good morning...

What a busy weekend...it never fails...I always have great plans to b home, relax, watch a cmas movie, etc. Then, we get wild ideas and the whole weekend is gone in a flash. We had fun this weekend, but man, I'm exhausted.

On Friday, Jacob, Ava, and I (and Trista part of the day) were shopping from 9am till 530 ish. What a day! Jacob was a real trooper. We had 4 jubilee presents to get for church, plus 2 angel tree kids (for Shad's work...we buy all their gifts, not just one each). We were in Loogootee and Washington, but got everything done I think. Jacob is just grasping that we buy gifts for other people and not just ourselves. Ava is all about buying for everyone else. We have to beg her to buy for herself instead of everyone else. Baby Emily is her greatest mission in life right now. She would give everything for that precious little baby! Every time we go somewhere (including the thrift...sorry Mandy), she immediately goes to baby items to buy for baby Emily.

Saturday morning was our visit with Santa...the "real" santa couldn't come, so a sub was there. Jacob couldn't believe he knew his name without mommy telling him. Ava...well, she wasn't falling for it. She didn't get too close and when we left, she said..."Mom...i hate to tell you, but that wasn't Santa...it was Denny" (Brunson). Hmmmm....I told her it was too slick for the real santa...hope she doesn't realize that sleighs are for slick weather! Jake fell hard...he told Santa everything he wanted and jumped right up on his lap for a squeeze. Thanks Mel and Denny...

Then, it was on to Miss Cmas Mouse at the courthouse...Tera, I, and all the kids have kinda made a tradition of going to this...we always pose for a group pic and Tera thought she was getting out of it this yr, but she was wrong. I had a fit. We were not breaking tradition...so we got our pics and they were one of the best ones yet...thanks Tera... It's always a chaotic mess with all the kids and cookie decorating, and letters to santa, etc. , but the kids had a ball. Then, to Gatti's for a fun lunch (ended up being a bday lunch for me from Tera...thanks again) and to our surprise, ended up in a play date for Ava and Braylee that afternoon. Mom and I made a last minute trip to Eville and finished up our shopping.

Sunday was crazy...almost late for church, sunday school, lunch, then small groups at our house. It was a great time, but my husband said that next time, we're ordering pizza. I always enjoy getting everything ready and hosting, but for some reason, always overdo it and stress out a bit. Must be the Stoll in me:)