Black Friday Recap

I can not BELIEVE I went BF shopping. But I did! I couldn't help but be tempted by the deals. I figured if I wake up in time, I'll go. Considering for the last 2 weeks? I've been waking up @ 3 or 5 and NOT getting back to sleep I figured what the heck. AND my niece, Megs, decided to join me. (her dad dropped her off @ Target. Yeah she came all the way home from Florida to go BF shopping with her Aunt. LOL!!)
I was up and out the door by 415AM folks! YES 4!@ in the AM!! :) And what I saw was unbelievable. i should have brought my camera. The people were wrapped AROUND Target OUTSIDE, like a snake. I actually just stood by the blockade of carts waiting for the people to get in. I did ask one of the employees when they moved the carts. I mean i wasn't going to go find the end of the line and only to get there and see the removed the carts!! The man looked right at me and said 'as SOON as the last person IN LINE is inSIDE!!' I smiled and said, I see you've been asked that a couple times today:). I proceeded to the back, however they remove the carts before the last person was in line.

However, I did get what I wanted everywhere I went. It went something like this. Getting things at Target was just fine (sheets, 2 big wheels, and this totally annoying CARS toy that you shake and it makes the most ANNOYING sounds EVER!! I mean as in I was ready to throw is out the window annoying. We'd hit a bump and we'd hear 'hey buddy' or turn a corner and listen to the engine throttle for the next 3 min. all while we were wanting to scream explicits at it!) so back to Target. While i was there, Megs and her dad were at Walmart. She was able to grab a Radio Flyer Big Wheel which is MUCH nicer then the $29 plastic one I got at Target. I will return that one and keep Miss A's. BUT the check out process was HORENDOUS! I do think we picked the worse line. At one point there was a lady who appeared to be trying to budge. Shame her! Not going to happen with me, or the others around me. I nicely told her the back of the line was over by asile 15. She smiled sarcastically at me and said 'i know!' then proceeded to hit me, ok TAP me, with her playdough boxes. LOL!! I'm dramatatizing this!! At any rate she did eventually leave. But yeah checking out took at least 45 min!! BUT i had Megs there so it was fun. I looked for more things, went to the bathroom, the ONLY place there was not even a one person deep line!
Next was Younkers and Scheels. I dropped Megs off at Scheels where she grabbed .99 socks for DH. Reg. $5 and ones he LOVES! I proceeded to Younkers. I wanted a dog bed, sold out, and Melissa and Doug toys and a bed thing. I got both AND made it to Scheels where I picked up 5 pairs of socks, a couple other 'bargains' and joined Megs in line! That was a long line too! But totally doable. Proceeded to get some coffee @ Starbucks, my treat. Was that even good enough considering she's on vacation and drug out of bed @ 430AM!???
THEN we went to Kmart. By far, the best place we went. They had booster seats for the car, BOGO FREE!! I got 4!! Then we were heading towards electronics when we literally ran in to TV's. The same ones her and her dad tried to get @ Walmart! WOO HOOO SCORE!! In addition I got some work out balls and that was it! Lines were still long, but not as bad as Scheels or even close to Target. People were still getting 'deals' at 930AM!
We wrapped up the AM @ McDonalds to fill up on fat and grease. I was home @ 11. Then it was time to figure out a nap. Seriously Mr C'man could you have PLEASED taken a nap TODAY! Nope nor would Miss A go to sleep. Pooters not once but twice. By then the movie I put in for C'man was 1/2 over!! Grrr i did get some shut eye but not to easily.
That was my AM!! Did you go BF Shopping?? What did you get?? Was it worth it? Do you go every year?
Honestly, the best part of it all? The drive there at 415 AM. I really do love that time of day!!

Operation Christmas Child

How many of you have heard of Operation Christmas Child? This is the first year I have, and I'm excited about doing it. Will you take a moment and watch this brief video? It speaks more then I could ever put in to words. The website has so much information it's amazing. They have everything figured out for you. You want to do it in church? They have fliers, speaking ideas, even a prayer you could just read when you give the blessings on the boxes.

This year our MOPS group is going to participate. Maybe your MOPS group could do it? Or how about a group of you co-workers put some boxes together? If you don't belong to a church maybe you are on a committee, or how about a book club. The possibilities are endless and I'm sure if you watched the video you will see the joy on the faces of the children.

