For the 5th year, I’ll be organizing the Pathways Family Shelter Holiday Gift Drive.  Pathways is a shelter in the ‘Ham that provides temporary housing for 14 families, and also offers ongoing support for families who have moved to permanent housing.

Due to the support of my friends, coworkers, and family members, in past years we have been able to provide Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers for all of the children living at Pathways, as well as gift cards and small gifts for their parents.  Last year the participation was so generous that we were able to provide gifts for other families in need in addition to the current shelter residents.

I received the wish list for the children currently living at Pathways today.  If you are local and would like to sponsor a child or children, let me know and I’ll add you to the evite list.  Sponsorship typically includes one gift ($20-$30) and some stocking stuffers for the child you are matched with.  If you are not local and would like to help, we are in need of $20 Target gift cards to include with the parents’ gifts.  Your donation is tax deductible and I will provide you with a receipt from Pathways.

Let the holiday season begin!!!
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I can’t believe I’ve kept this a secret for a whole week, but I finally broke the news to the kids tonight.  Just so nobody freaks out midway, I’m NOT the one having a baby.  I’m going to be an aunt!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQn5ZJ1YU0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0]

Call me crazy but I love the time change.  Last week I could NOT get the kids out of bed in the morning and we were consistently late.  Yesterday they started asking to go to bed around 5 p.m., and this morning they jumped out of bed at 6:30.  We got to school early, and I even had time to shower (with conditioner!).  I don’t mind having it get dark earlier…all the better to go into hibernation mode.

Tonight I arrived home from the office at 7 and found everyone asleep already.  As you can see, Ben has a hard time enforcing the bedtime routine…

If you’re having a tough time explaining Daylight Saving Time to the kiddies, or if you just want to read some Fun Facts about it, you can find it all here:  www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/k.html.
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