I’m finally getting used to warm weather on Christmas and I’m loving it – I can’t imagine going back to cold weather and snow and being stuck inside! We are an outdoors family so I think that’s why I love it so much here! The A/C is off, the heat is off, the windows are open and kids are in shorts and short sleeve shirts and playing out back with neighbors right now. I almost feel like it’s spring – LOL. I’m done with all my Christmas preparations so I even started cleaning like I would for spring. The kids have 2 1/2 weeks off from school (1 1/2 from soccer) and we’ve got plans with like 3 different families to do things – I’m so psyched!

I’m also psyched because almost every room in this house is CLEAN! That decluttered, dusted, vacuumed, organized clean! It’s such an awesome feeling too. Tomorrow I just have to finish with the kitchen and both bathrooms and I’m done! I love this time of year!

One thing I REALLY wanted to do this Christmas was to go away – for Christmas! And have that be THE gift. Of course we’d still get the kids a few things, but that would have been the major one. We were looking at places all over Florida to go to. We found hotels in destin fl, condos in Cape Coral, and homes to rent in Sanibel. Unfortunately, in order for us to even have a Christmas this year, Sean had to cash in his one week vacation that was coming to him because we need the money. So we’re staying home this year. I did however let my parents and my brother and his girlfriend know they need to tone it down this year with buying for the kids. I’m SO tired of Christmas Day being so overwhelming because there’s just too much stuff! And I hate it when they get gifts that they *think* they want, only to have that gift sit in their closet or toy box and not get played with more then once. So this Christmas is going to be different. I toned it down majorly and focused more on sports stuff and books.

I know that no matter what the kids get (or don’t get), they’ll still have a great day!

My Thirty-One Gifts party was a success last night. Plus it was fun. AND, both my friend and I booked a party together! She’ll be selling her Thirty-One Gifts merchandise and I’ll be selling my Cookie Lee jewelry!!! I’m very grateful to my friend for hosting this!!! (As I was grateful this past Friday for another friend hosting one as well!) And with my hostess gifts from last nights party, I’m getting Caelie’s birthday gift for her bday in August AND my MIL’s bday gift for her bday in October! I think at the next Thirty-One party I go to (which I had 3 friends book shows last night so I’ll have 3 to go to in the next few months) I might even start some Christmas shopping!

The last person left around 11 or so last night and then Sean and I stayed up talking on the back porch until 2:30am. I am beat today and look forward to having nowhere to go and nothing that HAS to be done!

I am SO excited!! Yesterday I purchased tickets for Caelie and I to fly to New Jersey for a weekend in January! Sean and I decided to make it part of her Christmas gift. So now I need to figure out what to put in a box to put under the tree. I’ll have to make sure she opens this one up last too as this one is her surprise gift! The tickets were so cheap too – cost only $78 for the two of us!

I just can’t wait to see my friend Kim, her hubby and their kids. We are in desperate need of a GNO and I can’t wait for that either!!!

One month from yesterday we’ll be in NJ!!!