Thankful beyond measure

I cannot get my pictures to load. And I am not in the mood to mess with it to any great extent! Hubby is duck hunting. Par for the course this time of year. I have been in the house since Wed. afternoon with 3 kids. I.need.to. get.out. But other than that we have had a great holiday week.

My mom kept the two younger ones Wed. afternoon and Speck and I went shopping for our angels off the angel tree. He chose an 11 year old little boy and Little Man picked a 3 month old little girl. It was such a heart warming/mom moment for me. I was so proud of him and his perspective on things. And it reminded me how many blessings we have to be thankful for.

Since hubby decided he didn't want to go to his parents we stayed here and had my parents and grandparents over to eat. I got a sweet picture of all 3 kids with my grandma & papa. The kids played outside and we all took naps. Mom went shopping at midnight and got up again to go at 6. There were 2 things I wanted & she got them for me so I didn't have to get out in it. I am not a "black friday" person. I am finished with everything except my in laws and I figure that much my hubby can handle!

Getting there

Well, hubby and both boys are in south TX deer hunting so mom and I have been Christmas shopping all weekend. My legs hurt, my back hurts, my feet hurt. I am NOT a black Friday person. I won't leave the house at all next weekend. I really try not to go out at all after Thanksgiving. I do not like the crowds. All that said, I am almost finished! I have to physically go to the store to purchase 2 more things and everything else is online! WHOO HOO!!
I usually wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the trees. This year mom came over and helped me get it all out. They are up, but not decorated. I am waiting until everybody is here so we can do it together Thursday night. Just getting it all out was a chore. I have 6 big bags and 4 storage bins FULL of stuff to go to salvation army (it all had to come out of the way before I could even get to the Christmas stuff)
Speaking of the hunting trip, Speck shot a black buck this morning. He was so excited. Hubby's phone is only working sometimes and he hasn't been able to get me a picture yet. Now little man gets to shoot a management buck or an exotic doe. He's thrilled just to be there. It was a last minute decision that he even got to go! Merry Christmas to them about a month early!
We took Sis to see Santa today. She LOVED him. It was so cute. She is hilarious this year. Everything is so fun for her and she is amazed by it all. Now to help her understand the real meaning...

quickly....

Before I get as far behind as I did last time...We went to ACH on Monday & Speck has to have the ear surgery again. As of right now it is scheduled for Feb 10. If by chance the dr has a cancellation before the end of the year we are going to do it then. So it could literally be any day, but more likely it will be a few more months. I have started Christmas shopping. I am usually finished by now. It is making me crazy. Hubby and the boys left for Junction, TX this morning. It was a last minute surprise that Little Man got to go. Thankfully there was enough room (for whatever reason) and they had a bed for him! Now its just me and Sis til Tuesday. Going to try and get my tree down out of the attic this weekend. Or maybe just buy a new one, I think that might be easier. We will all decorate it Thursday night after dinner. We are having Thanksgiving here this year. Haven't done that since I was pregnant with sis. My MIL is not too happy with me. Even though it was HER SON who decided not to go visit :) and we invited them here. O well. Not the first time or the last I'm sure. The puppy is doing great. Super sweet and LOVES Little Man. She's a great buddy for him and we are starting to see some changes. Praying it lasts. Both boys have started going to church on Wed. nights and are LOVING it. Warms a mama's heart. Made a quick trip to Holiday Market this morning. About the only thing I came home with was a jar of maple pumpkin butter (I could make myself sick eating it) and several cupcakes. Just what I needed! It is holiday season so I guess its ok for now!

Waaayyy behind

Where do I even begin?!
I should be at bible study this morning. Instead I am home with a very cranky 2 year old. Its just a cold I'm sure, but she is coughing and sneezing and has a runny nose and a headache. Yuck! And the best part of that is I am supposed to work tonight so hubby will get to be responsible :) That is, of course if I actually go to work. I haven't been since the end of September because they haven't been busy.
Last weekend was youth weeknd for deer hunting. Speck went with hubbys dad for the first time and little man went with mine. Both of them saw deer but neither could get a good shot. Probably a good thing both were unsuccessful!

Speck goes to the ENT next Monday to find out about fixing his ear...again.

Hubby and I were supposed to go to Mexico 2 weeks ago and a hurricaine hit so we had to cancel. It was an early anniversary surprise from him. He even had the kids all taken care of !

Little man got a new puppy. She is a 12 week old tan/chocolate wire hair mini dachshund. She is so sweet and a true lap dog. We haven't ever had a small one so this is a new experience for us all. Even though she is his, I spend the most time with her so she is really attached. We went to the vet yesterday for her shots and she weighed a whole 4 pounds! Then she had a reaction and hubby had to take her back for more. Her poor little face looked like she had water balloons in her cheeks!

So far I have gotten to go to 2 AR football games! WHOO HOO! And I'm getting to go again this weekend, just girls. I think hubby would like it that way all the time. Then he wouldn't have to miss out on hunting!

My mom has made some super cute dresses for Sis. I'll have to post pics. She is a really good seamstress.

Sis is doing better at school. Almost no tears ;)

Halloween is the one day of the year I could completely skip. I detest it. But 2 of my 3 kiddos still like it. Sis was a princess and little man was a football player. Speck said he was too old to dress up but he was a big help with trick or treat. I walked with them and he took them to the door. Several people even felt sorry for him so they gave him candy anyway!

Normally by this time of year I am done Christmas shopping. So far I have one gift. My cards are ready to be mailed though :)

Hubby and speck leave next friday for the annual TX deer hunt. Geez...then its Thanksgiving. Then Christmas. WOW! Where is the time going?

I just finished Nicholas Sparks new book. "The Best of Me". It was good. Not "Notebook" or "Dear John" good, but good. Very different ending. NOT AT ALL what I thought though.