In case you wanted to know...

As mentioned in my last post...I came home from Utah feeling a little under the weather. Because of this, our suitcases made it as far as the floor in our bedroom and no further. And there they have sat, untouched unless someone needed to dig through them to find some long lost item, for exactly two weeks. Yes, it's true. For two weeks we've walked around them, stepped over them, shoved them to the side and stubbed our toes on them. But I figured that since they are going to be re-packed in one week to head back up to Grandma's house for Christmas...it is high time that they get cleaned out and put away. So today was the day!

Ahhhh...can you hear my sigh of relief. Suitcases gone! (Isn't rental carpet great :)

Last weekend I made a not-so-quick trip to Costco to do a little secret Christmas shopping. I came home with one of their fabulous gingerbread house kits. The girls were thrilled beyond belief and they didn't even complain about dividing the house right down the middle so they could each decorate half. During the celebration Kallie said, "Mom, this is a tradition because we do it EVERY year." I wanted to sing right then and there! I feel like we've moved around so much, and lived in so many places that traditions in the little Norris house are few and far between. I was so happy that in Kallie's mind...we do have one. Thank you Costco!

Kallie's Santa gingerbread man that she, somehow, got to stay on top of the roof!

(Pretend this picture is in focus ok...) Please notice the "PEEPERS" on Kallie's hand. They were selling them at their school for a mere Four Dollars! Kallie told me that her teacher said they used to have them at the dollar store but they don't any more. Hopefully one of their programs at school is benefiting from a $3 profit on each set of peepers. I'm hoping to see some new playground equipment coming soon :) But Kallie & Syd were dying to have some and they did many chores to earn the money for them....as long as they're happy, I'm happy!

And for any who care...I ran again yesterday after taking two and a half weeks off due to illness. I rolled my lazy, tired body out of bed and thought I heard rain drops. I said to myself, "there is no way in heck I'm running if it's raining." And of course, I was secretly hoping it WAS raining so I could climb back in my warm cozy bed for an extra hour. But, no such luck...not even a drop on the sidewalk. So I headed out and had no sooner left the front gate of the neighborhood when I felt a drop...by the time I got down the street I was getting poured on. This can't be good for the congestion I'm trying to get over :) But, there was only one thing to do...keep going and run home! Funny how motivating a looming half marathon that you've already paid for is...even on a Saturday...even in the rain!