264/365 - After 58 years...

After 58 years, a local hot spot is closing down. Good old Parker's Drive In served it's last cheeseburger and fries tonight. Ken and I decided to get dinner there and be part of it.

We were dumb enough to wait in that long line. I've seen it longer. From getting in line to walking out with dinner, it took about an hour and a half. Crazy, I know. At least the weather was decent. Not too cold and no snow.

Yep. We were nuts to join in the last night of Parker's, but it was fun.

 

Woohoo! We're almost inside!

This happy lady took our order.

We waited about 30 minutes for our food. At least it was warm inside.

Since there isn't anywhere to sit at Parker's, we brought our food home. Cheeseburgers, onion rings, fries (with plenty of their famous fry sauce) and shakes. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't eat red meat. I gobbled up my cheeseburger. Yum!

I'm so sad to see the famous Parker's close down. It's been there for a long, long time. Evidently the old building will be torn down and a strip mall will be built in its place. It's sad... but I hope the Parker family has a happy retirement!

263/365 - Did ya know...

I got this for Christmas!

I'm a little giddy about it, I won't lie.

It's all computerized and has soooo many stitches and fonts.

It also does embroidery. So fun!

I can load embroidery CD's and images off of the computer right into the sewing machine.

I made a little "gift" for Ken. I'll post pictures of that later. In the mean time, I'm on the hunt for a fun beginner project. I'm also taking sewing classes that begin in January. Wish me luck!

262/365 - You say it's your birthday...

It's my birthday too, yeah!

37 years ago today I graced the world with my delightful presence. Yesiree! I woke up this morning feeling a little depressed. Not sure why, I just did. Today Ken and I celebrated by laying low. We slept in and lounged around until 2:00 p.m. That was great. We went out shopping and spent a little too much on a little something, which will all be revealed later. I did buy a new purse though. Pictures will follow. We went out to dinner at MiRanchito, our favorite Mexican restaurant. All in all, it turned out to be a pretty good day. 

I really need to blog about the end of the 12 Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. All in good time. I also need to face the fact that I have to return to work on Tuesday. I'm not too happy about that one. I need to get back on a normal sleep schedule and quit staying up late and sleeping in. It's a bad habit.

261/365 - Gotta be honest...

Yep. Not feelin' it.

Not feelin' the desire to blog.

Sorry kids, but this is my post.

I'm tired. 

My 37th birthday is tomorrow.

I'm still wondering how THAT happened.

I swear I just turned 23.

I need my beauty sleep.

260/365 - The Post Christmas Letdown...

 

I think Norman Rockwell's illustration titled Tired Salesgirl on Christmas Eve best sums up how I feel. Running around like a crazy person in preparation for Christmas and then having it all catch up with me the day after. Does anyone else get this feeling? And I don't even have kids! I. Am. Beat. And now I sit in my house looking at the tree and mounds of decorations that need to be taken down, not to mention all of the Christmas presents that need to be put away. Big sigh. I'm waiting for my second wind. I may be waiting for a couple of days.

259/365 - Merry Christmas...

258/365 - Sugar Cookies...

I need to remind myself about this next year... sugar cookies take all day to make. I forget how long it takes to crank out sugar cookies. Seriously. I think to myself... I can whip these out, no biggie. Yep. Ken loves them at Valentine's, Halloween, and Christmas. We use the same recipe his mom did when he was growing up. This morning, I got the cookies made so he could take a big plate of them to his old job to say hi.

An incredibly rare glimpse into my messy cookie ridden kitchen.

All ready to frost.

Ken and I frosted them together.

Here's one plate ready to be delivered,

a plate for our neighbors,

and a few for ourselves.

I'm so glad that I will forget just how much I do not love making sugar cookies. I have to forget about how time consuming they are or I'll never make them again. But they're soooo delicious! I guess it's worth it.

257/365 - Remembering the reason...

With all of the money being spent, the worries of not getting everything on my proverbial Christmas list accomplished, worrying about who I may have missed, wondering if it will ever be enough, comparing myself to other people, avoiding a complete breakdown, and worrying about things that are completely out of my control, I have to make myself stop and remember the REAL reason for the season.

 

I just needed a little reminder.

 

256/365 - Our annual family Christmas party...

Last night we all went to my mom and dad's house for our annual family Christmas party. This tradition has been going on since I was really little. It started with my mom's siblings, along with their spouses and kids, all coming over for dinner, gift exchanging, and a visit from Santa Claus. As we all got older, people decided to have their own Christmas parties with their immediate families. We were all just getting too big. So, the tradition continues with my mom and dad. We had pizza, soda and snacks. Here are some pictures from last night's festivities.

 Santa came right at the beginning of the party.

My aunt Kay (top left) came too!

Eryn was not happy with Santa.

Wesley's turn with Santa.

Jake LOVED Santa this year. He was so chatty with him.

Here's Wyatt!

Carly was pretty mesmerized.

Camille was up next.

Brian and I were "chosen" to be Santa helpers. Brian was the head reindeer...

and I was the elf. Problem... the hat wouldn't fit over my big hair.

I improvised.

Here we are... leading the family in Jingle Bells.

Here's Carly with the Man in Red.

Jake finally got his chance.

Even my mom got her chance...

as did my dad.

Baby Chase wasn't a huge Santa lover. It's his first Christmas so we'll cut him some slack.

Here's Ken...

and Clint,

and Denise,

and me,

and my aunt Kay,

and Brian.

Everyone has their presents from Santa and are patiently waiting for him to give us the a-okay to open them.

Everyone is seeing what they got!

Here's my handsome hubby.

We also did a family gift exchange.

My mom and Kay.

Ken was so tired!

My mom made cute Christmas pillow cases for all of the grand kids.

My mom got each family got official Santa Claus plates for Christmas Eve cookies and mugs for milk to leave out for Santa. Brian read everyone the legend of the cookies.

Everyone was starting to wind down and get tired.

Ken played some Christmas songs for the kids to sing along to.

Chase loved it!

We had a great night!
I love our family Christmas party!