Christmas Eve in Arkansas

I hope you will forgive me for not keeping up to date on Advent calendering... I have just travelled far, far away!

We are having a great time so far. Our first day, we spent the daytime with Dad and Matt, Charity and Ava (brother, sis-in-law and niece). Dad and we did some grocery shopping in the morning, and then we went over to Matt's and then out to lunch at Panera Bread Company. Oh, freakin yum. I forgot how yummy Panera is. That night, we went to my mom's for the Herring family Christmas. It was great too, seeing my aunt, cousins, and grandpa. The kids enjoyed playing with the dog, and I enjoyed cuddling my wee Ava. And of course, we enjoyed the turkey, venison, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean bundles, rolls and pies! And Diet Dr. Pepper. Oh, my, Diet Dr. Pepper is so delicious.

The next day we went shopping at Hobby Lobby (and luckily Scott managed not to claw his eyes out while we canvassed the entire warehouse), then had lunch at Mean Pig. I'm not kidding, I would move back to America just for the Mean Pig. I think I'm going to suggest going there again today. Even the kids loved it. I could not believe my picky-eater Fifi ate a whole pulled beef sandwich... And Lolly loved her hot dog. And me and Scott decided it's not going to be Small pork sandwiches with hot sauce for us ever again - it will be Jumbo!! We came home and chilled out in front of the TV for the next few hours (which is a luxury for us even just watching TV since we don't have TV at home) then went out to Dixie Cafe for dinner. I cannot believe how much food we have eaten, but it's all been soooo yummy.

Today is Christmas Eve. Dad and I are going to Wal-Mart this morning for Christmas dinner groceries (and Heather, if you are reading, no, I am not making it!), then I imagine we will lay low most of the day until tonight. I think the plan for tonight is to go drive around and look at Christmas lights, go to a Christmas Eve service at church, then come back, light a fire, drink whisky and hot chocolate - not together - and play a board game.

And then tomorrow...

IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!