Hey look....a money forest!

On a rare occasion my loving husband, who has been working a ridiculous number of hours lately TO INCLUDE ALL DAY CHRISTMAS DAY, has the luxury of going in to work at 2 p.m.  So, with his 1 1/2 hour commute, that means he can actually eat breakfast with his family and leave the house at 12:30 instead of 4:30 a.m.!  AND....he's cooking breakfast to boot!  BONUS! 

Anyhoo....I digress.....so while our precious baby daughter is slowly waking up by watching cartoons on the couch and our son, who is a "mini-me" of his father is still sleeping, the hubster and I are taking advantage of some much needed one-on-one to TALK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION!  Now, anyone with kids will totally understand what I'm saying!  So during the course of our conversation I was sharing with him that I had picked up the photo disk from our good friend, Cindy South, containing the Christmas pictures of the kids and Addie Kate's 4-year-old pictures.  Just as I was educating my loving husband on my new venture, of making a delightful photo book in lieu of printing out tons of different sizes and buying numerous frames with nowhere to hang them....he suddenly interrupts me.  He grabs me by the shoulders and turns me toward the back yard, which we've endearingly renamed "Afghanistan" in honor of all of the holes our dogs have dug...the then says, "Don't worry honey, Look!" and I excitedly start searching the vast wasteland out our back doors.  "We've got a money forest growing in the backyard!"    KNOTHEAD!  This is why I'm married to him....he keeps me laughing!  I love my hubby! ;o)



Can't be serious for one second !!!



What it's all about....

I have been absolutely desperate to get all of the Christmas presents for my kids wrapped and under the tree.  One downside of homeschooling is that your kids are with you....ALL OF THE TIME !  So, there is no "me" time to get critical things done, like wrapping gifts for Christmas!  So, Granny Janny to the rescue and over she comes to pick them up.  Four and a half hours later, as I'm "wrapping things up", pardon the pun, I'm exhausted and wondering how in the world we've actually pulled this off without going into major debt.  I jump into the trusty mini-van and head over to pick up my kiddos.  Since I've spent a good part of my day pre-occupied with this chore, my husband decides that he will meet us for supper ( thank you Lord for the little things! ) and we decide to meet at Firehouse Subs.  During our meal, Frank tells me that they are working Christmas Day.  I knew this might happen as he gave me the "heads up" a couple of days ago.  I was hoping, or shall I say PRAYING really, REALLY HARD that it wouldn't happen....but it did. 

So, my M.O. when things don't go exactly how I want them to go?  Publix Strudel ! 

And conveniently enough, we were right next to Publix at the time.  So after supper, I bee bop on over and pick myself up a strudel and the kids pick up two half gallons of ice cream ( they are two for one, whoo hoo ! ) and we head home.  Where am I going with this story?  Here it is....My sweet little 8-year-old boy couldn't contain himself trying to get into the house to see all of the packages under the tree!  He immediately started counting, picking up and shaking all of the beautifully wrapped gifts bearing his name.  To see Christmas through the eyes of this blessing from God, this child He's entrusted to us to love, nurture, raise, teach and yes spoil just a little...is our little piece of heaven right here on earth!  I love my life !

Pre-Santa!  We are so blessed!