It's 12:22 a.m. and...

I shouldn't be awake. I've stayed up too late already 2 nights of the last 4 and if I stay up much later tonight, I'll be shot for our travelling tomorrow. But right now? From my perspective? I'd feel better staying up than going to bed. You see...I'm on a roll. I came home tonight with the goal of regaining control of my house. It was only emphasized when I couldn't get through my 2 car garage without stepping over something and bumping into something. So now, it's 9 hours later and here's the progress I've made:

1) I have a 4 foot path through the garage and everything that was in the way is sorted and put away. I had to stop there because I came across some bags I didn't recognize and I know D uses the garage to store Christmas presents. Sure didn't want to ruin any surprises!!! :-)

2) My family room has been EMPTIED. The floor is clear. The bags and boxes for Goodwill are in the van, the box of "Return to Chippewa" items is sitting by the door, the cat, dog, and rabbit food has been re-stacked in the closet and Sarah vacuumed the floor.

3) The kids rooms are clean and vacuumed.

4) The laundry is folded.

5) We ate leftovers for supper...which means the fridge is clean.

6) I can walk around my bed...pretty much. :-)

7) And, there's hope for the kitchen. The "prep-mess" from Rangerettes has been sorted and put away. The dishes are clean. The odds and ends put away. I only have a small stack of papers, the gift-wrapping supplies, and some broken toys sitting on my counter.

Re-reading the list, it didn't sound like the rooms were that bad...but I know that if it takes *me* 8 hours to clean it? It was really bad! I'm feeling SO much better and I know I will be even happier if I finish the laundry and clean my room. That just leaves the office for Sunday when we get hom from travelling and then we're ready for another week.

My mom sent me an email today about love not being shown through fancy cookies, perfectly decorated homes, and gourmet meals at Christmas...that it's shown by set aside "plans" and hugs and time spent on your family. Well, let me telling you...I must have been "loving my family" a LOT in the past 3 weeks because it sure showed it. So tonight I "loved my family" by teaching them how to clean. hehehehe

Anyway, I'm a bit slap-happy since I'm so tired. Let's see...to catch you up to date on life around here...

This weekend will be our 3rd trip to Chippewa in the past 4 weeks. We spent Thanksgiving there, my b-day here and Celebration Sunday here, and last weekend there for Jingle Bell Run. Now this weekend is D's extended family Christmas. Next weekend is his mom's bday and my family Christmas. The following weekend is the Andrew/Stone families Christmas at Jellystone. And then it's a weekend in Minnesota for my extended family Christmas. So, 6 of 7 weekends in a row at least 3 hours from home. Who's going to tell my children there's no money left for gifts since our family wants us to travel so much?!?!? Aye aye aye...but I keep saying "It's CHRISTMAS! Of course we'll come!!" <*sigh*>

Other than the travel...please say some prayers for us. S starts a work-up with a rheumatologist on Tuesday. They want to get to the bottom of her achy joints and persistant rashes. Her doctor says it isn't presenting like a "typical" arthritis or autoimmune disease but wants to do more testing. Since my days at the Foundation and the stories I've heard...I don't think doctors know what "typical" looks like. Anyway...let's pray she's just having abnormal growing pains and a couple ibuprofen will do the trick!

I better get back to that laundry. Oh won't it feel wonderful to wake up to a clean house in the morning?!? WEEHOOOO!