And It Begins...

You know what begins. The holiday rush. Ugh. The race to get the "just right" gift for everyone on your list. Trying to stretch a buck as far as it possibly can go so that your child can get the latest, greatest version of some piece of crap that will be broken in a week or left lonely and forgotten in the far reaches of the closet. Yes, this joyous time of year. It's this time, the stretch between Halloween and Thanksgiving, that seems most daunting. It's too early to hang up the Christmas decorations and really get in the holiday mood, and yet you still have to shop like your holiday spirit is in full swing.

To top off my list of cheer this year is that Haley has made a list of things she wants that's ten miles long. However, she did add that "as long as I get some of that stuff it'll be a wonderful holiday." Atleast the child realizes that you don't get everything on your list. Most especially when the little queen of mess puts Ice Cream Maker Toy on her list. Oh, Lord. No way! I don't plan on spending the New Year cleaning dried spots made of powdered dairy product, refined sugar, and food coloring off the walls. Oh no. Not this Momma. I did have a few moments of pride as she read her list aloud. She asked for alot of books and school supplies, as well as craft supplies for at home. So, for the last few days, I have scoured ebay looking for as many early reader books as I can find. My love of reading is one that I would really like to instill in Haley. So far, my evil plan is working. MUAAHHAHAHAHA.

On the brighter side of things, Thanksgiving is fast approaching. A holiday that I love for it's simplicity. Give thanks and gorge yourself on food. Does it get any better? This year we will be having our Thanksgiving at home. Just the three of us. And the dog. Can't forget the dog. He'll be under the table licking up crumbs. Haley is excited to help with getting dinner ready and I'm excited to have her in the kitchen to help. I have to think of a few dishes that will be easy for her to make--without those dishes tasting like dirt. I'm sure she can handle candied yams and green bean casserole. Those are easy enough that not even a novice cook, the title earned by her lowly 5 years here on this planet, can't mess up. She's excited about it. That's all that really matters. I won't even think about the mess the kitchen will be afterwards, but we'll save that for the time when it actually happens.