Back at home.

As much as I enjoy seeing my family and I count my inlaws as part of that, I am so happy to be back at home. To be sleeping in my own bed (and have the kids in theirs). Having control of the kitchen and being able to watch tv shows when and if we want. Ah, it is just what we needed.

The kids had a fantastic time this year. No one got sick on the way down or back. They got to spend a day with their Nana just playing and playing. They spent the first evening we were there hanging out with their cousins having a blast. Nana watched all four grandkids on Christmas Eve. She told me not to stay, to just drop the kids and that I should come back to get my two before we headed over to my brother's house for our family open house because she didn't have enough room in the car for all 4 kids. The kids loved it. Even Lindsay, the lone girl had fun. I was able to make stuffed bread for the open house. Everyone loved it. I think I'm going to make some for home this week. It is so easy and delicious.

My mom was surprised to get gifts after she had told us not to buy for them. My sil didn't listen and I had already gotten her some stuff when she made that announcement last month. My sil got me seasons 1 and 2 of Dexter so I'm very happy. I also got some jewelry and a gc to Borders. I love books and the necklace she got me is cute yet appropriate for an adult with two kids to wear. I got her a book she wanted as well as some earrngs and the kitchen knife she has been wanting but felt she couldn't afford/justify. You'd be proud of me I remembered all on my own to tape the coin to it though I did call mom to make sure it was a coin, lol.

As much as I enjoyed the gifts I got, my favorite by far is the iPod Touch James got me. I even have a pink case for it so it is totally mine. Origninally he was getting one and I would get to share it. He had me play with it one day and I was enjoying the features so he asked if I wanted my own. It is going to replace my palm which I haven't been able to use for a while. There is an annoying hum when you turn it on and I end up with a massive headache every time. The man did good on gifts this year. He not only got the Touch for me, but he got a copy of Wii Music for the kids to give me. I wanted that after seeing it demonstrated and so am thrilled to get it.

This week is going to be spent cleaning my house, doing laundry (why does it seem to multiple when you aren't looking?), shopping and getting ready for New Year's Eve/Day and then our Christmas get together with bil and his family this Saturday. I am not even sure what I'm going to have on the menu. That is so unlike me. I'm just not feeling like turkey and we had ham three times this past week. I am considering taking the kids over to Borders for their Kids New Year's Eve Party this Wednesday. I think they would have fun, I'm just not sure how crowded it will be and I am not sure I am up to the crowd.

I'm off now to get the kids started on homework. Oh and I just saw it is 10:30 and Lindsay will be looking for a snack any minute.

Cookies!

Right now I am making cookies. Lindsay has a friend over and they are playing so nicely together that I was able to mix the cc dough and start baking them. The sugar cookie dough is in the fridge setting up so I can do cut outs later after I take him home. I'm waiting to do the cutouts because I can't decide on the shape and I will not have time to do more than one cookie sheet before I have to stop to head up to the school.

I have almost all of our shopping done. I'm rechecking my list to make sure I have everything I need and what I don't have I have listed out so I can go get it. I may be doing a late night shopping run tonight so I can get the Stocking stuffers and a couple of small gifts out of the way. I'm trying to decide if I have time to get some of that tomorrow while the kids are still in school. They get out at noon, and with the holiday parties I am not sure how much time I will have.

More cryptic shopping notes.

A trip to Costco and my freezer is stocked. My garage over runs with paper towels and toilet paper. And I have two more gifts down. Next up is a trip to Target for the legos but I'm waiting for Philip to be off of school so he can help me pick them out. It will be so fantastic when I finish this up. Next week I'm wrapping everything I have here. The kids will be in school so I can get it done without worrying about them coming in.

Oh no, I can not forget to get the stocking stuffers. I know what I want to get I just need to get it. That seems to be a common refrain these days. hmmm.

I think I'm half done.

Yesterday's shopping excursion while short got one big gift out of the way. I ordered and shipped the majority of my brother's families stuff. I need to go find a lego set (0r 2) for my nephews and need to ask about a couple of books that I think my nephew would like. I just want to make sure he doesn't have them.

I'll finish up getting my parents' gifts when we are in town because it is easier to get what they want locally.

We celebrate later with bil and his family so I haven't been as concerned about getting their presents but I think I might start and see if I can have it finished before the holidays.

We need to get Philip's present. I think we've decided on something but need to go get it. They need to tell me what they want to get each other and their dad and then their shopping will be done.

Hopefully dh is doing their shopping for me and finding something nice for me. I know what I want to get him and I'm just waiting for it to go on sale.

I feel better now that I've written that all down. Even if there are no details (no peeking!) I know what I got, am getting and this will just be one more place it is written down (think notebooks) so I can keep it all straight.

How Many Days Till Christmas?

So time is still speeding by. Which is overall a good thing. Yet I find myself incredibly surprised that Christmas is 2 weeks away. I need to finish up the shopping and wrap gifts that I already have. But what to get???