Glittery Trees at Walmart

    I went to Walmart the other day with my dear friend. When we walked in I was greeted by the trees they spray silver sparkles on and I just felt like Christmas has truly arrived you know? When Walmart has their sparkly trees and their trays and boxes of chocolates right by the front door...you know Halloween is really over and it is time to start at least thinking about what the heck to get in the way of gifts for everyone, and if you are really going to write eighty Christmas cards, print eighty family pictures, buy eighty stamps, lick eighty envelopes and send all eighty of those cards/newletter/pictures out into the big wide world! Will you? Wont you? It is up to you and you alone and if you really don't want to ~ then don't. We will all be fine. We know you love us and we love you!! (This is just a little reminder to myself)

  As I strolled around Walmart I managed to get 720 pictures developed...yes 720! and procure some footless sleepers (PJ's) for my three youngest which they will love. I warned them all that this year I was going to get them about four things each and the gifts would all be pretty practical. In the past I have gone overboard at Christmas mainly because through the year I didn't have the money to buy them things like new socks and shoes and Christmas felt like the right time to do all that. There were so many gifts to open! However three of my children have birthdays right around Christmas and this year I have been able to keep a bit more abreast of their clothing needs so this year they are getting some PJ's maybe a DVD each or some stories on CD and one thing from their Christmas list and that is it. They will be thrilled though an I am thankful about that.

  This year also I am not totally sure what to do about a Christmas tree. We have a six month old kitten who has two dreams in life, well three. One is to get outside, another is to capture a bird (and I assume eat it) and her last but very dear wish is to climb a tree. I have a feeling if we get a Christmas tree no matter what size she will be spending quite a bit of time IN the tree. In the past when we had a baby that would be trying the same thing we gated the tree in and kept the baby safe. I am fully aware that no gate is going to keep out this kitten. I am sure we will manage with much hilarity and tree needles on the carpet. I think we will keep decorating to a minimum.

  For the past quite a few years I have hosted a family Christmas dinner at my house (which usually means about twenty people) and this year I am not doing that. I have multiple reasons but this year I just feel like I would like to keep things a bit more simple. I am hoping this wont be a let down for my children but that we can make the day even more special as I wont be trying to last minute clean and prepare and cook before everyone arrives.

Has the year flown by for you?

  Do you feel like a lot of it has been not enjoyed as fully as you would have liked it to be? Well, you still have time right? There is still half of November and all of December!!!!! I hope you are looking forward to creating some lovely memories for this last little bit of 2017. I know that I am. Why, just tonight I bundled all four children up and we went for a walk in the pouring rain in the darkest of dark. We had some flashlights, two umbrellas and a lot of reflective gear. My very active seven year old was leaping in puddles, running through the fields, trying to catch flashlight beams and so enjoying every second of this incredibly wet walk. My twelve year old chatted happily and my three year old awkwardly held the end of my umbrella as he felt the need to hold an umbrella too. My seven year old had one of my gloves my three year old the other. My ten year old was looking for owls in the trees. My husband who claims to melt in rain actually came on the walk and survived. It was just one of those little moments that don't happen often but that are just purely good. Now everyone is snuggled down in various beds hopefully asleep and my husband is helping my sister look for a new car. The kitten is sitting beside me quietly and another day has come to a close.

Have a lovely day tomorrow ~
Love Tansy