(Relatively.)  I took the children to the local college campus to see a live nativity.  There were camels, a donkey and a sheep.  And Mary and Joseph, too, of course.  (Baby Jesus was only a doll, I think.)  Then we went inside the cafeteria and decorated Christmas cookies and ate them, and Bug and Buster sat on Santa's lap.  The others didn't want to.  I understand.  I was always shy of Santa as a kid, too.  Plus, we don't talk Santa up that much in our family. 

I caught up with a few people I hadn't seen in a while, including another mom with whom I used to have a little playgroup.  It's amazing how quickly time passes and how quickly children grow.  She and I are planning to get together this month.

The children behaved so amazingly well that I told them I was really proud of them.  They sat quietly and watched the whole nativity scene, stayed close to me, and were quiet and still in the cafeteria too.  The only glitch came when Scrub didn't want to leave at the end and cried.  Bedtime alert.

They've had hot chocolate and now I need to herd them upstairs.

Yesterday stunk, to put it mildly.  Except there were a few happenings to constitute a silver lining.  I know, I know...in everything give thanks.  Okay, then:

*DH quit his "job" (such as it was)...but I'm thankful I still have mine.

*We ran out of money and then some...but I'm thankful we did get a check today.

*I went into work early but was locked out because my coworker (who is out with a broken ankle) has the only key...but I'm thankful I was still able to go in in the afternoon.

*DH had a bad migraine...but I'm glad the doctor's office had some free samples of medication I could pick up for him.

*I had to wait 45 minutes in the examining room to see the doctor...but I'm thankful I didn't have to be admitted to the hospital like most of his other patients that day (which is why he was late).  And I'm super-thankful that the baby is doing well and all my tests (including glucose and iron) were normal.

*The kids messed up the house several times over, including three successive cornmeal dumpings...but I'm thankful they are (mostly) willing to clean up their mess (with prodding) and that I feel well enough to clean myself.

*Mopsy fell off a chair and cut her eyebrow on a paint can and had to go to the ER...but I'm thankful they could glue the cut instead of giving her stitches.

*I was late making supper because of foregoing item...but I'm thankful for pancake mix.

*The upstairs was wrecked with toys, again...but I'm thankful I know by now when not to sweat the small stuff.

I wasn't always thankful then.  Does it count being thankful in retrospect?

Anyway, please pray for DH to find a new job.

'Night!