its coming...

and its not going to take very long at all...

what are your plans for the week?

Craig has to work Christmas eve...

so when he gets home...

around 9ish...

we will open presents...

and then have our dinner on Christmas day...

which everyone has off...

and the guys will watch tv and dose in the recliners...

I have been fighting a head/chest thingy with too much fluid in my ears...

so going to kick back and let the guys take care of me and do all the dinner stuff...

;)

they will do just fine...

and I get a mini vacation...

then over the weekend we have to pack up the left over toys and get them ready for storage...

;)

55 kids so far this year...

;)

photos are from here in town on our drive arounds...

have a fun and safe week...

wishing y'all a very Merry Christmas...

are you ready?

a new guy that I found earlier this month...

I like silly mooses...

got the shopping all done now...

and the wrapping, I think...

well, maybe not...

I am the type to shop all year long...

then forget what I bought and where I hid it...

its all good...

I just don't have to shop for valentines, easter or birthdays...

been having a dandy time with fluid in my ears this week...

gagging and all the fun that goes with that...

called off the dentist- going in January now...

but I finally feel human again today...

not doing a whole lot...

finishing up the toy drive...

added another one...

but we are caught up for now..

I can't believe its next week!

I hate when its over...

I like all the days before it comes...

when people care about each other...

there's a feeling in the air...

like God is so close...

all the time...

anywhere you go...

;)

I like this time of the year...

and its not about the presents...

I would be fine if I got nothing for Christmas...

the important part for me is what I give away...

;)

are you ready?

for Christmas?

Merry CHRISTmas!

what a weekend!

caught some elves goofing off right before we opened the doors Saturday...

the scatter when you yell, "GROUP PICTURE!"

this is how this area started out...

there were tubs full of hats, gloves, socks, coloring books and crayons, books, stocking stuffers and stuffed critters...

we hung the candy canes on the totes...

each child got a stuff critter, a hat, pair of gloves or mittens, a coloring book and crayons, 3 pairs of socks, a book and 3 stocking stuffers...

 this was after the first day...

most of the people come on the first day...

this is another after shot of the first day...

one scary santa there...

that's good old DH...

old being the key word today...

he does have a neck under that chin somewhere...

I remember seeing it back in the 80s...

;)

and this the after the party was all over and the elves were leaving the building...

we bagged toys for Santa's sleigh ( the real one) for 54 kids in our area...

it was awesome...

there were 12 of us elves each day and with so many hands...

it wasn't so hard on anyone and I know they all walked away blessed for being there...

and the parents were so grateful...

;)

and on Christmas morning, there will be 54 kids who will not know how hard their parents are struggling to keep things going...

because under their trees...

will be all kinds of wonderful things...

that the economy couldn't touch...

;)

I already had a call this morning for another one...

that will make 55...

and counting...

we will deliver until the 24th...

;)

I am a tired elf...

doing the laundry and stuff today that didn't get done over the weekend...

almost finished with that...

cleaning up and putting things away...

looks much better in here...

and I am heading for a nap while I can still get one in...

dentist is on Wednesday and more shopping...

need a few things for this last one...

and I need to finish mine...

a trip through the park to look at the lights and burger king...

not sure if I will be able to do a whopper...

(I have run those through my salad shooter before)

but I can do a milkshake for sure!

Hope your weekend was wonderful and that you had fun...

we were in the 60s...

its been a great winter so far!

muddy...

but warm...

gearing up...

got my new computer and trying to figure out my way around it...

getting ready for the big day tomorrow...

;)

I am soon back to blogging again...

needing prayers this way...

for a dear, dear friend...

found a mass on her husband...

and another today...

they are on a roller coaster right now...

unsure...

scared...

please pray...