Decorating a bit

Since all of the Christmas decorations came down, I decided to redecorate a little bit.  I moved some furniture around and bought new things for the house.  I guess I could have brought my old things out of storage, but I have no idea which box they're in and my taste has changed quite a bit since last year.  Since Christmas evening, we have been so busy working on the house and taking advantage of Ian's time off.  I'm pretty happy with the results, but I'm no where near done.  

Christmas Week! Birthdays, Christmas, fun fun fun!

I thought we'd never top the Christmas 2 years ago with the dollhouse.  Looking back on Christmas pictures from that day, I realized how Christmas Crazy we went this year.  Those pictures looked like an itty bitty Christmas compared to all we have for this year.  I absolutely can't help it and I feel like they deserve so much.  They are going to freak out.  Haha.  Only 5 more days to go!!!!! (4 for me because Christmas Eve is my favorite!)

Gabe's birthday party is tomorrow!  I gave Emily, Christian, and Ever big birthday parties this year so I decided at the last minute to book a party at Chuck E Cheese for Gabe.  We'll still do dinner for him, but the Chuck E Party will be a little earlier.  Tomorrow will be pushing it a little because of the party, movie, shopping, and dinner but I think I can manage it.  I hope!  It'll just take some very careful planning and watching the time.  Lol.

So much fun planned this week!  Yay!!  Tomorrow will officially start Christmas Week!  Ian only has to work 2 and 1/2 days this week and has 4 days off!  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE his new job??  The only issue I see this week is the kids begging to stay, but we can't help that and they'll have a great Christmas regardless!  They had breakfast with their grandparents this morning and later today if the weather permits, we'll go to the park and to see the lights then a craft!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!

Finishing up I hope.

And I thought Emily was going to be the hard one to buy for this year.  The good news is it was actually super easy to buy for her.  The bad news is She's very expensive to buy for.  Haha.  I tried my best to not let electronics be the focus this year.  I would say it's half and half.  There are quite a few thrown into the mix (for all of them), but I think the best presents are the ones that aren't electronics.  Also, believe it or not, the things I recently thought of ended up costing more than electronics.  I know it'll be great gifts and they will be played with immensely but wow that's one expensive hobby!  Christmas only comes once a year though!  I want so bad to be the parents that give only a couple gifts for Christmas, but I always go crazy with it.  Thank goodness for this new playroom.. otherwise, I have no idea where this stuff would go.

There are only 15 days until Christmas!!  Can you believe???  I feel so unorganized knowing it all has to come together so soon.  I have everything except the finishing touches that I have to go buy today.  The problem now is rounding everything up and getting it in one spot.  Most of it is wrapped and 98% of the things are all in bins and ready to go.  I just have to find the little things here and there that I've bought randomly and stuck in little places all over the house.  I thought we were through wrapping and had it all together until I thought oh no... there's that one bag I put over there... and what about the things up there.. ?  Haha.  It's crazy.

Present talk aside... I bought the food for Christmas lunch yesterday!  Turkeys, homemade mac & cheese, etc.  Yumm!!  Christmas Eve is my favorite because of the suspense of Christmas day looming and the parties and family time.  This year though to do things a little different, we're doing breakfast at mom's BEFORE presents and lunch here after presents.  :))  That way, not EVERYTHING will be done and over with on Christmas Eve.  We'll still go to Regina's and Grandma's of course.  We'll eat dinner at grandma's and come home to read our "Twas' the Night Before Christmas" and open Christmas Eve presents.  Unlike most people, we don't care how late the kids stay up on Christmas Eve, because Santa doesn't come to our house until about 3-4 AM.  I am so excited.. probably more so than the kids lol.  A part of me wants it to hurry up and get here and a part of me wants it to last as long as possible!  Although once Christmas is gone, I'll be dreaming of spring and summer, ready to get in the pool..  ;)