The grocery shopping has been done, the bills have

been paid and now I'm gearing up for Christmas shopping tomorrow. Now I don't always do this, as a matter of fact, this is EARLY for me, I'm one of those shoppers that loves the rush, the adrenaline pumping shopping that comes with realizing that you are 1 week or a few days away from Christmas and have yet to buy a single present. Crazy???? I think so but I don't know what it is about being out there doing last minute shopping that really brings home the holidays for me.

Anyway, I decided to try it differently this year, so tomorrow we're hitting the stores. What's funny is that even though hubby and I both drive we like doing it together, we only go alone for each other's gifts, when it comes to the kids we go together WITH the kids. Ahhhh but you may wonder just how that is possible???? Easy, we hit the stores and switch off kids as we go, let's say me and Nicholas go buy Jasmine's stuff while Curt and Jasmine get some of Nic's......then we go to the next store and switch over, I will take Jas and he takes Nic. It's fun!

We've decided to set a budget this year and not go over it no matter how much we want to. It's so easy to get carried away and end up spending a small fortune on each kid. One thing we do is buy gifts for each kid and then buy some for them together........stuff that they will both enjoy doing.

Here's an example of some of the items that I'm looking at so far, just some ideas for joint gifts.

Kids:

Moon Sand Kit - My kids are fascinated with moon sand
Motosea Plug and Play - Something I know they will have a blast playing
Playdough Kit - Who doesn't love play dough?
Cranium Superfort Carnival Clubhouse - This is the only thing that they've begged for
Land Before Time "The Wisdom of Friends" - They LOVE Land Before Time
Five Little Monkeys Board Game - They love board games and this would be fun for them
Books - Here's a list of the best Christmas Children's books

As you can see I have a list of just a few items that I know the kids like or want and from there I can pretty much buy anything similar, doesn't mean it has to be exactly the same.

Last night I got into bed and since all my shows were reruns I was happy that my Netflix movies had come in. I had been waiting for so long to see Georgia Rule so it was the perfect opportunity. I LOVED IT.......really truly LOVED IT!

It was such a good movie and I'm not a Lindsay Lohan fan by all means, but this movie was really good. It's a good story, it's heartbreaking at some points and funny at others and it's filmed in Hull, Idaho. LOL
I know I know, I miss Idaho but seeing it in the movie made me miss it even more LOL

Anyway, if you're interested in learning more about the movie, go here for the story or here for the trailer.

Tonight we're all sitting down as a family to watch The Santa Clause 3......can't wait!

It's actually raining right now and it feels good. It's been a long time, now that I think about it, it's only rained once since we moved here back in July, can you believe that???

So it's humid and raining and cloudy and dark and I'm loving it, I have a sweater on and sweat pants with my little winter booties. Hahaha, I know, it sounds weird but I just love them and knowing that there's not many cold days here in Arizona, I always welcome a chance to wear them.

The kids are begging me for some so I'll have to ask my stepmom and my grandmother back in South Africa to make them a pair. I don't know how to, they made mine for me LOL

I'm off to do some housework and then cuddle on the couch with Nicholas for a bit before Jasmine and Curtis get home.

Have a wonderful friday, God Bless,