TGIF!!!

Yeah! It's Christmas break! I have looked forward to this two week time away from work since August when school started. And, as you know, I'm a list maker.

So, tonight, I make my 'to do' list for what I need to accomplish over the break. There are some things like shopping, of course, and sewing, too - but also doing some fun things with Eli and seeing some rare-seen friends and family. I'll be going to bed early tonight so I can get an early start tomorrow! The mall is waiting for me - and about a million others!

Yesterday was Eli's first program of his preschool career. He walked into the auditorium with his friends holding some jingle bells. They were so cute and the song 'jingle bells' was playing. After they all climbed the steps to the stage, they were supposed to sing along with the next song. They mostly stood there and looked at all of the parents. Between songs, his teacher took the jingle bells from the kids. Eli immediately responded 'bells!' but they didn't come back. Then, he noticed me (in the back of the auditorium) and up his arms went toward me and 'ma ma ma ma' came out of his mouth! His teacher scooped him up and brought him right to me where he proceeded to tell me that he wanted 'bells' - and not ME afterall. My parents and my Gram came to watch. Let it be known that Daddy missed his first performance...

Today, I received one of the best gifts ever. One of my co-workers/friends brought us a Santa cookie jar. (That's not the best gift by itself.) She told me the sweetest story of how, when her boys were young, they knew Christmas was coming when the cookie jar arrived on the kitchen counter. They have a tradition to make cookies together every year and place them in the jar. They still do this now that the boys are not living at home. She wanted to make sure we could start a similar tradition at our house by giving us our very own cookie jar! Guess what's been added to the list - with Eli "helping?" I am so lucky to call her my friend!

Happy weekend!