A Late Happy Birthday to Jesus

3 Very Important Christmas Shopping Lessons I Have Learned and Hope To Remember Next Year

I am revealing some of my crazy shopping habits here..don't judge. I admit I am somewhat addicted to "getting a good deal.":)

#1.  Do not buy things off of Amazon until the last possible date to buy to get in time for Christmas.  Lincoln has mentioned several times that he wants the Trios castle for Christmas, so much that I know he would be crushed if he didn't get it.  I even tried talking him out of it because I couldn't find it on sale, but he will look at the other choices and say, "I want that, but... I want the Trios castle the most."  Since Black Friday I have been pretty consistent about checking sales ads, ebay, and amazon for the lowest price.  Finally cracked down and bought it Thursday off of Amazon, and wouldn't you know, two days later it goes on sale at Toys R Us $20 cheaper!  I was not sure the seller I bought from from Amazon would allow returns, and by the time I found out that they would, the castle was sold out.  I can still buy it online, but then I can't use the %20 off coupon because you have to use it in the store, so the price would be about the same after shipping.  Took me awhile to get over stewing about this one.

#2.  Do not return things planning to purchase them again because you receive a $10off coupon afterwards. I did this and when I went back to buy them they were no longer on sale so would end up paying more.

#3. Make sure to pay attention to the time when you are looking online for 8 more dollars to spend to total $50 and get the$15 Kohls cash.  I spent so much time looking for something else to buy that I lost track of time and didn't buy anything until after midnight.  They were only doing the $15 cash on Cyber Monday, not Tuesday so I did not get the cash.  Took me a couple days to get over this one!!!

It seems like every year I decide things like this are just not worth it but I find myself doing them again next year. I am not sure saving 10, 20 dollars is worth it.  Maybe if I read this next year I won't do some of these same things again?  Doubt it... I am too much of a bargain shopper!

Hope this gives you a laugh and eases any Christmas prep "stress" you may be feeling.  Don't sweat the small stuff, and be thankful for the real reason for the season.  Thank you God for sending us your Son so that we may spend eternity with you.

More Thanksgiving pics and Lyla Singing

I am glad these two have each other b/c they were def. outnumbered that day.  With all the cousins I think there were 9 boys and 3 girls. There is only so long a girl can play tackle and guns and whatever else boys do for fun all the time.

Jumping is Lyla's favorite thing to do at Gm Pam's and Papa Ed's.  

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Lyla with some friends in her Sunday School class.  I think I took 6 pictures and never got one with them all looking at the camera.  I coudn't get Lyla to crack a smile, and when we told them to give each other hugs this is about the closest they got! 

Lyla had this serious expression pretty much the entire time.  She must have been really focusing on those songs!

Lincoln threw up that morning so he didn't get to sing.  I was a little disappointed because I was going to take a picture of them all dressed up.  He has apparently already figured out that dress clothes are uncomfortabe and it is a battle whenever I want him to wear a shirt/tie and dress shoes...which so far has been only a couple times a year, mostly Christmas and Easter!  Maybe that is my problem, I need to do it more often I think!  I think he even complained about the black pants when I had him try them on.  Do they really feel that different then khacki's?  Anyway...I am planning on recording them both singing their songs one day after church while they are dressed up again so I can  hopfully get more then 1 wear out of the Christmas clothes!  I was thinking about doing it today (Sunday a week after these pics were taken), but Lyla threw up last night so now she was home sick today.  Maybe next Sunday!  Hoping we can get this all over with before Christmas this year. Will post the video!

Thanksgiving

Blake and Lincoln.  Shooting "bad guys" is one of Lincoln's favorite things to do .  It could even come close to his beloved Mario Wii game that he plays with Gm Pam.

As far as I know this is the first time Lyla has touched the cats.  She used to cry every time one would walk past her!

Matt's cousins came one day and Gm Pam had her hands full to say the least!

Family picture!