It's December!!

I can almost hear the sleigh bells ringing. Is it just me or have the days started flying by at warp speed since Dec. 1?

Things accomplished this week:

• Very abbreviated school days!! But they still happened. 3R's are going right on schedule so if everything else falls apart at least we got that going on!!
• Hubby to X-rays, doc, and released to drive-WAHOO!
• Homeschool Mom group Christmas party
• Orthodontist Consultation Appt. Much dismay in the land at the steep steep price of braces. Further dismay that all three will need them. Considering selling cars, house and pets. Decide to sell children instead eliminating the need to pay for said braces. (Only joking...go away pervs.)
• Visit with my Dad.
• Shakespeare play with children while hubby savored a day alone. Library after play and then a rushed and unexpected trip to the doc with my mom. Her blood levels very low. Me fears dialysis is in our future if a new drug they are trying doesn't work.
• Juggle chorus carpool details from Dr office.
• Build 3 gingerbread houses so children can decorate them with friends. Make frosting which doesn't work well and then watch children mooch icing from their friends that does work. Feel a bit inferior but make up for it by staying over cleaning.
• Grocery shop with all the family. Pray prayers of goodwill for Sam's and their samples which held us over until our very late supper of mac and cheese.
• Secured a "plan B" babysitter for hubby's postal Christmas party. Praise the Lord unplanned "plan B" worked out.
• Wrapped more presents and got all gifts purchased and recorded in "little black book".
• Purchased tickets for all of us and the grandparents for Lilly's chorus performance.
• Thought about Christmas cards and how we are going to get our tree this year (Erik and his 30 lb weight limit-what does a tree weigh??). Cried a little. Studied our checkbook balance and cried a little.

Tis the season to be jolly, FaLaLaLaLa La La La La.

Narrowing Down....

I could blog about lucking up on free sodas. Sodas that have been sprayed down with vinegar and washed thoroughly. Sodas that could be laced with roofies but seem to be just fine, unaltered and safe.

I could blog about this place and how much more fun it is with a friend and a goofy attitude. (and wipes, don't forget the wipes!!)

I could blog about the fact that I am done with Christmas shopping except for a few odds and ends.

I could blog about the fact that my homeschool mom's Christmas party is always fun and this year was no exception!!

I could blog about hubby's Dr. appt. today that will possibly release him to drive again. Oh yeah, maybe I should go on ahead and go get dressed for that appt. instead of blogging!!

Happy Dec. 2.

Reader Made Me Do It

Not IT, but reader has made me into a bad blog friend. I am terrible at leaving comments and it happened when I started the google reader. I still haven't figured out how "following" is any different but doing both has some blogs posting to my reader list twice which is very annoying and time consuming, especially when one of those is Pioneer Woman. (She writes some long posts!) I will have to tweak that soon. I cry a little that I am following umpteen(that's KY talk for a whole lot)blogs and yet only three people are following me. Oh well, I keep reminding myself this is all about me journaling more than my readership. The reminder goes unheard as I eagerly await responses and comments like an addict waiting for crack. Comments are my crack. Anyone else have this comment addiction? Why do we need it so bad? I have alot of "real life" friends who give me "real life" attention. I get tons of attention from my family and EVEN MORE from my pets. Surely at some point I will feel validated at just the thought of someone else reading and not need snarky comments-snarky comments are my favorite.

In other news, Erika had her first babysitting gig tonight. It wasn't a "real" gig because she was more of a nursery attendant than an on-your-own full-fledged babysitter. She got rave reviews and I am not surprised. Baby steps. I'm not sure how I will feel about the real deal babysitting, but being a helper to good friends is win-win for everyone.

I woke up this morning intent on not going to church today-just because I am still tired from all the holidaying. When Erik and the kids got up and were going anyway, I decided I should go and it was great. So great I went again tonight and I'm glad I went both times. I'm pretty sure I have gone through some major changes in how I feel about my church family because instead of feeling upset and misunderstood all the time, I now feel really blessed to be a part of such a loving and understanding body of believers. Even people who used to really test my patience now just make me smile and thank God. Mostly because I know I test the patience of many but they smile and thank God for me too. Grace, such a good thing. Grace, best served in heaping portions.

Rip Van Winkle

Now that I have finally awoken from the slumber to replace the lack of slumber, I will attempt to catch up this blog on my life the past few days. I have not "slept" all day, but I have slept and rested intermittently. And it was good.