I plan on showing the video to the kids and talking about it. We are going to go shopping then for items. I think someone, maybe that should be plural, are going to have to get new shoes for the boxes of course:) I keep none of that and I can already hear DH saying 'see that's why we should keep boxes!'

So go shopping for a reason and buy items that can be sent over seas to children in need.

NEW UPDATE:) When time allows I draft up some posts for times when i don't have time:) This is one of those. Well the update is that we did NOT get to go shopping. Monday was our appt with the Family Therapist we're seeing. DH couldn't come b/c he had to work at the Post Office. So the kids and I went. Everything was going fairly well till Miss A was told, by me, that she couldn't get another game out till she put the other one away. WATCH OUT. What followed was an at least 30 min fit. Thank goodness we were there and Dori (therapist) was able to coach me thru it. Without going in to great depth Miss A said she had to go potty. Her ploy to get me to let her go. She ended up wetting herself and me. Not much, but just enough to let me know that she's still trying to call the shots. Needless to say after it was all done we had to go home. There was no reward for us. I felt the worse for C'man as he didn't understand why we couldn't go b/c after all he wasn't naughty. BUT I also think he was relieved to just get home. So home we came. What followed for me was disappointment, exhaustion and migraines. It was a LONG afternoon. Very long. More FIL issues arose that I had to help deal with and i could barely function myself. Thank Jesus that the kids were great. They played together and eventually ended upstairs rockin to 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom' and I was able to rest on the couch.
So yeah, long hard day yesterday and I hope/PRAY I don't have one like that for a long time. I had had about all I could handle from every direction that day. But today is a new day. God is amazing and he's working in us/me all the time. Maybe we need days like that for us to the enjoy the good ones, or even the ok ones!
Take a look at the Operation Christmas Child and see how you can help, or even your family!

Christmas-Yes It IS Coming....

Yeah like I'm telling something you didn't know already. My mom is after us to get our lists made, EVERYTHING is up in the stores including sales already on ornaments, trees, etc. How sickening! But atlas, it is coming and I need to start organizing, getting ideas ready for the kids. This is what I have in mind for them:
Miss A is having an American Girl 'Bitty Baby' Christmas. I got a BUNCH of items during my recent trip to NJ and she'll be getting some of it for Christmas from us and g'parents. Oh and her Aunt and Uncle and Megs:) In addition this is what we/I/Her came up with.
She likes the animals by American Girl. Meet Sugar:

Sugar is $24 a great price range for someone within our families:) Then C'man can get her the accessories such as the pet carrier that he's quite certain she needs. Read, he will be certain to taunt her with by playing with it himself.

Next would be any of the other over priced accessories that AG offers. Probably some things on there my parents will get her.

Mom said she'd like to get them a karaoke machine. She said she'd get them each one. I suggested one karaoke with 2 mics. They'd only fight over the mics anyway:) Sorry no pics as I'm still researching that. I want it so we can play our own CD's on it and they can sing along. Any suggestions??

Then there is C'man who also has a b-day 2 weeks before. What fun is that? This will be b-day #5!! That means will have all the family over instead of just g'parents:) With the help of my dear friend Shannan this is what we're thinking (BTW-need gift ideas go over to your friends house and scoop out there toys. My friend Shannan has the BEST ideas for gifts!)
First on the list is finding someone to make him a barn. I get so frustrated b/c the ones I find are like $125. Seriously it's like plywood with hinges. I don't need anything fancy. If I trusted myself with a saw (is that what that cutter thing is called?) I'd make one myself. Darn I should have paid more attention in shop class instead of having someone do it for me when the teacher turned his back.
OK back to C'man. Bomgaars is are 'farm store' in the area. It will be where we should be able to get everything for our little farmer. But atlas I see you can not shop via the webpage they have. Guess I'll have to go there:) That also means I can't post pictures. Grrrr....

What ideas do you have for your kids? and yourself???

