So Close to Christmas

At the beginning of December I informed Mike that he would be doing the shopping this year~BIG MISTAKE. I have been in kind of a panic mode because I would have never waited this long to shop. I made him a list(he did not follow) well he couldn't see it because he CAN'T SEE!! He bought things that were not even on the list. I asked him to get a real nice gift and money, instead he got random gifts.
My poor babies I don't know what they are getting except for Celie.
This will not happen again trust me!! Now I am proud that he at least attempted and I guess he is what you call a thrift shopper, BUT NOT AT CHRISTMAS.
So this will be hopefully funny and not sad LOL
And then it's not really about the gifts, like Mike says"It's the thought that counts".
So when we give out all our gifts lets try and keep a straight face and thank Mikie for all his hard work and thought in this Christmas season!!!
And just remember Mama(Meme) will be doing it next year :0)

Christmas Tree

Well the good tree was a very good surprise and it didn't take long for me to get all the lights working. There are 700 lights and very pretty when plugged in.
I took some pictures of the tree before being decorated, I still haven't decided what to do yet.
I really prefer a real tree but we spent $200 on one and it had 1000's of bugs all over it. It gave me the creeps so we have had fake ones ever since. I remember when Matthew was little we would go out in the woods and find the "fir" trees and they would smell so good.
I also remember one Thanksgiving we went to IL and on the way back stopped in Dothan and got a beautiful tree, we had a station wagon and we were like the Griswold's and had it tied to the roof. The sap was all over the car:0)
Also most of the time when decorating the tree Mannheim Steam Roller was playing and very loud to. I love to hear Christmas music playing outside it just makes you feel good.
This Christmas is going to be a little different than all the others because Mikie will be doing all the shopping. I really wish he would do it online but that is out of the question. So I am really wondering how he will manage this by himself.

Let's start the Decorating

I made a purchase of a Christmas tree at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago. It is I think 8ft tall the picture looked really nice on the outside of the box. I had really no idea as to what it might really look like or even if there was a actual tree in the box. Last year I bought one and got it home and it had NO stand so it was useless, so it got trashed.
I have been really wanting to decorate the house and tree but have not had the time.
And it is really slipping away from me. Anyway, I was kinda scared to open the tree that originally cost $299 and I paid $19.99 :0)
When Celie went to bed I told Mike to go out and help me bring it in the house. The thing weighed a ton, I carried 2 pieces and Mike carried one.(Go figure)
We started setting the tree up and oh man what a GREAT surprise, it is beautiful. It is a pre-lit tree and some of the bulbs are not working but what the hay???? I paid $19.99 for this real looking tree with little pine cones on it.
I really would like to change out the whole tree theme this year with just maybe red glass balls and a nice tree topper. Mike is in disagreement with me but I usually win. I have had the same ornaments for years and I would like a change this year, nothing fancy just simple.
Oh by the way, all the lights on the tree do not work so we are replacing the burned out lights with new bulbs, this is a pain!!!!!
I will continue on another day.

I Told You It Was Coming

I remember when I worked at Interiors Etc. I would tell my co-workers in July, we only have 5 months until Christmas. They would laugh and say it's still summer.
Then one year I talked Renee into having "Christmas in July", that went really well.
And almost every year it has not been a "surprise" , until this year.
I am beginning to get a little nervous because this year(except for a couple of things)I have NO gifts. Pass out!!!!
I just wanted to let my family know that Mike will be buying Christmas this year. And yes, he waits until Christmas week. He says that they run sales all the time and he has plenty of time. So I just want to let my boys know that no telling what you will be getting and the grand babies please understand Papa is a last minute buyer!!
But in all reality it might be kind of fun because he has no idea and opening up the present probably will get a big laugh.
You know,I really think that we do forget why we even have Christmas. It's not all about us, it's all about Him our precious savior.
This year will be a BIG treat to the family as Mike has decided to take us all on a "Christmas/birthday vacation". I really hope that it will be lots of fun and for the grand kids I can't wait to see their eyes. None of them have ever been to Disney World, and I am so excited to be taking them. By this age of Matthew and Adam we probably went 2 times, it was really getting to be a little too much. Then we started going to Bush Gardens and Circus World which is no more now(circus world).
This is a start on the new blog post, but I have to leave it for a few so I will pick it up another day.