09.30.06
The End of a Great Tradition
For the past 17 years (ever since our first child was born) we’ve enjoyed putting Christmas gifts on layaway in Sept (early Oct). We make a great time of it – we go shopping, load up the cart – and put it all away – knowing it is safely stored, and it will appear under the tree on Christmas morning. Then we all go out for a lovely dinner and enjoy the beginning of our holiday season (including Halloween). There were some difficult years, when this little day out was just what we needed to get through. It will always be something we will remember as one of our family traditions. Walmart has discontinued it’s layaway program. We could seek out another store with layaway – and maybe we will – but I think today was our last "layaway – early Christmas Day".
As for favorite restaurants – gotta go with Olive Garden. It’s the one place we all agree on. They are running their "never ending pasta bowl" right now – it’s just too good to pass up!
