Three Kings Day

The Three Kings arrived at our house very, very late.  Like, right-before-the-sun-came-up late.  I think I saw them riding out as I went to wake up the kids.  (Walks off, whistling....)

They brought each kid a pair of wind-up Christmas toys, a North-Pole-themed book, a lapel pin (eagle for MLB and Snowman Angel for DLG,) and large box of Lemonheads candy.  No, you may not eat candy for breakfast before school.  Please, don't run the toys on the breakfast table. You've read your books already? And each other's?

After school, DLG told me that a schoolmate didn't get a visit from the Three Kings.  Hmmm....  well, I said, I think the Three Kings visit you and MLB because they used to visit Carl & his sisters & brother.  When I was growing up, the Three Kings didn't visit your Uncle Bill and me, I said.

Their lives are so, so filled.  I hope that they always have the magic and dreams and joy.  Kids can never have too many people who love them.

Sale, Ahoy!

The kids were back in school so I FINALLY hit some after-Christmas sales. Ten days beyond, they're more like after-after-Christmas sales.

I'd been itching all week to get shopping, but my wild-things can be quite the gimme-gimmies in a store, if they're not bugging each other to death.

I like shopping by myself.  I can look over things, pick them up and carry them around, think about them, and then put them back.

Shopping after the initial rush is good.  By this time, prices are as low as they will get before things are packed up for the secondary market.  I don't NEED anything, so I prefer having my non-necessities cost at a serious discount.  There's fewer leftovers to chose from, so even less for me spend. This is all a good thing, even though I've been antsy for a week.

I still found bunches of useful stuff!

Hallmark:  60% off-- "Anna" ornament and "Olaf in Summer" ornament for DLG, "A Little Jingle" ornament for me, "Northpole" Itty-Bittys for MLB (Jaz the Penguin & Snowby the Bear,) another ornament for me to be either a Mother's Day gift or 2016 Christmas gift, the "Caring Place" glass butterfly ornament to be a Mother's Day gift to my mom, a Mexican-style cross ornament to hang in MLB's room, and a little something for Carl's birthday.

Hobby Lobby:  90% off-- small Frozen-style ornaments to use as favors for one of DLG's birthdays, some bandanas also for favors, a throw pillow, several tree skirts for mini & table top trees (tree skirts make good doll skirts,) Christmas-ish jewelry findings that could be used any time, Christmas mini ornaments that can be used as jewelry, interest-specific ornaments to use as show cast gifts, hats for the kids and a sparkly infinity scarf for me.

Michael's:  75%-90% off-- enameled frame ornaments shaped like yarn balls (for gift use if I ever get back with my knitting group,) some sidewalk chalk for MLB's birthday, another little goody for Carl's birthday, Christmas earrings, some little things for friend's birthday and a cute little springy ornament.

Wal-Mart:  75% off-- chocolate goodies, cake icing, ornaments for the kids next Christmas, a few trinkets for them for Christmas, a pair of clip-on poinsettia flowers to wear in the play, little storage boxes for the ornaments they make and the loose ones I buy.

Target:  90%-- little plastic toy ornaments for DLG's birthday favors, ribbon on charming wooden spools, a few little ornaments that would appeal to MLB or Carl.

Yeah.  I went N.U.T.Z.  Good thing everything was picked over.  I shudder to imaging how much more I could have bought at a mere 50% off.

Yeah.  Good thing.  I might be an incurable.

Last Day of Christmas Vacation

I'm lucky.  My kids adore school, and cannot wait to go back to school tomorrow.  Maybe we didn't do "stuff" over the break, but the excitement of Christmas kept them occupied.  We didn't go to the Galaxy of Lights, didn't take in the Tinsel Trail, didn't tour neighborhood decorations.  But we did enjoy each other's company.  We did relax and laugh.

DLG and I spent today finally getting some decorations up on her walls. I've had these glittery flowers I'd bought at after-Easter clearance a couple of years ago.  Now her walls sparkle and bloom. Her horse poster is up on the wall (it's a Disney Palace Pet, but still....)  My unicorn cross-stitch is hung by her door.  Her "rainbow" projector (a Christmas gift) shines; her brother's "old" reading lamp and alarm clock are by her bed.  Oh, and we cleaned up her room.  (Talk about disarray.)

Got her brother to tidy up a bit.  We set up his new CD/radio/alarm clock (set in military time.)  Set up his new reading light.  (Both gifts.)  He got a couple of small wildlife posters-- put those up, too.

And I swept the den and kitchen.  A month of Christmas cookies makes quite a sprinkle of crumbs.

Backpacks are reloaded.  Computer is charged.  Gym clothes are clean. Lunchbags ready to be filled in the morning.

Only problem?

No one wants to wake at 0500 hours.