So Much

...to say...
It has been a nice family-time weekend. Yesterday, we headed up near Chicago to do some shopping. Fortunately, the weather was mild for December since the mall was an open air mall. We didn't know that before going, although it was still great fun! There were many stores that we really like that we just do not have here...
Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, PBK, Hanna Andersson, Coach, Land of Nod, Crate & Barrel, Williams Sonoma and many many more. They all had some nice sales going on. Hanna had the PJ's that we love for $18.00!! There was also a promo going on at this mall if you used your Discover card. You get free gift cards. I got 3 gift cards as well as a cookbook!!
We had PF Changs for lunch--so great! The S'mores dessert was oh-so-delectable!
Today was church of course and then tonight, our neighbor has invited us to her church for their Christmas musical.
I found out a few minutes ago that one of our neighbors passed away. We met her this summer. She lives in the next block, however we walked past her house almost every day on our walks. She loved for us to stop and talk. Her name was Pam. We last talked to her in October for quite awhile and she asked us to stop often and visit once the weather was nice again. She has been sitting out on her porch on nicer days. I do remember seeing her out on Thanksgiving. She told us she loved to look at our Christmas lights and watch the girls play in the yard. I'm hoping that she got some enjoyment this season from the lights before she passed away. What a nice lady! Her husband died just a little over a year ago. They have one child and he is only 16. I am saddened that he no longer has his parents--that's gotta be rough!! I am also saddened that we won't get to see her and talk to her anymore. I remember her mentioning that her son didn't need to lose another parent. In addition to that, our mayor passed away as well. We saw him at the Extreme Makeover reveal just 3 days before he was hospitalized. My first thought when I saw him was that he just didn't quite look very well. Our city lost a good mayor.
Other than that, we are looking forward to a week of fun and "taking in the season". Josh found out on Wednesday of last week that he has vacation this week. Not much notice, but the break really is welcome!!!!!!!!
Oh yes, I am still at square one when it comes to gifts for my sweetie. Yesterday, we looked for pants for him at so many stores. His size must be rare or he's too skinny or something. He wears a 28X32. I guess he's too tall to have a waist that size. Even the stores I figured would be guaranteed to have them didn't have one pair!! I'm going to have to get my brain working!