Few pictures from Christmas for you

Merry belated Christmas to all of you who venture to read this. Actually I am not really sure who reads this anymore. Leave me a comment if you do so I know who I am talking to.

Anyway, Disney was great again. We always have such a great time there. This year we got a great campsite just feet away from the boat to take you to the Magic Kingdom. We loved it and it was so convenient and cut down tremendously on our travel time to and from places. We didn't need a bus to get us back to our campsite this year. AND we didn't need to rent a golf cart either.

We returned just in time for Christmas and Christmas Eve and day were great. The kids were worn out by the end of it all and didn't complain one bit about going to bed. Santa was good to them and so was Mamaw and Grandpa. They gave them Nintendo DS games!!! All three learned quickly that you can "text" each other if you are close by. So that night I found them all in their beds in their own rooms giggling and texting each other. I think a new rule is coming....

I leave you with a few pictures of the day.

Hanging up the stockings:

Kenneth's Grandmother:

The Bean fashioning a boa fleece scarf made by your's truly!

Gotta love Mom's duck lips!

Thanks Aunt Jenn for the Webkinz! (Can I adopt them now, now,now???)

New sweater from Mom!

I just love gift sets! The man of the hour got a bread dipping set!

Santa time!!!

We went to see Santa today and it was fun but the kids decided that they enjoy seeing Santa but just don't want to go so early in the morning. We got them up at 6:30 and were out of the house by 7:15 to be there by 7:45 so we could see Santa at 8! We bought tickets to see Santa prior to the general public. They only allowed 25 families and it cost us $50, but it was well worth not getting extra family help to stand in line and wait out in the freezing cold for HOURS (yes, hours!!) until they opened the doors. So we went in a side door and by 8:30 we were done seeing Santa and off to breakfast.

The kids were whiney (but not with Santa) but we survived the morning. Caroline didn't want to wear her dress and worse her pantyhose!! Allie was just whiney and Nicholas picked on everyone which just made the girls more whiney! When we got home from breakfast we shuttled the kids into the family room and we took a quick impromptu Christmas family picture. This was a "one take wonder" and we were surprised at how it turned out well on the first take. I think it is a pretty good picture. But check out Nicholas! I think we have a cheeseball on our hands. But then again, we are all pretty 'cheesy'....

Christmas is upon us

And I am not ready yet. In years past I have gotten most of my Christmas shopping done the weekend before Thanksgiving. Then I scan the Black Friday ads and end up doing a lot of exchanges and returns and rebuys that weekend because of the sales. So not this year. I decided to wait until Black Friday to BEGIN my shopping. We are on a tighter than tight budget this year so I really have to watch my pennies. But today the Monday before Thanksgiving I am feeling a bit out of sorts. I feel like I am behind the curve for shopping and such.

I have three weeks before we go to disney world again and that isn't much time. December 13th is out due to us seeing Santa in the morning. I can use that afternoon but really want to be done done before then. I had thought of doing some holiday shopping on line this year but just haven't mentally gotten there yet either.

I really need to get my act together. I think I know what is bogging me down and I hope to have that cleared up tonight. It is that the Christmas tree isn't in the family room. We thought of putting it in the living room but it looks so lonely in there and we don't really use that room so it isn't in a place that we can sit and enjoy the tree. It isn't in the room that we live in. So here is the problem. All my scrapbooking and crafting stuff is in the corner where we usually put the Christmas tree. That means that I have to clear out all my stuff and put it somewhere so we can move the tree down there. I considered swapping my scrapbook stuff to the living room which isn't such a bad idea but then that room really is a more formal room and I tend to be messy with my stuff so it isn't quite the right place. So at this point I have to pack it all up. Yup ALL of it. And that is what I am going to do tonight. I started yesterday and I am about a third done. Tonight it just needs to go somewhere.

Just to get you in the mood for decorating your house, here are some links that you might like!

http://bucketideasforchristmas.blogspot.com/ (too many trees for me but I picked up an idea or two anyway) Scroll all the way down to the big pictures. there are soo many trees!!!

http://www.100daystochristmas.com/ cool give aways and lots of ideas on what to do to get ready for Christmas.

So much to do so little time...

It always happens this time of year. I feel the pressure of making sure I haven't left anyone out and making sure that the house is decorated and somewhat clean. Well this year the pressure is on even harder and because of our impending trip we have had to be ever dilligent about getting things we want to get done done. We have crammed a months worth of work into a two week period.

But I have good news. We are just about done. But just when you think you are done someone drops a bomb on you. So last night my husband and I were out shopping and he mentions that what he REALLY wants for Christmas is a new laptop computer AND he would like the gift presented to him early and not under the tree on Christmas morning. So no buying it off the internet (most likely the cheapest place to get it). So I call up my best friend who works at Circuit City. She says no problem she will help me get a laptop with her discount. Yippee. Now that is efficiency working for me. So I am meeting her today to get the laptop. Word to the wise (or not so wise): unless you have a most fabulous wife who will forgo decorating the last of 6 (count them 6) Christmas trees in the house to run out to get you a last minute gift, don't wait till the last minute.

Our fun filled 8 days in Disney World is coming to a start quickly. The count down is on!! Our advent calendar has quickly become a count down to Disney calendar. The kids are more than excited and there are times it seems that they are floating on the ceiling. We are shopping for snacks and food for the trip today and getting laundry done. Tomorrow is the beginning of packing the trailer.

A month ago I made reservations for where we will be eating during our stay. We have the dining package so all our food for two full meals is included. We will have a 'walk up' meal each day and a "sit down" meal. For the walk up meal we each get an entree, drink, and dessert. For the sit down meal we get an appetizer, entree, drink and dessert. Salad comes with most entrees so it makes it a four course meal. Wow. So all we need to take is food for most breakfasts, one dinner, and snacks. (Oh we get one snack each day per person in the parks also). We are eating with the princesses one night, with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger another night, we are eating at the Grand Floridian (fancy), Wolfgang Puck's Restaurant, and at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, Toy Story Pizza Planet (Woody and Buzz hang out around there), and at the Trail's End Restaurant in our campground.

You know, I think I am more excited than the kids right now!