This is my last easy day because tomorrow my mother flies back to California. Tomorrow afternoon will be my first time alone with both kiddos.

Things my mom and I have accomplished during her stay:

- cleaning out two closets, all clothing drawers, and the pantry
- taking a few trunk loads of stuff to donate (I had a *lot* of unsorted through hand-me downs)
- cleaning out my desk
- cleaning clutter from desk top and table tops
- packing my freezer with almost-ready-to-eat meals
- getting John on a new bedtime routine with his "lovey", a metal bucket (don't ask me, but it helps him go to sleep! We started incorporating it one day when he picked it up off the dresser by his crib and he went to sleep really easily.)
- organizing all the grown-out-of kids clothing
- Mom says she cleaned the basement - I don't know, I haven't done any laundry since she came!
- cleaning out and vacuuming the car (it looks good!)
- decorating for Christmas
- getting portraits done with the kids

I told Mom that next time she stays for four weeks, it needs to be when we move in, not when we're six months from moving out.

We ordered our pictures for Christmas cards. If you'd like a Christmas card, please e-mail me at emilyw [at] ugcs. You know the rest! We have plenty of picture cards but don't have very recent addresses, so please send you address if you've moved in the past three years.