All bad history aside it was great to see how excited my kids were to see their grandparents last night. Their plane came in on time and we managed to fight the Philly holiday chaos without too much trouble. Both kids were ecstatic to see their grandparents and had many plans for them too.
This week one of the attending physicians gave Emily the biggest gingerbread house kits I have ever seen. She was so excited to put it together that I thought she would savagely rip it open right there. Instead she decided that her grandmother would be the perfect choice to help with this project. Hubs and I couldn't agree more. Who if not grandma could have the patience to help a four year old build something that is deemed challenging for most adults. Besides this fun fun project Emily has mentioned making cookies, going for walks, meeting her teachers and friends at school, watching movies, playing with her dolls, playing with Lulu (our bunny), and reading an endless number of books. This is just for today. Even though Bret and I tried to keep the kids quite and still this early morning to let his parents get just a few more moments of sleep it was a fruitless task. The moment Palmer was free he and Emily literally ran for their room and was in their bed discussing the list of fun things to do today while his parents were still trying to figure out whose cold feet where wiggling into the covers. I don't think they knew what hit them let alone what they were in for. Emily was over joyed when she found out that both Bret and I were working today and that they would have their grandparents all to themselves for the day.
I laugh even as I write this post because I love to see the mutual excitement in both my children and Bret's parents. They are amazed at how much the children have grown and at how excited they are to see them. I also laugh because I remember this joy with my own grandparents. My sister and I were always in bed with my grandfather first thing in the morning. We used every bribe imaginable to get him up (coffee, bacon, helping with his socks and shoes) and he would patiently entertain our endless amount of excited chatter (where did you think Emily got her love of the English language from). Grandma let us help with everything. We got to pour the pancake batter, cut out the cookies and lick the spoon. Grandma had fun projects to keep us busy and grandpa always had surprises. He would take us into town and buy us a big bag of candy from the little one room grocery store. Grandma would send us off with warnings about not spoiling our supper so GP would graciously hide the wrappers in his pocket. On holidays GP would spend the day sitting on a chair in the kitchen managing the workers once he got to old to cook himself. He would taste everything and it always needed a little bit more salt. GM would work herself ragged and had made us girls little aprons to make us feel important. These memories I will treasure always and it makes me miss them both so much.
I am truly thankful that my kids get to make the same priceless memories with their grandparents that both Bret and I got to have with ours. I will try and post pictures of the famous gingerbread house when I get a chance. In the meantime stay tuned for my very important BF update as I will be listing the website I most frequently use and my list of the best of 2008 deals. Cheers!
Showing posts with label Black Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Friday. Show all posts
11.26.2008
11.21.2008
we are family....I got all my...
Family. I think that when you say your wedding vows your parents should have vows that they have to say to.
"I MIL & FIL take you DIL/SIL as one of our own. I promise to remember your birthday and invite you to holiday gatherings. I promise to offer support while not judging. I promise to never broach the topics of money, sex, and how you raise your children. I promise to love those children and spoil them rotten. As long as you both are married."
My in-laws come into town on Tuesday (my birthday) and will be staying with us for a week. I am genuinely glad that they are coming. They came a little less than a year ago for a long weekend. While I thought the trip went fine I think they thought otherwise. While there were here I took them to the mall to shop. While there I suddenly started to feel very bad. (I think I mentioned this situation in a previous post) I broke out into the worst case of hives that I have ever had. I ended up having to take steroids to get rid of them. My entire body was covered and swollen and I was miserable. Although most commonly they come from an allergic reaction they can sometimes be caused by stress. We had not changed anything in our laundry care, etc so who knows what it was. My MIL swears that it was them visiting that caused the episode. Most likely I was allergic to something they were wearing or using. Either way there is some concern about this trip. However, as I have pointed out I am working now (not home with them all day) and we have a lot planned this time.
We spent last Thanksgiving with our new closest friends here and it was wonderful. We cooked a feast for 20 even though there were four adults and two kids and ate until we were ill. It was quiet but very nice. This year these close friends are expecting their first baby on.....my birthday. As my own private in house resident has informed me, less than 10% of women actually deliver on their due dates. I am still hopeful to share my date with a new little one. So far so good as she has not delivered yet. Because of her condition and the timing of everything all of their family is coming here for the holidays so spending a quiet holiday with them is kind of out. Besides my MIL is a fabulous cook and I am happy that she is going to help cook.
In the ten years that I have known my MIL we have come a long way. Our relationship has grown over time into one of respect and warm regards. We are not anywhere close to BFF nor do I carry illusions of this ever having. I have a mom and she has a daughter...we are good in that regard. I think that the struggle we have both have is one of finding our role. She has always been the mom. She cooked for her family, planned the holidays, and made the decisions. I came into her life and changed that dynamic.
