I can't believe that life has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to tell ya'll what I got for my personal Hanukkah:

Solstice - This was when we exchanged gifts before we headed out to my dad's for Christmas. The hubby got me some PJs - which I can never have enough. Ella got me the best present - a tea set for two.

Back story -- The hubby asked her what she wanted to get me and she said a tea set for two. I dunno exactly how she described it, but that's what she wanted to get me. The hubby asked why and she said it was so that when she is sick, I could make her tea and we could share it. The hubby thought it was just so perfect that *I* must have told her that's what I wanted. If he was more observant, he would have seen the personal tea pot in the kitchen I bought last year. *poke* One night they went out to EIGHT different stores to find this elusive tea set. The hubby finally had to order it online. A few days ago when Ella was kinda sick, I made us some soy chai lattes in the pot. She loved it!

Christmas brought me mostly gift cards, which I love. I'm trying to buy more grown-up clothes, so they help out a lot. Especially a $50 gift card to Ann Taylor Loft my youngest sister's family got me. At the beginning of December I had to buy a new suit, so I splurged at ATL and got a zillion of those "Buy $50 get $25 off" coupons. So...I ended up buying just over $100 worth of clothes for half off, including this cute sweater I'm wearing today. woohoo! The Huffencoopers also got me a super cute skirt that I'm working hard to find the perfect top to match. I think I can wear it with some other tops, but it feels not quite perfect.

My birthday brought Cinnamon's gift from Levenger which I still have to use. The book I just finished was started with some other sticky notes, so I finished that one up. One thing about gifts like this is that part of me thinks I should wait to use it for something perfect. I still have a leather bound blank book that taunts me to use it. But I guess a bunch of sticky notes are good to go. Seriously, I'm going to use it on my next book. Cinn, don't come kick my ass!

The holidays went well, but we were happy to get home. We missed Annie a lot and she missed us a lot too. Ella got spoiled rotten -- We had to buy an extra suitcase to get all her clothes & coloring books home! I guess that's what happens when I ask for no toys. We shouldn't have to buy her any clothes, notebooks, crayons, pencils, coloring books, or barrettes for the next 10 years. OK, maybe some new clothes when it's summer time.

Labels: Ella, family