Happy Thanksgiving, Ya’ll!
I can't believe Thanksgiving is this week! It is crazy how fast this month has flown by. I wrapped most of the Christmas presents last night since Marin is staying at her NeNe and Papa's house this week. I am glad to get that over with and be able to focus on the tree and other decorations this weekend. I asked Eric to put outside lights on the house this year but he is in lazy mode lately and doesn't want the hassle. I am still trying to persuade him but I don't know if he is going to give in...we'll see.
Not much going on in our world lately. Eric still hasn't been assigned a project. If they could just get him assigned somewhere within driving distance we'll be ok. He was recently offered an assignment in New Jersey. Can't really swing a $1200/mo apartment rental plus our mortgage...and I am not moving to New Jersey! There are a lot of places I would consider moving to and New Jersey will NEVER make that list!!
Marin's teacher at preschool said Marin is great at following directions with her coloring and she knows her ABC's better than most of the three year olds. Alert the media! We've bred a genius!! It's hard for me to comprehend the significance of her learning to color and say the alphabet but I guess when you are that age it is impressive to the teachers. So I gave her extra M&M's to reward her. You don't have to tell me...I already know I am horrible!
Thanksgiving...What am I thankful for this year? I am thankful that Eric and I are both employed. We have been through rough patches in the past few months but have managed to make it through with only minor "scratches". I'm lucky to have people I can turn to if need be but I hate to show weakness so I refrain from ever asking of help and did whatever possible to make it on our own. So thanks to those who graceously wanted to help us...we love you all. But we preferred to buckle down and make it work. Some people might say I'm too proud but I prefer to think of myself of just being strong-willed.
Christmas Shopping is Done!
If you know me well then you know I HATE Christmas shopping during December. Stores are crowded, people get crazy and rude...and I don't want any part of it. So not only do I shop early, I also do the majority of my shopping online. I can now sit back, wait for my packages to arrive and enjoy the holidays without the fuss. Amazon is truly still one of my favorite sites but I have been a big Ebay shopper lately as well. Eric made a wishlist site last year for our family. I don't think its going to get much use this year. I think the adults in my family are doing a Chinese (White Elephant?) gift exchange instead of drawing names. But I did put Marin's list up there for anyone wondering what she wants. There is a feature where you can click sold (shopping cart icon) so the next person to look at the list will see what she's already got. I am not trying to ask people to buy her presents 
. I just know people will ask what she needs or wants so instead of thinking about it on the spot or having to verbally go over a list I have it all organized in one place. (Just found out from Eric that it requires a log in to see it but he will get that fixed shortly where you don't need it.) UPDATE: If asked for a username/password, leave them both blank and click 'Login'.
This year Eric and I have to fill each others stocking with goodies since Marin can't wake up Christmas morning to see Santa only filled her stocking. I think she would get suspicious if ours are empty. Yes, we have decided to spend Christmas at home this year. Usually we go to East Texas but now that Marin is old enough to know who Santa is we thought it better that he deliver her gifts to our house and not try to make up some crazy stories about how he tracked her down at someone else's house. But I am planning to spend the week after Christmas in East Texas to make up for it. New Years is always more fun with fireworks and we have to go to the country for that.
My friend Christy is expecting her first baby! I know she is nervous about it so I just pray it is healthy. She is due in June so I have to plan a trip to Arizona this summer. Boy, is it going to be HOT! The last time I went to Arizona it was in March a few years ago and the weather was perfect. But the summers are killer. It is a dessert after all!
Marin got sick on Halloween so she didn't get to really enjoy the holiday. We took her to a community trick or treat thing at the civic center in Diboll but she felt pretty bad and I am pretty sure she has fever. But she still wanted to do it and then when I got her back to the house that night I gave her Children's Mortin and she started to feel better. She did get to ride the "tractor" (what she calls my dad's 4 wheeler) and she took a couple of swings at the Halloween pinata at my parents party. I only got one picture of her the entire night which was her swinging at the pinata but her jacket was on so you couldn't really see her costume. I might have her put the costume on again this weekend to take a picture for her scrapbook so years from now she doesn't question why I didn't have any photos from Halloween 2009! 