Trees, new phones and a Christmas lists rant

Monday's come around much too fast, especially at this time of year. This weekend I planned to get the wreaths and trees completed at minimum but life got in the way. Here's where I am... Trees are done. I'm thinking I better get a move on or this is not going to get done by Christmas and will most likely end up in my ever growing ufo pile.

Last time I briefly mentioned spray starch, it's not really any extra effort but I can't believe what a huge difference it's making in accuracy. Blocks are coming out to the correct size which is really encouraging! I'm really happy with how this is coming together.

Friday night, Chris's cell phone decided to stop working. Since handing over my Samsung when M lost her phone a year ago and buying a second hand iphone 4 for me, my phone has become nothing more than something to make quick texts to the kids with, take an occasional picture or make a call when in the car (Bluetooth hands free through radio was a must when I bought my car). My samsung tablet has been doing double time since I made that switch. I just never 'took' to the iphone, while we have friends who swear they are the best phone it just wasn't for me. Using the ever growing cracked screen as justification (too much in my hands one evening I dropped my phone screen down under the car) I decided it was time for me to upgrade as well. We did some research and decided on LG G4's. Off to Rogers we go Saturday afternoon, an hour later Chris has LG and I have a Blackberry Priv its a bit pricey compared to the LG.  I tried really hard to convince myself to stick with the LG but Priv is Android AND with a quick slide of the screen there's the old blackbery keyboard!! I loved my blackberry but the biggest thing I missed when we went from a household of blackberries over to androids was that keyboard. Within 5 minutes I was back to double thumbing correctly spelled texts instead of the finger pecked autocorrect nightmares my texting had become in the past few years - this wasn't just iphone issues, i had same issue with my samsung s4 I blame it on fat fingers.

The rest of the day was spent playing setting up my new phone, grocery shopping and cooking then more acquainting myself with my new phone. I made shopping plans with my mom for Sunday. I didn't get much but really enjoyed spending time with my mom. I have to say since the kids first hit mid teens Christmas has gotten more and more difficult. With the youngest R turning 18 in Feb and the older kids working or in college, I really miss the days when 90% of our shopping could be done in Toys R Us and every third commercial 1 (or more) of the 5 kids would yell excitedly I Want That! Getting ideas out of them is like pulling teeth these days. 

Hopefully R can help me out with M who wants nothing except a hedgehog (last year I said No to a ferret). That is the picture she sent cause she knows I'm a sucker softie and I'm working really hard to stay firm to my no more pets policy - we already have 3 dogs, a pair of lovebirds, a rat and a guinea pig.... R is very particular so she makes detailed lists. As long as it hasnt sold out by the time I get there, its usually good. I have ideas for MT who graduates from college next week, starts his new job first week of Jan and is planning on moving out in the spring . He needs almost everything to setup his own place so this year anything I buy will be great, not exciting but needed.

CJ and B are both working full time and are already living on their own, CJ can only come up with a list on boxing day. I guess getting a bunch of stuff he didn't want makes him realise what he was really hoping for!?! I'm not going to think too hard on that in case there is more truth to that than I want to admit. B's lists are one or two things if we are lucky and again this year their mom (we're a blended family) texts us she bought it (it as in one great gift idea and a video game) within an hour of getting the list. BLahhhh!

The most exciting time has turned into a stressful season! I will get through it, we always do and by the time the last present is opened Christmas day my worries will be replaced by the joy of being surrounded by the people I love most of all which I need to remember is the most important part of the season. And on that note the rant is over.

Next week I'm hoping to have wreaths and ornaments blocks to show and some presents bought and under the tree. Wishing everyone has a fabulous week!