What you see is what you get-simple Christmas

I have been thinking how scaling back this year is probably the best thing I could have done. Most of this was done out of necessity, I don't have alot of places to put things-I have way too much baby stuff. We have a tree but I have kept most of the decorations simple, I only unpacked my favorites things. We have also spent alot less on gifts than we have in previous years, a baby is expensive. I didn't get the X-mas cards I wanted but I did get a photo of my little guy that is priceless-not the look I was going for but he is so sad its cute. I think alot of families out there are in a similar situation, its not that you don't want to celebrate but let's face it Christmas is alot of work-especially if you work full time and have an infant. The fact that Christmas is a week away doesn't even phase me, normally I would panic that I had not done any baking or have anything prepared for last minutes guests. This year what you see is what you get when you come to our house. Baby trumps everything this year, meaning that laundry, cleaning and other household chores get done when I get time. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.

Welcome to the Wilderness

Last Friday, we were all sitting in the kitchen when my stepson looked out the window and said "Look there's a bobcat on the porch!" I looked, the cat was as big as one of our dogs-who incidentally were in the house instead of outside. We all jumped up and ran to the backdoor the cat didn't flinch he just wandered off into the back 40. Hubby missed it "Why didn't anyone take a picture?" yeah that was my first thought. I can't believe that the cat didn't smell any of the dogs, nor did it have any fear-that scares me-imagine if baby was playing outside one day.....

I have had an encounter like this with a brown bear when I was growing up in Northern BC, we had apples on the porch and when I walked out to get one there was a bear sitting right beside the box helping himself. I had another encounter with a black bear at my parents-middle of the afternoon and I was pulling weeds in my Mom's flower garden-out of the corner of my eye I see something move and turn and there is a bear 10 ft away-screaming I ran into the house-my brother who was home at the time, laughed at me saying "the bear is more scared of you than you are of him". But you just don't know what a wild animal can do when frightened or startled. Now that the weather here is cold and crappy I am sure that the bobcat will be back.

How many paydays till Christmas? Some deals

I got paid today and realized there is only one more payday till Christmas. Since I didn't do any on-line shopping except a few months ago for my MIL, I need to finish shopping ASAP. I hate last minute shopping but I have found a few deals by checking the on-line flyers. For food Here's are a few deals I have found at Atwoods. Yes the farm and ranch store is now selling Velveeta. 1 lb for 2.99 -I am a little perplexed as I thought this cheese had to be refridgerated-guess not but www.Kraft.com also has a coupon for .55 cents of making it 2.44 each. If you like queso this is the buy of the week. I haven't seen it this cheap in a long time.
I hit the Church Thrift store Thursday and scored a couple gifts a Victorias Secret Mohair sweater-for me, some cute boxes 3 of them that were .80 cents, some tupperware, cookbooks, a little bicycle ornament, some slippers -also a gift. My limit is $10.00 a week. Looking around the house there are alot of things I have bought there-I take some pics this wkd to share my good buys. I am off to Family Dollar to see what they have for cheap gifts-maybe I'll score there...
Baby was 5 months old yesturday-man how time flies.