Shopping for Christmas presents can be fun. But shopping has taken on a whole new meaning with children. So, this year I'm really taking advantage of the internet. I've spent two days going through catalogs and magazines looking for the neat stuff to give. Then, when I sat down at the computer, the shopping was easy and quick. There are some cool products out there at my fingertips. I can't tell you all the great stuff I bought, our some of my family and friends that read my blog would know what they are getting for Christmas. But, let's just say that I think Matt and Jennifer will be delighted, Anne will look great, and Roseann will be ready for 2008!

When we got home from Church I took a picture of the kids for Christmas cards. I loaded it up on Snapfish, and within minutes I had ordered cards to send to family and friends.

And, our Frazier Fur Christmas tree will be delivered in about 20 minutes. Yep, delivered to our front door. I'm loving this service from Earl May Nursery. I'm not sure where we would be putting a 9 foot tree in the Explorer. Last year, the back window was left open and the tip of the tree was on the dash board.

Here's how the afternoon went.

3:45 p.m. Left house. Noted only 26 miles to empty on gauge. Hmm. Albian is about 14 miles (there is a Casey's there). Should be fine.

4:00 p.m. Explorer is filled and we head to Marshalltown.

4:25 p.m. Arrive at JC Penny's at the mall to get Henry's hair cut. The girls are now both 20 pounds, so for me to carry both of them very far is back-breaking. So, I bring the stroller to haul them around. Out comes the stroller. Out comes Henry, who is instructed to hold onto the stroller and not move. Out comes girl 1, then girl 2. Grab the baby bag, lock the car. As we go into Penny's, Henry has to hold the doors open so I can get the stroller through the doors.

4:30 p.m. Henry gets hair cut, I feed girls their bottles.

5:00 p.m. Get stroller moved through boys department to find snow suite for Henry. I buy the first one that I see that looks good.

5:15 p.m. Load everyone back in the Explorer...Henry first, then girls, then stroller.

5:20 p.m. Arrive at Earl May's. Repeat unloading part. Bought first tree that was 9 foot and Frazier Fur. (I am not picky.) Buy 6 foot pre-light articfical tree for ledge about front door. Round up Henry from watching birds and hamsters. Nice Earl May lady holds door...back out to car to load back up.

5:35 p.m. Call Zeno's pizza for jumbo large hamburger pizza. Confirm they will bring out to car. (They are the nicest people.) We drive to Zeno's and wait in car for pizza.

6:00 p.m. Have pizza and head home.

6:30 p.m. Arrive home...unload everything. Time to feed girls cereal and fruit.

6:50 p.m. Eat luke-warm pizza (still the BEST pizza around) with cold glass of 47 pound Rooster (see earlier blog). Relax to the UNI football game on radio.

7:30 p.m. Feed girls bottles and put to bed.

8:15 p.m. Get Henry's pjs on and continue listening to game. (A friend's son plays on the team.)

10:00 p.m Carry sleeping Henry to bed. Haul my tired body to bed!