It's the Holiday Season......

Tonight Jim went to a happy hour with his cousin. When he got home, I went out until almost midnight, but I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel for my Christmas shopping....I'm feeling pretty good after tonight.

I realize I haven't even written about the babies 1st b-day party. We had it Sat, Dec 6th. I think pretty much all of the family made it and most of my friends. I counted 57 people. I always think my house is okay size until we get so many people crammed in here. We had fun and hope everyone else did too. I actually didn't stress too bad because my friends Toni and Kristen came over the night before and helped me make all the cupcakes, other desserts, potatoes, etc. The kids got tons of gifts. Mostly clothes, which they really needed. I think we have enough until we have to change them a few times a day. Laundry is never ending here....just ask my mom---she is always folding it for us (Thanks Mom!). I can't keep up with it and I hardly try. So, thanks everyone for coming and for the gifts. We really appreciate it. The babies were good too :) And they got cake again. That was their 3rd time in a week having cake b-day pics. Jim and I were sick of cleaning up and bathing them!

Here are some random pics from the party.
Jenna
Cassie
My niece Lexi and Jimmy
Jim and Jimmy opening a gift
Kelly holding Cassie and Billy with Jenna
My friend Dawn holding my sisters baby (Matthew I think) and Janet with her new baby Morgan.
My sister in law and brother in law (Kelly and Mike)Grandma G and Cassers
Marissa, Henry, Alli, and Liz playing in Alli's bed
This is my friend Janet's son Will. He is the sweetest boy I know. He is so nice to Alli all of the time (he is almost 6)--they play together so cute. And Allison is always trying to be politically correct. We ask her who she loves more, mommy or daddy? She'll say Mommy & Daddy. She won't make a decision on anything you ask her like that. Well, we kept asking her questions that night and she was answering like always. Finally, Kristen asked her if she liked her or Will better and Alli pointed to Will---haha! She is so funny. We always tease them about being boyfriend/girlfriend. So, if that doesn't work out for Janet and I to be related someday, we might try to match up Jimmy and Morgan ;)
Glad the party was over because then I got to start focusing on Christmas. I still have tons of shopping to do and its less than a week away. Makes me a little nervous, but I'm pretty much shopping down to the wire every year, so this isn't really any different. Maybe next year I'll be on top of things and be done shopping and wrapping early. Doubt it though!

Last night, we went to Wild Country in Collinsville to see Pearl Heart co-host 'St. Louis Country' with Bo Matthews from WIL-92.3 FM. They did awesome and it was fun to get out with friends and family.
Bo, Amy, Angela, Courtney
We finally got our Christmas tree last weekend and decorated this week a little bit. Allison is so into it. She sees bare spots on the tree and wants to hang more ornaments there. I keep telling her we don't have any more and she gets so upset. I haven't moved any of them that she hung (like my mom used to do to us ;)), so they are all pretty much at the bottom of the tree. And she keeps going over there and moving them to different places. I just love watching her excitement about Christmas all together. And she knows 3 new songs - Rudolph, Santa Clause is coming to Town, and Jingle Bells. Oh, and the babies love the tree and the mistletoe also. They just look at it and laugh and want to touch it :) Hence, the gate around the tree.
Cassie and Alli were the only ones up when we did the tree. Cassie was getting ready to eat her Jamaica Mon ornament :)
A few random pics
Jenna
Jimmy