Why Do Holidays Depress Me?

I don't guess I have ever really mentioned on my blog that I kind of dread the holiday time. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy buying presents for my kiddos and watching them open them on Christmas day. I also enjoy all of the parties that are planned with my church family. Last but not least, I always enjoy our Christmas program we have at church. The thing I hate about the holidays is the lack of family. I am an only child. I grew up in a his, hers & ours family. There is a 10 year span between me and my mom's youngest daughter and my dad's youngest daughter. I was not raised with any of them in the home so I never knew what it was like to have a sibling. I've often told people I've gotten the short end of the stick in two ways: 1 - I'm the baby of the family and 2 - I'm the only child. I just can't win for losing!! ha

Anyway, growing up it was never a huge ordeal for me to be the only child in the family. I did get bored at times but I always got whatever I needed and majority of the time what I wanted. As I have gotten older and grown into adult friendships, I often see how my friends are getting together with their families for different things or going shopping with their siblings or cousins or just spending time with their mom for the day. I get kinda down about it because I don't have that. My parents moved away from Oklahoma about 3-4 years ago and I haven't been the same since. It's kind of depressing. Then the holidays start. Everyone is getting together with family and enjoying different things with them. Maybe it's a pity party?? BUT it's true feelings.

OK, maybe I now have this negative vibe out...maybe I can go on with my week & feel a little better.  I love having this blog where I can vent!  Some people don't like that I do it but oh well!!  I've learned a lot this week about pleasing others.  Many have made some great comments on facebook after I put up this status:  Tamara Conner hates the fact that I can't say what I am feeling on a public blog or here on facebook without making someone mad.  I've also been reading my friend Nicole's blog this week & she is feeling the same way about the negativeness from some people.  She's moving on and her blog is helping me realize that I need to just move on, too!  Thanks Nicole!!!! 

Anyway, time to move on and get my mind back in order!  Thanks to all my friends and family out there!!  Have a great day!

Wonderful Weekend in Sight

Well, we've all made it another week! YAY!! I am so looking forward to this weekend. It seems that I have had something every night this week...well, I have!! Ready for this??

Monday - Pampered Chef Party at a friend's
Tuesday - Bunco with my friends
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Basketball Practice/Family Night (eat out together)/take down fall decor

Can you say too busy?? I think I'm trying to cram it all in before I have to be cooped up and sitting down for hours on end during the day and night OR maybe it's just the way I am. I've always been the type to be busy. If I stay home, there's no adult interaction so I make myself get out to get the interaction I long for. My kids do a lot of running with me and I'm afraid I'm teaching them a really bad habit. Anyway...

Well my cookie recipe exchange kinda flopped!! Oh well, I tried! I did get some great recipes from some old and new friends. I can not wait to go home and try the ones I haven't heard of.

Even though there has been much excitement with our running around, it's really been nothing exciting to report on...oh wait...I am done with my Christmas shopping!!!! That's one thing that's exciting and I bought the final item on Wednesday when I had some time to waste.

Hope all are well out in bloggy land!!

Holiday Cookie Recipe Exchange

I was at Bunco last night with all of my gal pals and we played Dirty Santa. I am now a proud owner of a platter that has "cookies" written on it. The back of it had the cutest little poem about how it is a "traveling cookie platter". Well, I am just not yet willing to be giving my platter to even my closest of friends (sorry), full of cookies, in fear that I won't get my platter back. Sooooo, I was thinking about doing a cookie recipe exchange on my blog today.

I'm sure it's not a new idea and that someone else out there is doing it or has done it, but I was proud of this little pitiful brain of mine to even come up with the idea. Soooo, without futher ado....

Please link up to my post (using MckLinky) and post your favorite holiday cookie recipe, or two, or three... you get the idea!! I can't wait to see all of the great recipes that we get on this post & that we can try at home this holiday season. 'Tis the season!!

**Cookie picture at top was found on Google Image**

First Day of December

My 10 year old son woke up this morning and wished me a "Happy 1st day of December!"  Can you believe this year went by that fast??  I can't.  Seems like just yesterday it was Valentine's Day.

The countdown has begun in the Conner-Mock Blend.  Countdown to Christmas has begun for the kids and countdown till surgery has begun for me!!  Lots to look forward to in the next few weeks. 

The hubby and I began our Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  I have everything bought for my kids this year.  I laid down the law about Christmas.  I am tired of buying tons of presents just to have them torn up in a few weeks.  Sooooo, mom thought - maybe if I buy one large (kinda pricey) gift and told them that was all they were getting, it would be better.  We'll see!  I'm spending about $200-$250 on each child this Christmas and calling it quits!!  They are fully aware they will have one present under the tree.  I can't vouch for what "Santa" will put in their stockings though!!  I hope it will go over well and it really takes the pressure off of me to find all these gifts.

As for the rest of the family, well, my hubster's side draws names.  We have that taken care of also.  I have no family nearby so the holiday season just gets to be a depressing state more and more each year.  I take it really hard that I have no family around to fit in with.  Bummer!!  Anyway, my half brother and half sister are going in with me on a flat screen for my mother.  She had recently been talking about wanting a 19 - 22" in her bedroom.  Sooooo, on black friday, it was accomplished! 

Coming home from church on Sunday, I was giving the run down to the hubby and kids about our schedules for the next two weeks.  Lots going on (with holidays) and even more going on because of preparations for surgery.  Basketball has started so that just adds a little more to the running. 

