The in between

Madison and Andrew got the girls matching jeeps. Jim and I have a little bet on how long before Wrenley drives herself to Casey’s.  

I am so happy that Madison, Andrew and the girls are back!  I know they have lots of people who love them and want to spend time with them, but I don’t like to share.   Just kidding.  Sort of.  I did really miss them though.  The holidays are more fun with their enthusiasm.  And toys.  I want toys around for Christmas.  New, cool, unique fun toys.   
 

We have reached the magical time of year where the kids are on break, Jim and I have had days off, and nobody really even knows what day it is.  My tired, sad, old brain is thoroughly confused.  I am not sure who decided things should be open between Christmas and New Year’s Day but they were not nice people.  

Also, I tried to do most of my shopping online this year. I did not do a good job.  At all.  For my kids, it is fine, they are happy that I filled in the blanks with straight cash.  For the little girls, well when I was wrapping I realized I had shorted one pretty severely.  In fairness, I believe I put things in carts and then just didn’t finish checking out. 

Saige and Harper were happy  to go with me and pick some stuff out.  Since they were in Virginia, we had time to make it right!  We had a fun afternoon shopping and running errands.   We also picked up some paint samples for the “great bedroom relocation project of 2025” which is going to mean an inordinate amount of painting and coordinating but should give us plenty of projects to carry us through the winter months! Not sure I have broken this news to Jim yet.  I have extensive plans and ideas.  He will be so excited!  (When he sees how happy I am to get this stuff accomplished I am sure he really will be happy.)

One thing that we usually do at the holidays is build some gingerbread houses.  We generally fail at this activity, but it is still fun.  When we were out shopping, the girls asked if we could get some of the kits (bonus- they were on the Christmas clearance sales) and we can do them with Evie this weekend.  I said sure.  Saige and Harper each picked one, and then Saige asked if she could get the Oreo train to do herself.  They were like $2 each so I indulged her.  She did not put the train together. Instead, she took the cookie pieces and decorated them like they were sugar cookies. And then the girls and Jim had a snack.  It was cheap entertainment.  

There were some of the employees wanting to take off over the holidays, so I have been helping out covering shifts at the liquor store.   It is weird for me to be there during the week, as I usually only work weekends.  I think that has not helped my sense of “what day is this?” I actually like working there.  If it was my full time job, I doubt I would like it as much, but it is a fun place to throw a few hours a month, the owners are great to work for, and I like the customers.  It is usually pretty busy so the time goes by quickly too! 

Aside from working and hanging with the kids, we have just been chilling out. Which is what we all really needed.   Jim had an MRI yesterday to check a few things he has been experiencing.  Everything looks normal so we are very thankful for that.