Yesterday was so unbelievably busy I simply FORGOT to post a blog. Been a while since that happened. I'm sure many of you are dealing with a lot more than 1 houseguest, though, so I am not looking for sympathy.
Mike and I did the shopping yesterday, and Kroger was filled with people wandering around looking dazed, holding shopping lists that in some cases were many pages long. One woman had a binder with lots of pages. She must have an enormous family. She had a haunted look on her face.
At times I am glad we don't do big holiday celebrations with extended family.
I spent the entire afternoon yesterday cooking. I wasn't able to start until we got back from Kroger. We had also stopped by Spiced Right barbeque and picked up sandwich makings.
We went over to Colton's house around 5:30 and exchanged gifts. They gave Mike a really nice gym bag with the Lakeside logo on it. That's where he will go to high school next year. It was nice to see their house wasn't spotless. So I am not the only one that value cooking over cleaning.
At some point last week I gave up on the idea of a big Christmas cleaning and decided just to aim for "straight" instead of "spotless." The last time my house was spotless was the day before we moved in.
Anyway, yesterday afternoon I made: a breakfast casserole, homemade cheese herb dip, 4 batches of cookies, and an apricot brandy pound cake.
Bruce came in last night and we had dinner. I made a big salad, and we had the barbeque, which was tasty.
My plan was to go to bed early, but Mike and I are reading together the newest Rick Riordan book The Son of Neptune. At a very exciting spot I just kept reading and reading. Next thing I know it was almost midnight. Yikes.
So here are some shots from today. I didn't get any shots of the four of us opening presents, but here's the aftermath:
Alesia called this morning and we talked a while, after the presents had been opened. I asked her what her boyfriend got her for Christmas and she said "money." How romantic. I think she clearly misses us. She said she is going to get her GED. I will believe it when I see it, but I am glad she is thinking about it, at least. Now if only she will see Mr. Wrong more clearly perhaps she can fix her life...
I got some clothes, books, and my big present, a GPS! Now maybe I won't get lost in my own neighborhood..
Bruce and Mother both got Kindles. I know they will be used, because Bruce and Mother read 3-4 books a week. Bruce didn't seem too thrilled but I know he will use his.
Mike got a Pimsleur set of CD's to help him re-learn his Russian, and some small things. His "big" present is a Visa gift card and some cash. So he can hit the mall this coming week.
Bruce gave Michael a nice pair of khaki pants, and he put on his new suit coat again. Mike looks so grown up in the outfit. I do need to get him some dress shoes.
Les came in about 1:00 and she had presents for us. We had some for her as well. Bruce gave her and Michael both TOMAHAWKS.
The perfect accessory for a young businessman - a tomahawk.
He gave Les a 50 pound bag of rice -
And she gave Mike a wonderful book, a compilation of all the Narnia books:
And Bruce also gave Les a tomahawk -
So I will leave you with a very funny image, two two tomahawk kids. Bruce and I are 1/16th Cherokee. I guess it's inevitable we will reclaim that part of our ancestry. Also, Bruce just likes weapons of all kind...
Merry Christmas everyone!
