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Getting back on track with this blog thing...LOL

Left to right: My sisters Cynthia, Melissa, my Dad, my Mom, my Mother-in-law, and my son Bobby

Hello everybody!!! Hope everyone had a great Holiday...Whatever it is that you celebrate. I had Christmas Eve at my house for the first time and let me tell you....I started cooking at 5pm because I didn't want to start too soon and have the food be cold. Ok....doesn't sound too bad right? Well, my family was expected to be there by 8pm!!! Yes, and I rocked it!!! Let me say, I cooked everything all by myself and had it done by 8:30 pm (yes, my family ended up getting there around 10 pm because my sis Melissa was running late) but nonetheless, I had all this done in 3.5 hours:

My Pineapple-glazed Ham

Corn Pudding and Turkey Prosciutto with Cornbread stuffing

Main course and Side dishes:
Pineapple glazed Ham
Mac-n-cheese
Sweet potato mash
Corn pudding
Turkey breast and Prosciutto
Jasmine Rice
Cornbread Stuffing

Dessert:
Chocolate Cheesecake Flan

Favors:
Chinese take out boxes set at table settings with Pepperidge Farms cookies inside

I also set the coffee table with roasted peanuts, craisins, M&M's, goldfish, sliced Portuguese bread and baby clams with tabasco sauce for appetizer. I served sparkling cider when everyone came into the house...wine was brought by my sister since my hubby and I don't drink a lick of alcohol, my other sister brought her Strawberry Shortcake, and my mom brought our favorite cod fish dish that we all LOVE. We had a great night hanging out together talking and laughing!

I got a Hp Photosmart printer from my sister Melissa, a Starbucks mug, tea, and an AC Moore gift certificate from Cynthia. My parents got me a huge stamp set and an AC Moore gift certificate (which, yes, got me emotional because I realized that they really listened to me when I talked them to death about stamping and scrapbooking...this was big for me). My sister Melissa was like "Yeah, Paula, they actually do listen to you." Oh, and also got emotional when Melissa got me the printer because it was such a huge gift from her (she usually doesn't get us anything or does, but not on the actual occasion). My son got a bike from her! His first bike, helmet, elbow and knee pads! Crazy! Let's just say everyone got a huge gift and was shocked. My poor hubby didn't get my gift on Christmas because he didn't want me to buy anything at all for him. Said he'd be happy just to spend time with us (although he did spend Christmas Eve at work) but I did create a mini brag book and tin with family pics of us and I drew and painted him the POPEYE tattoo on canvas, that he got tattooed on his arm...

Popeye canvas I made for my Hubby

he loves it! Oh, and did I tell you that I gave Melissa a Target gift card and Cynthia a slow cooker and wine bottle opener (that she needed badly) and then I made both of them an altered clipboard (but I forgot to take the pic).

Anywho.... for New Year's we rang it in the car on the way to a family friends' house party. We got there at 12:05 am so I was busy scrambling to call my parents (who were there already) and my sisters HAPPY NEW YEAR at midnight!! New Year's Eve is a big deal to my family because we used to have the biggest bash on the east coast for family and friends every year for close to 15 years (although my parents have stopped about 3 years ago). People would wait for their invites 2 months in advance and they'd come from Florida and from Boston and anywhere in between to spend it at my parent's house. It's also important because my sisters and I believe that the way you spend it, predicts how the rest of your year will be. So, I was glad I spent it with my parents because they will be moving to Florida in 2 weeks so maybe it means this year, despite the distance, I'll be spending time with them. My sisters went to clubs either in the city (NYC) or stayed local.

Anywho, my new addition that I talked about on my last entry?

Meet Choco

I have a new puppy. His official name is Chocolate, but we coined him "Choco". He's a black pug/boston terrier mix which is a new breed of "designer dogs." He's bred to be one of the best lap dogs and apartments dogs to have and are great with children. They're called BUGS...LOL. Long story short, we got him on the 18th of December. He's my Christmas gift from my hubby. I think he's such a cutie but to be honest with you, I didn't know it'd be this much work....more work than I believe it was to care for my son as a newborn! The first couple of days I was regretting having him. Me getting up at 6 am to walk him? Every morning? And feeding every 2 hours? AHHH! I was so sure I was gonna give him up and sit my hubby down to tell him but, the day I was planning to, I picked up my son from school and the first thing he did was ask for Choco so...I decided to stick it out for him because I did ultimately want my son to grow up with a dog. He's getting better. I can predict when he needs to be taken out, for the most part, and he's really good with not barking when I put him in his cage. He still is chewing on stuff but it's because he's still teething. He's only 2 months now. We got him when he was 1.5 months! He was so expensive too but not as expensive as how much they are charging for them at those mall pet shops. We got him at a nice kennel pace for 1/2 of what they cost now at the mall shops, so I was happy at the time. I've had good days (when he eliminates outside in his box on our balcony...I stopped walking him around the condo because of bad lighting at night) and I've had bad when he's chewing everything and peeing and pooping everywhere! Thank God for enzyme cleaners! Anywho, so yeah, he's the new bundle in our family...and he's alot of work, but a new challenge I will plan to take on. Well, I wrote alot so I'll go for now. I'll be writing again Friday. I was supposed to have surgery this past Tuesday for my hernia but postponed it for now so, my hubby's home since he took the week off. I'll be spending time with him and Bobby until he goes back on Friday so I'll write you then! Until....