Thankful Friday

• After years of good intentions, we finally made a gingerbread house this year. I'll make a separate post about it.
• Our van repair, which we were told by two different mechanics would cost almost $2,000, ended up costing under $300. Merry Christmas to us.
• Lauren had a great 3rd birthday, and our living room looked appropriately like a pink and purple princess machine exploded therein. (She's pretty sure she's going to be four when she has her birthday party tomorrow despite my explanations that it doesn't work that way.)
  
• Joshua and Ethan earned an extra quarter in their allowance this week by playing so nicely with each other most of the week.
  
• I don't have a headache today, which is good because I have a LOT of work to do getting ready for Lauren's party tomorrow and an open house on Sunday.