Things We Will Never Do...

Do you ever look back and laugh at all the things you said you would never do because you realize that you broke that vow long ago. Things like: I will never let my kid sleep in my bed, I will never have an artificial tree at Christmas (promise broken for the McArthurs Christmas 2007, and it has been a glorious fake tree time since), or I will never pay someone to put up Christmas lights. This last certainty is yet to be done away, but after our lighting of the house this year, we may consider it in 2010. Here's our neighbor's house:
We envisioned something like this for our home, but it ended up like this:
It's fine, I know, but mini-lights are not my thing for outdoors, I requested the large ones, but this is what we got. Now, that isn't the reason for the possibility of paying someone to do this for us next year. Dave, in all his handy glory offered to help our neighbor hang his lights on his tall house because they could do it faster if they worked together and our neighbor is slightly squeamish with heights. (different neighbor than the one who occupies the picture above). So, as Dave was on the ladder at our friends' house, the ladder slips and Dave is hanging on to their house by the rain gutter. After the ladder punched a hole in the stucco and dropped to the ground, Dave knew it was also his time to release to the concrete below. Our neighbor caught Dave and they landed with their faces inches from each other and eyes as wide as could be. Grant, witnessed the whole thing and came inside to tell me. He said, "Mom, Dad needs you. He fell off the ladder on Mr. Taylor.....it was AWESOME!" Everyone is fine and honestly, it is pretty funny. He wasn't too high off the ground, but we may be considering other options for next year!

The other day Grant handed me a french fry (anyone out there say their kids would never eat fast food:)?) . I told him thanks and he said " I want to give you this fry mom because that's what Christmas is all about-GIVING." Excellent reflection time for me at the local Wendy's. I was glad to be reminded of all I have been given and want to give. Thanks Grant!