Toys R Us is closed!

Imagine arriving at Toys R Us on Christmas Eve at 9:10PM, with not a single present purchased, only to find the doors locked!

That is a true desperate moment. What would you do?

December 2014 was the year that Mom caught pneumonia.....and Dad did the shopping!

Luckily I had Hanukkah covered in November, but I was planning on Christmas shopping in mid December. While sick in bed for over 2 weeks, Doug volunteered to take care of Christmas. His exact words, "It will be fun, don't worry about a thing. I love shopping on Christmas Eve."

So when the kids went to bed, Doug set out for his definition of "fun". When he arrived at Toys R Us,  he quickly found the store closed at 9:00PM.

He had two options.
1. Answer some VERY tough questions on Christmas morning.
or
2. Sneak in the exit door!

While one of the last customers was checking out, he snuck in the exit door and made a mad dash as if he were on a game show shopping spree. I only wish he had his Go Pro hooked up to the shopping cart. This post could be exponentially more entertaining.

He arrived at the checkout to find not a "creature was stirring" not even a cashier. After begging someone to take pity on him, he was able to purchase his cart full of Legos. He claims it's the only aisle he could make it to.

Hey beggars can't be choosers. I'm just happy he snuck in the exit door!

Merry Christmas to all the Santa's that are making it happen!

The Label Maker and The Secret Keeper

It's the first night of Hanukkah! The night when we kickoff 8 straight days of pure goodness.  It's amazing how fast three kids turn into perfect little angels when a single present is held before them.

Here's a quick recap on the days leading up to the big event!

Last Thursday: I finally finished shopping for all the presents. Now the task was wrapping and hiding them. My closet was too stuffed so I stashed a few under my bed. Brilliant, nobody goes under there!

Last Friday:  Jack got a juggling kit!  As if he needed another excuse to throw balls in the air. While perfecting his juggling act a ball happened to roll under my bed. What happened next? The juggler now resembles the Cheshire Cat. A little taller and a bit more proud of his secret. He walks around the house saying, "I may or may not be getting the Lego Mine Set."

Of course it's not a brotherhood unless you let your siblings know, that you know, what they are getting. Now all  three are pretending they don't "know" their gifts.

In an unrelated event on Friday - Nathan received a label maker......the gift that keeps on giving! If you are looking for that perfect holiday gift for your Type A, highly organized 9 year old, it's perfect!

As only Nate can do, he took it up a notch. It was too obvious to label items for what they are. He decided to start labeling everything with numbers. If I don't know what something is, I will now need to refer to a master key with their descriptions.

In case you are in need of a big black flashlight, please refer to item #2.

My biggest fear now is not losing my mind, it is losing the master key!

Happy 1^st Night of Hanukkah