No better...

OKAY, so I haven't gotten any better about keeping up with posts! Between schoolwork, kids, work and life...this has gone to the back burner.
However, this is shaping up to be one of the best Christmases ever!!! The kids will be here today (Meggan, Jacob & Emalyn!) and my Auntie is driving in today as well from A-town. Rachel will be here this week, and Sunday everyone will get together for Em's 1st birthday party. If only my Daddy were here, it WOULD be the best Christmas ever!!! We will have a great holiday, though, I just know it. Emalyn's FIRST CHRISTMAS will be the best!!
My hubby turned 4-1 on Sunday (the 20th). Personally, I don't think that's so old...and he's still very handsome! We ate out with our parents and had a great day. Having birthdays this close to Christmas kinda stinks, but we always try to do something special. I think there were about four others at Cafe del Rio with birthdays as well, judging from all the singing going on by the waitstaff!!!!
I will post more and get some pics up after this celebration week. In the midst of all of this celebrating Christmas - and the real meaning of it, which is the birth of Jesus, which should never get lost in all of the gift buying and running around we do!!! - remember those who have lost someone dear to them and will not be having the best holiday. It seems like here lately there has been quite a bit of death, especially among young people, and even if it has been several months, this is the first Christmas to deal with that loss. I am praying for those and lifting them up...I remember what that first holiday was like without my Daddy. You can get through it, but it is not fun or easy.
Now, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS...and as I always say....HAPPY HOLLYdays!!!!!!

Thanksgiving...

is upon us! I am ready for a three-day work week, and eating too much with our family and friends on Thursday!!!

Wade and I celebrated 17 years of marriage on Saturday!!! I don't think I could've imagined staying together for this long back when we first got married, but here we are - better than ever, I suppose!! We were going to go away for the weekend, but instead decided to get rid of the kids :) and hang around the house ALONE. It was great - we spent Saturday out on the town shopping (which we never do together), then had a glass of wine and went back out for dinner and a movie. It was so nice - just to relax, not be on a schedule, enjoy each other's company.

Then Sunday the kiddos came home and it was back to the real world LOL!!!!

The kids are out of school this week, so that is one stress I'm not managing today. Wade is back to work for three days and I still have schoolwork, but I think I can make it. We were supposed to go to Nana's Thursday, but her boyfriend is having surgery so we will stay home and have everyone else come to our house. Then Friday I BOYCOTT all BLACK FRIDAY activities, and stay home and put up my Christmas decorations. The kids love it, and it will hopefully get me in the mood for the holidays this year. I am always thankful for the TRUE reason for Christmas, but it's been a very hard year. Meggan and Em and Jacob will be here Christmas Eve, so we should all have a great holiday together.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!