Just catching up.

Today, Becks and I braved the masses in attempt to accomplish a myriad of pre-holiday errands, including a trip to get the oil changed in my car and go to the courthouse to get our cartags renewed - always a pleasant experience, what with all those cheery state employees. {I kid you not, there was not one person in line when I arrived, about 5 available employees, and everyone of them failed to acknowledge me for the first two minutes I stood there with my very present (read: loud) child.} 

I also had about a bazillion Christmas presents to find, buy, and wrap.  And, keep in mind, I had to do all of this with a TWO-YEAR-OLD in tow.  That meant that I stocked the diaper bag full of goldfish, juiceboxes, and lollipops in an effort to abate any tantrum-throwing, stroller-resisting, running-away-from-mama type situations.  For the most part, he really was a true gem, but there were moments when the Target popcorn just wasn't cutting if, reminding me why Christmas shopping with a toddler likely qualifies as some form of abuse.  I'm just not sure who comes away tortured the most, though - the parent or the child? 

In short, I am - dare I say it - done Christmas shopping.  I even managed to buy 2 toys from Santa without Becks even knowing it.  I did have to convince him that the long handle hanging out of the bag was a broomstick when he question it (it was a hobby horse).  He bought it.

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We were MIA this weekend because we went to the Lakehouse with my parents and sisters.  They treated us to a train ride with Santa and dinner on Saturday night.  Becks, being all into locomotives right now, thought the train was pretty darn cool.  The fact that Santa visited with him while enroute, even cooler.  The fact that the train blew its whistle multiple times during the trip, the coolest. 

The best pic I could get of all three of them!

What's a trip to the Lakehouse without bacon?

B and Aubbers.

Mom, Me, and Becks.

Santa was pretty serious into lecturing the kids about being good.  Not kidding.

Santa requested this picture.  He he he.

Showing Becks Cumberland Falls.  Kinda creeped me out!

And - I can officially say it - the semester is OVER.  Praise God.  I'll blog more about it later, but I would have to say it was one of the most difficult four months of our lives as an individual, couple, and a family.  Brandon finished off the semester smashingly, the first half of the school year is behind me, and I only have 15 more credit hours to go until I see an enormous increase in my teacher salary (I kid).  We owe more than we can imagine to that tiny baby in the manger. 

Now, I'm off to drink  twelve a Diet Coke to calm down from the Christmas chaos, and enjoy the first naptime of many over the next couple weeks :)  Happy Monday, y'all!