In Full Christmas Preparation Mode (NOT!)

GASP!

Normally we would be ready for Christmas around this time of the month, of course. But this year it's just not been going our way.

Well, until today that is...

Why do you ask? Well, we have not gone to cut down a tree this year, and my husband informed me yesterday that we will not be doing so this year... Apparently he is just too busy with work and I will just have to deal. It's nice to know that family takes priority for him, NOT! Well, I have tried to have him pick up an already cut tree somewhere but again that is hit and miss. So far only misses. Will keep trying, even if I have to drive the John Deere across the street to the tree farm myself. Didn't know it was so hard to find good help? LOL

Today though I found some small miracle in the form of a trip to the mall. What on earth do you ask is so miraculous about that? Well, for one a premium parking spot right out front of my favorite store. No line, (YES absolutely no line!) at the Verizon Wireless store. Not a single mother & child waiting to sit on Santa's lap for photos. A smiling girl sitting on Santa's lap and a perfect photo to show for it afterward. I found everything I was looking for at Victoria's Secret, in my size, and color, and even got a cool tote FREE with my purchase. Someone pinch me...I must be dreaming! At Gymboree the whole store was 30% off and with the coupon we got from Santa (apparently he gifts adults too, at least at Bellis Fair!), we received an additional 20% off our purchase.

All this has left me wondering why I have been avoiding the mall like the plague lately. It was quite pleasant and I noticed a bunch of brand-new stores that I had never seen there before...I hope this was not a one time deal...

Anyway, back to Christmas. I do have most of my gifts purchased and plan on wrapping soon as my curious daughter already had one in her hot little hands asking innocently "Whats this Momma?". I do also have a few decorations out and about our home, making it a little more bearable to be so far behind in my preparations. Plus Grace & I managed to whip up a batch of Sweet Potato Spice Cookies this Sunday. YUMMY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just a quick post from snowy, beautiful Winthrop. We had decided to keep with my European roots and have our "official" X-mas dinner last night followed by opening our presents. Grace was pretty excited, even though she had some issues with Santa already. Last Thursday we were at the mall, all decked out in her pretty dress ready for pictures with Santa. Well, everything was going great, until she got to the part where she was supposed to sit with the big guy. Then she just plain out refused. Oh well, better luck next year, I seem to remember a certain picture of myself at that age screaming at the top of my lungs being held by Santa Claus. Guess it runs in the family.
We had a blast opening presents, well, Grace actually opened very single one of them for us. But she had so much fun and we loved watching her tear into the paper and figure otu what each box contained.

Yes, I will admit it, I drove around for two days with a headless horse in my trunk. Yes, you heard me correctly. A headless horse...but before you jump off your chair and rush to call the SPCA or whatever agency is responsible for animal cruelty/mutilation hear me out...I had to do it.

Last year I was Christmas shopping and when it came time to come up with the "WOW" factor gift I failed miserably. So this year I jumped at the chance(s). After a lengthy discussion with my hubby we "agreed" not to buy each other anything extravagant. Well, between you and me...I have no trouble buying for my hubby, as he apparently has buying for me. Although I am not sure what part about my list, that we went over in detail, he didn't understand??? Anyway, to cut to the chase I got the lucky guy a brand spanking new GPS system worth (as he informed me after looking it up on the Internet!) over $600. Well, I can't help that I am a great deal finder?

I digress...back to the horse... When I was at the mall for Santa photos, (the ones that didn't get taken, remember?) I ran through TARGET for a couple of small things. But to my dismay and delight they had in stock the infamous gift that all little girls want...Butterscotch the (almost) life sized horse. Well, imagine my delight, since it was sold out in a flash last year. So I drove my stroller with sleeping, post No-Santa-Photo fit child, into the check out lane to reserve this marvelous wonder for my darling daughter. Nothing would stop me, not the clerk who claimed that they could not help me as they could not be responsible for prepaid product, not the other shopper who crowed the store and mall in a last minute gift hunting frenzy nor the exuberant price tag on the little furry fella. I demanded that someone "hold that horse" for me so that I could go to the other end of the mall, retrieve my family sedan and return to collect my prize. After what seemed like a losing battle I found a sympathetic clerk who put my name on the box and I hustled back to my vehicle petrified of losing my hard earned chance to purchase this gift. when I got to the other side of the mall parking was of course scarcer than a drop of water in the Sahara but I decided drastic measures should be implemented as I had a sleeping toddler in the vehicle and needed to simply load Butterscotch into my car. Well, let me tell you Handicapped parking never looked so good. I ran inside handed the clerk my VISA card and told her to charge it. I then hefted the huge box, (it wasn't very heavy just bulky!) and made a run for it. Here's the clincher. The box was too big for my Honda's trunk. No amount of pushing, prodding or pulling would coax my horse into the trunk space of an Accord. After several dazed and confused minutes I capitulated and sliced open the box and lifted the headless horse, (Apparently the horse was too big for the box too!) loaded the folded box into the back seat and headed for home. So at home I faced the challenge to patch up the box and repackage the whole kit and caboodle so no one caught on to what was going on...

Needless to say Butterscotch made it to Winthrop in two pieces and after having a good laugh at my daughter's saucer sized eyes when she saw the headless horse we screwed the head on and enjoyed Grace playing with her new toy.

Grandma was clearly thrilled by the vinyl wall board Grace and I made her to display her gorgeous grandkids on. Thanks Elizabeth for the great idea.

Grandpa got a tool wagon, the boys some survival kits, carhart gear and socks, Martin his GPS, some books and a pair of dress pants, I received a birdfeeder with two colors of lights on it, a pair of gold hoop earrings and a craft book. Grace of course had the mother loot with a cash register toy, a Pooh Bear piggy bank, a slinky toy, some Lincoln Logs, Snowman Jammies, a Tic Tac Toe Game and of course Butterscotch.