Beating the Christmas Rush

Spencer is trying to get his holiday shopping done early this year. Hopefully everyone on his list wants a pull-back car for Christmas. (If that's the case, then no one should be disappointed.)

Three Years of Crazy

Since the holidays are not hectic enough, we usually like to throw a wrench in things and try to come up with some huge projects to do in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. You know, since dust, messes, holes, and the rearrangement of household furniture are such key contributors to the spirit of the season.

So, this year, if you are getting anxiety about hosting parties, or decorating, or getting your Christmas shopping done, hop on over to this blog and you just might feel better about the things that you do (and do not) have going on at your place of residence this time of year.

November 2012:

In 2012, when we first moved into this house, we were still finishing up the room that 

would be Savanna's, framing the closet and assembling the bunk bed. (For your

 information, this and all future usages of the word "we," actually mean, "Just Craig.") 

November 2013:

In 2013, we were disassembling that very same bunk bed and moving it into Alexa's room because the older two girls had decided that they wanted to share a room again. (Aside from the inherent messes, this room sharing business of Julia and Savanna's is pretty much the best arrangement ever.) 

November 2014:

Now, in 2014, it's the backyard. We are making progress, but it's slow going since Mr. Project Doer only has time to work on it some Saturdays and maybe an hour or two in the mornings before work.

Maybe this time next year we will just decorate and Christmas shop like other folks without the added excitement of a garage half-full of building materials and a constant stream of mud and dirt into the house.

There now, don't you feel better?

We Miss Daddy

Okay, Craig, my heart has grown fonder. 

I have discovered just how much I rely on you. And I have desperately missed how much you support me, make me laugh, and keep me snuggled up and warm at night. 

Oh, and also how you take out the trash.

You can come home now.

{getting some Daddy love over the phone}

{Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow...}

Please please please please please have a safe journey back. This single mom business is not for me.

Fan Mail

Dear Target,

You are pretty much the best store ever. You smell like popcorn. Your shopping carts are a cheerful color. Your floors aren't sticky. And I love the secret clearance items that you stash away at the back-end of your ample aisles, like this delicious Golden Apple that I didn't even realize I needed until I saw that it was marked waaaay down. (And also Apple's friend, The Pear.) Those little orange price tags just tug at my heart strings every time.

 Thank you for being you. And not...well, you know.

Love,

The Very Tired Mom Who Needs Some Perks Every Once In A While

Nature: Alive and Well in the Phoenix Suburbs

Since Craig is gone for a few days, Laura and Amy came to hang out and help me for the weekend. Although the original plan was to watch Christmas movies all weekend (and what a lovely plan it was, too!) we soon found out that the kids' attention span did not match our own. On to Plan B: a walk in the neighborhood. Not as exciting as watching "Home Alone" three times, but hey, you gotta roll with the punches, right?

(Rollin' in his 5.0 with his rag-top down so his hair can blow)

On our way to the park, Laura found this crazy, huge caterpillar thing on a bush. I never would have even seen it there because it matched the leaves so perfectly, but she's got an eye for these things. 

 Of course, the kids were equal parts thrilled and disgusted. We still aren't quite 

sure what kind of caterpillar it was, if it was a caterpillar at all; any guesses? 

It was a cool science-y experience, second only to staying inside and quoting "Home Alone" all afternoon. ("If it makes you feel any better, I forgot my reading glasses.")