Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015.

It's the end of 2014 and I hope this year was everything you wanted it to be.  I've had good health this year, as so my family.  I just saw my parents and siblings and their families for the holidays.  I'm aware of the limited times I will get to be with all my relatives for the next Christmases to come.  Sometimes it feels like time stands still and other times it moves so quickly that I can't catch my breath.  

I'm thankful for my children even though it is hard sometimes parenting.  But, I would rather take my role seriously than raise children who grow up to be a burden on society. I'm lucky, so far.  

I got to go home for the holidays this year.  Thanks to my sister using miles to fly all four of us home.  We had a good time.  The kids learned to play poker!  Hahaha!  Nothing like going to the Bible Belt to learn to play poker.  Pete and I worked out everyday at a fitness club.  It helped us from gaining that weight that we usually pack on.  I got to go to my favorite place in Fayetteville--Hugo's.   The kids got to eat at Sonic.  I even got some yummy donuts from the south!  I love coming home.  It's always so hard to leave.  :(

So, I hope next year brings peace to you and yours.  Happy new year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I made a tomato tart last night.  So simple.  I made the crust and then put it in the tart pan with removable sides that I bought in France.  It consisted of mozzarella, basil, tomato slices, olive oil, salt and pepper.  I added garlic last night, too.  My son inhaled it.  My husband was appreciative.  My daughter ate a small slice.  While I started making this recipe in the summer with all the cherry tomatoes that sprouted from the compost, it seemed to be a perfect recipe for this time of year with all the red and green from the tomatoes and basil.  Of course, I had to buy the veggies for this at Christmas time, but that's OK.  

Christmas time.  I can't seem to get excited about anything.  I feel so alone most of the time.  I miss being near family and having close friends.  I recently had a second interview at a place I already volunteer, but they went for the candidate with supervisory experience.  I felt like this would be my ticket to get back into the workforce and be around people.  I suck at being a homemaker.  Oh, I know that for a fact because my husband tells me so.  Oh well.  First world problem and I need to pull myself up by my bootstraps.  At least, I got bootstraps.  So many people don't.

I love to bake, especially this time of year.  Sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, Mexican wedding cookies.  I love decorating the sugar cookies with butter cream frosting.  A chance to be creative.  I actually can control myself around the cookies, too.  I guess when you can bake whatever, it's not a treat.  This year I want to bake a Buche de Noel.  I made one a few years ago but I think I can do better this year.  One of the blessing about not working is I can take the time during the day to bake.

I need to start blogging again.  It can be therapeutic.