This is how I've spent most of today and it's been GLORIOUS! No plans on a Saturday in December and the boys have spent a lot of the day playing outside = Taylor Swift and gift wrapping.
Nick has been at Pebble Beach since Wednesday, playing in a golf tournament with his friend Ryan from work and Al & Teri. I've really enjoyed my time with the boys while he's been gone and a quiet house, although we all miss him a lot. I know he's having the best time and that makes me happy for him.
Yesterday I subbed at Durham, AKA Rivers Island, and we don't call it that for nothing. That is something else. You REALLY have to be on your A game with fifth and sixth graders (especially boys), and I often think, when doing this or confirmation or Beach Club with Everett... God gave me three boys for such a time as this. Good thing I can handle miscreants.
The highlights were: that Logan genuinely wanted me to be there and was so excited. That made it so worth it. I also loved getting a peek into his school life and his day, and getting to know some of the kids in his grade. But otherwise, give me kindergarten any day. They smell so much better too.
The night before was the neighborhood ladies' gift exchange and Christmas party at the Northcutt's house. This was the same party last year where I made a debut at the company Christmas party at Lonesome Dove, but things were a lot more tame and low key this year. Reese stayed with the boys, and not only did she cook Logan a "five star" (his words) omelet at 9 PM, they set up quite a little situation for Elfie which delighted and thrilled Everett and Beck the next morning. This is why we need the youth in our life. Logan would have gone to bed hungry and Elfie would have moved from the light to a shelf. 
A few tweaks with some new candles and a new star and moving some things around... I love how our house feels and looks this time of year!
This is my Elfie A game. The other night I forgot to move him and so that afternoon while the boys were at school I left this note. I hid some candy canes around the house which led them to some chocolates and elf books. This also delighted and thrilled them all... even Logan. Ha!
I finished decorating the house (I still say I'm doing it in October next year) and our Christmas cards. The ultimate life hack I found this year was that for $0.00 extra dollars, Minted will address your cards for you. It took me a while to format the spreadsheet but once I got that done violà... they just may have a customer for life. It cut my Christmas card time down by 3/4 at least. What usually takes me several hours over a couple of days took around an hour.
This past week I kept Peyton and Matthew. It was fun having just them while my boys were at school. We went to see the trains at church and play at the park. They loved the new park we found so much that we went back a second time after the boys got out of school, along with Mark.
After the trains they wanted to play on the indoor playground so we went in with all the young moms and toddlers. I texted Kylee and Beth, we are living much better lives than we were back in those days. Little kid days can be ROUGH! I can't imagine if Nick had gone to Pebble Beach for five days back then. We might not still be married.
But gah they're cute and sweet and funny and squishy.
Not amused
More wrapping, this time with Kacey Musgraves
And finally, Saturday night after we got home from Vegas we went with the Salomone/Allshouse crew to the White's Chapel Christmas worship service and dinner at Armends. It is so well done and beautiful. Like the kids' Christmas festival, this just feels like Christmas.
They were furious I made them dress up.
Getting one or two good pictures can be a battle. But gosh, it's still a million times easier than yesteryear of toddlers and little kids.
My Christmas shopping is basically all done (need two more things), the gifts are basically all wrapped (waiting on a couple of final things to come in the mail), the house is all decorated and lovely, the Christmas parties have all been attended (except for school)... now it feels like Christmas! We have Logan's birthday on Wednesday, the boys get out of school Thursday, and it is officially the Christmas holidays! Woo hoo!!
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