Happy Holidays Literators!

Love,

The Hazens

(Shawn, Carly, Claire, Sam, Sadie & Kira)

Book Club Date????

Okay, so I am wondering what the new day for book club is going to be. I heard the last Wednesday of the month and then I think I got an email saying that it was the first Wednesday of the month, but now I can't find the email, so I might have been dreaming. I was talking to Becca and she did not get any email so I am very confused. Can someone please help me sleep better at night and tell me when book club is?

Quote of the Day

First of all...I had so much fun @ the retreat. What a great night (and meal). I only gained 1.3 pounds @ WW this week from all of the crap I ate and I am still full from our brunch!! As long as we don't do that every week, I think I'll maybe be able to make it to my goal. But I do think it's imperative that we do it often-it's so good for the soul (not the waistline but we all can't be Heidi Klum, I mean, Annie.) Does the phrase "Duck Walk" mean anything to anyone?

I have been thinking about part of our conversation at breakfast all week. For those of you who weren't there, we got on the subject of home security. We shared our different perspectives on the matter, from Carly living alone for 2 years and sleeping with a knife under her mattress, to Elena who has to remind herself to lock the front door when Mark is at work (and Shellie told us a horribly disturbing home invasion story which she can recount another time if you want to hear it). Suffice it to say- I couldn't get scary thoughts out of my head and worry and concern about what I can or should be doing to protect me and my family, etc. and I thought of this quote which I love for so many reasons:

"Worrying doesn't relieve tomorrow of it's troubles, it empties today of it's strength."

I love the use of the word strength. I feel like there are so many forces at work in the world, for us and against us, and it's of utmost importance for us as women and mothers to be strong and centered as much as we can in order to overcome obstacles and feel peace. I try to think of this quote to reign myself in when I start stressing about all I have to do and don't have time to or that my kids haven't touched a green vegetable in days and are therefore going to contract rickets and die because I am a horrible mother. I want to try be the best I can be TODAY, and not sabotage that by worrying about tomorrow and all of the things I can't control. It's important to do what we can to be prepared but we can't live in the "What If?" space or we will drive ourselves insane.

Enough. I love you all!! Cute pictures! I'll have to get some up when I figure out how to get them from my camera to this website.

Love, Nat

P.S. Can we post the "Future Retreat" schedule that we came up with to get everyone's input? I don't remember who wrote it down-maybe Shellie? Thanks!

Also, somebody figure out how to make Joaquin Phoenix a part of our blog.

One more pic!

I forgot me!

Pics!

Ok, here we are....sleeping beauties, Christmas Barbie, and the rest of us...not pictured Xango Queen aka Rachel Ford...oh and Annie wouldn't pose for the camera. Love ya all!

A Fab Retreat!

Hello Ladies! I must say I had a great great time at the retreat....I never knew Lilli and Elena had such moves!(thanks for dancing with me ladies..and thanks Aarion for looking on!) I would also like to thank Joaquin Phoenix for being such a freak! hehehe
I am going to try to post a pic of my cute little babies.....I am not exactly computer savy, so I hope it works!
-Bridgette

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the McIntosh family! I am done with finals! Yippee!!!

HO HO HO

Hello Friends! I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and tell you how thankful I am for your friendship. Happy Holidays!

PS.

Please post some pictures of your life and loved ones so that we can get to know each other better.