Ready for Christmas?

So... are you "ready for Christmas?" Do you have all your gifts purchased? Wrapped? Cookies made? Food and drink purchased and/or made for the gatherings???

About this time each year, I find myself about 95% ready/done.  There are ALWAYS last minute additions to the kids' piles next to the tree. That's just how we roll. Scott already informed me he went out today and got them both a few more things. Our children will not suffer a lack of gifts this year. They never do. That's one thing we like to do... we really get a lot of joy out of making their Christmas extra special and that comes in many ways.... but a big way for us is so to shower them with gifts. Right or wrong... it's what we do.

I'm a gift person. I love gifts.  I love giving and receiving them.  When I read the seven love languages it's easy to see where I fit in with regard to how I like to give and receive love.  I love gifts.

I got to buy gifts for 10 nieces and nephews this year.... or adopted nieces and nephews. :-)  I love this. In addition to my kids' toys... I get to pick out just one thing perfect for each of them. Something always strikes me that way. More often than not I feel "this is just perfect for......" and I am so happy that I found just that for someone.

I adore buying gifts.

I love overhearing someone wants something and running out and getting it.  I pay attention to details all year long just to buy something extra special.  I'm a good gift giver if I do say so myself.

Last year Ally said it was her very best Christmas yet.... that Santa brought her everything she asked for.... albeit an item or two that she instantly determined she did not need.  I hope she feels the same this year. I have a feeling she will. :-)

I also recognize I am abundantly blessed with an ability by give and buy gifts. I am fortunate... we are fortunate. I am thankful for these blessings... and I hope I pay it forward enough to show that gratitude.

I love paying my cleaning lady double this week... over-tipping my hair dresser.... finding the perfect makeup bag for my makeup artist.... giving a gift card to Luke's teachers.... bracelets (Stella and Dot of course) for all of Ally's...... taking the good bottle of wine to the mom's Christmas party tonite.... giving our good, good friends a case of wine because we drink theirs plenty we get together so much.

We are blessed and this time of the year reminds me of all of that. Family. Friends. My kids.

Yesterday was Luke's birthday. We had an amazing day that I promise to write about. Ally had her Christmas concert.  I cannot express what this is like to a parent/person who doesn't have a child at our school.  It's the most magical thing we do at our school.  I cry every year. It alone, is worth the price of tuition.  ;-)

I love our Christmas concert.  It was the perfect end to a little boy's birthday.

We have been having a glorious holiday season thus far.......... so much more to come!  This weekend we will travel to Scott's Uncle's in Howell to visit with his extended family that we don't see often enough.  Christmas Eve, we will go to mass and see my family at my Grandma's house for dinner after.  Christmas Day will be spent at home and with Scott's side at his parents' house.  My brother, sister-in-law and niece will arrive to stay through new year's not long after Christmas Day. We will see my extended family on my step-dad's (and late step-dad's) side the weekend after Christmas.  My mom will have ALL of her kids... real, step and otherwise.... gathered together at the same time.  It's going to be a lovely gathering for all.  We will see my dad, step mom and siblings on that side sometime when Dave and Mary are up here as well!

Of course, we have CUZIN'S NIGHT!  As always..... a bit of crazy fun in there... some shotski's and a bar crawl. Our youngest cousin is 21.  We are all in for this event.  :-)

I hope to see some special friends over the holidays. I hope to have some crazy nights out with my favorite crazy peeps.  I love the gatherings. I love getting together. It always turns out that we have the perfect amount of down time and crazy family time it seems.  I love that balance.

Christmas morning is always spent at home.... gifts with the kids... breakfast that others are more than welcome to join for ... but we want to be home, in our own house with our immediate family.

I love this time of year.......... I cannot wait for the fun to really begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don't even mind that I have a bunch of last minute things to do. Nothing seems to be stressing me out really.  I have a new job, a wonderful hubby, a mom who is back in town and great friends to thank for that. I love my support system..... and I love the life we have all built thus far.

A new year to come soon my friends!  How exciting is that??? :-)

The Madness...

