Christmas time is coming ...

Yes people, Chrristmas is almost here -- are you ready for it? I don't know if I will be ready or not -- but here we are -- 2 more sleeps and it will be Chrsitmas Eve day ... do I honestly want to go back out to the stores? No, but I will have to. I need to get some snack foods and things like that for Wednesday and Thursday and I can't go tomorrow. Jason is working today so we'll have to do it this evening. FUN FUN .. NOT! Might have to leave him in the truck with the kids and go in the store by myself. He hates crowds -- I am starting to hate them as well!

Last night we were able to go to the Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands ... our music director gave us a free pass that he had won since they would not be using it .. we had not gone this year and not sure we would have gone had it not been for this pass. The cost is just way too much -- $40. It has gone up over the years. I remember paying $25 not too many years ago. I will be posting the pictures I took on facebook for those that would like to see them. The kids seemed to enjoy them. We did not end up staying very long at the Santa Village since Stephanie started feeling bad. She was hungry and got cold too fast after being warm in the truck ... so we headed out and had supper at Cracker Barrel - YUMMY!

Tomorrow will be our trip to NC to do the Polar Express! Should be fun -- the kids still don't know that we are going. We will try and leave in the early morning -- when we are all fed and ready to go. I'll let them wear their new PJs ... they will not understand .. but that is ok! :) It will probably be a long ride with questions as to where we are going, how long will it take and things like that. It's about 110 miles away ... Jason's parents, his sister and BIL are all going as well, so we should have plenty of pictures to share when we get back. I can't wait. :) A few friends have gone and done it already and they say that it's well worth it.

Well, I suppose I need to close out this blog and get my day started. I have some much needed picking up to do -- not as easy to keep things picked up when the older 2 are at home. I have some much needed laundry to get done as well ... sigh! I hate laundry -- but I will get it done! :) Hope that you all have a blessed day .. and will blog again soon. :)

Be blessed
Merry Christmas

Jason - done - need stocking stuffers
Stephanie - done
Joseph - done
Samuel - done
Jenna - done
Jason's mom - done
Jason's dad - done
My mom - done
My dad - done
Paula - done
Jacob - done

DONE DONE DONE!!!! Yes, I am done!!! Unless I decide that there is just ONE more thing that I need! LOL ... with a little over a week left, it's always possible!! LOL :) We will do Christmas Eve here at the house and then Christmas day at the inlaws house ... we will have ham instead of turkey ... need to figure out what sides I will make and I still need to get snack foods for Christmas eve.

This week is our last AWANA night at church until after the holidays. We are having a Charlie Brown christmas. We'll watch the movie and then have birthday cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday! Should be lots of fun. Stephanie's friend Isabel is going to come over after school and come with us. :)

Jason is working this weekend -- yay -- NOT ... but then I have MNO (White Elephant) at the house on Saturday night. I think Jason will take the kids to his mom's for the evening ... Sunday is church of course -- and then we have the live nativity that evening ...

Kids only have 3 more days of school after today. They start vacation on Friday ... they still don't know that we are going to do the Polar Express on Tuesday (the 23rd) -- so should be fun! :) I can't wait to surprise them with that.

Anyway -- not sure what else to blog about -- so I will go for now. Be blessed.

thunder, lightning, lots of rain -- and tornado watch!

Yes, that is what we are going through right now -- and ongoing until 2pm this afternoon -- praying that it will just rain! :) We had a little bit of thunder and lightning earlier -- but nothing big and only for a few minutes.

Jason is back to work today ... I am so thankful for him. I went out shopping with a friend yesterday morning, he stayed home with Samuel and Jenna -- and he did some cleaning for me in the kitchen and living room -- and worked on some laundry for me!!! I <3 that man! He is so wonderful!

So, this is like a "Monday" for me -- so it's back to getting some cleaning done .. I am in the bedroom right now .. so trying to get some things done in here. :)

Be blessed!

Christmas to-do Update

Jason - done - need stocking stuffers
Stephanie - done unless I find something else for her
Joseph - done unless I find something else for him
Samuel - done
Jenna - done
Jason's mom - partial
Jason's dad - done
My mom - done
My dad - done
Paula - done
Jacob - partial

YAY!

