Well everyone, I'm ready to put on a pot of coffee or tea and just hide in this corner for about a day...or two!
With the van beaking down days before Christmas and my hubby in the retail trade, he was the most stressed! One last night getting home, each bus he took was 10-15 minutes late to it's stop so at the last stop he completly missed his last bus! The "dork" didn't call anyone but WALKED 5 miles home! Temps in the low 20s so guess is now sicker than a dog! Finally getting him to the doctor tommorrow morning! Would you belive it I had to call his boss to make sure he knew I was doing this so he would have the time! UGH! MEN!!!
Anyway, the van was done Tuesday and what I couldn't get online or a girlfriend pick-up, I shopped like mad on Friday! NEVER want to do that ever again! People were nuts!

*sip* oh yeah...I could enjoy hiding for just a little bit longer!

Actually, it wasn't my daughter's fault at all. The fault was the bad luck that caused the coach in charge to look her way just when she happened to be talking...

So I guess it was the coach's fault??

To be fair, my daughter is really a pretty good kid and already (on her own) apologized to the coach for talking when she should have been listening.

I know what you mean with the late nights due to sports...I have two in competitive(travel)soccer, one on a travel basketball team, and one on a competitive gymnastics team. Made the mistake of allowing each (1)sport--then there's music instruction--they each play at least one instrument. Time is always a precious commodity...just like in everyone's house!

I was having a hard time getting into the spirit-some days there's a struggle just to make it through the next hour, let alone trying to factor in the holiday work. I've been forcing myself to make *one* batch of cookies a night (at 10:00) and wrap presents as soon as they're bought so as to "save myself time"...as if there is such a thing.

Glad to hear that you got through this past weekend...my daughter's had detention once before, but OF COURSE, it wasn't HER fault. Wound up missing an important game because of it...and that was one of the best lessons that she's had to learn. Haven't had a repeat episode!

Take care!

Spent the weekend with a workcrew putting tile in several areas of my house. It takes us FOREVER to make a major decorating decision like this and then DO it, so I'm glad to see it happen. But the disruption!! Ugh. And we've delayed putting up the Christmas tree until they are finished.

With our kids' sports, our family is tied up until about 7:30 or 8:00 most nights, so I guess that means next weekend. Waiting so long, I wonder if it's even worth it. Am I a scrooge??

One of mail order items - affecting 3 relatives - is lost and the Post Office is being, shall we say "less than helpful". And of course the online retailer wants me to deal strictly with the shipper.

My 13 year old daughter served her time this weekend in detention. Turns out she chatted during a sex ed program and got sent from the room, which was automatic detention.

But...it's Christmas! And it's such a wonderful time of year. No snow for us, but the leaves are turning and falling so at least we see the change of season. The neighbor's decorations are up. And as busy as the stores are, people seem "nicer".

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Back to work for me...

Thanks for the input! I'd love to give away some of these holiday cookies...(It feels like I've been baking for a month)...but almost everyone is on South Beach. I've actually ordered several custom gingerbread houses to give a few of them. Hope they like 'em!

Soccermom, as for those gifts, I suggest a personal note with your monetary gift. That would make it very personal and not just a gift because you feel inclined. I always make cookies or something that has my personal touch when giving gift cards. I think it shows that you care and that it isn't just about money which is seen way too much at this time of year.