20 hours away

Hubs & I finally got away for a whole 20 hours. The phones were off limits unless work. So I was disconnected, but hubs phone still rings constantly. We had a nice hour ride to a little Bavarian (ish) town. Had dinner after we got there, took a drive to see the CHRISTmas lights, stopped at the Silent Night chapel,

Said my novena to St. Andrew, then relaxed in the hot tub at the hotel. In the morning we ate breakfast, stopped in the hot tub one more time, then got on the road. We stopped at the towns big attraction, which is the worlds largest Christmas store. Also where the silent night chapel is! I wanted to get an ornament for my niece. So I picked out her first ornament, and while I was waiting for hubs who was in the bathroom I saw these.

While on the way home I found out someone from church miscarried, coincidental ??

We were in a rush so I didn't get one for Andrew for our tree. They decorate everything outside, so nicely, but all for CHRISTmas ( how they write it) everywhere we went everyone wished us a Merry Christmas! We'll it was good to get away but we are home waiting for a snow storm to hit soon! Yeah snow!! (Note sarcasm)

Christmas Cookie Baking Day.

So  today is baking day. Well no other choice, since it's a blizzard outside and like 20 degrees still.
So before the blizzard hit. I pulled all my baking things out of the cupboard, lined it all up on the kitchen table, made my list for what I might still need, went to the store before the blizzard hit. Got up this morning to start baking. Hubs doesn't want me to leave the house

So on the list of baking:

Chex Mix ( 1 double batch made, more throughout the holidays) my husband claims to be the master maker of this, when in reality, I  usually make it.

Christmas Crack. It's nice & easy..  you throw it in the crock pot ( 1 batch done )

Save the Day Sugar Cookies  a couins posted that their batch of sugar cookies bombed & they wanted to try again the next day. I saw this recipe on Recipe Girl, I passed it along, it saved their Christmas cookies. I have never been disappointed with anything on Recipe Girl.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies  --super easy. 1/2 pkg prepared brownie mix in pan, layer with pretzels pour remaining brownie mix, bake. then top with Caramel & salt.

Magic Bars..       mmmmy favorite.. love coconut.

Gingerbread Cookies.  hubby's favorite.

Rolo Pretzel Turtles...Yummo  quick easy-peasy.. ( 1 batch done ) and taste tested approved.

Russian Tea Cakes   MOM's cookies   when I was little my mom deemed these all hers.

Green Wreath Cookies  Using Cornflakes. I always asked for these when I was little..

Apple Pie cake.. ( you'll find the recipe at Recipe Girl )

Peanut Butter Blossom cookies.Deliciousness.

Some fudge if I am feeling adventurous

Soo when this is all done.  I'll be taking a small tray to work on Monday for the "Pig Out", I'll take a few goodies in on Monday to our last CCD at our church.. then making trays for some of hubs customers, and what's left will stay here. OH & I'll send some goodies in for the snow plow guys tonight..

What's on your baking list.

Brrrrrt

I'm done with the cold already. Guess I live in the wrong state.
First picture is earlier in the day... The second on my way home from CCD after dark.

I am thankful I have a roof over my head, a furnace that works, and firewood for backup in case it decides not too. We have been working with a homeless shelter at work, to provide "Christmas" to some of its residents & former residents (now in their own apartments after being homeless in the last year) . I have been quickly reminded of the little things like heat that we take for granted. I was saddened to see one gentlemens list for Christmas, his 2 wishes for Christmas were : food for a  nice holiday meal & a Christmas Tree. Thankfully we didn't think that Santa should bring nothing for him under the tree.. so we did pick up some random things for him. But I totally get not "wanting" a bunch of things.. I'm sure he is greatful to be in his own apartment now & that he has shelter & warmth. I'll take a picture tomorrow, of my SUV FULL of stuff to take over for 6 individuals ( I already took over a crib, that a mother wanted Santa to bring her daughter, so she didn't have to sleep on the floor ) It just breaks my heart.

Want

I get asked what I "want" a lot this time of year.

It's not only Christmas, but my birthday is very, very close to Christmas also. Some years, I have a list of things I might like, that I can suggest, but this year what I WANT, I can not have.

