Thank goodness it is Friday!!!  I only have three things on my mind.  Cleaning my house, Christmas shopping, and cooking Thanksgiving dinner next weekend.

Thoughts on cleaning my house - I have been on the go so much the past few weeks that my home is in need of a good deep cleaning.  I love to clean so it will be enjoyable time spent.  If I have time I would like to run by Yankee Candle before I start cleaning and get a new "Christmassy smelling" candle that can fill my home with aroma.  Although I will have to clean several more times (that is what you got to do when you have 4 kids and a dog) in the next few weeks I want to prepare the house as much as possible so that we can put the Christmas tree and decor up on November 21.

Thoughts on Christmas shopping - One goal here....get it DONE this weekend.  While I LOVE to shop I do not like shopping with millions of people.  That is why I get mine done early.  I have the wish lists ready to go and clothes/shoes sizes jotted down all neatly organized in my handy dandy Christmas Organizer.  We have had the cash saved up since July (no credit cards used EVER!)   I am ready to knock it out!  The only thing I am waiting on is for my husband to call the boys mom because last year everything they told us they wanted they also told everyone on their mom's side of the family the same thing so they got duplicates of everything.  We were the ones that did the returning and I do not like standing in the return line.  Nooooooo way!  Jose!  I do have to come up with a good hiding place because Hylari is a snooper when she knows Christmas presents have been purchased.  She gets that from me.  She knows where all my classic hiding places are so I may have to take her gifts to my parents or sisters and store them there.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving dinner - Each year I make the whole Thanksgiving spread a week ahead of time for just our immediate family to share.  I love it when the kids come into the kitchen and ask if it ready yet?  I know they love the food I prepare and it is the one meal that I do not have to make 18 different ways in order to satisfy everyone's likings....instead I make 18 different dishes and they are bound to find something they will like.   I am especially excited this year because we finally have a kitchen table big enough for us all to sit at and will be able to eat our dinner together. 

This is the time of year when life goes into overdrive.  There is so much to do and I want to have it all done ahead of time so that I can enjoy when the big days arrive. 

Have a fabulous weekend.  From what I hear we are going to hit 70 some degrees on Sunday.  I hope so because it is freezing today!

Oh my goodness! I REALLY wish I had your enthusiasm when it comes to the holidays. I'm totally DREADING the cleaning I'll have to do over the next few weeks! My poor hubby does all the cooking and since my kids have different fathers, we'll spend more time "making rounds" than at home eating dinners! Whew! I will take a one of your ideas though, next year I REALLY would like to start planning for Christmas earlier and have the decor out right after Thanksgiving!

I really enjoy reading your journal. I'll definitely be back again soon!

Hi Sami, I like the bubbles in your place here. The other day, I drank a couple cups of coffee and had a burst of energy so cleaned our master bedroom. It was a mess and has been for a while. It looks better now but I never got to the closet nor the rest of the house. I hate cleaning. I do love Yankee Candle though! I like the Clean Cotton scent and I bought the hand lotion. I bought 5 christmas gifts so far. I found these pretty crystal crosses on sale and I'm going to give them to a couple of our teachers and a friend. I hate the crowds too so I want to get it done BUT I still have my daughters 11th birthday coming up next week so I have to focus on that first. I dont enjoy cooking. We are going out of town for thanksgiving...I'll let you know what we decide...BTW, heres my new address.... http://sunshineedays.blogspot.com