*Wednesday, Erik's sister arrived into town and we fellowshipped much with her and Erik's mom and dad. She was travelling alone because her hubby used all his vacation time when they went to Disney, her son is interning this whole college year at Disney, and her daughter went with her new, yet possibly "the one" boyfriend. Her kids are both grown now and it makes me hold mine a little tighter as I think how our lives will change in the next few years!!

*Thursday, Thanksgiving with Erik's family and then with mine. Erika made beautiful pumpkin pies for both and I was so proud of her work. She pays such attention to detail. She made little little pastry leaves on top of one and pumpkins on the other. Kayla played nicely with her younger relatives at my family dinner and it was nice to see the young ladies they are SLOWLY becoming. Lilly just loves everything with such exuberance. I would love to experience life for one day with that much emotion!! Both Thanksgiving feasts were wonderful. My mom was able to drive to my sisters using her prosthetic leg and that was a very nice blessing.

*Friday, I experienced Black Friday with my sister and her friend Kristie. It was exhausting but very fun. I got alot of bargains, shopped like it was an Olympic event and ran into lots of people I knew-some I hadn't seen since high school!! I came home at about 1PM. Hubby and I ran some errands and then went to visit his sis and parents again for a bit. We left about 6 and while I planned on going to bed, we watched Hancock instead. Then we all went to bed where I slept like the dead and did not want to get up.

*Saturday, I got up, ate some food, and retired back to my room to finish "The Shack". Expect a book review post soon!! I am now running to the grocery to pick up a few things for my mom, going to shave for my stepdad ad then back home to visit with relatives some more. I am about sixty loads behind in laundry and I don't care. It will still be there when I get around to it. ( or a round tuit...heehee) Death and laundry are inevitable. My kids are watching the Martha Stewart holiday collection DVD's I checked out from the library. We love Martha and we don't care to admit it. She does a good show!!

I hope your last few days have been delightful, whether whirlwinds or resting up time. Relationships with family are awesome!!

Thankful Thursday

We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family today. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Tomorrow I have a rare opportunity to enjoy Black Friday without children. While shopping really isn't my thing, this is a once in a lifetime event. Hubby usually works, but he is still off recovering. I think I am going to go for it.

Need any deals while I am out??

Top 10 Good Things About Today

Well, technically, yesterday considering what time it is. It has been a very productive day and that makes me smile.

1. I got up and made my family bacon, eggs,and biscuits for breakfast.
2. I took my stepdad to the doctor. (He got an A+ check-up.)
3. Got him his favorite McD's on the way home. I tried the new McDonald's pumpkin pie and declared it not even worth the 50 cents I paid for it-but still this was something I have been wanting to do so I declare it a good thing even though it was a bad pie.
4. Took hubby to run some errands. Went to the library. Ran into lots of friends. Just so happened to be there as they set out a whole cart of BRAND NEW MOVIES!!!! We have Hancock, Wall-E, Fred Claus, Kung Fu Panda and some others that we will be the first to view. Eat your heart out stalker Heather!!
5. Took my mom to the grocery and had a nice time. She uses the motorized scooter thingy and I got to drive it to and from the car. I did a tiny donut.
6. Thanked the Lord above that my mom FINALLY got a handicapped parking tag. Do you know how hard it is to get a wheelchair between two cars in a regular spot???
7. Shopped for a few Christmas gifts while mom grocery shopped with her little helper, Lilly.
8. Realized upon getting home and sorting out my stuff that I am about 75% done with my shopping, possibly a little more!!! WAHOO!!
9. Most of those gifts have been wrapped as well.
10. Finally got around to updating my blog!!! AND looked at the calendar and tomorrow is blank. Doing a happy dance. Did I mention we have some cool movies to watch?

I hope to sleep late and have a nice calm day at home tomorrow!! I hope you have a calm day wherever you are as well!!

I'm Back!!

New modem in place. No time to blog. No time to read. 3 day school week, got alot of stuff to cram in. I will be catching up tonight. PLEASE leave me a comment to welcome me back to cyberspace. Tell me how much you have missed me...I am a comment junkie.

Date Night!

Tonight we are going on a date. Hubby is feeling much better, not 100% but about 89%. We are going to try and do a little Christmas shopping as well. December 1 is looming and I am an overachiever, right Hula?? We still have no computer at home and I really miss blogland most of all. Email land is nice too.

*Sigh*

Off to dateland. (It is the best land.)