Just like last year, Joshua spent the night at Nonie & Poppy's house. Only this year I didn't bawl the entire time. I thought of him endlessly, but I said a quick prayer each time he came to mind, which helped. So, Shawn stayed up late looking at the ads when I physically couldn't keep my heavy eye lids open anymore (all that turkey and no nap!), and then he got up before the dawn's light to do some ordering online. I actually slept in past our usual time of getting up, and then I had to feed little Caleb Luke and dress him. We got a late start, but there wasn't much we actually needed to buy. We went to the mall, and we couldn't find a parking spot. Just as we were about to leave, a woman told us that she was leaving and to follow her to her car. It was as a GREAT spot, right up front. Hooray! I started out wearing Caleb but eventually Daddy took him. We literally walked all over the mall and didn't buy a single thing. The lines were crazy! But, it was fun to be together and hang out. We ran into the couple we had just had over from small group...well, we ran into Chris who was looking for Lisa. :)
From there, we went to Chili's to enjoy a nice lunch out together. Caleb fell asleep in his car seat next to me, and Shawn & I talked about Christmas lists and all sorts of things. Our service there was excellent - we were impressed. When our bellies were once again filled to overflowing, we headed to Walmart in Ephrata, where we spent more money than I would care to admit. We bought shatter-proof Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers for the boys, and a couple other little things that added up to a bunch of money. We did buy Caleb a little jumping seat that you don't need to hang in a doorway that I think he will LOVE. And diapers....and all sorts of other stuff that you just find at Walmart that you need. :)
Speaking of Walmart, I was flabbergasted (sp?) at the news story that we read online first and heard Mike Huckabee (who I just adore) talk about on Fox news last night...the one that people trampled to death a 34-year-old Walmart worker who was opening the doors on Black Friday and injured an 8-month pregnant woman. Part of me can believe it seeing some of the nuts out there at 4 am (we've been there before to see for ourselves how nasty people can get over sales!), but part of me wonders how people can step on another human and not stop to help them up. It makes me sick to my stomach, truly. Shawn & I have gone out every year on Black Friday since we've been dating. We enjoy the tradition of it, the fun of finding gifts for family & friends, the thrill of good deals, etc. But, thanks to Shawn's easygoing nature and his influence in my life, we just try not to get too excited if something doesn't go our way or get too annoyed at the crowds bumping into you. The idea is to enjoy yourself and start getting into the Christmas spirit, the kind that helps others not hurts anyone.
Leaving Walmart, which wasn't that busy by that time of day, we headed the rest of the way to Reading to pick up our much-missed Bean. We headed home and started decorating the house for the holidays, which has become a tradition in our house. Joshua was soooo cute this year. He squealed with delight "A tree! Daddy, a tree! Lights! Tree! A tree!" He was so excited he could barely get it out. Then, he thought about it, went down and got his little seat from his drum set, brought it up, and perched himself right next to his beloved lit up tree. That's before the decorations were even on it!
It's so hard when you're two and it's natural to explore your world through touch to hold yourself back from touching all the pretty new shiny decorations. He so desperately wants to touch the snowmen, the Christmas balls, Santa, the nativity scene, and everything else in our house. But, he's been pretty good so far at just looking and not touching. :) I got out the snowman that Grandma & Grandpa Ginder gave him last year, and he remembered that it lit up and made music! He immediately grabbed its hand and danced as it played the LOUD tune "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" Shawn keeps hiding it from him when he's heard it enough times. Joshua could play it for hours... We were more than exhausted, but it was a fun day all in all.
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