lots of pictures with no kids in them!

 D and I went on our grown up trip! We went up to Pigeon Forge, TN for 3 nights. We'd never been there before, but we knew it was near the Smoky Mountains. We were picturing a quaint little mountain town.

You can see the mountains way in the distance from our hotel room window.

Pigeon Forge was not a quaint little mountain town. It was a Redneck Las Vegas. I'm not saying we didn't have fun - we did - but it was just not quite what I saw in my head. Gatlinburg, TN was closer to what I was thinking of. Regardless, we had fun. We went to a movie, went shopping, went to the Dixie Stampede (something I would probably not do again), and to another show called The Lumberjack Feud, which was quite entertaining. We went to 3 different wineries for wine tastings and that was awesome. We bought... a few... to bring home.

  My favorite part was when we went to the mountains. It's so gorgeous there!

That's me way up there...

It was so much fun! We did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. We called home several times and I joked that my parents would run out of there when we got home. My mom sounded a little frazzled on the phone a couple of times. I think they had just about figured out a good system when we came home. Three nights was really enough though... I started to really miss the kids after a couple days. The boys did great and I doubt they missed us much. Miss L, on the other hand, has barely let me out of her sight since I came home. She was fine while we were gone, but she definitely missed us!

Oh, and the food. Oh! The food!
I probably gained back every ounce I've worked so hard to lose over the last few months. The food was so delicious. Corn fritters and creamy soups and some sort of sinful, whipped butter. Mmmm!
(If I could eat at this place every meal, I would. I'm certain it would not be a good idea.)

What a lovely Christmas present it was! 

My parents went home this morning, and time continues to fly by. I still can't quite comprehend that 2012 is almost here. Christmas will be here in mere days! I'm quite possibly as excited as the kids are!

What war? Vacation & Christmas tidbits

* I keep hearing about this War On Christmas, but frankly... I don't see it. Saying happy holidays as a greeting, on a sign, or on a card does not, in my opinion, diminish Christmas in any way. You don't hear people complaining about the War On Hanukkah.
You want to celebrate Christmas? Do it. There's no war out there.

* Friday, I hand addressed, stamped and stuck address labels on 73 Christmas cards. It took me dang near all day, and I realized I could never work from home with the kids here, because even that task was enough to make me (and them) crazy and it's not like I actually had to use much brain power.

* Saturday, I wrapped 49 Christmas presents, including the ones to my kids from us, the ones to grandparents and other family members, teachers, friends, D, and the kids gifts to each other. I haven't wrapped the ones from the inlaws to the kids yet. Santa doesn't wrap; lucky bastard.

* This Saturday D & I are going on our 10 year (6 months early...) anniversary trip! We've never left the kids and gone on a trip before - EVER. The only time we've spent nights away was when I was having other babies, and even then it was usually just me at night, and D was at home. I'm so excited and so nervous! My parents are coming down to watch the kids and I know they'll be fine, and it helps that they are at their own house with their own stuff. I'm not too worried about the boys, especially the older two, but Miss L is SO VERY ATTACHED to me. It's ridiculous, really. I'm nervous, but it's only 3 nights, right? I mean... she'll be fine, right? RIGHT?

* We're deep in the Christmas spirit around here. We're doing our advent calendars every day, Edward the elf is causing trouble every night, and we had dinner with Santa last week. We went to the Galaxy of Lights on Friday (a drive through light show about 2 miles long) and Saturday we made our gingerbread house. Either this week or next, we'll do our last Christmas outing to Santa's Village, and then all that's left is to make some Christmas cookies for fun and for a cookie exchange, and wait for Christmas Eve, when we make Baby Jesus' birthday cake.  (I'm questioning this tradition that brings MORE sweets into a sugar coma season, so it might be a teeny one this year.)
Oh, and we have all the boys' Christmas parties this week. (Plus my parents are coming, and we have 2 doctors appointments, and hopefully - please, oh please, oh please - no one will get sick!)

owls and coffee and mugs, oh my!

I got a lovely package in the mail from Saly! The note said to open it all at once, so I did! You don't have to tell me twice!!

There was a big beautiful coffee mug! Gorgeous! I was all set to take a picture of me sipping coffee from my new mug, but I was up half the night feeling like dying, so I do not look suitable for pictures.

There were some lovely, SOFT Christmas socks, which Edward the Elf decided to snitch over night. I'll get those back tomorrow.

COFFEE! MMMM!

A gorgeous card, a Starbucks gift card (omg! yum!) and some other neat things, like a weekly planner, body butter, lotion and a pretty, pretty nail polish!

It all came in this pretty bag, which Miss L tried to bogart immediately. No way, kid!

There were also some delicious chocolates, which are not pictured for obvious reasons. ;)

And, since I didn't mention it here before, Shelly sent me some sweet owl notecards! LOVE THEM!

Supper with Santa

You guys, I have ALWAYS loved Christmas, but there is nothing that compares to Christmas as a parent. I mean, what's not to love when you're a kid? Presents! Cookies! Lights! Trees!
As a young adult, Christmas wasn't as much fun as it was when I was a kid. I mean, there were still some gifts but it's not exactly the same experience as when you're a child.

Now, I get to make Christmas magical for my kids. There is nothing that can top that! I'm also a gift giver by nature, so this time of year has me absolutely giddy with excitement!
Santa, our elf; Edward, cookie baking, tree decorating, house lights that dance to music, gingerbread houses, birthday cakes for Baby Jesus, our local Galaxy of Lights tour, and of course, Christmas morning! If I don't get one single gift I will still be ridiculously happy on Christmas morning. It's magic!

We had dinner with Santa tonight at our local children's museum and it was so much fun! All the boys are so excited leading up to it, but then kind of clam up and whisper their wishes to Santa. Miss L was surprisingly excited too and wasn't scared of Santa at all this year, thankfully. 

Bring on the Christmas spirit!

Lulu

Dear Miss L,
Where to begin? I knew the moment you were born that our family was truly complete, and it's so bittersweet that the last 2 years have flown by so fast. I have enjoyed your babyhood so very much, even with all the bumps along the way.
Your brothers adore you, your daddy spoils you, and your mama babies you. You definitely think of yourself as The Boss around here, and we all let you get away with it - for now.
You love animals, Mickey Mouse, babies, and most of all - me. You are a mama's girl through and through, barely ever straying from my side. While it can get tiresome, I know it's going to be as short lived as those sleepless nights so I try not to wish it away just yet.
You filled a place in my heart that I didn't know was empty, and I'm so happy to call you my daughter.
We love you!