Happy Friday!

Today was a GREAT day.... filled with ordinary things, familiar places, and old friends. It was filled with all the people and things I love about Fridays, but had some wonderful and unexpected surprises. I guess that's what a truly great day is.... Making the most of the everyday, spending time with the people you love, and living in the moment. That's what we had today -- a totally ordinary daythat turned extraordinary.

After I dropped Katherine off at school, Caleb and I ran a few errands, and then headed to playgroup over at Andrea's house. The kids had so much fun today. They played cars/trucks/trains for the first hour and then Andrea pulled out an adorable craft she got for them. They made their very own beaded Christmas ornaments!! Soooo cute!! Caleb can't wait to hang it on the tree.

When it was time for me to leave and pick up Katherine, Caleb didn't want to come. All he could think about was getting back to the toys, so he stayed behind to play with the kids. I returned to a sobbing, heartbroken little boy. Andrea said he was uncontrollable. Caleb and I had this conversation:

Me: Honey, what happened?

Caleb: I sad Mommy.

Me: Why are you so sad? I came right back for you...

Caleb: 'Cause I cry for you.

Me: Why were you crying? You were playing with your friends and having a great time.

Caleb: 'Cause I miss you Mommy...

AAWWWW... How sweet is that?

About this time, I found out Matt was coming home for the day. He was "sick" and needed to sleep for a while. OK -- he wasn't really sick. He went out to 801 Steak and Chop with a client and had a little too much wine. He didn't get home until about 11 last night, so he was probably pretty tired on top of it all. But -- good for him. I'm glad he went out and had fun. And it doesn't hurt that someone else picked up the tab!!

So when the kids and I got home from playgroup, Matt was already camped out and sleeping in the basement, so we ate lunch and the busted out the play-doh. We were chatting and listening to Christmas music, and I got thinking about the pending snow and ice storm and decided to call Howell Tree Farm and have them cut the tree. I packed up the kids and off we went to get the tree. Katherine was just giddy. She's so excited to get that tree up and decorated that she can hardly stand it.

When I got home, the kids wanted to watch a movie and have a snack, so I decided to check my email and got the surprise of my life... That's right, if you're still reading, this is what made today extraordinary....

I've got some *GREAT* news and I want to shout it from the rooftops!!

Before Matt left work today he forwarded me an email, which I read while the kids were watching a movie. It was an announcement from HR stating that Matt was promoted to the Senior Officer level. In addition to the promotion, they reorganized the reporting structure and Matt now manages his own team of analysts. It's a wonderful accomplishment, and I couldn't be more proud of him. He's worked so hard for this, and deserves the promotion and increase in responsibility more than anyone I know. So a big congrats to my hubby!!

I was so thrilled, that I ran downstairs and woke his hung-over bum up. We chatted about it for a while and then took the kids out for dinner.

After dinner, we went up to hospice to visit my Grandma. One of the malls was open late tonight, so I left hospice in time to go shopping with Andrea, Carolyn and Julie. It was so nice to have a girls night out. We shopped, drank Starbucks, and chatted. I love these kind of nights!

The big find of the night was the kids' Christmas pj's. When I saw these I fell in love with immediately. Caleb is going to love them!! He's obsessed with frogs, and thinks that the frog at the Science Center "talks" him. They "ribbit" back and forth! LOL!! The color is slightly off in the picture. They're much more green, and the frogs are absolutely adorable.

The set I got Katherine is similar to these, except that hers are of all the Disney Princesses, red with glittery sparkles all over and come with slippers. She's going to love them! I can't wait to give them their new jammies and put them to bed on Christmas Eve all snuggled up and dreaming of Santa. Let the holidays begin!!