Finally Friday

It's my weekend with the kids and I've really been looking forward to this day.  They have been with Dakota for the past two weekends due to the Thanksgiving weekend (it was her year) and needing to get the schedule back in sync with Andrew's weekend schedule away.  It's important that we have the kids on the same alternating weekends or it leaves zero kid-free time for Stephanie and me.  Not ideal, that's for sure.  True, they all have Tuesdays and Thursdays with their other parent but Dakota picks the kids up at 5pm and has them back home in time for bedtime routines by 7:45pm.  Andrew's other parent doesn't pick Andrew up until 7:15pm and then has him overnight.  It's kind of crazy but it is what it is.

Anyhoo.....tonight the kids are with me and the three of us are going to go back to our old school for WinterFest.  This morning, on the way to school, they were both talking about what friends they hope will be there tonight.  Oh how I hope they have a good time.  Personally, for my part, I'm hoping to see some of MY old friends, too.  The three of us really miss our old stomping grounds and familiar faces.  Me, probably most of all.

Tomorrow I am planning to have Kaylen (and Kelton if he wants to, though something tells me he will opt out, preferring to play on ToonTown)  help me make some Christmas treats.  I'm looking forward to that.  And then on Sunday, weather and people permitting, we will go to the tree farm and cut down the non-artificial tree for the family room.  I think they kids will enjoy the experience.

I think I am all but done Christmas shopping.  We still need to get a few things off Andrew's list but I'm going to leave that in the hands of Stephanie.  Kelton and Kaylen are done though and I'm pretty happy with the result.  I'm looking forward to wrapping everything and making it all pretty but that will need to wait until next weekend when the kids are gone. 
I've had a good time shopping for what I needed.  A good chunk, once I knew what I was searching for,  I did online.  The rest had me in the store admiring one store display after another.  I admit that I love being in the stores this time of year (well - any time of year, really) because everything is all festive and happy.  I need that feeling....festive and happy.

I'm trying hard to make this a good Christmas for Kelton and Kaylen.  They are so darn excited and since they are still big believers in the magic, I want to make it as magical as possible.  I have a feeling I am getting to the end of my magic believing time with them.  Which makes me more sad than I could possible explain.

Anyway - I need to wrap this up since I have a job to get to at a local elementary school.  Today, for the second time this week, I get to play the role of Lunchroom Monitor.  WoooHoooo!  Hey - at least it's something.  :)