This year I have the job to collect money from staff at work for two families we are sponsoring for Christmas. There is a bit of a wishlist for the children so I thought I'd brave the stores this afternoon to get a couple of the odds and ends on the list.

Remember when I mentioned that my Mother had decided everyone must make their family gifts this year? Things are still mostly in the planning stage for me on that issue however... because of this rule, I haven't had to venture into the frenzied Christmas mob at all.

Until now of course.

Holy mother of flaming jesus!

On another note, D and I took Franklin down to Dallas Road to watch an amazingly loud parade of construction vehicles and large trucks all decorated in Christmas lights. D and I were ooohing and awwwing like little kids. It was hilarious.
I haven't had candy thrown at me from a parade for, I don't know, about 20-21 years. It was a funny feeling. I actually had an impulse to throw myself on the ground and collect as much as I could before the rest of the kids around me got their grubby hands on it.

It's an attitude you get when you grow up with 5 kids in your family. If you don't move fast, you'll starve.