the tree is up. little Santa hats everywhere. found the missing nativity. ordered the final piece from eBay. started collecting in 1986. it's 2025.

ordered KJ & Koren first christmas ornaments off eBay. found tiny pics. Koren's arrived today and is on tree. (her original has been missing for years.) finally put a pic in Katie's first Christmas ornament. (she's 27). Bigfoot has his sweater on. The deer and dog are out of the garage corner. first time in YEARS. Bumble has moved upstairs. The Christmas Plushie gang in under the tree. wrapping presents. adding to the list here and there, trying to even it all out. playing Christmas Angel so Z has a good Christmas at mommy's house. may Sasquatch bless us, every one.

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

making handmade books for each grandkid. made new grand Christmas Sack Tags. have my amazon cart full of Christmas books for grands. made Violet 4 Christmas Notebooks with embellishments. making Tracy a Halloween Notebook and a ghost Christmas Cookie doll and got her that cool thing she was eye balling at The Lizzie Borden House Gift Shop. I am getting Build a Bear's Bloody Beary. have snarky mugs for the daughter and sons-in-law. snarky books for our 3 little ks. Izzy is getting a trash can for her room. Millie a knock off American Girl Boy Doll and outfit. Cora has asked for the new KC AG doll accessories - ordered 2 outfits. new baby has a ridiculously big Highland Cow plushie. Zerelda a Fur Real Tumbling Panda. going to attempt an Ugly Christmas Sweater for Bigfoot. and got ornaments to hang in his tree. no requests from Ian yet. a new ornament and jingle bells for front door wreath.

my whole vibe has been a bit off this year.

Cora had given me a birthday list. then mom said she didn't need any more baby dolls or stuffies. she asked for clothes and real makeup and Legos. and a Roblox card for her game. so: found her a cute pair of hoop earrings, lip gloss, lip balm, 3 books, a Roblox gift card, a Lego set, and a Target card to go shopping for clothes.

of course I'm Christmas shopping. it's JULY.

Lego sets and pom poms arrived today. putting stuff in Christmas sacks and realize....I've bought TWO BARBIES? wtf. they're right there, in the bottom of The Gift Trunk. now have to find 3 more, of course. or just save them for birthdays next year? but I'm pretty sure Coralie NEEDS a cat Monster High doll RIGHT now. THIS Christmas. or is it a werewolf? (sigh.) the girls all have tons of Barbies. I'll just leave them loose in box for now. such big monumental all important life-altering decisions going on here. not sure I'm up to the task. and something for Ian. would he want pom poms? there is an extra pair if he wants them. so now he needs TWO extra gifts. or 1 if I let the Barbie thing slide. unless he wants a Ken from movie. or does he? idk. and I want to do t-shirts again. the kids seemed to like them. I often see pics of them on FB wearing them. I am seriously trying to downsize. I really really really am. seriously. #truth.

prime day christmas shopping for grands.....

6 sets of sparkly silver poms for 5 granddaughters.

6 lego sets for 6 kids.

Let Freedom Ring

we haven't bought fireworks or went to a small town 4th celebration in years. we DID watch the original Red Dawn. KJ, Ann, & Izzy came over for a picnic lunch...they brought brats, chips, and cookies. we had watermelon, cantelope, buns, chips, baked beans, potato salad, deviled eggs, a decorated Hy-Vee chocolate chip cookie, and baked beans. a little something something for everyone. KJ's dryer has now quit. (for the love, am I right? we have very recently bought 2 new washers, HVAC and furnace, and now have to buy another dryer. $$$$$)

Izzy has quite the vocabulary and personality.

made scrappy snakes for each grandkid.

matching t-shirts again? but put their birth year on back....13.. 20, etc.?

gift card for each kid....Target for Koren's. Walmart for KJ's.

a Lego set for everyone!

of course a book for everyone! maybe a Christmas book?