December has to be one of the busiest months for us. It seems like we just go, and go, and go. Actually, our lives have pretty much been non-stop since Thanksgiving, so we've been busy for quite awhile now!! Mostly, we've been going out with friends, doing Christmas shopping, hanging out with family, going on little "get away's" and looking at pretty much every single model home in Colorado Springs. Whew!!
Thanksgiving eve, after having a fun lunch in town and a mini shopping trip, we headed over to Mom and Dad Kelly's house. We spent the afternoon baking, playing games, and all that fun stuff. Thanksgiving day was spent pretty much eating and napping. What could be finer?? The next morning, Dad headed out at the crack of dawn to take advantage of some of the big sales (yes, he loves to shop!!) and after sleeping in a bit, Jen and Mom headed out to get some other sales. Brian and Greg slept in – are we surprised here?? After all of that, we headed up to Mueller State park to our "little cabin in the woods" for a couple of nights. It was SO nice. No TV, no phone, no schedule. Just us. The next day after getting back, we set up our tree!!! One of our Christmas traditions has been to set up our tree the day after Thanksgiving - but since we weren't home, we did it as soon as we could. One of our other yearly Christmas traditions is to buy an ornament together that symbolizes a trip that we went on or a fun memory of that year. Needless to say, a lot of reminiscing goes on as we decorate our tree because Jen usually has ornament exchange parties with her girlfriends, so she has quite a few memories of her own, and Greg has all of his ornaments from Christmases growing up, so those are always fun to look at in conjunction with the ornaments we have purchased together.
December 1st began with a bang!! Jen set off that morning for an all day shopping trip with Mom and Auntie Cheryl. Greg stayed home and did some homework, as well as watched some football. Later that night, Greg made dinner and we had Mom and Dad over. The boys watched football while the girls played games.
The week of December 2nd was busy as well. Monday we watched some old Christmas movies (another tradition of ours). Monday and Tuesday we went shopping for some secret birthday stuff and Wednesday Jen had Team Kid (Greg joined since it was "Pizza night"). Thursday Jen went and got a massage and then headed off to a gift card exchange party while Greg went to class. Friday afternoon we mailed out our Christmas cards, and that night we went to Jen's work party. Jerry hosted quite the party and we went home very full and very happy with bonuses, and gifts. Saturday morning we got up and had to be to church kinda early for cantata practice. We had a small part in the Christmas program with our new friends Jenn and Mike. Our part consisted of only decorating a tree for 5 minutes, but it was still fun. Short and simple, that's how we like it!! That afternoon Jen wrapped presents and Greg did homework and took a nap. That night we headed out to the Broadmoor Hotel for our other yearly tradition of "dessert at the Penrose room." It was SO cold and foggy out, but we still had a great time!!
This week, the week of December 9th, is still busy….. Sunday night we were in the program at church. Surprisingly, there were a lot of people there!! Monday we did some more secret surprise birthday party shopping, and some housecleaning (blegh!). We have hardly been home since Thanksgiving, the poor house has been SO neglected - that's why we don't have a big house..... we are never home!! No sense paying for something you hardly use, right?? (Although, we did find our dream house amongst all those models we have been looking at lately, so we just need a few more things to fall into place before we decide to get it or something that is second best). Tuesday Jen and Auntie Cheryl spent all day preparing and setting up for Mom's surprise 50th birthday party. It was well worth all the time and money spent because she was SO surprised. Tons of people showed up, and the night went off without a hitch!!! Wednesday, Jen has Team Kid again while Greg does homework, and Thursday night Jen is off to pick up her friend Jenn and go do some fun Christmas baking with Mom, Auntie Cheryl, and Becca since Greg will be in class. HIS LAST CLASS!!!! He will have completed his MBA on December 13th and he is so excited!! Maybe time for another celebration?? We’ll see!! Tomorrow night we are trying to reserve as "alone time" since we have been so busy, so we'll see how that goes. Pizza, a movie, and some games at home sound really good to us right now. Saturday we’ll be off running errands like crazy, and maybe we’ll put up our outside Christmas decorations……. or maybe not. If we can end up spending it quietly at home doing nothing, that would be great!!
The week of the 16th is proving to be busy with more shopping, get-together’s with friends and family, Church activities, our traditional get-together to watch "Elf," and Mom's birthday. Before we know it, Christmas will be here!! Jen gets the whole week from Christmas to New Year's off paid from work, so there's no telling what she'll do with her time. Greg is taking a day off somewhere in there to be with her since he gets lots of vacation time. We are hoping it won't blizzard 3 times in a row like last year so we can actually get out and enjoy the snow. Maybe do some sledding or some skiing/snowboarding.
Greg should also be finding out any day now whether or not he got a scholarship for the CFA, so please keep that in your prayers as this would be a major career and financial blessing!!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone!!! We wish you a safe and blessed New Year!!
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