To Do Lists

I have to say this is been a rather productive weekend. Although to the untrained eye, it may not look like I have done much this weekend, I have actually accomplished quite a bit. I've decided I need little projects each weekend to help make the time go by. Even though I know that I probably won't be able to go back to get Little T until January, that doesn't make the waiting any easier! So each weekend, I'll bite off a little job around the house to make the time pass.

This weekend was all around cleaning/straightening weekend. Friends and neighbors have given me gently used toys for Little T - and I have purchased some toys at Mom 2 Mom sales. Which makes me realize that I really don't have a great area for her toys. I hope to turn one end of the basement into her play area. However that will take a paint job that is MORE than I wish to bite off, so I am debating calling the pro that did the outside of my house when I moved in. The other major task for this weekend breaks every holiday rule in my rule book. Yes, I did it. I put up the Christmas trees - MINUS ornaments.

For those of you who haven't experienced a Christmas with me (yet!), I am a decorating FOOL. I have a whole storage room in the basement full of boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations. I also have 2 full sized Christmas trees and 1 baby Christmas tree. The first full sized tree goes in my living room - and is a Santa tree. All ornaments on it are Santa - with the exception of a few red and silver balls. The other full sized tree is the catch all tree -- ornaments from when I was little, ornaments I have collected - anything NOT Santa!! The baby tree is a red, white and blue theme - all patriotic ornaments.


All this decorating can be quite exhausting. My rule has always been no decorating until the weekend of Thanksgiving. Last year, I think I put the trees up (no ornaments) the weekend before Thanksgiving, but next weekend is my first baby shower. So, see? I had to do it this weekend! Plus it falls into my category of things to do to make the time go by. My last justification reason is Gracie. My sweet little calico came to live with us last year on 12/27. She was very overwhelmed when she first got here, so while the trees were still up, I truly don't know what her reaction will be to them. She doesn't seem like a climber traditionally, but her little jaunt outside this summer didn't exactly prove that statement to be 100% true. Trees up, but no ornaments will give her some time to get used to this whole idea!!


Finally, I'll leave you in my tradition of late, another picture from Vladivostok. As I understand, this a memorial to Nikolai II - a former Russian Duma (president? I think). Either way, it's gorgeous!