Christmas is just around the corner,

and don't you know the kids are getting excited.

Today Will's Mom, Stepdad, and Grannie came over for fingerfoods and gift exchange. Carol usually has a get together just before the holidays, but this year things were a little different, and we decided to have it here.

It was a nice but cold and windy day. The food was good, we all ate too much as usual, and we had alot of laughs. I got a handy, dandy garden cart that will be getting alot of use this spring. It will carry all my gardening tools, flowers, bulbs, whatever. It will be great. The girls got clothes and gift cards or money. Tori already has hers earmarked for jeans.

The biggest surprise of the day was at about 8 p.m. when we had a knock on the door. Not expecting any company we were very surprised to see my brother and his family bearing gifts. Considering I haven't seen them since September and haven't spoken to them since early August when Dad was in the Rehab hospital in BG we were definitly floored by their visit. And very unprepared as we had not bought any gifts for them at all. I just figured that if he couldn't see past anything and get over himself to be part of his family, then I sure didn't need to be bothering myself with worrying about him. Guess we will be making a mad dash to town to get a little something for them tomorrow.

Well, here is to hoping the next few days got by quickly and basically uneventfully. I cannot handle any more surprises.