Getting there!!

Alright so I'm walking around kinda smug (no not really) about how I'm SOOOO ready for Christmas but I do realize that I am kinda cheating this year. Its a lot easier to do everything when you cut out a good 1/4 of the stuff you usually do. So that is my secret to "doing it all" when the "all" is less than normal. HA! I'm totally exposed now. I want to just have fun with the kids, not be grumpy and tired because I'm worked to death. I find myself saying "oh, I'm not doing that this year" an awful lot. Really, the only thing I actually cut out of the norm was the Christmas cards ( I do actually have to do a very small handful to some far-away family members and out-of-state BFF's, we're talking less than 10, so that dosen't really count) and no crazy variety cookie/treat baking(one big 'ol batch of something easy, boom we're DONE) or lavish Christmas Eve Dinner. We're having Mexican food. Most likely on Holiday paper plates, because my kids don't like soup that much, and I don't wanna wash Christmas dishes. So throw the Christmas Eve soup tradition outta here for now, yeah baby!!! And we are going to have so much fun!

I think my SIL was a wee bit dissapointed hearing that there would be no fabulous sugar cookies with cream cheese lemon frosting, but she and my BIL will survive. I'll give her the recipe.

Mark and I got some of the presents wrapped and under the tree last night. We are hoping it will be a loud reminder for them to be on their best Santa behavior. It was so fun watching them discover what we had done. Ther are 3 really BIG boxes all wrapped up for the 3 younger boys, something awesome that they didn't really expect or ask for but we stumbled upon for a bargain, and they are puzzled beyond belief. Its so great. They have no clue what could be in these big boxes, and I'm sure Cade and Sadie are worried as to why THEY dont' have big boxes like that. ooooh its so confusing!! I love it! I know when they are bigger I am going to miss these times like crazy. Its one of the VERY few times I don't want them to get bigger. Dayton just goes in there and watches the presents, trying to x-ray vision the paper, just mesmerized. Its the best.