A weekend at home...

This has been a weird weekend.  We really had little to do, which is always strange, and a rare occurrence.  As usual, there is the laundry, dance class, Target, Jewel, meal planning, cleaning, and Weight Watchers.  We just didn't have any plans on top of that.  BTW - have you noticed that there are only 3 MORE WEEKENDS LEFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!?!?!

I'm starting to feel rushed.  Mostly because I have yet to do any Christmas shopping.  I am not really knowing what to get people yet, and usually I'd have a pretty good idea.  I am planning on sending care packages again this year, and have figured out what will be sent in them.  Christmas cards were completed today, except the stamp and in the mail part.  I still need to get stamps.  AND the pics we took have been divyed up, and now will need to be sent out.  Oh - AND CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 3 WEEKENDS AWAY!!!

I'm trying not to stress and kill myself this Christmas.  As you can see from the above, it's totally working (sarcasm).  No, really - I have a plan.  I'm going to go shopping next weekend.  Possibly get some baking done, or complete the baking the next weekend.  The weekend after, the fam arrives, and that is when stress will kick into overload.  Family, food, guests in my house = holidays.  

I'm looking forward to New Years.

So, this weekend, I had to escape.  That's right.  I was sitting on Saturday, Mia was napping, Olivia was flitting around, Tony was sleeping.  As I sat and watched him sleep, I was overwhelmed by the feeling that I'd been trying to smother for the past few days.  I needed to leave - and like NOW.

So, I did.  I walked out the door.  Went to Target - BY MYSELF.  I browsed the make up and nail polishes.  I looked through the Christmas stuff.  I meandered through the clothes, not searching for little kids frolicking through the clothes displays.  Not yelling to keep them near me.  Just, by myself, blowing off some steam, getting things done.

After that, I went to Jewel (this is one of the grocery chains in my area, for those that aren't familiar).  I didn't have to get a car-cart.  You know, the ones with the giant car on the front that are super hard to maneuver, and my kid won't stay in it - although the other (8 yo, 100 lbs) wants in.  I got to have a regular cart, didn't have to stop in the cereal aisle, didn't wander through snacks - just got to shop by myself.  And it didn't hurt to see firemen shopping either.  Firemen, rrrrgggggeeeellllleee (to quote Wayne Campbell).

It really was just what I needed.  Time away, by myself, not driving, not headed anywhere, just time.  It's helped me to decide on what I should try next.  So, we'll see how that goes.

Here are some pics from this weekend, and a little before.

We caught some SNL rerun today, with Lady Gaga as the musical guest.  Both my kids watched her sing/dance and began dancing themselves.  This was highly amusing to me, and then the little grabbed this headband and rocked it out - Flashdance style!

 

Later on Saturday, I enjoyed how our Christmas lights looked with the regular lights turned off.  I kinda like it.

 

This one decided to beg to sleep with me.  I'm not really sure where that comes from, my kids don't sleep in my bed.  But, the face was cute.

 

Apparently, this is how we get comfortable to watch TV.  This kid is kinda weird, yo.

 

 

Tony took this picture earlier this week.  Mostly, it shows how I need makeup, still have more weight to lose, oh, and how much that kid is loving me!  :-)

She is my snuggle bug.