Just tired
We had a LOOONG weekend it seemed. The boys spent Friday night and most of Saturday at their granddad's. He took them out to his dad's Friday evening and they attended a chili supper at their great-grandpa's church. My FIL called to ask if it was okay for them to participate in the live nativity scene and we okayed it. J2 was a sheep and J1 was a donkey, then changed to a shepherd. Bear had a long talk with his dad before he left with the boys about various problems we were having, and while FIL & co were a bit smart alecky about those things, they did follow the rules this round. Bear's stepmom asked me to let her know when we were having a baby shower and I had to tell her there wasn't going to be one, but I'd let her know if that changes. No one seems to want to throw the shower, but everyone wants to be invited to one. Silliness.
Friday night we splurged and went out to eat at Dixie Cafe. Then we finished most of our Xmas shopping... completely forgetting that Saturday was the last day of the Scholastic Warehouse Sale. Trips to Scholastic always put us over budget, but it's so nice to come home with two boxes of books for 1/2 their usual price (not just for the boys - we can't resist the kiddie books for the niecelets). That trip plus trying to find present boxes and such put us to time to pick up the kids. We took them to look at Xmas lights Saturday night after picking them up.
Sunday, I woke up CRAVING pancakes, so we nipped up the hill to McDonald's, went Xmas light shopping (Bear started feeling the urge to put up outside lights), and came home. The boys and I "snuck off" to shop for Bear and when we got back, Panda had dropped by with presents on her way to work. (NAUGHTY Panda bought presents for grownups as well as kiddies.) The boys were really overjoyed, as she really outdid herself on their gifts. After she left, we went back to putting up Xmas lights and after breaks and suchlike, it was dusky dark. The boys and I were down on the sidewalk critiquing the lights for Bear when a truck pulled up behind us and said "Looking good!"
My sister and her friend had come by to bring a playpen - and a washer/dryer set. That was certainly a big surprise and my sister was utterly delighted to have sprung it on us. Used set, but man, it sure beats the laundromat. The niecelet dashed about oogling the lights for a while and then didn't want to go home. She will be coming back in mid-January to stay 3-4 days with us.
Long weekend - yay!