Count Down til Christmas

Disclosure: I am completely stealing this idea from Anastasia at The Gift.

I know, I know. Its just Thanksgiving. But really - Christmas is only 27 days away. I LOVE Christmas. I like the shopping, the traditions, the lights, the music, the excitement, the Nutcracker, family and friends celebrating - really everything about it.

I have decided to put up some version of my Christmas Village this year - you know, those Department 56 ceramic houses that crazy old ladies decorate with. LOVE EM! I haven't put it out much in the last few years cuz I have these crazy kids who would break play with them. But this year I am going for it. We finally got our plasma tv hung on the wall (after about a year), so there is room to put some on the entertainment center. We just have to keep them out of the reach of Big Man (and probably B.)

We are putting up our tree on Sunday. I can't wait. I also promised the kids we could bring out blankets and sleep under it the first night too. Not exactly what I planned as a school night, but ah well...

I have a bunch of shopping done, but still more to do. But I love it. I know there are people who don't, but I do. I love picking out just the right thing for each person. I am even making a bunch of my gifts this year. I even love wrapping. And seeing all the gifts under the tree.

So bring it on - I love Christmas and am glad the season is here!

In Thanks

wow..so much to be Thankful for. My amazing husband who deals with lots of crap and does his best to be an equal partner with the kids. My crazy kids who keep me insane and in love. My MIL without whose support and assistance we would be even more crazed. My Dad for his love and encouragement. My girl friends - who make my life fun and are the best friends anyone could ever have. For my job - and my DH's job which we are ever grateful to have. Our house, which we love and are also so grateful to have. For our health and that of our friends and family. So many things.

I hope you are with friends and/or family today and have much to be grateful for.

Grocery Shopping Fun

Grocery shopping with the kids almost always means "the cookie store" aka Harris Teeter. My kids will do anything for one of the free cookies they give away so we nearly always go there. But this week a Giant near our house got the "scan it" program. Has anyone else tried this? Its fun!

Basically when you go in the store you scan your "bonus card" and they give you a scanning gun. Then you scan your groceries as you put them directly in your grocery bags in your cart. Then we you checkout you just hand the scanner to the clerk - and don't even unload your groceries. You can then give coupons or whatever and you are done. So COOL! It was fun and efficient.

Apparently people will be randomly selected to check their individual grocery bags - but every once in a while that wouldn't be bad. I loved doing it, and I think it was faster.

I recommend you check it out!!

He Loves Me

So my son, age 2, has a SERIOUS Oedipus complex. According to Wikipedia (that font of all knowledge ;) ) this is supposed to peak between ages 3-5. If Daddy so dares to hug me or God forbid kiss me in front of Big Man, all heck breaks lose. He will start yelling "No Daddy!" "MY MOMMY" over and over and over. Even if we are in the car in the front seat and Big Man sees DH lean over and hold my hand - he goes crazy. I think it is cute and funny. DH - not so much. If we aren't even at the peak yet, this is going to be a long pahse. Anyone else had this? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?

Arghhhh...WINTERRRRRR

Winter has arrived. The weather report said it "may" hit 40-degrees today. I am so not ready for this. Just last week it was in the 70s (ok, so I was in Florida at the time, but still!). I can't beleive how cold it is. Time to pull out the hot chocolate, I guess!

Wouldn't It Be Nice

So I am driving to work with B. It is just the two of us in the car. As we get on the highway, right before the bridge, we hit our regular traffic.

B says "Mom, I wish God had created fastpasses for cars. Then we could just speed past all this traffic."

I say "me too, baby"

She proceeded to flesh it all out the whole way to work.

Disney in Pics