FUNFUN FUN CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Hello everyone!!! I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas holiday!!! I had the BEST!!! The fun started on Sunday, Dec 23, when I drove to Chicago to bring Bree home. We loaded up the trunk with bags and bags of gifts. Bree is like Santa Claus. It reminds me of the small town girl who moved to the big city and made good and showers her poor family with gifts!!!! Oh, she is so generous!!! We talked and laughed and never shut up the whole way home. We got home and Dad had chili waiting for us. We all had to open a gift to get the holiday going. It was non stop fun until she left Thursday morning. We played lots of Scrabble and that little shit beat me every time!!!!

Christmas Eve we went to my brother's and had a lovely time. Ate, drank, opened gifts, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company so much. Then we came home and Michael was home from work so we opened a couple more presents. Then I had to stuff the stockings and off to bed I went. Michael woke me up at 6:15 the next morning to open gifts!!! Bree was awake too. So we opened gifts for 2 hours. I loved everything I got!!! I am a spoiled rotten little brat!!! Everyone in the family made out good. I got Michael an IPOD, Bree got Archie an IPOD, and Archie got ME an IPOD!! It was the year of IPODS!!! I'm so excited! I've wanted one forever!!!

I got carwashes, a Michael Buble CD, a Bryn Terfel CD, The Secret Gratitude Journal, Borders Gift Card, Coach fobs for my Coach purse, a wonderful red duffle that folds up real tight for traveling. Darling, unique stocking stuffers!!! Oh my gosh! So many wonderful things!!!

We had a nice brunch and then Bree and I saw Sweeney Todd. I loved it!!!! Then home to get in jammies and relax the rest of Christmas Day away.

The next day I had to work, but Bree picked me up after work and we went to Jefferson Pointe. Bree found 2 pairs of adorable shoes!!!! Oy! Then we went to Henry's where we met Michael and Archie for dinner and drinks. It was a great way to spend Bree's last night here. After "the boys" left, Bree and I got an Irish Coffee and had a cozy "BOT" (that means "Boobs on the Table") We planned our wardrobe for the Bahamas and sang "Nothing's Gonna Harm You" from Sweeney. I miss the little shit already. But Jan 16 I will see her again when we leave for the Bahamas.

My Christmas was fabulous and I hope that yours was too. Have a wonderful New Years and may 2008 fill your heart with love, laughter, good things, good friends, and happy times.

May your coffee cup overflow and may the chocolate supply never end.

I love you, darling friends. My life would be so sad without you. Hugs and love, Kelli

GOD BLESS HAPPY PEOPLE

....And Beasts and Children too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are to all the people who wake up every morning, plant their feet firmly on the floor, and begin another day with a smile on their face and in their heart. Here are to the people who smile at work even when they don't feel like it.
Who have a nice word to say and a pat on the shoulder to the co-worker who no one really likes all that well. Here are to the people who laugh and hug and make the rest of us feel good when our spirits are low. These people get us through our work days, which can otherwise be routine and monotonous...these people make our world a brighter place.
I worked with a girl one time who was such a hoot. One day I told her I ate a 1/2 lb. of chocolate covered peanuts the previous night and was so disgusted with myself. She just shrugged her shoulders and blinked her eyes at me and said, "It's only 1/2 lb."
I am wishing these very special people a SPECIAL HOLIDAY and GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

I love my CAMERA!

I think everyone that knows me knows that I LOVE TO TAKE PICTURES!! Ever since I can remember, I've had a love affair with the camera. I love to take pictures and I love to have my picture taken. My kids when they were younger used to groan, "Oh Mom, no more pictures!" And I would say, "I'm making memories. Someday you'll thank me!" Take tonight, for instance....I said to Michael, "Oh, take a picture of me and Dad in front of the tree!" Archie made a face and acted like he didn't want to get off his butt and sit in front of the tree. I said, "You bought me the camera!" He agreed to a couple of pictures and when he saw how good they turned out he was pleased. Here is a picture of me and Archie that Michael took tonight.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM THRILLED!!!!

Today for the VERY FIRST TIME a person I don't know read and commented on my blog!!! She invited me to read her blog and she is this lovely woman with an adorable little boy. She sounds alot like me...very excited about the holidays and seeing her little boy open all his gifts and his holiday wonder and joy!

I am reading a book right now called The Last Of Her Kind by Sigrid Nunez. I love it so far.

I just finished Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani and I loved that too! Bree is reading it now and is really enjoying it. Big Stone Gap is the first in a trilogy about the main character, Ave Maria Mulligan and the people that live in her little tiny town in Virginia called Big Stone Gap. The characters are all so unique! Bree and I are going to make a list of the characters in the book and put the actors and actresses we think should play their parts. I am going to read the sequel to Big Stone Gap after I get done with this book.

Does anyone have any books they would like to recommend? I am open and love to hear about books you love.

Have a wonderful day...PS It is still SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ready for Christmas!!!!

I am READY for Christmas!!! The shopping is done...even stocking stuffers. What an incredible feeling!
I have a pretty tree and there are lots of presents under the tree. The candles are lit, the Christmas music is on, potato soup is on the stove, it is even SNOWING outside! How much more perfect can it be? My cat is curled up next to the register enjoying the warm air from the furnace and the stockings are hanging by the fireplace waiting to be filled. There is even a tiny little red mitten for Sugar. Our first Christmas without her. I'll never forget you, Sugar!

Last weekend I went to Bree and John's and spent a fabulous, fun weekend! Bree loves the holidays as much as I do and you mix Bree and I up with the city of Chicago and all those stores and we are in heaven!!! We traipsed through the city shopping and laughing and talking. We had a great time. We even shampooed the carpet in her apartment and re-organized and cleaned her kitchen cupboards!!!

She will be coming home next Sunday. I can't wait to see her again and have my family under one roof again.

I have so many things to be grateful for this Christmas....my family, friends, my Mom, my home, my health. I am filled with excitement and anticipation of this special holiday. To me, Christmas represents all good things that have happened all year. It is a time to wrap our arms around our friends and loved ones and say Thank you for being you. Thank you for making my world a better more interesting place. Thank you for loving me back. Thank you for reading my blog.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. May the love and the laughter and the warm times keep you joyful all year long. I love you!!!!!!!!! Kelli

LET IT SNOW!!!!

I LOVE SNOW!! I love snow so much EXCEPT if I have to drive and there is heavy snow....other than that! Let it SNOW, baby!!! I woke up this morning to sugar snow that sparkled all over the yard! I wish we would have gotten more, but this is OK.
I have on my red scrub outfit and I am going to take my Elf hat into work today. I will sing "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" !!!!!
Ok...since I have nothing to write about I will write this little ditty....
Here are some things you may not know about me.
1. I like to iron
2. I am addicted to crossword puzzles
3. I have to have a sharp #2 pencil
4. I like a big spoonful of peanut butter with chocolate chips on top
(this is great when your desperate for chocolate)
5. I wish someone would comment on my blog....
6. I am a pitiful sort