Picture Time

I've only been putting having professional pictures off for oh...a month now!? First it was to cold, then the miscarriage, Christmas, New Years, and well today finally was the day. C'man needed his 4 year pictures taken and I wanted a nice picture of the two of them in there Christmas outfits.
Why oh why can pictures just not go WONDERFUL! When C'man doesn't want to cooperate, Miss A does. Then vice versa. "What C'man? You don't want your Santa cookie? How about a .25 for the train outside??" All while I'm wondering WHY I did not spike my coffee with Kahlua.
Then Miss A does great, then all the sudden she walks off and that's the end of her. Period. When that girl is done, eating, playing, throwing a fit, etc she's DONE!! Speaking of fits, have I told you all that she can scream/throw things/etc for 30 min and then all the sudden look at me and say 'I'm done' and she is!! Just like that she shuts it OFF! Drives me nuts.
Anyway we got some good shots and spent $90. I HATE spending that much. I have so many pictures left over b/c I don't plan who's going to get what. I did better I think this time on that end. But yeah my mom wants one for her desk, dad wants one for his office and then they want one for the home. Now my MIL if I don't frame it, she doesn't get it up and it gets dusty and crusty. She too likes one to show off at the Post Office. So yeah, lots of pictures for everyone. I try to buy the same size every time so they can just replace the old with the new.
At any rate, pictures are done. I got 2 new pairs of shoes that I'm quite proud of. I'll post pictures of them. They are fun shoes, not to practical, but fun. All I get are slip in/practical shoes. I'm still saving my money tho for a pair of UGGS. Anyone that reads this from Australia by chance? I'll have to check my stat counter, but I'm thinking there is. Email me k!!
We're home, Miss A is sleeping, C'man is on the couch and tonight I'm going to a Christmas Party! I'm rather excited I'll have you know. I haven't been to an official Christmas party for years! It's with the steering team of the MOPS group I'm part of. Table leaders are invited, that's me:)
I know I have to wear my new shoes, oh but wait, all the outfits i was going to wear are black and both pairs of shoes are BROWN....oh what now.

Christmas Recap

What an original title eh?? Lets see....Christmas Eve-my parents came to our house where we all attended church together. Church was at 4, very early, but nice. I played the piano and my dad and I sang Silent Night. We thought it was 'fine'. Everyone else?? You'd thought we were going to be on the next 'America's Got Talent'. The kids were wild. During the children sermon, C'man knew baby Jesus was born 'in da hay' but he continued on about tractors!? During communion he couldn't wait and had to run up and take it not once, but twice! The 2nd time he was jumping up and down so the man with the juice would see him so he could dip his bread. My mother tried to tell him to stay put and the Pastor replied 'There's plenty of God's love to go around'. My mom promptly sat down. We chuckled about that comment later and i have again in typing that.
Miss A!? She was there too. While Dad and I were singing she scooted under the pew and was at my feet while we sang. DH knew better then to pick her up b/c she'd add ear piercing screams to our duet. Needless to say, 3 verses of Silent Night was a VERY LONG SONG for us.
After church we came home, opened presents and then ate. Of course the kids got way to many presents however, i felt like i shopped and shopped and the UPS guy came like every day and within 20 min it was all over and it didn't look like that much!?
C'man was happy with his Hungry Hippo game and a play chainsaw. We could have stopped there and he'd been fine. Miss A liked whatever C'man had.

Christmas Day was spent at my in laws. It actually was a very nice day. Our kids are the youngest by 12 years so they were the entertainment. My SIL is just AMAZING with C'man and my niece Meg's was there too from Florida. Her and C'man are so cute together. She read books to him when they weren't playing hide the dog. Miss A couldn't take all the excitement and she fell asleep on me in the chair. We opened presents late afternoon and the kids had a blast delivering the gifts and offering to help open them. Any present that had a bow on, C'man would pull off and toss on the ground. Then he'd say 'need help opening that?' then he'd be so excited with whatever was in the box, for that person. He'd ask 'you like it?'

My in laws are all very relaxed anything goes. I often don't operate like that. I like to have ideas of what and how things are going to go. I'm learning to go with the flow and things are much more enjoyable when you go with the flow.

