If she had the proper words to say,

A.J. and I went to town this afternoon, as well as running a few errands on base. I asked if he'd like to go with me as soon as he got home from school. Philip was still sleeping (again, he works nights, so he sleeps in the daytime), and Jack's school wasn't due out for another hour. I'm glad he went with me - I wasn't lonely, and we always have good chats in the car together. :-)

We received a big box from Land's End today. Last week, ginky shared an awesome code for free shipping, and I took advantage of their clearance sales to score a few items. I got Jack winter boots in the next size up for next year, a long-sleeved hoodie t-shirt, and swim shoes for this summer. A.J. scored an awesome track jacket in a smooth chocolate brown. He looks so grown-up when he tries on clothes!

Jack begins an indoor soccer league again in a few weeks, and Philip and I are making a tough decision to hold him back. The Youth Center coordinator called this morning, wanting to bump him up into the 10-12 leagues (he's 9 still), but I'm afraid it will be much like the summer league. At that time, Jack's team was made up mostly of 8-10 year-olds, but their opposing team (they played the same team for each game) was mostly 10-12 year-olds, and they were constantly trampled. I don't want that for him again right now, and I think it would be best to wait until next year when he actually *HAS* to be in that league. Plus, he'll be wearing glasses for the first time this season, and the older league played rough. I want to give him some time to get used to playing with glasses before he's hardcore defending in them.

*sigh*

Since we held him back in preschool, he's the oldest kid in his 3rd grade class, and most of his fellow classmates will be in the 7-9 league. I think it's really the best decision for him, but it still feels a bit like holding him back. :-/

Whew, I'm beat!

Philip and I began the day earlier today than we have all week, and I'm bushed tonight to show for it! We had decided today would be the day to finish up the Christmas shopping, as he will begin working here on Monday, and it was best to take advantage of the full day with the boys in school. So, we dropped them off at 9, and then we were on our way into town!

We did all of the rest of our holiday shopping VERY early this year, knowing that the confusion of moving would put things into a tailspin. I'm so very thankful for that, as it's been a comfort to only have the boys left to shop for. We bought everything, I wrapped it all, and then I shipped it to everyone via UPS waaaaaaaay back on Nov. 7th... I think if those folks haven't received their packages by now, it's safe to call them lost. ;-)

For the boys this year, we had decided on one thing: A.J.'s gift would be easy, and Jack's would take a bit more searching. We purposely did no shopping for them ahead of time because we didn't want the movers to pack any gifts, and we had no spare room in our vehicles for packages, either. See, we've had things stolen from each move, and I figure a wrapped holiday present is just *TOO* much temptation, ya know?

I cannot WAIT for Christmas morning, as I'm so excited to see A.J. open his gift. He has a small handful of gifts, as well as his Christmas stocking, but that's because his main gift will be...

... his very own netbook!

Not just his own computer, but he's receiving his own mini-laptop! His mini comes with Windows 7, and I'm so geeked to set him up with his own email account. I've got a pocket full of addresses from several of his gal pals back in Nebraska to set him up with, too (they all made sure to give me their emails on the night of his band concert, and it was so sweet to see their *goo-goo* eyes). I just know he will have so much fun with his new computer. And probably the best news of all - he won't have to share it AT ALL. We're going to set a very strict rule: it is A.J.'s computer, and A.J.'s only.

That may sound harsh, but the reality is that my boys have to share practically everything. It's been this way since Jack was born, and I think that lately, it's really starting to affect A.J. how he never has his "own" things, and he really gets very little personal space from Jack. Sure, he can go to his room for alone time, but he still ought to be able to have some things that are his alone, and this will be one of them. I know he will be stoked, and we'll have to work with him on not gloating, even just a little.

As for Jack, he'll still have use of the secondary computer. It is on a LAN with mine, and it's what the boys currently use on a desk in A.J.'s room (which takes even further from A.J.'s personal space, but that's where it fit in our old house). Here, we'll either set up a smaller desk in the office with our computer, or we'll put one in our large dining room. Either way, A.J. will be free to use his bedroom desk for just his own computer.

So we were shopping today mainly for Jack, as well as for stocking stuffers. Along the way, I ended up with a new wardrobe. Now, I hate shopping for myself, but I badly needed to, and Philip insisted. In fact, Philip was encouraging me to "just get it, honey" with almost every single item I picked up all day. As a result, I came home with a LOT of goodies. I kept saying, "But what about you?" He just insists that he's got something in mind, so don't worry about it.

Hmmm...

