Okay technically a few hours of that were driving cuz the interstate was closed and we, naturally, got lost. But sis and I didn’t quite finish our shopping yesterday so we are going back out today for an hour or so to finish up the stuff that has to go in the mail. We took a detour through a very luxe neighborhood in the swanky Ladue/Clayton area. This is the area where Nelly had to be living. I pointed out that if it were dark we could once again claim that we were not actually LOST but instead just driving around to enjoy the Christmas lights. This has been a tradition of ours for over 10 years. When she isn’t available to go out to see the lights with me, I make Matt take me out. He makes fun of me the whole time but I don’t care. This year when I asked where he is taking me to look at the lights he said “To the basement” Smart ass! He also claims he is taking to McDonald’s for my birthday dinner.

Still trying to decide what to get Matt. I talked to his mom several times yesterday to coordinate gifts for his siblings to buy for him. Eileen made it clear (via email and on the phone) that my birthday money is to be spent on ME and not on Matt or the house. She knows how I think! I almost always turn around and buy gifts for someone else with my birthday money. I’ve been better the past couple years though. She also said that she and Renny are grateful that I am here to support Matt through his training. She doesn’t even know how much that meant to me. She noticed he sounded much better on the phone when she spoke to him recently.

Matt’s coming home in a bit. He is taking his personal days next week so he can be home with me to celebrate my birthday. We are also finally going to put the tree up today. I put up part of my decorations already but I’m not going to make him put up the lights, it’s too close to Christmas and it’s too much work. No point in making him cranky.