Yeah for the holidays!

As I read blogs tonite, I find myself compelled to write. However, I am not sure I can write with the intellect that Sara has. Her blog made me cry as I thought of my own feelings on her topic. So just bear with me. I am sorry if I ramble.

It's the holidays and I am so happy about it. I love the time off of work and the time I get to spend with my family. As Halloween approaches, I am always busy with planning costumes and school events and I think of the holidays with dread. Here it comes...so much to do...not enough time...no money for presents...doing our best to get to everyone's houses all in one day and make everyone feel like we spent a decent amount of time with them. That part is really stressful. But, I don't think I would trade it for the world. Chance and I have always wished to have the holidays at our house. As many of you remember, we tried that when we first moved in here. I felt like I was packing everyone in a sardine can. So, I will not ask everyone to suffer until I get a larger house. But I hope to host at some point in the future! And no matter what the worries, as the days get closer, I get so excited and ready for it. I actually want to cook stuff. And this year that want is worse with my new oven. I get it all together and stress over hauling it but I'm always happy to do it. I then spend the rest of my day trying to visit with the family and inside worrying all day long how Tristan is behaving. He's like his father and can't sit still. He's getting better as he gets older but he's never his cute little gentleman self when I want him to be. Why is that?

As our family grows, I do get sad over the fact we can't all get together like in the past. I really miss that. And with Chance's family, I really have a much larger family to enjoy. But it's still not like it was when growing up. But I understand why we are all in our separate places. So this year, I am thankful for technology as well as all the other blessings in my life. Without the internet and these blogs, I wouldn't know much about how everyone is doing. Before these blogs, I would get on the computer once in a while, with weeks in between. There's only so much surfing one can do. Besides I like to read. Email has been great, but who takes the time to sit down and write about their day and email it to the extended family? Not many of us...unless it's something really important. Now I find myself turning on the computer everyday. The first thing I do, is open all the blogs. I have found I need to check and see if anyone has updated. I am almost always disappointed if no one has. All I need is one update to get me through the day. Oh and comments. I need to see comments too! Now, I know my cousins. And as we all get our parents hooked up, I am getting to know my aunts and uncles more. Even though we are all separate, we are so much closer than we were before. Isn't that just amazing when you think about it? Of course, its' still not as good as picking up the phone and visiting...something I am very guilty about not doing. Mom is the only one who gets the hour long phone calls. But, by the time I can sit down and visit, it is late at night after everyone is in bed. It's too late to call anyway. She and I often IM rather than talk on the phone. Now isn't that crazy too???? So, my list of blogs has grown immensely. I am anxiously awaiting Jackie and my other cousins in Tennessee to get on board. And also for Sami to get Pat on this blogspot so I can comment to her as well. Terry....haven't heard from you since April! Dad...need to ramble more! I wish we could get Moms a computer and teach her to use it. What a wonderful blog that one would be! One to print off and make a book, that's for sure. Chance's grandma got her first computer at the age of 74. They tell me she never gets off it! I get about 10 emails from her a day. That has been so delightful.

We also have to plan Taylor's birthday during Thanksgiving every year. That adds to the stress but we pull it off. That kid gets at least 4 different birthday parties. What a life! So, I'm planning birthday cake for one event and I'm actually baking little heart shaped cakes for the party at my sister-in-law's house. On Wednesday, I am taking her to see the All American Rejects concert as part of her birthday present. It is going to be just her and me. I hope all goes well as you know how we've been touch and go lately. But I think her excitement will take over and we will have a good time nonetheless. That event will hinder my baking as I will not have any evening to do so. So I will have to get up early on Thursday to prepare everything. I think this may be one of those years we might not be as timely as we prefer. No snickering out there. I have been on time on occasion!

We also have a tradition at our house to decorate for Christmas and put up the tree on Thanksgiving weekend. So that is something to look forward to as well. I love getting out all the stuff and ooing and awwing over the stuff I forget I have. Chance also puts the lights on the house. Tristan has seen other lights and has been begging for ours to go up. He informed me today that Thanksgiving is here and we need to get them up now. I can't wait to get it out but I also am usually ready to put it all up by the time Christmas day arrives! Am I ever happy??? LOL

I am also proud to say that we have much of our Christmas shopping done. Other than stocking stuffers, we are done with the kids! Woo Hoo! I so love preparing for Santa and them getting up to find their goods. Taylor knows that drill but she still gets a Santa gift too. We put out cookies and milk and she now likes to drink and eat them for Chance.

Well I guess I've written way too much. I just wanted to say that I am thankful for my family too. I love reading the blogs. And I'm thrilled to death that Beth is home.

XXXOOO