So the shopping is finally complete, and I have a ton of wrapping still ahead of me for next Monday and Tuesday while the boys are in their last days of school before holiday break. Right now, all the packages and items are hiding in the cabinets in the basement. See? I'm using them already! ;-)

In addition, we returned home to two large packages of Christmas gifts from our family, as well as a host of cards. These included ones from happysmiles01 and adiasplat. Thank you!

Once again, Coca-Cola Rewards are awesome, and I'm so appreciative of all the folks who contribute to our collecting!

Last week, I was entering a Sprite® code. Now, I have no way of knowing whether that particular cap is from a bottle we drank, from my neighbor, or from a kind soul that mostcurious might know (ll codes that are currently in my 'to-be-entered' stash), but I entered it just the same.

And won an instant prize - a $50 online VISA gift card!

I had held onto this prize for a little while, wondering how best to use it. The only caveat with a prize gift card is that when you use it online, you have to be very careful not to go over the amount ($50), or the transaction will be declined. So I pondered it and kept it stashed.

Last weekend, I cleaned out Jack's closet, removing a 28-gallon tub of clothes he had outgrown and giving it away. It took hours for him to try on every stitch of clothing, and I wasn't able to then do the same cleaning-out ritual with A.J. in his room before bedtime. But we worked on it for a few hours today, and we got his closets squared away as well. I had been back-to-school shopping two weekends ago, and I had bought almost three times as many clothes for A.J. as Jack (because they are both August babes, and Jack is able to wear all of A.J.'s hand-me-downs in the appropriate seasons), but even still - once his closet was cleaned out of too-small clothes, he was left with a gap in his fall/winter selection.

11 long-sleeved shirts/hoodies, as well as one dressier sweater (for church or school concerts)... and that's it - yikes! He was also very sad about having to pass on some of his beloved shirts, but I promised him that we would go shopping soon just for him, to 'beef up' his warmer gear.

*enter online VISA gift card*

Just a bit ago, in decluttering my desk, I had an idea: why not use the card for a few more shirts for A.J.? So I went online, did some shopping, and in about five days, A.J. will now have a box arriving with five more shirts (three henleys & two hoodies). And the total transaction was $46.92 - not too shabby!

I don't feel bad about wasting/losing that little bit online, and A.J.'s closet will be in better shape. WIN!

ETA: Even better, I just used up a bit more on LJ Virtual Gifts. Now I can toss the paper, knowing that I'm only missing out on 13 cents from the original $50. :-)

I'm about to head to Hallmark, and it's the holiday season...

I probably need some supervision.

Seriously, if I can get out of there having spent under $100, I will call that a monumental success. That store is my CRACK.

I just dropped over $200 at Victoria's Secret on jammies. Yes, I did.

We've been having frequent "Game Nights" at our house (twice a week or so) for the past month, and I never have anything appropriate to wear. It's late, and we usually play games from 10pm-4am, and I hate wearing my jeans/pants that long into the night. Philip always puts his jammies on, but all the ones I had weren't appropriate to wear among a bunch of other guys.

So I've been talking about looking for some, and I tried to browse the other day with the boys, but I didn't see anything I liked. This morning, I decided that I'd try VS by myself this afternoon.

And I scored. :-)

( What I bought. )

We went to church very early this morning. The weather was cold and blustery, and it was gray and spitting snow (not really sticking nor amounting to anything), but we still attended early as planned. We were set to attend the 9:30am service, but on Thursday, both boys had received letters of invitation to a special family project scheduled during today's services. As we had to be home by 11am for Philip to work at Runza, we didn't have time for the project after our service, so we'd planned to go before.

And we were the very first ones there this morning! We arrived at 8:40am, and we quickly settled on making an advent candle wreath as our family project (there were three activities from which to choose). We talked and laughed as we pushed pencils into tiny squares of green tissue paper together, and we all picked a candle and base to add as well. After many minutes, we all stuck the wooden red berries in between the green papers, too.

It's a beautiful wreath. :-)

After our project was completed, Ms. Nicole (the Children's Director) came up to us and exclaimed happily, "Oh, you guys are early! Oh, and you are the ONLY ones so far to actually make your project as a FAMILY! That's so encouraging to see! We had over 50 families last night at our Saturday service, but each person made their own. Look at how beautiful your wreath is, and you made it together!"

We were bewildered. After all, the invitation had said "family project." I suppose it never occurred to us to do anything other than pick one project and do it together. *blush* But we felt good, and we'd had a nice time working together. I'd steal squares from Philip's stack of tissue, Jack would then steal from my bunch of squares, and then he'd separate the tissue for both he and A.J. to use. We all did an equal share in making our wreath, and it now sits proudly in the middle of our dining room table.