I attended a Pampered Chef party last night.  It was sooo much fun!  We made cookies with the new cookie press!  My 12 year old daughter got in the kitchen after everyone had left & made a whole pan of cookies and baked them before I even knew she was doing it.  WOW!!   Sooo, I bought the cookie press just for her.  She told me while I was down, she would make cookies for me...HOW SWEET!!  Guess I'll get fat while recovering huh??

Tonight is Bunco Christmas Party!!  Woo-Hoo!  Such great ladies I am friends with!  Wouldn't trade them for the world.  They keep me going a lot of days (more than they know).  Then it's to church on Wednesday for our next to last Wednesday practice before the Christmas Concert.  It always seems that no matter how early you start learning Christmas music, it always seems like the last few practices are a cram session.  Thursday, we are planning on having a family night.  Can't wait for this time to spend with the kids! 

I will have to stop here so I will have something to post about the rest of the week/weekend.  Just in one of those rambling moods I guess.

I pray all had a fabulous Thanksgiving with their families!  Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wanted to log in & quickly tell everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Turkey Day!  I pray that you have a wonderful time with your families!  ENJOY!  Till tomorrow - Black Friday!!

What a Weekend!

This past week/weekend has been a blur and a challenge.  Hubby has been gone for almost 3 weeks now (harvest time and hunting time).  I have had soooo many things going on.  It seems that when the hubby is gone, all things cave in.  Run here, run there...this is planned for this day and time, this is planned for that day and time... and so on!  Such is my life.

In an attempt to make this week go smoothly, I wound up sick, getting into a wreck, having children act up and just feeling plain chaotic!  Does it ever end??  On top of that, it's now officially the holiday season and things just get uber crazy at that time!

The three good notes to report is:  #1 - hubby is back to stay!!!  YAY!  No more out of state hunting and no more harvest (until next June - but I'll be there for that one)  #2 - Andrew's party went off without a hitch!!! and #3 - I logged on to look at my friend's blog (Nicole) and found out that I had won her giveaway!!  God Bless Us Everyone! 

I am planning to do a post in the next couple of days to show off the pictures from my 10 year old's Secret Agent Birthday Party AND also to show off my great prize from Nicole.

This week I am not going to do Menu Planning.  It is holiday season and OBVIOUSLY on Thursday we all know what is going to happen with the food situation.  Other than that, my hubby's family is all in and plans are made all week to join different ones for dinner.  Tonight we are going to my mother-in-law's house for YUMMY Bierocks!!!  Oh, I so love these!  If you don't know what these are, I will post a pic of this later, also!!

Hope all are having a Blessed Thanksgiving week!!

Monday, Monday, So Good To Me

It's Monday!!  So the song by the Mamas & the Papas says - "Monday, Monday, So good to me".  Really?  Well, I must admit this Monday has been a little uneventful.  Nice for a change!  Usually I'm up rushing around with kids that are exhausted from the weekend.  I guess we played our cards smart and didn't wear ourselves out this weekend.  Everyone got up without problems and got dressed without issues and started our day with a BANG!  Tomorrow?  Can't guarantee that!

MONDAY - SLOPPY JOES

TUESDAY - POPCORN CHICKEN AND FRIES

WEDNESDAY - Y.O.Y.O. (You're On Your Own)

THURSDAY - CHICKEN WITH PENNE PASTA

FRIDAY - BREAKFAST FOR DINNER

SATURDAY - LEFTOVERS

SUNDAY - EAT OUT!!

This week is going to be very simple and quick.  Not everyone will be able to eat together this week so, I'm not going all out with meals!  Basketball season officially starts tonight and we've got a lot of practices to begin.  (Not to mention my Bible Study time)

Plans have been Spoiled

Well Pooh!!!  I was going to be so diligent and get my menu planning done Monday evening & post it here yesterday.  Can you believe I didn't???  ha-ha  This week has turned into a rather busy week(unexpectedly).  Sooooo, here's just a glimpse:

Monday - Salisbury Steak & Potatoes (Worked late taking care of a crisis.  I ran to Bible Study pretty quickly after I got home)

Tuesday - Pizza Buffet at our local Pizza place  (Worked late AGAIN - Crisis mode.  Haircut for hubby and hair thinning & trim for daughter)

Wednesday - Y.O.Y.O. (You're on your own!!  Church night)

Thursday - Special treat - taking kids to restaurant of their choice

Friday - Caleb and I will eat out somewhere CHEAP!!

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Eat Out!!

There!!  Still working on getting my entire month planned out.  It's halfway done, just need to finalize it with the family!

Menu Plan Monday

I am putting this up just to let you know I haven't forgotten about it being Menu Plan Monday.  I don't have "restful" Sundays so, I didn't get our family together to make our menu up.  I will be back tomorrow to post my weekly menu.  Sorry!!  I guess I'll just have to be a day late!

Halloween

Well, we all survived the end of October/Halloween/Weekend!!!  Yay us!!  Thought I would share with you all the pictures from the fun time I had with my kids trick or treating!

Lovely Daughter wanted to be SuperGirl this Halloween.

Lovely son wanted to be....well....I really can't tell ya what he is.  He thought this costume was cool because it had glowing glasses under the hood that makes his eyes light up red.  It was kinda cool!!

Starting our Main Street trick or treating.

Supergirl taking down "the ghoul"!!

Still so light out but you can BARELY see his red eyes.

We had such a wonderful time on Saturday!  We started it out by eating at Sonic & taking advantage of the 50 cent corn dogs.  Can't beat a sonic corn dog!!  We left there and began our annual trek up and down main street.  After they got tired of that & the churches that have trunk or treat, we went up to the high school for the NHA Spook House!!  Whoooooo!  What a great night we had!  Hope everyone else did as well!