Bret and I have always marched to our own beat and never asked for opinions, advice, or even help. That said we got married very young, had our first child two months after we were married a year (she was weeks early), bought our house right away, and then had a second child before Bret was out of med school. These things were not what anyone else thought was right for us and those thoughts were never really kept quiet or from us. It hurt my feelings that people thought we should have waited to get married or have children. I just wanted them to be excited and happy for us. I won't go into the ugly things that happened (I will save that for my anonymous blog) but let's just say it took a lot of time for me to forgive and I am still working on the forgetting part.
The one thing I have learned is that although it always takes them longer than I had hoped they ALWAYS come around. My MIL was there for me when my mom was in the hospital the entire week before our wedding. She stayed in the hospital with me when I was pregnant with Emily, scared to death, and Bret was 16 hours away. She cried with me when I packed up everything I owned and said goodbye to everything and everyone I had every known to go to a place that seemed so foreign and far way with my two little babies. She is the best grandmother I could have ever asked for to my kids and she would do anything to help her own kids.
I am sure that when we have another child it will still be too soon for them (no that is not an announcement, I promise you will one of the first to know) and we will make other decisions that they will not agree with. I am also sure they will let us know that they disagree. In the mean time I am happy that the kids will get to spend some time with the grandparents, we will get the best homemade bread and pies ever, and we will be with family for this holiday to give thanks for all that is good. She has also promised to go BF shopping with me and hold a spot in line. Now that is true love.
"I MIL & FIL take you DIL/SIL as one of our own. I promise to remember your birthday and invite you to holiday gatherings. I promise to offer support while not judging. I promise to never broach the topics of money, sex, and how you raise your children. I promise to love those children and spoil them rotten. As long as you both are married."
My in-laws come into town on Tuesday (my birthday) and will be staying with us for a week. I am genuinely glad that they are coming. They came a little less than a year ago for a long weekend. While I thought the trip went fine I think they thought otherwise. While there were here I took them to the mall to shop. While there I suddenly started to feel very bad. (I think I mentioned this situation in a previous post) I broke out into the worst case of hives that I have ever had. I ended up having to take steroids to get rid of them. My entire body was covered and swollen and I was miserable. Although most commonly they come from an allergic reaction they can sometimes be caused by stress. We had not changed anything in our laundry care, etc so who knows what it was. My MIL swears that it was them visiting that caused the episode. Most likely I was allergic to something they were wearing or using. Either way there is some concern about this trip. However, as I have pointed out I am working now (not home with them all day) and we have a lot planned this time.
We spent last Thanksgiving with our new closest friends here and it was wonderful. We cooked a feast for 20 even though there were four adults and two kids and ate until we were ill. It was quiet but very nice. This year these close friends are expecting their first baby on.....my birthday. As my own private in house resident has informed me, less than 10% of women actually deliver on their due dates. I am still hopeful to share my date with a new little one. So far so good as she has not delivered yet. Because of her condition and the timing of everything all of their family is coming here for the holidays so spending a quiet holiday with them is kind of out. Besides my MIL is a fabulous cook and I am happy that she is going to help cook.
In the ten years that I have known my MIL we have come a long way. Our relationship has grown over time into one of respect and warm regards. We are not anywhere close to BFF nor do I carry illusions of this ever having. I have a mom and she has a daughter...we are good in that regard. I think that the struggle we have both have is one of finding our role. She has always been the mom. She cooked for her family, planned the holidays, and made the decisions. I came into her life and changed that dynamic.
Bret and I have always marched to our own beat and never asked for opinions, advice, or even help. That said we got married very young, had our first child two months after we were married a year (she was weeks early), bought our house right away, and then had a second child before Bret was out of med school. These things were not what anyone else thought was right for us and those thoughts were never really kept quiet or from us. It hurt my feelings that people thought we should have waited to get married or have children. I just wanted them to be excited and happy for us. I won't go into the ugly things that happened (I will save that for my anonymous blog) but let's just say it took a lot of time for me to forgive and I am still working on the forgetting part.
The one thing I have learned is that although it always takes them longer than I had hoped they ALWAYS come around. My MIL was there for me when my mom was in the hospital the entire week before our wedding. She stayed in the hospital with me when I was pregnant with Emily, scared to death, and Bret was 16 hours away. She cried with me when I packed up everything I owned and said goodbye to everything and everyone I had every known to go to a place that seemed so foreign and far way with my two little babies. She is the best grandmother I could have ever asked for to my kids and she would do anything to help her own kids.
I am sure that when we have another child it will still be too soon for them (no that is not an announcement, I promise you will one of the first to know) and we will make other decisions that they will not agree with. I am also sure they will let us know that they disagree. In the mean time I am happy that the kids will get to spend some time with the grandparents, we will get the best homemade bread and pies ever, and we will be with family for this holiday to give thanks for all that is good. She has also promised to go BF shopping with me and hold a spot in line. Now that is true love.
