We have so many traditions surrounding Christmas Eve.  Some are new to the party and some we've done for years.  For the eve of the big party, this is how we roll. Christmas Eve Mass.  We almost always go to the earliest service because of the kids.  We've tried them all and this is the one that is the most enjoyable for all of us.  Granted, Scott and the bigs get there an hour early to save seats, but it's ...

Just before Thanksgiving, the hubs and I decided we needed to decide on a date to "head north" - as in, see his family and my extended family over the Christmas holidays.  Because of the Luke crazy, we haven't done much traveling the last couple of years.  It was time to venture out of the house for longer than 24 hours.  We packed the suitcases, the valium and a boatload of patience and buckled down for 1,100 miles of crazy ...

I’ve been known to organize a few things, alphabetize my spices, color code my closets and label my kids’ toy bins.  Mostly, I think it’s what happens to the gene pool when a school teacher and an Army man get married and have children.  To keep it all balanced, I never make my bed unless company is coming over, I wait until the dishes pile up in the sink before washing them and I loathe doing laundry every Monday. Yin ...

From our house to yours...may this be the best birthday party for Jesus ever!  It was a fantastically fun-filled day in our neck of the woods.  We are grateful! Merry Christmas y'all!

We had a weekend full of crazy, but it was worth every single moment.  Mostly because Scott and I were able to enjoy a truly terrific date night that included free babysitting (yes!), the wedding of a sweet friend, swanky clothes, dinner and a glass(es) of vino with great co-workers.  We enjoyed every moment.  I tell ya.  Scott really is the love of my life.  Thanks for a great evening, sweetheart.  You made me feel like the prettiest gal on the planet.

For the first time, oh I don't know, EVER, I waited until the week before Christmas to visit Santa.  Note to self:  don't do that again. The line was long and creeping and just as we got into line, John Paul says, "Mom, I gotta go potty."  Arg.  We forgot to give him his meds that morning.  I held our place while he and Will dashed off to the restroom.  They made it back in time for us to see the ...