Catch up from the Thanksgiving Holiday

A lot has happened since I last posted. I have been on here several times and started writing, but never got to finish.

Thanksgiving came and went. We had Thanksgiving here at my house this year. Every one was in attendance, but my oldest sister, Bridget. We had a good time. The guys didn't want to do anything, but play on the lap tops, which was kind of annoying, but they finally put those away later in the evening, long enough for us to play a game and watch a couple home videos, and of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a football game or two. While they were watching football I was putting my black Friday shopping list together. Brian and I left about 10:30 p.m. to head to Joplin. Wal-Mart's sale started at midnight. I had a few things in particular I wanted to get at Wal-Mart so I wanted to be there early to make sure I got what I wanted. All Brice has asked for for Christmas is Buzz and Woody from Toy Story. Well, they had them at WM on the BF sale for less than half price. So, that is what I went for, mainly. When we got to the store, there was already people lined up everywhere. All the "door buster" items were on pallets covered in black plastic. The black plastic had been ripped so people could peak in and see what was in them. Brian and I walked around the store for a while to see where everything was at and see where we needed to be come midnight to find Woody and Buzz. We finally ended up back in the dog food dept, waiting beside a pallet, of what one girl told us was what we were looking for. A few minutes before midnight, around the corner down through the house wears dept, you could hear people getting riled up and plastic being ripped to shreds. It didn't take but a second for the people in front of us to be ripping plastic in shreds too. I stepped back, because my idea of a fun black Friday shopping trip would not include getting trampled. After the women had their frenzy at the Buzz rack, I went to grab a Buzz and Woody as well. It was only Buzz and Jessie. No Woody's ANY WHERE. I was very disappointed. :o( I told Brian to stay there and I would go look back in another area where they had more toys and I would see if "he" was back there. I walked into the garden dept and sitting in the middle of the aisle, facing me with his arm up like he was waving at me sat 1 lone Woody doll. I just about cried. There was NO ONE around, so I grabbed him immediately. We were in WM for a couple more hrs, and in the whole store I only saw 1 other woman with a Woody doll. I don't know where they all went, but I know that God had that 1 Woody doll sitting in that aisle just for my Brice, and I know come Christmas morning he is going to be SOOOO excited!!! I can't wait.

Also while we were at WM we picked up a new bike for Carrie, hers was getting very small, a coffee maker for our church, some hoodys for the kids, and a few movies. We left WM about 2:00 and was going to head over to Toys R Us. We went by there, but it was very busy, so we decided to go to the mall. The only 2 stores in the mall opened at this hr was Old Navy (which was so full you couldn't stir them with a stick) and Bath and Body Works. There was a couple food places open in the food court. Sbarro's Pizza, the great cookie company and a Mexican place. Believe it or not, there was people at the mall eating pizza and Mexican food at 2:30 in the morning. We walked around the mall for a little bit, used the restrooms, and then went back to Toys R US. We got ONE of Bret's nerf guns he wanted. I like places that have their lines down to a science. We weren't in line very long at all, even with 100's of people in line. After our Toys R Us stop, we ventured to Sears for a pair of boots for Courtney, and some house shoes. We didn't find the house shoes, but I got her the boots and I think she will LOVE them. After Sears we went to Kohls. It is a little after 3:00 a.m. now. I only had 1 thing I was going in there to look for, but they didn't have it, so we exited as quick as we entered. We walked up to Target (they are in the same shopping center) but the line was so long waiting for the doors to open I wasn't willing to wait. We came back after it opened and every body got in. I had quite a bit of stuff I wanted at Target, and God blessed me once again, with everything on my kids' list. I got Carrie a doll, Courtney the new Tinker Bell movie and some house shoes, and Bret another Nerf gun.

It was about 7:30 a.m. and we ended up at Academy Sports. UGH!!! Brian went in to buy a gun that they had on sale. I was very excited for him, but my excitement dwindled quickly. We waited in line for an hour, but after that my back was hurting so bad, I couldn't stand any longer, I told him I was going to go wait in the van. I waited in the van for another 2 hours, before he ever came out. Needless to say I had cat napped a bit on and off waiting for him, and when he finally came back to the van I was zonked. I didn't want to do any more shopping. I was starving, cold, and extremely tired. We went to Chick-Fil-A for a chicken biscuit (my fave for breakfast) and then headed home. My parents were home with the kids, they were eating lunch when we got home. (it was a little after 11:00) When we got home, Brian had to get his gun out and play with it a while, I laid down about noon to take a nap. I slept about 2 hours. After I got up, I took a shower, and gave my mom a facial before we drove them back over to Springfield. It was so nice, because we were very tired, but we still had a whole other day to recoup from our Thursday night wondering around. LOL!!! We stayed in Saturday and just had a peaceful day at home. It was really nice.

Since Thanksgiving, it has been business as usual. School, church, work for Brian. We had our church holiday party (Thanksgiving and Christmas party together) the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We took my parents to Silver Dollar City for the Christmas festival of lights. They loved it.

Last Tuesday Bret went to feed our dog, Roxie. He called me on his walkie talkie and said there was something wrong with her, so I put some shoes and a coat on and went out to check on her. She was very sick. While I was outside with the sick dog, Brian was inside sick on the couch. So, he couldn't help me with her at all. So, Bret and I carried her up to the garage, and tried to make her comfortable, something inside me said she wasn't going to make it. Bret and I took turns going out and checking on her every little bit. When Brian left for work the next morning, I went out to check on her and her breathing was very labored and heavy. I didn't know how much longer she would make it. I felt horrible for her, but I didn't know what to do. I went back to bed, as I usually do after Brian leaves, and when I got up later that morning, and went out to check on her she had crawled out to our back porch and died. It was awful. I had to come in and tell all the kids. Brian text me on his break and asked how she was, I had to tell him via text she was dead. Then with it being Wed, he had to devise a plan to get her buried. He usually has very little time to get home, get showered and leave for church to be there on time as it is, so I figured he would have to do it after church that night. But he called me on his way home and said he was going to do it as soon as he got home so he could do it in what little day light was left. I was out there to help him with what I could. Let me tell you, the burial was harder than finding her on the back porch. It was awful! I just bawled. But here we are a week later, and we have all mended. I think it will be harder for the kids come this summer, when she is not out there for them to play with.

Now, here we are with a little over a week left till Christmas. I have actually gotten all my wrapping done already, which I can not believe. I usually stay up till 2 or 3 on Christmas Eve wrapping everything. Brian and I went Tuesday night and got all the stocking stuffers. So, I think we are pretty much set. I'm looking very forward to having Christmas here at home with my family. My parents, and oldest sister will be here to spend Christmas with us, so that will be nice. We will be heading to IL the Thursday after Christmas to Brian's parents for Christmas up there. I am so excited and blessed this holiday season. And since I have told you pretty much everything we're getting our kids you have to keep it a secret. ;o)

I'm going to get off here now. I'm not sure with the busy week ahead and the holidays coming up, when I will be on here again. So...

From Our House to Your's
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!