Christmas to-do Update

Jason - done - need stocking stuffers
Stephanie - done unless I find something else for her
Joseph - done unless I find something else for him
Samuel - need gift from santa
Jenna - need gift from santa
Jason's mom - partial
Jason's dad - done
My mom - done
My dad - done
Paula - done
Jacob - partial

I think that overall I am doing well for it being 16 days before Christmas -- I still have 2 weeks to go. I might not be out shopping for gifts days before the holliday! :) I'm sure there is something that I am missing -- but who knows. I am not going to worry about it.

Right now, it's getting late .. but I sit here in the room, checking things online as I have the headphones on and listen to the music for our Choir Christmas performance .. which is in less than a week -- YIKES! We have a rehearsal this coming Saturday morning -- and then the performance is on Sunday evening.

Jason is off work again tomorrow -- not sure what we will be doing -- only time will tell. We might get out for a little while again .. that would be nice! :) Maybe do a little more shopping. Go to WalMart and get a few things -- stocking stuffers -- groceries ... we'll see what happens! All depends on how quick we can get up and ready. LOL

I guess I need to get going for now ... and get ready for bed.

Be blessed!

4 day weekend - for Jason

Jason has the next 4 days off from work -- right now, he is asleep. Samuel is asleep. I do believe the other 3 are awake and all downstairs playing. I do hope that they will keep quiet and not wake the other 2. Stephanie just came in and was about to whine about something but I stopped her. There is no need to start that way on a Saturday morning.

I should be going to take a shower so that I can get ready to go help out with free gift wrapping this morning at 10am. We do this as a church every year. I haven't been able to the last few years but I am looking forward to doing it today. I will help out for a couple of hours but then I will have to take Stephanie to a birthday party at 2pm. Fun. Roller skating is where the party is at. It's for her friend Isabel.

We currently have no plans for this evening -- but that is ok. We probably just need to hang out at home and do nothing! This month is so busy as it is. :)

Tomorrow of course is church -- and then I have choir practice at 4pm. I need to listen to my song some more today. I just now put it on headphones so that I can listen to the whole thing. I really so pray that this will go well. We have not had a lot of practice time (the choir) and not many are being positive about it. Please pray for us. That this will minister to even just one person. It's going to be performed next week ...

Then not sure what we will do Monday and Tuesday while Jason is at home. I need to talk to him about that and see if he wants to do something. We might go do some shopping ... or something! It will be nice to have him at home. Of course, he will then have to go to work the rest of the week! :)

Draft autosaved at 8:36 AM -- and now it's 6:01pm! YIKES!

Today -- went to wrap gifts (slow) ... went to a birthday party - went to the Christian bookstore - went to Best Buy -- we are now home for the evening! I guess I will just have to post this ... and update more some other time --

I was given this award and I treasure it ... I would like to pass it on to 5 other people. Choosing just 5 people is very difficult for me -- as there are so many people in my life that are deserving of such an award ... but I will try to limit this post to just 5. If you are not mentioned, do not think it's because you don't mean that much to me! :)

1. Jason -- yes, he is my husband -- but he is also my closest friend. I love him more and more each day .. he is there for me through the good times and the bad times. He loves me for me .. and will do anything for me. He means the world to me and I don't know what I would do without him in my life. I am thankful for the blessing the Lord has given me for bringing him in my life.

2. Melanie -- a dear friend whom I miss so much. We don't get to talk as much as we would like. We have not seen each other in person in a very long time -- but when we do get in touch with each other, it's as if it was just yesterday that we saw each. We just pick up right where we left off .. she is family to me! I love her dearly. We have always been able to share everything with each other. Easy to talk to and confide in.

3. Rachael -- another friend that I miss dearly and wish so much that she lived in GA again .. but I know that she is happy where she is -- and that soon we will get together again. A person that I can talk to about anything.

4. BigSis -- Lisa -- My sister, my friend. I never truly understood the bond that we had until I moved away. Yes, we faught like crazy growing up .. but as we got older, that all changed. We have grown closer and I miss her like crazy -- wish that we lived closer to each other -- wish we could talk to each other more often -- wish we could just "hang out" (or perhaps it's the distance that has brought us so close?) LOL. I love her with all my heart ...

5. Lisa W - a person who I can always count on to make me smile even on those horrible days. We share many things with each other ... our children play so well together ... and I treasure her friendship. She has been there for me in many ways ... and I am thankful that the Lord brought her into my life. I am truly blessed.

Again, I say -- if you are not on this list of 5 people, that does not mean that you are not a wonderful and amazing friend .. you are all blessings from the Lord and I am grateful for all of you .. and all that you mean in my life ... we are all brought together for a reason -- the Lord knows what He is doing ...

Thank you ....