My family , have all asked, what do you WANT.  None of them have truly experienced anything I have had to. What I WANT is  really to be 34 weeks pregnant, uncomfortable, enjoying Advent, and waiting for my son to arrive, but instead I am here, barren, and up late at night thinking about him. My mother in-law, had the audacity to say, well if you don't tell me what you want, i'm going to get you probably some things you don't want. Got news for her, that will be nothing new. I have this area in the basement for the un"useful" gifts from the MIL.  So when I say there is nothing you can give me, that I want, I truly mean it. NO ugly sweaters for me, I have 100 pairs of socks already so please no more, I don't need any more gloves, I have only 1 pair of hands, please no cookies, candies or sweets, I'm gluten, dairy & soy free. Please no more kitchen towels, I have at least a dozen for every holiday, Hallmark sells cards for.

to my MIL: I am a very practical person, so no I don't want a $500 purse, nor do I want a velour jogging suit, nor the random xyz gift you found on the shelf at home.goods.  So when I tell you I want a hood vent for my stove, don't say, that's not a Christmas gift, accept the fact, that I am not like the rest of your children who live a caviar lifestyle on their beer budget. I realize to you Christmas is about fantasy gifts..  My fantasy is to be a mother, and to take a vacation with my husband. It's been 7 years since we have been able to leave our business for 7 consecutive days and relax and enjoy ourselves, preferrably on a beach somewhere tropical. ( a long weekend at the cottage with 20 other people is not relaxing in my book)

Things I won't say I would like, because I can't relinquish control over what style someone else might pick:  Area rug for Family room, wall art for family room, paint for kitchen, 10" saute pan, backsplash tile, black socks and underwear.  I would like a simple inexpensive pair of ice skates for the new outdoor ice rink, but don't want a lavish pair like they would get.

So yeah back to what I want, simply a baby.. so if you could have a healthy one delivered in about 9 months, i'd appreciate that.

St. Nicholas day

 St. Nicholas made a stop to my godsons!

 

When I stopped today at lunch time, their was one pair of fireman boots left out in the breezeway! Perfect! Just for those who are going say something, those are individual serving bags of their favorite chippers, they just look huge in the shot. I also printed St.Nicholas holy cards & stuck them on magnets to the door. They also got a candy cane in the boot, some M&M's and some gold coins and a new DVD for each of them ( thank god for great deals black friday) scored DVD's for $2 each.

Can't wait to get phone calls when they get home tonight.

Happy it's CD1

Yes you read it right. I'm happy it's CD1 !!!

1st and most importantly my body worked on it's own without any meds, and had a 28 day cycle,which hasn't happened in like oh say 8 or more years.

1 more cycle down before we can TTC . Yes it's taking a lot of diligence & SPICE to avoid for another cycle.

In other good news, I called my OB today to see if he had the write up from my MFM consult & they didn't have it yet, so they said they would call & check on it, but there happened to be a cancellation on my doctors schedule..  so I can get in for a follow up this calendar year ( 3 weeks from now )
since my deductibles are met, I would much rather get it done this year.

When I was at the doctor on Nov 8th. the "supposed" first available appointment was January 10th. I was like What.. blown away.. but realized the "new" scheduling girl didn't know what she was doing.  Thankfully when I called today, the  nice fabulous Stacy, got me in much sooner.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

I wanted to say a big thank you all of blogger land for praying for us in November.

I really feel blessed to have everyone praying for us!

I hope you are already praying the Novena to St. Andrew, until Christmas.
If you need a reminder here is the Novena, please join us everyday saying it 15 times.
If you have an intention you would like to leave for us to pray, please do so. We will be praying for those desiring children, those looking for peace in their decisions, and those pregnant, that they have healthy children.

I can truly feel at peace, for what God has in store for us, be it a child, or for us to be a happy family of 2. I feel comfortable saying that 2014 will be the final year of TTC for us. I don't think of it as giving up, but getting back to living. 2014 will be 8 years of trying for us. My body is getting old, and will be ready for rest, if not carrying a child by then.