december cheer

Happy December!  Where did this year go?  I can't believe it's already December...seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for Fall.  Today I heard on the radio that there's only 20-some odd days left of this year and we'll be in 2012 soon.  Crazy!  

How adorable are these advent calendars?  Every year I check out the adorable holiday items at Trader Joe's and buy Advent calendars for us to go through during December.  Typically, they only sell one type of Advent calendar and lately, it's been the print on the left.  But, this year, they've decided to do 3 different prints!  I couldn't get over just how cute the polar bears are, and check out those squirrels popping out of the snow with their wide eyes, so precious!  I got our calendars a few days late this year so we'll have a few days of chocolate to catch up on, oops.  Oh well!  Nom nom nom.  Trader Joe's has some fun things this year, but I was in a rush so I didn't get a chance to check out everything thoroughly.  But there were a ton of different cookies, candies, gingerbread, chocolate, peppermint...everything holiday sounding and tasting was accounted for - yum!  I even scored a four-flavor popcorn tin featuring those same adorable polar bears ice skating and fishing.  Couldn't resist!

Are you ready for the holidays?  We started our Christmas shopping this past weekend, but I still feel horribly behind.  I've been ordering a lot of things online since we'll be spending Christmas with Matt's parents and my parents obviously live far away so it's just easier to have things shipped.  There have also been some great deals online these days, too.  Sure beats fighting the crowds at the stores sometimes.  I'm still pretty far behind and clueless about some gifts to get, which stinks because usually I'm on top of things and have ideas starting as far back as in the Fall.  I have no idea what happened to me this year.  Definitely will be brainstorming during the week.  Matt and I might brave the stores again this weekend to continue with our shopping.  We're also planning to go to Disneyland on Sunday.  I've been wanting to go during the holidays to check out the decorations and enjoy the holiday magic and festivities (same thoughts for going to the San Diego Zoo as well for Jungle Bells).  Sunday also happens to be our 5-year anniversary...can you believe it??  I sure can't!  It'll be nice to celebrate with Mickey and friends ;)

I love this time of year and the holiday season!