New furnace, new glasses, and a bit of "yarn"

The new furnace is in and working like a charm. My boss thinks we got taken on the deal, but I am just glad it is over with and I can sleep at night again. Since we already paid for it there isn't much we can do about it anyway. There was some lingering smell from the epoxy PVC glue and some oil that had to burn off, but otherwise there isn't a noticeable difference.

Also, I finally got a chance to stop and pick up my new glasses since my meeting in Sauk got out a little early and there was no point in going back to the office. No prescription change but since the old ones were basically worn out, I decided it was time to spring for new frames. Since I am so freaking blind I have to pay big bucks to get thin and light lenses, but it is worth every penny. Got the kind with the magnetic clip-on sunglasses again and this time they aren't that horrible amber color. Yeah! Sometimes it is the little things in life, right?

Typical Wednesday nutty-ness last night with swimming lessons and Noodles and bedtime and everything. I did manage to find some time to check out the yarn sections at both JoAnn and Michael's though. :) Didn't do too much damage, but did pick up some new patterns and the yarn I needed to finish up the bunny hat and mittens I am working on. The baby shower is next week so I am hoping to get it done by then. Will have to put Caleb's blanket on hold for a little while so that I can get going on all these Christmas gifts that I keep adding. Don't know exactly who all of them are for, but I figured I would get a bunch done and then sort it out later. I have several dish clothes made and I know the Swiffer shrugs won't take too long. Want to make a plastic bag holder that looks like a carrot (very cute!) as a gift too.

Speaking of Christmas, I have NO idea when I am going to get my shopping done. Jay may be coming down this weekend but I will spend time showing him what Caleb and Mom want rather than doing my own shopping. Grrrrr.... We will be putting up the Christmas lights on the outside of the house on Saturday so at least we are getting started on the Christmas spirit. Have to get the tree decorated yet, but may work on that tonight during the Packer game. We are lucky enough to have the NFL network (thanks, DirecTV!) so we can watch it at home unlike MANY other people in the state.

Tis the Season

The good news is that Thanksgiving and all related craziness is over. The bad news is that Christmas is right around the corner. December is the one month each year that I love and dread all at the same time. I love it because there are so many wonderful memories associated with the Christmas season, but I hate it because I feel like I am being pulled in 12 thousand directions. My life is already crazy with work and taking care of a toddler, then add gift shopping, meal planning, grocery shopping, present wrapping, party going and house cleaning to it and I want to run away and hide.

This Christmas should be a little more fun than those in the recent past though, because Caleb is starting to realize a little of the magic of the season. He doesn't completely get it yet and trying to get him to understand that putting the tree in our living room doesn't mean Christmas is tomorrow has been a challenge, but he is getting there.

We went yesterday and picked out our Christmas tree at a choose and cut place near Waupaca. Very nice place that we hadn't been before and the tree cost up $45. Considering we paid more than double that a few years ago, it is worth a little bit of extra gas to get it while we are up in Waupaca for Thanksgiving anyway. That is the advantage of living so close to the Christmas Tree capital of the world. We got a 7.5 foot tall Fraser Fir and it looks great in the living room. Will try to get it decorated this evening, but I am not going to hold my breath. We are also going to be shopping for the lights to put on the OUTSIDE of the house, which means that we will probably be eating dinner out or getting take-out AGAIN. We have tried to put lights on the outside of the house the last couple of years but by the time we finally get around to it, neither of us thinks it is worth the effort. Caleb is adamant that we have lights outside this year, though, so I think it will really happen.