I work 1-1 1/2 hours away from home). The house overwhelms me.

RoseMarie
mom to the Hooligans 12/21/98

1. What are your favorite style of jeans? Mid-rise whatever fits- these days Lee and Uniqlo.
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holidays? No, just the inside, with candles in the windows.
3. Do you gift gifts to the teachers at the holidays (group or individual? Not the custom here.
4. Is everyone healthy at your house? Knock on wood, yes.
5. What are you worried about? Big or small is fine. Right now, I am worried about the school ice skating day. Tomorrow, 6 teachers will take the 130ish kids ice skating- no parent chaparones this year as the kids are 'big'- yikes.

Catherine

"

lol do you plan to look in the windows at the rink?


Sure you can home school your kids: www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf
*†¯`·.,*† ¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*† .¸¸.·*†(¯`·.¸*†¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*†
I BELIEVE in miracles
g/g/g- June 2002
fs - November 1988
Married to my best friend

Ha, ha... if there were windows...and my kids wouldn't be mortified...

Right now they should be eating lunch and then they will skate a little more... no phone calls so all must be well, thank goodness.

"

OKay, so it's Thursday and I am typing my Monday update.

My favorite jeans are Levi's I got at Khol's. I wear them about 3 times a week!
We have a couple of fake poinsettias on our front porch, but that's all.
We do gifts for the teachers. I probably spend more on them than anyone else. (But I have kids who ask for things like a stapler and a pack of paper.)
We have some sniffles, but that's it.
I am not much of a worrier because I'd go insiane if I started. Allowing myself to dwell for a moment though these things crop up: Are my kids happy? What kind of world are we leaving to them? Are the trips smart enough for Kindergarten? . . . . Okay, I'm stopping now that I can;t type as fast as I am worrying!

I LOVE seeing all the Christmas photos in the photo forum. I could spend hours there!

Ali
Jack, 6 years old on July 4
Abraham, Dylan and Zane, 4 years old on July 6
35 weekers and 6 pounds a pop!