Tis the Season...

So, it seems like i can't keep up lately. I feel like I am constantly running like a week behind and can never seem to get ahead. One of these days I am going to get everything together and just be waiting for things to do or be that person who works on Christmas crafts and presents in the summer or early fall. But I guess I am just not that person. I am me and I tend to work best under pressure. Anyway...sorry for the infrequency of posting, but I am sure that this will just be how this month goes. I am sure that once January hits, I will be back to multiple posts each week.

I have been trying to get my house decorated for the holidays and it is taking me forever. We got back from visiting the family last weekend, so I have been working on it all week. I used a "warm" day this week (it was 40) to put the outside lights up. And have been trying to clean up the house to prepare it for decorating. Finally, Kurt brought up the tree on Friday night and i finally fluffed it late on Saturday night in preparation of the family photo that was to take place on Sunday. We skipped mass to get a good start on decorating the tree before the family arrived. Julia has been asking us all week when we are going to get our tree decorated, so she was pretty excited to help put the decorations up, especially my Wizard of Oz collection. When we were in Kansas City, she saw Wizard of Oz for the first time. She saw it once. And she knows every part. Verbatim. She has the memory of a steel trap. Not to say that she is a genius, but she will give a "book report" of what happens in the movie and sings the songs. I don't know. Anyway, she had to put the decorations up in the order of appearance of the characters in the movie and she got it right. Perhaps she is our golden ticket. It's not like our 401(k)s are doing anything for us lately.

So, this morning Mom & Earle, Lib, Trav and Olivia and Kurt's mom came over for Sunday dinner. I made a mean chicken Parmesan that melted in your mouth. I love to cook. Anyway, the purpose for this get together was also to have our family Christmas photos taken. Much to my protest (and the major protest of my husband), my mom still insists on an entire family photo for her Christmas cards. We accommodated her request yet again, although I am 33 years old. She got her nice photo. Merry Christmas Mom!

Mom & the Kids

Olivia & Julia being silly

One of this week's stresses will be getting out the Christmas Cards. Speaking of which, both my sister and I were very disappointed in Sams Club and Costco's collection of photo cards this year. We both felt pretty strongly about the cards saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. But there were way cuter cards that said the later. So we both ended up with cards that said what we didn't want to say. Ugh, but at least I was able to have Merry Christmas written on mine...she wasn't. Ahh...the world is just too PC these days. It's Christmas people. Get over the fact that some people don't celebrate it. Alot of people do.

The other stress of the week will be finalizing the craft that I am running for my moms group this week. I hope everyone will like the craft. I think it will be fun for everyone and a good time to chat and catch up with all the gals. I have missed about a month's worth of meetings and I miss them all. I am so fortunate to have found such a great moms group. It has really connected me to my church, as well as the community and given me some great friends.