Stunt Boy did so awesome!! Last night, we got in bed and he told me all about how loud he was going to sing and that he couldn’t wait. He also threw in there “dad can’t go up on the stage” and “if your are bad the Pastor will take you back to your room.” Hahaha…he also started asking who was coming to see him. Since last year was such a disaster we really didn’t invite people this year….well, until he made that comment and I spent the evening calling my family members.

The lights changed the entire time so please excuse my photos…..

Can you tell we didn’t really care for hand gestures?? He was next to two girls that were just so into it! I have a lot of pictures with his hands in his pockets staring at the ground. But, hey, at least he sang this year!

I think the funniest thing is how much SB hated the audience clapping. (Note the picture with his hands over his ears!)

And I just felt bad for this poor boy, B, the entire time.

Stunt Boys class

LOL – Just found this. I remember it so clearly because I was excited to capture this face. This is SB watching Polar Express (in his Thomas PJs)…this is the Hot Chocolate scene.

So, that year we heard about North Pole Express in a neighboring town. NPE is a vintage railroad that offers 30 min train rides for kids during the Christmas season. We knew we had to go.

We had purchased tickets for our family members, but the baby had a runny nose and they ended up not being able to make it, so my friend Meg and her daughter came along.

SB loved it even more than I had expected…

In 2008, SB was three and STILL obsessed with trains. My husbands entire family was able to make it that year. SB had such a fun time with his favorite cousin! (I REALLY need a fake name for him!! Stunt Double? or is that too confusing?)

(that last picture is by SBs bed and he STILL talks about it.)

So, now its 2009, SB is 4 and I really thought we’d skip the train this year. Last year was kind of a let down because there was too much story time, singing, etc….it was really kinda like- okay, enough! But, then I got a letter from the school saying that they’d be taking a field trip there…how could I turn it down?? So, I paid the money and sent EP and SB on there way. EP didn’t want to take my big camera so I only have iPhone pics.

Stunt Boy became a gardener.

We picked out our Christmas wish list over breakfast.

Starlet was involved in an at-home photo shoot.

We visited the zoo with family (i still haven’t come up with anything creative for them yet!!).

Had a BUNCH of pre-Thanksgiving eating….

And finally….Thanksgiving. I was thankful to have my husband home!!

I actively participated in Black Friday one year.  It was the year I was in super coupon mode…you know, the year I accumulated enough free tampons to last until my first born hits 2nd grade?  Oh, you don’t know that story?? Hum, maybe I’ll blog on that someday. (Side-note:  is it weird I have a running log on my computer and iPhone on new blog ideas??)  Anyway, I sat down with my ads, circled everything I liked made my action plan based on store openings and went for it. It was great, exhilarating shopping at 5 am, scoring deals, coming home with LOADS of gifts!

I haven’t done it since.  Just wasn’t much I wanted enough the last three years to make me want to do it.  This year, I tried like heck to find a newspaper.  EP went to three stores, my cousin went to two–I just wanted a paper!!  (And, all the while my dad had one in the office that I found at 5 pm TODAY!) So, all I had to go on today were the ads I had seen on blackfriday.info. I had no intentions of shopping.  NONE!

So, we get up this morning, cuddle in bed with my babies and then it hit me…BLACK FRIDAY!!  There were a few things I had been eyeing at Old Navy, so I looked online and almost ALL of my cart was removed and then I noticed it was almost all on sale. 50% off all of it!  I knew I had to go. I didn’t want to go but it was calling me.

I arrive at Old Navy and the first thing I notice is the line. O – M – WORD!  Every checker open and at least 15 people in each line.  So I start my search and as I find things it starts building…you know, that feeling, you’re saving money, you’re getting the rush, you’re finding more and more deals…. BAM!  Walk out of the store with two, yes TWO, overflowing bags of clothes.  2 outfits for Starlet, 4 shirts for Stunt Boy, 2 workout pants for me, 2 shirts for me, sweatsuit for MIL, and 2 random performance fleece shirts just because they were so cheap!  So….$200 of stuff for $117.  All stuff we needed so no biggie, right?

Well, since i was in the area, why not stop on by Carters.  $20 and two cute things Starlet.  Then, Ulta….I’m telling you I couldn’t be stopped!!!  The good thing about Ulta was that I bought stuff off a Christmas gift card from last year — so just a little out of pocket.

Spent the rest of the morning enjoying a last lunch out before our out-of-towners leave in the morning.  But then I was hit AGAIN!!  Our Harmony remote, which we love, recently stopped working.  Well, the “off” “guide” and “menu” buttons stopped working. After six years, I’m so sad to see it go. It’s so hard to find a good universal remote!!! Mom & Dad’s harmony remote has been on the fritz as well.  The thing about Mom and Dad’s remote is when it has problems I get calls since I hooked it up.  K, my brother, is a genius and offered to hook up the new one if I got it.  He leaves a 6 am in the morning….so guess where I was this afternoon??  Best Buy. On Black Friday.  And not even the closest one to my house. I had to go 30 min away!  Bingo – remotes purchased…$100 off each!

As I was driving home, I passed a Target…had to stop.  Two games for SB, Pjs for Starlet.  Hobby Lobby:  wrapping paper and bows.

Seriously, people, I could.not.be.stopped!!  Even though everything purchased was on sale (everything I bought today was at LEAST 50% off), everything purchased was needed, I have to say, I have a little of buyers remorse.  I think it was more of that can’t be stopped feeling.

Maybe next year I’ll be prepared.