Well ... 8 (now 5 - oops I've had this open for 3 days) big sleeps until Santa comes to town. So very exciting for an almost 4 year old. I'm revving him up as best I can too. :D Love it.

When we ask Rieley what he wants for Christmas, "Lots of Chocolate / Candy" is the answer we get (still). I think, well I hope that is a reflection that he doesn't get a lot of sweets. lol So, I guess he will just receive what we think he will like. He's getting a real (albeit fairly cheap) laptop, a small aquarium with a few fish and some small stuff. Kellie is getting a shopping thing, some dolls and small stuff.

Have to amend this as the other day he finally wanted to write a letter to Santa. It was like getting blood out of a stone but we finally got some play doh on the list, a gold fish :) and a swing. They are hopefully getting that for their birthday - I told him Santa couldn't carry big things like that on his sleigh. lol

There is so much to buy out there and so much I know both kids would love to play with ... no wonder it is so easy to spoil kids at this time of year, or any really. I hope we have a balance between spoiling and not. Although, there is no-one else to spoil them, so we have to do the job that grandparents, aunts and uncles normally do.

I just can't wait to see Rieley's face, especially because he has Christmas all worked out this year. :) I hope Kellie is able to follow Rieley's lead and she gets right into the excitement too.

Rieley's laptop got here today and we are quite impressed with it for $499. We've charged the battery, loaded his favourites on and done the connection to the internet - so it is all raring to go on Christmas morning.

Ron's about to start a pretty hectic work schedule. He finally got a break from the repetitious work at the site dump after about 3 months and is going underground to work on road maintenance with the roster being 13 on / 1 off and 12 hour days. It scares the crap out of me. We've agreed he has to get early nights and try not to get too run down. Might get a few more vitamins for him too. He's being doing quite well for about the last month perhaps 6 weeks, so here's hoping all goes well, he's only driving a bobcat around so not terribly hard work.

Our car decided to break down AGAIN last night when Ron was coming home from work. Something just about went through the motor but for the life of me, I can't remember what has gone wrong. Might have something to do with a harmonic balance. So about $200 later, the part should arrive Monday or Tuesday. We need to get a 'new' car but it isn't in our hopes until 2011, we just need to ride this car out for another 12 months, 18 at the most.

We all went for a walk around town last night to have a look at the Christmas lights - it was a lovely night for a stroll, even though it didn't get dark until after 9 pm.

Well I better end this before another day passes. :)

Merry Christmas