Then on Friday we headed up to my family. My brother, SIL and nephew are home from DC and my sister, BIL and niece were home too. It was horribly foggy driving home. We should have stayed home not only b/c of the weather but b/c it was just a little much being around family that long. My sister promptly decided to not talk to me!? not sure what i did, said, or whatever, but it was a long weekend of her leaving the room when I'd come in. I think it was our kids driving everyone nuts. I felt every time i said something or left the room, eyes were rolling and comments were being said.

We all got a lot of great gifts and as predicted my brother spent WAY to much money on our kids. Nothing like spending $25 on them to only have $100/child spent on us. Gotta love that eh!? anyone else relate?

I couldn't wait to get home last night. I just wanted to be in the comfort of my own home with the kids. We ended the evening/weekend with swimming at a local hotel pool.

It now looks like Santa vomited in our house. Toys everywhere and I'm trying to figure out what size storage totes i need for what toys. I'm happy to be home doing laundry, cleaning and ready to put Christmas stuff away.

I'm going to end here and continue on another day......tell me about your holiday festivities? Were they relaxing? Exhausting?

Brrr

It's very chilly in the farm house today. While we totally gutted the house, i mean like down to the 2x4's I thought i did a good job of insulating. IF ever did this again, big IF, or if any of you ever do this, do blown in insulation. I'm beginning to wonder how good i did b/c it's COLD in here. When the wind comes out of the north on a very windy day like today we darn near freeze!! Our heat pump can't keep up and the temp has been 67 since i came downstairs at 7.
We put all new windows in accept the front two. I know that's where 80% of the cold air is coming in from. If we'd get the trim on the windows i think that would help dramatically!

Kiddos are sleeping and have been since 11!! I know way early but something about going to church on Sunday's wears them out. Heck it wears ME out!! Children sermon today consisted of C man going up but Miss A couldn't STAND to be left behind. 30 seconds in she comes waddling down the aisle (i'm upfront b/c i play the piano) he makes sure Pastor knows his sister is coming. Well she doesn't sit still for NOTHING and C man CLEARLY is not paying attention. She goes back to daddy and C'man yells for her to come back. She goes BACK and he extends his arms out for her to walk right in to and gives her the biggest hug. Precious but a little out of content when Pastor is trying to tell the other 2 about how baby Jesus will be in the manager tomorrow. So yeah....that's how it went today.

Going to try and make it to the city this afternoon. DH's aunt is back in the hospital. LONG story but tell me....if she's not home for Christmas would you still have Christmas in her home?? I guess will find out tomorrow if she gets to come home but Hospice needs to find someone to stay with her 24/7. Isn't that what nursing homes are for? And i didn't even know there was such a service. WOW!!

ok off to go get warmed up in the kitchen!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! We are off to my parents tomorrow AM and then Christmas day is a hubbub of activity.

Presents are under the tree

We have presents under the tree!! Of course most of them are for friends and family, but still I got them wrapped and under the tree. C man help me deliver them to the tree. Figure since he 'knows' Santa he doesn't KNOW the difference between Santa and me wrapping them. I even manage to wrap a present for him while he ran another one to the tree.
Last night we met my parents at the local mall (1/2 way spot for us to meet) and we had C mans b-day meal. It was fun and he was totally hilarious when the staff sang Happy Birthday to him. I'll post pictures later.
I still have some presents i need to get, well I guess my DH does. Still nothing for his brothers. I don't know what he's going to do but maybe I just shouldn't worry about it. It's always a hard 'gathering' with his family. WE don't draw names and some years you get stuff from all 3 Brothers and there families and some years you don't. We simply can not afford to give everyone $25+ gifts but we do try to get each brother and SIL and $10-15 gift. I'm giving SIL's Tastefully Simple Beer Bread mix, variety of dips and a can of beer:) (that's for the mix of course) We don't get the nieces anything, way to many. I'd like to draw names, tried it once didn't fly. Tried doing a grab bag thing, not any raves reviews, so I guess....but it just bothers me b/c i feel very weird getting lots of gifts and not being able to give much back!? What do your families do??
My family, we draw names for the adults. $25 limit and that's that.
Oh and we got a Christmas card!! Here's the picture we used, not the best as C man either smiles like he is here or some goofy smile. But i like it and it looks good on our card!!
Oh shoot...i haven't downloaded it yet. I'll post it by itself later!!