We suffered a great tragedy this week. The school shootings in Connecticut.  Wow.  I spent most of my day yesterday not knowing.  I was working all morning.  My mom came in to see me (how awesome is that, that she can!) and she asked me to meet her for a late lunch.  (adore this new schedule which allows me to do that!)

We had lunch and even had a few minutes to do some shopping together. Then, I drove to school to get my kids.  As I always have to get there so early to get a good spot to pick them up.... I always do some phone scrolling while I sit and wait.  I got on Facebook and started reading the statuses and was stunned by what I saw. Then, I went online and googled it... and started reading the articles coming across on CNN.

As I sat there and read... while sitting outside our very own school... I just cried and cried.  My god. I cannot begin to fathom the WHY???  Mind blowing.  There are a lot of messed up people in this world.  That's an understatement for certain.

Babies. Five year olds.  Elementary school children.  Teachers.  Principals.  My entire family is made up of educators and administrators.  I have my own children in school. They were both there yesterday. I cannot comprehend this tragedy.

WTF?  

Everyone deals with this in their own way. Some of us want to read a lot of the details... in an attempt to try to understand the WHY behind it.  Some of us want to shut it out and hear no more of it.  I think I lie somewhere in the middle.  I want to know... but I don't need to know it all.  

Then, there are my kids....

Neither of them knew anything of it... but Scott did talk to Ally about it later.  She will (and did) hear from other kids... and she deserves to be told the truth in a way she can comprehend it. The TV is pretty much banned for now though. Neither of our kids needs to see anything more than what is necessary.  That sounds ridiculous. None of this is necessary.........

Luke is thankfully oblivious and I'd like to keep it that way.

I saw this on FB earlier and it gave me a great deal of peace..... crazy peace because it really hit me......

... the children and teachers who didn't survive are safe in His loving arms... it's the survivors that need our prayers... that need to find peace.  A peace that won't come for a very long time, if ever... let's be honest.

I cannot fathom losing a child.. especially in this manner.  Prayers for the living. Prayers for the community.  Prayers for all.

It's the Most Wonderful Time....

It really is. As crazy busy as it all is.... it's only as busy as we make it....  ya know?  I love Christmas. I am starting a new job in a brand new business too. That makes for a little bit crazier time. Not gonna lie.  But, it's all so worth it and so amazing.

I haven't posted a lot lately. That's just my way of prioritizing I guess.  Can't do it all.  Been working a lot on learning new things related to the new job.  New software systems.  Patients.  New routine.  Trying to get Christmas gifts in order.  Cards written out. A birthday party planned for a very special five year old.  Constant balancing act and I do pretty well if I do say so myself.  Work hard and we play hard.

I had a great birthday. Played hard with some good friends.  Had a lovely dinner with family. This past weekend we did some playing too. Scott had his annual work Christmas dinner at Daryl's.  We had some friends' parties to hop around to on Saturday.  Good, good times.

We did the tree and decorating with the kids on Sunday. It was a great day.  We got a great tree.... our cheapest ever!!!  Ally chose it. It's not perfect.  It's nothing like what we usually get... but it is a wonderful tree.

I didn't take any pictures of us actually decorating the tree... at all.  I guess I was just too busy enjoying the time.  The house looks lovely and festive now.  Just enough clutter that I can stand it.  I love putting it all up as much as I love taking it all down and starting new again in the new year.  This is a great time of year.

I have many gifts purchased and ready for anyone not my kid. Still working on the kids. God bless the internet. As much as I try to shop local... and I really do... you still have to rely on Amazon sometimes.  Scott and I still need to do our annual pilgrimage to the Toy House together to pick some things out though.... he's off all next week and I hope we can finalize it all then. I am a bit of a procrastinator if you didn't know.  ;-)

Okay... just wanted to write for a minute.  Have to finish up a few things and then get to work on mailing out the cards I have finally finished this morning... and run a few errands. There's a bit of snow on the ground today. It's lovely.

Happy happy day everyone.