"The most wonderful time of the year" ...is it?

Ah the Holiday season is here....

It is supposed to be joyous and wonderful....

Why does it feel so stressful to me???

I feel like I am chasing time at this time of the year

I am sure I am not the only one like that..,

Buying presents....that is so overwhelming to me.. I absolutely HATE shopping...and so this is pure hell for me.

I want to find great gifts for everyone on the list.  I over think everything.

For the kids it's easy...they have lists that are endless...I just have to pick what fits the budget and make it even...

Even that though....I am bombarded with emails theses days... Each has "The best deal of the year!" 

I cannot read one more of those...it is just tooooooo much!

I think I am done.   I even wrapped everything ...

What is not done is decorating my house.  No mommy points for that...:(

I planned on doing it this week but I ended up working 3 days...so I did nothing and tomorrow is my day to volunteer at the school and my older son has a concert that I cannot miss!

So it will have to be this weekend.

I am also behind in my Christmas cards...I have them but I still have to write them...

I need more time in the day!!!

I need to get my house ready because my parents will be here soon!!! 

That is awesome but right now I could not have my mom see my house... I would get "the look".

How about you? Overwhelmed? In the holiday spirit? Numb?

Running this week was not stellar....one day only.... So not good.  I am worried about my up coming half marathon.....

I have had several emails about my kids lately...all about the same thing...how did I make them like reading so much ....I get asked that a lot at school also....

I always say the same...I did not make them like reading.  They genuinely love to read.  We have a lot of books in the house.  Books are the only thing I buy for them for no special reason..like birthday or Christmas. I started reading to them when they were babies and I started taking them to the public library when they were very young.  They thought it was the best thing to bring back 25 books at home!  I love to read and they see that also.  One thing that is important I think is I listen to them talking about the stories they read...sometimes it is too much details for me but I still listen to them...my oldest son reads these really thick books about mythology ..they are novels with many caracter and he can talk about the stories for hours if you let him...Showing interest in their reading is important.  I have a 2nd and a 4th grader and they often read the same books...the younger one wants to be like big brother...and it is really nice to have them talk about the stories they read.  I love it.  So my advices are have books in your home..if you don't want to buy some..go to the public library.  Read to your kids if they are little ones, if they are in school read WITH them (your own book). Ask them about their readings..what book they like...why... They will read if they like the stories.  My kids don't "count" reading as homework...they read just as much during the winter break or summer vacation.  They wrote lists for Santa and on Jonathan's list the number 1 thing is the box set of the Wizard of Oz books....it is above his reading level...but I had to get it anyway because well Santa would approve this as a number 1 choice right?

What are YOU reading these days?

I am finishing You before me right now....

This is where you find my sons after dinner...:)