Homestretch

I have some tests coming up in the homestretch of Fall Quarter. I have an A&P test on Tuesday, which I have been studying hard for this weekend. For some reason, it's hard for me to implant this particular stuff in my head. It's about the nervous system. On December 5th, I have a big lab practical (my last one). I am supposed to know all of the muscles, anatomy of the spinal cord, brain, eye and ear. It's A LOT. I've been working on it for awhile now, but I'm not ready for a test yet. And, of course, there is Physics. One more test in that. I just took one last Tuesday before the Thanksgiving "break." It was terrible. Everyone in the class thought so. This is the dumbest, most frustrating class ever. You can spend HOURS and HOURS working problems out, studying, and then you get to the tests and feel like it was all for nothing. I HATE it.

I also HATE that I have to spend all this time studying, and miss my kids. If I had known what these classes were going to be like, I never would have taken both of them together. Last night, I cried to my son about it, who just hugged me and patted me on the back, telling me it's OK.....It's not OK, but thanks, Ben.

Today, I'm going to get out of the house for a little bit with the kids. We're going to go get some Christmas gifts for my sister's kids. This year, we're continuing something we tried last year, and that is drawing names for the adults on my side of the family, and everyone buying for all the kids. I think I would like to just buy for the kids next year. It just gets to be too much, you know? We don't buy for anyone on Joe's side of the family, and this year, his parents asked that we don't exchange gifts with them. Okey dokey!

I wish I could do ALL of my shopping online. I pretty much did that last year. I had almost everything done before December 1st. It was awesome. If I did it right, I would hit a website on the day they were offering free shipping. I hate shopping at the stores. However, I do like stocking-stuffer shopping. It's way fun. I get these little, separate piles going in my cart. One for each kid. And, I keep looking for all the fun, little things I can find.

Joe didn't grow up getting trinkets in his stockings. Do you know what he got? Fruit and nuts, with maybe a candy bar thrown in. He would wake up to it hanging on his bedpost. HAHA!! That just cracks me up. What kid wants fruit and old walnuts in their stocking? I think he liked it when we got married, and I put little gifts in his stocking.......I made all of our stockings. Once I dig them out of our Christmas boxes, I'll take a picture of them.

This year, our kids are each getting one main gift, and some smaller ones to go with it, so they have some more things to open. It just happened that way this year. Joe wants to purchase a stereo for the "gift exchange" between us. Actually, I would rather have some things to open, but hey-he wants a stereo.

Frankly, all I can look forward to at the moment is the first week of December, when Fall Quarter is OVER!!! I'm going to go help in Ben's classroom, make cards, light candles, hang out in my house, make Christmas cookies, drink cocoa, cook, clean, wrap presents, write our Christmas letter, call friends, put pictures in the frames I painted in August, visit my favorite paper store, invite people over for a latte.....Oh, the possibilities.....