11.11.2008
Favorite Things About Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving (and my birthday) quickly approach I thought I would be fun to give a top ten favorite things list. I love lists and didn't really have anything to blog about that wasn't me complaining about another month of nights or highlights of my shopping (don't worry it will come) for Christmas so here it is.
#10. My house smells like pumpkin, bread, turkey, and stuffing and just things that warms you from the inside out for a week without having to light a candle. I wonder if you could capture that smell in a candle.
#9. The "feel like you are doing a good deed" feeling that I get from adopting a family and buying their Thanksgiving day feast.
#8. Free turkey from Reading Hospital.
#7. Little Pilgrim hats and hand turkeys made by my children for their school celebrations.
#6. Birthday presents from family and friends on or around the day.
#5. Scanning the actual Black Friday ads, making my schedule and lists, and going to bed a little early so that I can hit it hard at 3 am the next day.
#4. Getting to sleep in a few minutes longer b/c of the Macy T-Day parade that can keep my kids' attention just a little longer. (We will go to this before we move any further away from NYC...Bret has promised)
#3. The "holy cows I am going to be ill or pass out" feeling you get after eating pie when you were already so full that my maternity pants (not pregnant) are not holding up and then napping while in between watching football.
#2. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, cranberry jelly, rolls, sweet potatoes, and pie, pie, and more pie! (pumpkin, pecan, cream, fruit, you name it)
#1. Looking around the table with tears in my eyes to see the people who matter most to me and taking a moment to thank GOD for everything that he has blessed me with. I have been very blessed this last year and have so much to be thankful for everyday.
#10. My house smells like pumpkin, bread, turkey, and stuffing and just things that warms you from the inside out for a week without having to light a candle. I wonder if you could capture that smell in a candle.
#9. The "feel like you are doing a good deed" feeling that I get from adopting a family and buying their Thanksgiving day feast.
#8. Free turkey from Reading Hospital.
#7. Little Pilgrim hats and hand turkeys made by my children for their school celebrations.
#6. Birthday presents from family and friends on or around the day.
#5. Scanning the actual Black Friday ads, making my schedule and lists, and going to bed a little early so that I can hit it hard at 3 am the next day.
#4. Getting to sleep in a few minutes longer b/c of the Macy T-Day parade that can keep my kids' attention just a little longer. (We will go to this before we move any further away from NYC...Bret has promised)
#3. The "holy cows I am going to be ill or pass out" feeling you get after eating pie when you were already so full that my maternity pants (not pregnant) are not holding up and then napping while in between watching football.
#2. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, cranberry jelly, rolls, sweet potatoes, and pie, pie, and more pie! (pumpkin, pecan, cream, fruit, you name it)
#1. Looking around the table with tears in my eyes to see the people who matter most to me and taking a moment to thank GOD for everything that he has blessed me with. I have been very blessed this last year and have so much to be thankful for everyday.
10.28.2008
Only 31 days left!!
Ok, so little known fact about me...I love to get a good deal. Not just a couple dollars off but a great find at an unbelievable good price. This is how I manage to buy nice things for my expensive taste at the budget I am currently living on. I do this in many different ways.
First I shop all the time. Not buy all the time but shop. There is a huge difference (one that has taken my husband years to figure out) in the art of shopping and just buying. I stop into some of my favorite shops and look.
Second I buy clothes for the kids out of season. Last fall I bought Palmer a Nike reversible coat that is adorable (originally marked $80) for $12. I also bought Emily Levi jeans for $4 each. She has to have adjustable waists and these can be expensive. I don't buy trendy thing since they will be out of style by the next season but I do buy the basics and this saves us a ton.
Third I live in the outlet capital of the world. Outlet stores were invented in Reading Pa and is home to some of the largest outlet malls in the world. It took me a while to get used to outlet shopping. The hit or miss when it comes to sizes and having to be careful about buying discontinued styles not rejects that have something wrong in the sewing or something. When I shop for the kids I go to Lancaster. There they have Tommy kids, Ralph Lauren kids, Gymboree, Children's Place, Babygap, Carter's, Oshgosh, and Pottery Barn Kids. All are about 20-50% cheaper than the regular stores with the same quality and cuteness. When I shop for Bret and I, I got to the Premier outlets just outside Philly. Here they have White House Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft, JCrew, Gap, Ann Klien, Liz Taylor, Levi, and many many more. When I get the chance to go to New York I hit the not so secret shops that sell knock off purses that the most fashionable person you know could not tell the difference but my pocket book can.
