It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

"5 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS MOM" was my wake up call this morning! My first thought was, ugh, only 5 days left? Why does Christmas sneak up on me every year? I know when it is....you think I could be prepared. Am I the only one frantically trying to get every last detail right? Every morning I make a list and never seem to get it all checked off! Here's what we've been up to!

We decorated 2 trees this year, one in Carter's room for the kids, and our family tree. We put the tree in Carter's room at the foot of his bed and he put all the ornaments on one side (near his bed) and then moved his pillow to the end of the bed to sleep closer to the tree. This makes me smile as I type this, as this is what Christmas is about! Claire has been busy undecorating the trees. She brings me ornaments and says "uh oh"

Carter and his "Santa socks"

Claire decorating herself!

We visited Santa today and it went just as I thought it would. Mind you I did not intend to be in the picture, but that is the only way Claire would even get close to the guy in the suit. The picture lady asked me if it was okay if she had her fingers in her mouth...just take the picture already! She was much better after having some ice cream!

I was going to boycott Christmas cards this year as I simply was running out of time. But, the guilt got to me and decided at the last minute to order some. So, they really won't be Christmas cards but Happy New Year cards by the time everyone gets them! I love putting our cards up to display. I save the cards each year and go through them when I get out our decorations out.

The second weekend in December I was able to get away for a couple of days to help my friend Kirsty celebrate her 40th birthday. A group of 8 of us met up in Breckenridge. It was an AMAZING time! We lounged in our pj's around the fireplace, ate ice cream, drank a lot of baileys and cocoa, laughed and cried. It was a well needed break. I could not have gone without the help of my hubby and sister! Thanks guys for letting me get away!

We will definitely have a white Christmas here in Iowa. We were buried with snow a couple of weeks ago and still haven't found the bottom. It was truly a snow day as we could not get out! Word is we are going to get another round this week.

My attempt to make it to work. I got stuck 8 feet out of the garage!

My men heading out to save us all!

Making a path on the deck for the doggies!

This was the first round of snow, you can still see the grass!

Luckily I only have to work 2 days this week! The kids and I are going to spend Thursday baking and decorating cookies. Once Jeremy gets home, we'll have a special dinner followed by church, then back home to open presents. Christmas morning Santa will come, then we head out to visit both sets of parents then home that evening. We will head back on Sunday to spend Christmas with my grandparents at the Allen House, then back to mom and dad's to spend Christmas with my dad's family. Everyone catch that? Crazy I know!!! We hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!

GOOD BYE NOVEMBER!

Um..can someone tell me where November went? I have a feeling December will go even faster. Here is a quick Freeman family update!

The first weekend in November I had my annual B&B scrapbooking weekend at PJ's & Pigtails. It was once again a weekend to remember. This year they added a massage therapist to work us all over and TV's in the workroom to watch movies as we worked. The food and fellowship is amazing! It was a productive weekend for me! I was able to get Claire's baby book finished! Now that I am sorta "caught up" I have to decide if I want to go digital or continue with the traditional scrapbooking.

We enrolled Carter in his first extra-curricular activity at the start of the month. He is taking TaeKwonDo at the local martial arts school. He goes twice a week and looks so stinkin cute in his little outfit! So far he has earned 3 "tapes" on his belt, one for good listening in class, one for being kind to another in class, and one for bringing in something he was thankful for. We are really happy with the purpose of the class, learning discipline!!

Dress as silly as you can day at school!

Claire continues to grow like a weed. She had her school picture taken at daycare this month. I was surprisingly pleased how well it turned out! No snot on her face, no fly away hairs and most importantly her fingers weren't in her mouth! She did sneak them in her mouth for the class picture though! Can you imagine trying to get 8 one year olds to sit still for a class picture? Kuddos to the photographer!
Claire continues to make us laugh daily with her personality. She will make fun out of anything! She is totally content playing with a wrapper or in the cupboards looking for treasures. She can be a little diva ( I have NO idea where this is coming from) playing in her purse with her sunglasses and bracelets in her fuzzy pink slippers talking on her cell phone, or her more favorite personality is growling at us with the Hulk gloves on!

She shakes her head no to everything and has expanded her vocabulary to "Hi, night night and bye" She is so smart and now knows 4 body parts! She also will go get her shoes and point to the closet for her coat when we are getting ready to go somewhere. She will also bring me hair bows to put in her hair before we go anywhere. Her hair is getting pretty long, thus her bed head after nap and in the morning is pretty bad!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we filled our bellies full of good food at Jeremy's mom's on Thanksgiving day. I am so thankful for my little family!

Although I had to work on Black Friday, I ventured out at 4am to get the buy of the year!! I thought I was beating the crowd at Walmart but come to find out some of the things went on sale at midnight ( our Walmart is usually NOT open 24 hours at day) So, instead of being early, I was actually 4 hours late! I went to get a Cricut Expression only to find out they were already gone. I was so bummed out! I walked the mile back to the car pouting. I called some friends to check other Walmarts but no luck! My mom made a last ditch effort to check the Walmart close to her and lo and behold they had ONE left at 11 am!! My new pride and joy! Yep, it says $188! Merry Christmas to me!!

We are starting to gear up for Christmas! Our elf, Sam, has arrived! Carter talks to him all the time and his behavior has been SUPERB since his arrival! Thank you to however created The Elf on the Shelf! I am hoping to start decorating this weekend! Pictures to follow!