Odds and ends

• I can't believe our Thanksgiving holiday week is already over half over. I'm a little stressed that I don't have more done by now. At the top of the To-Do list...decorate the house for Christmas, take Christmas card pictures, make/order Christmas cards, make/order Gabby's birthday invites, and start getting things done for Gabby's party. I didn't have these things done yet last year at this time, but for some reason was not stressing last year. I think last year I was viewing Thanksgiving week as a great opportunity to get those things taken care of, whereas this year I am viewing Thanksgiving week as an OH MY GOODNESS I HAVE TO GET THESE THINGS DONE THIS WEEK or there will be NO TIME, NO TIME EVER AGAIN before we get out for Christmas break....AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
• Clearly I do not manage stress well. Possibly because I don't prioritize...EVERYTHING is at the top of the To-Do list, and the tiny things cause me just as much anxiety as the major things.
• Despite all my angst, it HAS actually turned out to be a pretty good week. Sunday we went to the Shops at Legacy for their Lights at Legacy festival. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Out of all the entertainment there, Gabby was most enthralled by a dance company that had several of their dancers (all girls, around 12-14) performing solos on one of the stages. Gabby wove her way through the crowd to stand right at the edge of the stage. She was mesmerized by the dancing and she clapped excitedly at the end of each routine. For the rest of the evening she kept asking if we can go back and see the dancing girls again.
• Allison came into town on Monday and spent a few days at our house before heading to Tyler to have Thanksgiving with her family. Gabby loooooved having Allison here. All morning on Monday, Gabby was asking..."When Allison gets here can I show her my piano? Can I show her a trick? Can I show her my book? Can I show her my big girl room? Can I show her my Hello Kitty sweater?"...and on, and on. She couldn't wait to show Allison all of her super cool stuff.
• Monday night we had a "girls night out"...me, Allison, our friend Jenny, and Gabby. Gabby couldn't get enough of Jenny and Allison...she had nonstop attention and she LOVED it. She also had chocolate ice cream for dessert, and it pretty much made her week. She is still talking about it today.
• When I walked into Gabby's bedroom on Tuesday morning, the FIRST thing out of her mouth was, "Where's Allison?" And mom gets knocked down one more rung on the totem pole.
• Allison and I saw This is It last night and OH MY did I love it. I am still dancing today.
• I got my new iPhone this morning and am still trying to figure this thing out. This phone is way cooler than I am, but I am so excited to finally have a good phone. I've actually already figured out a lot already, but I know there are tons of things this phone can do that I have no idea about yet. At one point in the day, Gabby grabbed the phone from me and started scrolling through the games in the apps store to show me which ones to download and how each of the games work. Just when I think I have something figured out, my toddler shows me up.
• Thanksgiving tomorrow is at David's parents' house. I hosted the last two years, and although I am missing it slightly, I really think it would have put me over the edge to do it this year. My contribution for this year is a pumpkin-pecan pie, a pear crisp, and cornbread-sausage stuffing.
• I think this weekend we may go to the Gaylord for the ICE exhibit and their other holiday festivities. Anyone been to ICE before? Is it worth the 23 bucks??