And finally I always shop with coupons and look for sales. My husband kids me the most about this one b/c he cracks up at having to check my purse before we hit the register everywhere. When I bought the material and things for the kids costumes I spent $10 on Palmer's costume and $15 on Em's because I bought one cut of material at a time using my biweekly mail coupon for 40% off. I also bought the pattern during their $0.99 sale.
So you can imagine what the most important bargain shopping day of the year would be....BLACK FRIDAY. I said it. I am one of the crazy people who stand in line at 3 am to get the door buster good deals the day after Thanksgiving. I don't mind the crowds or standing in line. I can also clearly show exactly how much I save every year by going out on this crazy day. The savings is just the justification to my husband. I do it because I love it. I love it so much that I subscribe to the websites that post the advertisements for the different stores a month in advance. I plan my morning according to what store opens first, the biggest/hardest/most important gifts to get, and location. Last year was our first BF in PA and I didn't have a babysitter for the kids and Bret had to work. So I only could hit one store. I chose Walmart the mother of all the good deals. I stood in line at 3:30 until 5 when they opened. I was in line, shopped, check out, and back home before Bret left for morning conference that started at 7 am. It was a short day last year but I made out with what I needed and still got my savings. This year my in-laws are in town for the holiday so I have a babysitter (my mother-in-law might actually join me too...we will see) and I have already seen a couple of new adds. I am pumped.
Bret has only gone with me once in 10 years and that was only because he wanted a new TV and I told him that he had to come with to get it. He says he would never go again but I don't' believe him. If he had the day off I am sure that he would go just because he can always find something that he wants for an unbelievable good price. In fact I am not convinced that he is not going to try and go this year before he heads off to work. Only 31 days left!!
First I shop all the time. Not buy all the time but shop. There is a huge difference (one that has taken my husband years to figure out) in the art of shopping and just buying. I stop into some of my favorite shops and look.
Second I buy clothes for the kids out of season. Last fall I bought Palmer a Nike reversible coat that is adorable (originally marked $80) for $12. I also bought Emily Levi jeans for $4 each. She has to have adjustable waists and these can be expensive. I don't buy trendy thing since they will be out of style by the next season but I do buy the basics and this saves us a ton.
Third I live in the outlet capital of the world. Outlet stores were invented in Reading Pa and is home to some of the largest outlet malls in the world. It took me a while to get used to outlet shopping. The hit or miss when it comes to sizes and having to be careful about buying discontinued styles not rejects that have something wrong in the sewing or something. When I shop for the kids I go to Lancaster. There they have Tommy kids, Ralph Lauren kids, Gymboree, Children's Place, Babygap, Carter's, Oshgosh, and Pottery Barn Kids. All are about 20-50% cheaper than the regular stores with the same quality and cuteness. When I shop for Bret and I, I got to the Premier outlets just outside Philly. Here they have White House Black Market, Ann Taylor Loft, JCrew, Gap, Ann Klien, Liz Taylor, Levi, and many many more. When I get the chance to go to New York I hit the not so secret shops that sell knock off purses that the most fashionable person you know could not tell the difference but my pocket book can.
And finally I always shop with coupons and look for sales. My husband kids me the most about this one b/c he cracks up at having to check my purse before we hit the register everywhere. When I bought the material and things for the kids costumes I spent $10 on Palmer's costume and $15 on Em's because I bought one cut of material at a time using my biweekly mail coupon for 40% off. I also bought the pattern during their $0.99 sale.
So you can imagine what the most important bargain shopping day of the year would be....BLACK FRIDAY. I said it. I am one of the crazy people who stand in line at 3 am to get the door buster good deals the day after Thanksgiving. I don't mind the crowds or standing in line. I can also clearly show exactly how much I save every year by going out on this crazy day. The savings is just the justification to my husband. I do it because I love it. I love it so much that I subscribe to the websites that post the advertisements for the different stores a month in advance. I plan my morning according to what store opens first, the biggest/hardest/most important gifts to get, and location. Last year was our first BF in PA and I didn't have a babysitter for the kids and Bret had to work. So I only could hit one store. I chose Walmart the mother of all the good deals. I stood in line at 3:30 until 5 when they opened. I was in line, shopped, check out, and back home before Bret left for morning conference that started at 7 am. It was a short day last year but I made out with what I needed and still got my savings. This year my in-laws are in town for the holiday so I have a babysitter (my mother-in-law might actually join me too...we will see) and I have already seen a couple of new adds. I am pumped.
Bret has only gone with me once in 10 years and that was only because he wanted a new TV and I told him that he had to come with to get it. He says he would never go again but I don't' believe him. If he had the day off I am sure that he would go just because he can always find something that he wants for an unbelievable good price. In fact I am not convinced that he is not going to try and go this year before he heads off to work. Only 31 days left!!
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