Is Christmas over already? (Please say yes)

Christmas dinner is still sitting like a brick in my stomach. The mashed potatoes had little bits of uncooked potato in them, the gravy didn't have any actual meat juice in it, and canned cranberry sauce was put out instead of the homemade chutney I brought (my last jar). MIL has such a tiny dining-room that we didn't all fit. We were squashed in like sardines. I ended up hiding in the kitchen with Charlotte and a piece of pie--the pie that MIL asked us to bring and that never got set out. MIL can be so infuriating sometimes. It was nice to talk to SIL and Rich's cousin, though. SIL and I agreed that we have to come up with a way to get the burgandy polyester jumpsuit with satin cowel and red plastic belt away from her mother. I am sure she thought she looked festive, but really--jumpsuit??? red satin cowel???? polyester???? jumpsuit?????
Perhaps next year I will have to pull up my socks and make Christmas dinner--I can make gravy that does not look like paste to pour over mashed potatoes that are not crunchy.
We are heading out to see my aunt in Ninette today so we don't have to go back to eat leftovers.

Char was up all night screaming--despite two doses of Advil and some homeopathic teething remedy. There are four teeth wanting to come through all at once. Poor little peanut. Poor the rest of us.

Did I mention I still have PMS? Can I have a menstrual hut to hide in for a while?

I love husband. I love my children. All the rest of the family can visit by appointment only.

Hubby gave me a big box of yarn for Christmas. Its virgin wool. Its Italian. I. Must. Knit. Now.
(ok, I will take care of Charlotte and fix breakfast for Emm, then can I knit?)

Merry Christmas!

The Stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, the kids are tucked in to bed, and Richard is helping out Santa with his duties. All that is left to do is bake some pie for Christmas dinner tomorrow.

Wishing all peace, love, and a Merry Christmas!!!!

Holiday funk.

Ugh--why does Christmas have to coincide with PMS?? In additon to barely holding onto my sanity for the sake of the children, I have to do Christmassy crap too??? These past few days I have been totally slacking, drugging Emmett with Teletubbies and keeping my house at most, a mess instead of a disaster area. It is almost lunchtime and only Char is out of her PJs. I even used disposable diapers yesterday. There are presents to be wrapped, bread to be baked, laundry to do and instead of being inspired to get working, I just feel more and more overwhelmed. Char is teething, Emm is being a two-year-old, and I want to run away and hide. I feel all fat and gross. Perhaps I should have consumed something better than a pan of sugar cookies and coffee yesterday.

Santa, I want a wife for Christmas, and a spa vacation with just hubby. Is that too much to ask??

Ahhh, Char is napping, Emmett is signing Christmas cards--I can watch Weeds and drink coffee. I guess that will have to do.

Three more sleeps.

Is Christmas really in three days???? I guess I had better wrap my gifts. (At least I should get Richard's wrapped while he is at work.)

Richard is being super-nice and going grocery shopping after work. He knows what a nightmare the stores will be right now and doesn't want me fighting the crowds with two little kiddies. Time to re-stock our supply of formula, diapers and baby Advil (poor Charlotte!!).

We took possession of our exterminators last night. They came out of the basement after Emmett went to bed. Lucy has been keeping a respectful distance. They were up all night trying to get into bed with the humans, and even woke up Emmett. Polaris is beautiful and friendly and I want so much to snuggle with him, but I am afraid of how that will make me feel. Blitzen is a little more skittish, but I think he will come around. I didn't realize how much I miss having kitties around until these ones came over. I think Polaris knows why he is here. He was pacing around the walls where I have heard the mice, and his eyes were sooooo big and wide.

Family Dinner

We had the Big Family Christmas Dinner at Richard's Aunt's house last night. The kids were amazing. Emmett had a little cousin to play with, so they giggled and chased each other most of the evening. There was no meltdown, even though he missed his bedtime by over two hours. Charlotte was a sweetheart, and only started to complain a little by the end of the evening. I suspect there will be extra-long naps today. I sure need one! Emmett spilled red wine on Richard's pants, but Richard is the same size as his uncle, so he borrowed a pair of jeans while his pants took a trip through the washing machine. I was presented with a pair of clean, dry folded pants as we walked out the door. I wonder if I can bring laundry every time we visit??

I have such a good boy!!

Yesterday morning Emmett was "helping" Richard get dressed in our bedroom. Emm would not let Richard out of the room until he picked up all of his dirty clothes and drop them in the laundry chute. What a good boy I have!!!

I picked up my new glasses yesterday. I think I like them. I need to get used to them. I spent all yesterday afternoon with poor depth perception and motion sickness. I couldn't even knit yesterday. Today is a little better, but I need to go back to the store for more adjustments to my frame. I got glass lenses this time. I am enjoying the super-crisp vision, but I have to get used to the extra weight. The clerks assure me that I will love glass once I get used to them--they are much more durable and scratch-resistant. (not to mention $200 less than the same prescription in plastic)

Mom and Dad are moving out of their big house in a village to a smaller house in a bigger town. Mom was not so happy about having to move over Christmas, until she had to drive to work yesterday in a snowstorm. She had to be on the road so early that she even beat the snowplows out. I have to get my stuff out of her basement. That means I am really grown up now!! (nope, being married with two kids and a dog and a mortgage does not make you a grownup. Having all of your stuff out of your parent's house makes you a grownup!!!)

Ok, Ok I will wrap and mail my out-of-town Christmas gifts. I don't wanna! I don't wanna! (I still haven't got my tree up) I pulled out my favourite Christmas CD (Christmas Songs, put out by Nettwerk) and danced and sang with Charlotte. I was in a Christmassy mood for a minute or two, but I don't think it stuck.