We had a light breakfast of grapes, mini doughnuts, sweet breads and muffins (provided by the church) before heading up to our service. There was no Sunday School this morning, and so the boys sat with us in the pew. The service was wonderful, and it was a peaceful, fresh-feeling start to this glorious Advent season. We ended with communion, too.

We came home, changed clothes, and Philip left for work. I heated up some lunch for myself and the boys, and then I set to baking. Today was Lacey's last day at Runza, and as a friend, I wanted to make something to let her know how much I've appreciated working with her. Philip bought the ingredients for the gift last night, and I set to work making a 'Milk Chocolate Bar Cake.' It was rich and delicious-looking (I didn't sample any), and it had TEN full-size Hershey's® candy bars in it! It was a triple-layer cake, and I finished frosting it only a few minutes before Philip returned home from work a couple hours later.

He changed clothes, and then we all headed to Runza with the cake for Lacey. We stopped at Hallmark® on the way, and I tucked in and bought her a card as well. When we arrived at the store, Lacey seemed so touched. She read the card, and we hugged for a good while. Then Philip served up very tall pieces of cake to Lacey, the boys (they split a piece - it was so big!), and the other employees there. Everyone who ate some cake said it was very good, very rich. Lacey grabbed a milk from the cooler to wash hers down, even. I'm happy it was so well-received, as I think it was my very first attempt at making a layer cake.

We chatted for a few more minutes with her, and then it was time to really say goodbye. I hugged her again, and I wished her the best of luck in her new job. She's a sweet gal, and I'll miss her.

Afterwards, we headed to the BX to pick up a video game Philip wanted, and we picked up some stocking stuffers along the way. The boys helped me to pick out goodies for the kitties' stockings, too. Then we had a snack at the BX, stopped at the commissary to pick up some orange juice and soda for Philip, and came home.

Jack and I spent an hour or so making a project for his kindergarten class, and he is very proud of it. He even used lots of glitter glue! (I really hope the big splotches dry overnight - yikes!) Then the boys had their baths, and I helped them to make a special dessert tonight with the two leftover Hershey® bars we had - S'mores! We watched the marshmallows "blow up" in the microwave, then quickly smashed a graham cracker on top while they were still hot, and the chocolate was perfectly melty and gooey in seconds. Jack even had chocolate smeared ALL over his face. :-)

I have so many things for which to be thankful.

Now it's bedtime for the boys, and I'm getting pretty tired myself. A much earlier Sunday morning routine yields a much earlier Sunday night routine, methinks. ;-)

Heather and her husband Shane treated us to dinner tonight - just Philip and me. Our friend Ann watched the boys out at her house while we were gone, and they had a blast playing during that time with her kids. Philip chose Outback Steakhouse for dinner, and the food was yummy as always. He was especially giddy to learn that Mahi Mahi was the 'Catch of the Day,' and that's what he chose for dinner (it's his favorite fish, but we always miss the "right" days for it whenever we go out anywhere).

The company and conversation was even better than the food, and Shane and Philip parted with a hearty handshake. Heather will probably drop by some time tomorrow, too.

After dinner, Philip and I headed over to the adjacent Wal*Mart to pick up a few things. We ended up scoring on several items, too:

- Isla Cruces Playset (from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) - only $5.50 (we'd been watching this item since November, when it debuted at well over $40! And we bought the last one in the store - score!)
- Star Wars Deluxe Transformer Millenium Falcon - only 6.50! (Philip has been watching this one for A.J. for several months, and it was over $40 too!)

We also picked up a combo set of a classic Magna Doodle and Etch-a-Sketch toys. Our Magna Doodle is pretty much ruined after years of hard play, and A.J. stepped on and broke the old Etch-a-Sketch this past summer. The combo was originally $25, but we got it for only $7.50!

We'll be keeping the Magna Doodle, Etch-a-Sketch, and Isla Cruces Playset for Jack's birthday in the summer, while the Star Wars toy is for A.J.'s birthday in August as well. It feels pretty nice to have such big gifts so far in advance, and for such little money too!

Also, we picked up a bottle of the new Listerine® Agent Cool Blue™ Rinse for the boys and tried that out tonight. Let me tell you: it is the neatest stuff ever! I used it myself, and I loved it. It's great for showing you where you need to brush a little more, and it didn't taste nasty like "grown-up" mouthwash usually does. I loved it, and I intend to use it every night with the boys. :-)

Edited to add: Oh, and I found a cool website for kids on the stuff - even better!

