Told you so!!

And just like that, Christmas is upon us!!  Halloween was amazing being in the neighborhood just like I imagined.  It is now exactly two weeks until Thanksgiving!  I am so very excited to spend the day at home and then going out to Black Friday!  The house is decorated for Christmas and there are even some presents under the tree.  I cannot wait to finish up Christmas shopping for the kids and family.  (Also extremely exited for Christmas brunch!)

There are ONLY 217 days until Christmas!!

I know that Christmas seems "so far off" but think about it this way... school is out in less than 10 days.. summer is a few months (less than 3!) and before you know it, school will be starting again.  Once school starts, it's a whirlwind of school supplies, fall holidays, and yes.. CHRISTMAS!  My best Christmases are the ones I started preparing for in June/July.  Last year, I didn't prepare thinking I had time.  Between unexpected hospital stays and buying a house at the same time.. it was thrown together and the holiday spirit just wasn't there.  Thanksgiving was spent cooking and driving and in the end.. we barely got to sit down and eat.  :/  Christmas was sad and I was so over it, I packed it all away before the day was over.  I don't want that to happen this year.  On Thanksgiving, we'll stay home and cook and eat and enjoy the day.  Christmas this year will hopefully be less stressful and happier.  That being said.. let me get to my point...

I have started buying presents and got some big ones out of the way!!  Yes you heard me.. I have bought some Christmas presents in May.  I ordered quite a few this week and I'm so happy that I did.  I have to do double this year.. We have been blessed with this beautiful home I get to buy decorations for and we're blessed to have a full house this Christmas.  Starting early is definitely the way to go.

Moving on to other holiday talk.. Halloween this year will be the first year we've lived in a neighborhood to be able to hand out candy and trick or treat!  It'll be our first year hosting some dinners and parties too!

New house, new schools, new traditions.

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1. Enough said.

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Lush

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Sleeping bags

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Birthdays

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Bubbles!