There is HOW many days until Christmas?

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you. We had a fantastic meal over at the in-law's (mine not Bob's) and played Phase 10 for about 3 hours. The kids loved it so much we went back the next night and played for another couple of hours. Playing with kids can make it a long and drawn out game, and we never did make it to the 10th phase! :) I bought the cards for Joey for Christmas, so am anticipating a marathon of Phase 10 on Christmas Day!

Went shopping at 5:00 am on Friday. Ya know we love to do it, but I get so exhausted by 2:00 that I just want to go home! Luckily Bob was driving so I could take a short nap on the way home so I wasn't so cranky at the kids when we got back home. It's not their fault their parents are nutcases and get up to find the "ultimate bargain" every year. They know what we are up to and have learned to go hide when we come home so that we can bring in the loot and try and hide it. Well this year there isn't a great hiding spot in the house, so we are stashing them in the trunk of Bob's car! Ha! Now, just so long as he doesn't forget and pop the trunk for groceries when all those little eyes are standing their waiting to put their little grocery bags in it! :)

I did find one good bargain that I'm especially proud of. Younkers (like a Dillards) had door buster sales, like everyone else, right? So we are wandering around just looking at stuff and I see a stand in the jewelry department with the big "Door Buster" sign so I wander over there. They had tennis bracelets for $15. I thought, well isn't that a nice gift for mom? And then I saw that the retail price was $100!!!! I'm tempted to leave the price tag on it so that she will be sufficently impressed Christmas eve....hehehehe. Bonnie & Rosa & Joy always buy her clothes, and Karen buys her things for her house. But Diane, she's gonna be buyin' momma diamonds! I hope she likes it!

Saturday we went up town and watched the Sinter Klaus parade, which is a dying tradition in our fair city. About a dozen little ones dress up like Christmas packages, reindeers, etc., a band of about 9 highschool brass players, 3 or 4 floats and dutch wagons, and the big boat float that Sinter Klaus arrives on and of course, the newly chosen Tulip Queen and her royal court. There is an official proclamation from the Town Crier guy, a welcome by the Bergermeister, another welcome by current mayor Dobernekker, smiles and waves by the pretty queen and her court, and then Sinter Klaus looks for a bad boy or girl to put in a burlap sack. That's the funniest part, you should see all the little kids with terror on their faces! They scootch in closer to Mom & Dad and hold on a little tighter. Fortunately it's all staged and some brave little girl went up on stage and just as the Piets were getting ready to stuff her in the bag Sinter Klaus spoke up and said that there was a misunderstanding. That our little town didn't have any naughty boys or girls this year and that they could all breathe a little easier, until next year. :-)

I went up with Brenda & her family. Her Anna is in kindergarten and she had the most horrified look on her face when he said he as going to find a naughty boy or girl! I don't know what that little one has been up to recently that she thought she was a candidate, but she was certainly worried!

Sunday morning we had fun gathering around the piano at the front of church for our contemporary worship service and sang Christmas carols. Someone made some hot chocolate and cider and cookies and people just wandered around while we sang and shared. It was one of the best worship services that I have been to in a very long time. Kuddos to our worship team and Pastor Ray!

Bob went to get Ang from the airport at 11:00 Sunday a.m. so they didn't get to enjoy the service. I'm always glad when she comes home from her little get aways. But this time I was really glad to have her back in my arms. I think that this was a very hard trip for her (she went to see Kevin & his family) since Kevin kept her at arm's length the entire time. He's decided that they can only be friends for now. Ok, but do you have to treat her like a stranger? C'mon..... The good side is that now she feels like she can go to Branson and have fun with other people and not feel like she's cheating on him. I know how this will go.....he'll see her having fun dating other guys, and the chase will be on again. That's what he likes to do....chase. Once he catches her, the fun is gone and he's off to chase someone else. Now, I don't know that for a fact, that's this mom's opinion. But y'all are my friends and you know what I'm talking about. She still believes that one day they'll be married. I guess we'll see. But he's got some major proving to do to his future in-laws if that ever happens! :-)

We put the tree up last night. Now I have boxes setting around waiting for me to find new locations for my decorations. That's another hard thing about moving. It takes awhile to find places to set stuff out. I don't have my fireplace mantel, my piano or my tv stand that I had in CO, and that is a lot of decorative spaces! So, I'll probably have the boxes out for a week or so until I get inspired!

Have a happy week! And I'll talk to you again next time!

di