We found out Philip's departure time, and it is probably worse than the least of what I had hoped for. He'll be leaving at 5:15am. Not only will we all have to face the world in the morning after his leaving, but we'll be waking up a full three hours before our usual time - which, I'm sure, will make for a more unpleasant day than normal. And it's not like we can just drop him off and come back home and go to sleep for another hour or so; it just doesn't work like that. *sigh*

With that, I'm off. Best of Monday evenings to you all.

The Goal: go out and find myself a shirt for Easter Sunday tomorrow morning.

The Outcome: accomplished!

I went to Sears, and I actually ending up finding four shirts that I really liked. I picked up a brown tank to go underneath an eyelet white shirt, but I ended up not liking the eyelet. The tank was super-comfy, so I bought it anyway. I bought a green dress shirt for 40% off, and I got two striped shirts as well. Everything is sleeveless - I'm just too hot for sleeves in the spring/summer, if I can help it. I'm happy with my finds since I hate shopping for clothes. I had the boys with me in the dressing room, but we were still in and out of the store in half an hour.

I'm so thirsty today. I'm not sure why.

We're heading to the Easter egg hunt at the church today at 2pm, but the sky may open up on us before then. It's definitely stormy weather. If it's raining, the hunt is supposed to be inside the church - yikes!

Today must've been "The Letter 'L' Day." We received three Christmas cards in the mail, and all three were from people beginning with 'L' - including little_liebchen and laurushka. Thank you both! I chuckled too when I read that Laura included the names of all five kitties. ;-)

Philip had firing today at the squadron, and we dropped him off at 11:30 for that. Jack and I then went straight to A.J.'s school for his classroom Christmas party. (And I took pictures, of course!) His Christmas break began at 1:05pm, and then we were outta there! We went off to Wal*Mart to get new Christmas jammies for our trip home and also to get our kitties their holiday treats, both things I'd almost forgotten this year. We arrived back home just in time for Philip to call and say that we could come pick him up. ;-P

It was such gorgeous weather today. I walked around in just jeans and a t-shirt, and it was absolutely heavenly. I had grand plans to clean and vacuum out the car when we returned home from shopping, but Philip spoiled those plans. If the weather is as nice tomorrow, I might do it then. It would be nice to have a clean van to drive to the airport. We'll see.

I'm off to start some laundry and pay some bills. I've still got lots of loose ends I want to get tied up before Christmas Day, as I don't want to be running around on the morning that we leave.

Baby's story continued today. No, she wasn't lost again or anything like that, but we did have to spend about an hour taking down all the posters we put up yesterday after lunch. We also picked up the posters at the grocery store and the Shoppette, and when we picked up the one at the ice cream shop... well, we had to have a cool treat as well. ;-)

Philip accompanied me to this week's scrapbooking group. I didn't actually scrapbook anything this time, but we went through all his pictures, certificates and memorabilia from this deployment to Iraq and labeled things and put them in chronological order - getting it all ready for me to add to his military albums (yes, albums - I'm already 1/3 of the way through a second album for him!). He took seven disposable cameras full of pictures while he was gone, plus he emailed me several pictures from another guy's digital camera while he was over there, so I've got lots to do. He also brought home FIVE DVDs full of pictures set to music. Holy cow!

Speaking of pictures, A.J. brought home his school pictures today, and I'm very pleased with them. He also brought home the pictures that Jack had taken at his school that morning, and they are very good too. I ordered two packages of A.J.'s pictures but only one of Jack's, knowing that I would order some of the pictures taken at his own school. The preschool proofs were in our folders on Friday morning, and I filled out the form, ordered the pictures and returned it on Friday when I picked him up from school. The yellow-striped shirt that he wore for his own school pictures was a fabulous choice! :-) Now, I've just got lots of labeling to do, and I've got to make my lists and start getting all of these pictures in the mail!

I went to the commissary this afternoon to do some light grocery shopping, and I was frustrated to get there and THEN realize that it's not only a holiday, but it's also a MONDAY - and they are always closed on Mondays, holiday or no. Instead I went to Wal*Mart and picked up everything on the list, and when I got home, Philip already had the grill ready for burgers and the deep fryer warming for homemade french fries. We had mysteriously run out of ketchup though, so I had to root around in the drawer to finally find two packets - one for each of the boys.

I'd rather have mustard myself, thanks.

We pulled up the tomato and pepper plants this afternoon, so now our little garden is no more. It was so sad to finish it all up, but the nighttime freezing temperatures had finally killed the plants, and there was no point hoping for a recovery - we seem to be truly into the fall season now. We still need to pull up the fence and start raking up and disposing of the mulch. We also cut down the yellow ribbon from the tree today.

I'm off now to start the dishwasher and then get some bread going - banana or zucchini, I haven't decided. :-)