Whew!

I feel exhausted. I changed my ways of Christmas/birthday shopping this year. In the years past, I honestly shopped all year, especially hitting it hard starting in August for Christmas presents. Well, I discovered that instead of saving money like I thought I was doing, all I did was buy way too many presents because I bought the "bargains" year round, then still had to go out and buy what the kids actually wanted. So, this year, I wised up. Haha I went out tonight and bought exactly what the kids asked for. I probably spent more money at one time, but it will be less in the long run. Sadie's birthday is the 18th, so I had to go out and buy her present from Ryan's grandparents anyway (they give me money to buy the kids gifts), so Lisa and I thought we would make a night out of it and start Christmas shopping as well. It was a success! We went to Wal-Mart and Target and got our kids' main stuff. I hope my boys are understanding because their Santa pile is going to look ridiculously small, but the stuff they have been asking for is EXPENSIVE! So they are each getting 3 things that are tiny, but costly. I guess Sis' big ole kitchen will make them think they are getting less than her. I'll have to start prepping them now to help them understand that technology costs a lot more than toys. I'd like to list what I got them, but that Cobe is too smart for his own good, and will end up reading this and finding out as soon as I listed what I got him! Oh well! I also got Aliyah's and Maya's gifts and the rest of Sadie's birthday gifts (she is getting a bike helmet and a shopping cart from the Hains').

Brooks had his first real playdate today. It was the first time he has had his own friend over- someone that we didn't know the parents/family. It is a little boy in his preschool class named Evan that he has talked about non-stop. Evan's mom has been on bedrest all year b/c she is pregnant and having problems, so I thought we'd invite him over. (Plus Brooks asked every day!) They had a ball! Brooks can be quite shy sometimes, but you could tell those 2 were in their element together. Evan has Brooks' personality, but around each other, they were so cute. Ryan and I went to Sam's Club this morning to get our passport pictures taken JUST IN CASE we decide to hop a plane in the near future for somewhere tropical, and then we headed to pick up Evan. He is the firstborn, and his mom admitted how nervous she was for him to come over to our house since she didn't know us and Evan had never been to anyone's house to play. I tried my best to reassure her that we were okay people. :-) (No comment anyone!) We then went out to Pizza Hut for lunch and I went to work and Ryan brought the kids home to play. When I got home, his grandparents were here and they had Grandpa all handcuffed and tied up! They were having a blast. Grandpa is the boys' favorite playmate!

Sadie was a crabby pants all day. She got up and ate breakfast, and we put her right back to bed. She slept until 10:00 and was okay while we were at Sam's and Pizza Hut, but Ryan said she was crabby again when they got home. He put her down for another nap this afternoon and she slept about another hour and 15 minutes or so. I never can figure out her moods. I was glad that today was a day that I was gone a lot! Ryan and the kids went over to his mom's for dinner while I was shopping so they had a good time over there.

I am heading to unwind- not much going on this weekend. We are having pizza and movie night tomorrow night. Ryan bought the boys "A Night at the Museum" so we are going to watch that and hopefully Lynette is coming over to help us figure out some IPod/ ITunes stuff because we aren't too savvy in that category. Saturday, Cobe has a game and we are going swimming in the afternoon. Past that, no plans- which excites me! We are going over to Amanda's when Cobe gets done with school tomorrow because he has yet to meet his newest cousin! Okay, I have rambled enough for one night. Have a good one!