Picture time!!

On Saturday, we went down to Caliente to visit the in-laws. It's always a fast trip, and they're always pretty busy with either their store or their restaurant, but this time, we got to spend a little extra time with them which was nice.

D's dad begins growing his beard in October/November. By December, he's in full-on Santa mode, and looks fantastic!! While we were there, he played Santa for some of the resident children. They loved it, and he did fabulous!! Here are a few pics.

With my kiddos:


My kiddos, along with their cousins:



And, just because he's cute, one of Z waiting for "Santa." We told him Grandpa was helping Santa out that night because Santa had to be somewhere else, getting ready for Christmas. ;)

The countdown begins!

One week from today. One week!!!! I can't believe Christmas will be here in one week. This time next week, we'll be settled in at my parents' house, opening gifts and enjoying family time.

For once in our lives, D and I are ahead of the game with regard to wrapping gifts. We usually spend Christmas Eve wrapping and assembling gifts for the kids. Because we're not smart enough to do it ahead of time, heh. Well, this year, we get to actually RELAX on Christmas Eve because we wrapped ALL of the presents yesterday!! Plus, for the first time, there is nothing to assemble this year. I think that a relaxing evening is the best present we can give each other.

Today, at the store, we are staying open until 8pm, hoping to drum up some business. I have prepared discount cards, and each customer can draw a card and receive a discount on their entire purchase up to 40% off!! Send me be busy thoughts!!

We went up to Caliente this past weekend and tooks pics with Santa. As soon as I upload them (I've been sick), I'll post them!!

Guess who's coming to town?

Nope, it's not Santa, although he will be here soon enough...

HANNAH MONTANA!!!

It was just announced this morning that the young singing sensation has added more dates to her Best of Both Worlds tour and she's coming to Las Vegas!!!

Man...the girls would be in HEAVEN if they got to see her.

I wonder what Santa has up his sleeve.....

Heee-larious morning!!!

This morning had to be one of the funniest I've had in an oh-so long time.

I went upstairs to go take a shower and start my day. The girls were already at school, and Z was eating his cereal. As I pass by his room, I go into his closet and pick out his clothes for the day: a pair of jeans and a rad Quicksilver shirt.

Z goes into his room and begins his process of getting ready. Then, he comes into my room and asks me to tighten his pants (using the adjustible elastic/buttons in the waistband). I think to myself, "Hrm, that's strange. I know he's worn these pants before and he hasn't lost any weight..."

I tighten them. And then I have to tighten them some more because they are still falling off of him!! How strange!!

He gets situated and goes to sit on the couch to wait for me before we head to the bus stop.

As he's getting into my car, I look at his ankles, and see side "slits" in them. I realize he's wearing his sister's capris!!!!!

After my fit of laughing subsides, we rush inside and find him HIS pants and change. By this time, we've missed the bus so he gets a treat...and I take him to school. The whole way to school we were laughing about "the pants."

Hee-larious!!!

It's an illness...

I love shopping. I love decorating. These two things, when combined, can cause havoc and discontent in our household.

I can walk through a mall and find nothing that I can't live without. I can walk in and out of stores, picking up clothes/shoes/purses...and then walk out without making a purchase. These things are "usable" in that they would get daily/weekly use.

But.

There are a few stores that I cannot walk out of without purchasing something I really don't need which will sit in my house only to be seen by guests. Or my dog. One of them is a book store. I can spend tons of money on books. I love books. I love to read them, fondle them, look at them collecting dust on my bookshelves.

The other store is a craft store, such as Michael's, JoAnn's, or Roberts. When I walk into these stores, my inner artist comes bursting through. I may walk in looking for one (or three) particular things, and I walk out with this:


Isn't it beautiful?! I saw the container in the clearance aisle. Then, of course, I *had* to find the foliage to go inside of it. Then, once I had the entire ensemble put together (in my head), I had to think of a place to put it in my house.

Doesn't it look great?!

D was less than thrilled, heh. Because, he said...this is something we really need right now, right?

Stay tuned...I will be posting pics because I bought the coolest frame/stand from a place called Tai Pan Trading. My BFF introduced me to this store and booooyyyy....will my husband be sorry!!! *Ü*

It's SHOPPING DAY!!!

In about twenty minutes, my little self will be on her way to St. George to visit with my BFF and to do some MAJOR holiday shopping damage!!! I'm so excited, and it was hard to hold it back from the kiddos!!! We still have one little believer, so the magic still needs to be there.

Wish lists from my kids have been...interesting this year. My son would like...are you sitting?....Alaska. Yes, the boy wonder would like Santa to bring him Alaska so that he can build a giant ATV track. He would also like a microwave. You know, should he decide to whip himself up a little midnight snacker...

C seems to think that we have turned into the Trumps overnight. Top of her list? A laptop. Oh, and a TV. Let's not forget about the desk, shall we? Thank goodness she has put a few more "reasonable" requests on there....except for the new puppy....

H would like an acoustic guitar. Oh, and an electric guitar with an amp. I wonder if it will sit next to her keyboard that she never uses? Never mind the fact that she does not even know HOW to play a guitar, heh. She would also like the new iPod Nano. Because her old Nano is a year old, duh.

I want to be able to give them everything, but how will they learn responsibility? Such dilemmas during the holidays.

Wish me luck in finding everything I need!!!

Only 19 shopping days left!!

I absolutely cannot believe that it is December. Where has the year gone?? I remember trying to keep my children up for New Year's Eve, waiting to welcome 2007, and here we are...twelve months later, getting ready to ring in 2008!!

So many things happened in 2007; many fantastic, but also a few not so good times.

2007 was a rough year for me, personally. I had many things happen between a few friendships, and while one of them is fine, another has been damaged irreparably. Lots of tears shed, lots of heartache.

On the up side of the year, C and Z had a fantastic time racing ATVs. They placed 3rd (C) and 1st (Z) in their classes. We are very very proud of them. H had a fantastic year with soccer and made us so proud not only of her determination, but of her perseverance. She really shined out there on the field.

Right now, in our world, it's basketball season. We had a small break, but now....back to the harried grind. *Ü*