december just zips by so quickly

Hi ladies! I have more vacation photos, plus a couple fun and easy Christmas crafts to post before Christmas, but I haven't had a chance to get it together yet. We've had two weird weeks of sleep (and non-sleep) with jet lag on both ends of the trip, but I'm hoping this weekend brings a close to all that. I haven't been up past 8 p.m. this week. :)

I don't think I'll get a suziebeezieland newsletter out this month, and I doubt that I'll get a December version of the bookstore up, either. Maybe. We'll see.

I got the house cleaned and the laundry caught up on Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday I got the Christmas decorations out and did some of that.  Bob brought a Christmas tree home from work on Tuesday night, but when he walked in the door he found that Claire and I were asleep on the sofa already! :) (It was about 7 p.m.)  So we decorated it Wednesday night, instead. Bob and I both noted that something was missing this year, and then we remembered that we threw away all our glass balls last year, because they were getting chipped and old. We had said "we'll just get more next year." They really refract light, and the tree is not sparkly without them! I need to get to Target to get some.

Yesterday (Thursday) we had our Bible study Christmas party here.  We had fifteen women, and lots of good food and laughter and a fun gift exchange. This morning Bob and I went to the Friday chapel at Claire's school, because she got a little Citizen of the Month award for the character quality of "loyalty". It was so cute. She didn't know she was going to get it, so she was nervous and excited and shy, all at once. And confused as to why we were there! :)

Tonight my niece and nephew are coming over. Hooray!

Tomorrow night Bob and I have one of two Christmas parties to go to for his firm. I just found out we're going to it in a limo with the other partners and their wives. This is a nice convenience, but it might mean I need new shoes! I was expecting to be able to hide my shoes under the table, but I don't think I can hide them in a limo. :) We've got the other firm party on the 19th.

What do you have going on? Do you feel relaxed and comfortable, or are you busy with preparations for the holidays? Have you finished most of your shopping? I sure haven't. Do you have any parties to go to? Do you bake Christmas cookies or anything? Do you have any kids doing any Christmas shows or musicals or anything? :) Do tell!