T'was 4 days before Christmas...

......and about 15,000 pounds of HHG's to unpack!

I bought a Christmas tree on Tuesday...of course that was before finding out my shipment arrived here locally. Prior to taking my brother to the airport, we went into Lowe's to get a tree because they were marked 50% off. I found a 7ft pre-lit...everyone knows this lazy Momma don't wanna deal with stringing lights on a tree...it may turn into a stringing sister and Mommy on a tree knowing this little boy. This Bargain Betty got 75% off because it was the last one and was missing the original box. I know, who keeps original boxes anyway? Um, er, uh...WE DO! Heck for as much as we move we might as well not unpack our crap. Tomorrow he'll come home "Honey, I talked to the detailer today and we got orders...to France" Huh? France? I didn't know there was a base in France?! I don't think there is...but they have an embassy. It just sounded good because it's an unlikely place to PCS to. By the way PCS basically means 'move' in normal peoples language. So back to my tree story. I put the tree together. It was real hard without directions. I had a base and 3 pieces...now that's my kind of tree. Didn't even need to Google the 'how to', it just fell into place. While I was bragging about my awesome tree deal on the phone my kids were up to something. I walked in the living room to find the only toys they had here to play with doubled as tree decor. Balls, cards, the whole Cars set that Uncle gave them for Christmas, baby doll clothes, tea set, flashlight, stuffed animals ans finger puppets filled the tree. I must say it almost put me in tears. They were so proud of themselves and I was even more proud to know that these 2 little Navy children improvised. WOW! This will be a story I will never forget.

On another note, we have our 'stuff'. I was in the Commissary on Wednesday pushing a cart with one hand, dragging a stroller with the left foot (because he fell asleep in the car) convincing Kalee she did not need 12 different bags of pretzels and answered the phone call asking if they could deliver our goods Friday the 21st (today). ABSOLUTELY! I should of asked if they would paint and hang curtains too. So I had the educational cartoon babysitting Kalee, and a marker entertaining Bear. I glanced up at him to discover he wanted a mustache...or the washable marker smelled one of the two. He had black all up in his nostrils. If that wasn't bad enough he has a slight runny nose and the evidence lasted most of the day. Most kids have clear, yellow or greenish snot...not mine. No, his was black!

Time to call the Hubby. He's making his way back from Rhode Island via car on the second most traveled day of the year...just in time to unpack. A 10 hour trip is turning into about 13 courtesy of the stupid George Washington bridge (yes the one that tripped me out because my girls were bouncing when we were at a complete stop) and the Jersey Turnpike. I believe Grandmother called them Jersey jerks, that is too appropriate.