It was a great Christmas
Dec. 28th, 2004 10:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mellymell. . . all four days of it. Extremely brief rundown:
We left work early to do some last minute shopping and get the house cleaned for a gathering later that evening. Much of the evening was spent staring at the table with friends. :P
I think this is the first time I awoke the next day after a gathering at the house to everything having been cleaned up. The coffee I made at the end of the night gave me just enough boost to clean up before passing out. I'll have to remember that for future reference.
Chris and I laid around much of the day. I wrapped some gifts that needed to be ready by the next morning. But other than that, I played with the pups and relaxed most of the day.
That evening we went to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
branflake's parents' house. I've always loved that house, but what they've done to it now, WOW!! The bar on the back porch is perfect. Can't wait to see what they do with that kitchen. An excellent seafood dinner in a Christmasy atmosphere with good people.
Chris and I woke up early to have our own "family" Christmas as planned. Of course his gift was still not here, but I printed out a picture of it and wrapped it with a bow. It doesn't do it justice, but at least he had something to unwrap. He had gotten me a beautiful rose quartz crystal ball. Can't wait to really charge it.
We let the puppies and kitties unwrap their presents first. All morning, Mogwai kept running up to us and putting his front paws in our laps as if to say, "thanks, mom and dad, I love the mice!", then he'd run off to bat one around for a while. There are probably 20 of 60 of them laying around on our living room floor (and stuck under various pieces of furniture). At one point Mogwai was just walking around and chewing the tails off of them. Neko has gotten wise to where we keep them though and always goes for the box when she's bored of the one she's playing with, regardless of how many others are in plain view. Just like children.
The dogs weren't interested in their new bed until they saw Neko lounging on it later. Then Jimi thought it was an all right place to lay and soon after, Sunflower joined him. They still try to sleep on our clothes in the bedroom though. Silly dogs.
After that, it was off to Chris' parents' place for another family Christmas and lunch with some of their church friends. We got our stand mixer, WOOT! Chris and I agree, we should paint flames on it (even though it's white, not black like Alton's). Also, we got 4 more place settings of Fiesta ware, although, one must be exchanged for a different color (we already had one of them). I took a tally of all the pieces we need to finish off the place settings we have (we've broken a couple of pieces and half of the place settings we had were the 5 piece ones and half were 4 pieces, so we're filling in the blanks). By the time the wedding rolls around, we're only going to need to register for serving pieces. That'll be nice.
My parents came over for lunch, so our parents all finally got to meet. I think we were all doing rather well 'til Mr. James Taylor wannabe busted out the guitar and Christmas carol books. Chris and I ducked into the back of the house, and we quickly left when there was a break in the music. The sun was setting too, so it was an opportune time. Gorgeous sunset on Christmas, by the way.
The rest of the night, Chris and I just sat curled up on the couch under a blanket watching cartoons. Man, was that nice!
We got up and finished last minute wrapping and what not and headed over to my dad's for the last family Christmas. Mike and Amy were there with little Matthew. Man he's grown so much! And looks just like his dad.
My uncle managed to make it down from Indiana as well. He had lots to say about the horrible weather they've been getting and the effects on the drive down. Despite it, he made excellent time, pulling in right at about 1:30pm.
We had a great Christmas, everyone together for once. I think my uncle really missed having the kids around for Christmas. My cousin (his daughter, wife of this guy) isn't flying in from California until the 30th, and my other cousin (his son) has no plans to come down from Chicago. In fact, I'm not sure of the whole story, but he's been denying my uncle from seeing their baby girl (Maggie, born October 13th, almost exactly a month after Matthew). The last time my Uncle saw her was when she was 2 days old. He says it's really been hard on my aunt, she's so tender-hearted. But he says there's always something, either someone is sick, or they have other plans, or "it's just not a good time". Makes me wonder.
For the first time in a couple of years, Mike and Amy didn't seem stand-offish. They were very warm and welcoming. They really seem to have the baby thing down to a science too. Matthew has a very tricky digestive system (they say he'll grow out of it) so there is a lot of extra care in feeding and post-feeding. Mike said he has a certain shift of feedings and Amy has a certain shift. He's so contemplative for a 4 month old.
So that was our Christmas. Chris' gift came in yesterday, it's really gorgeous. None of the pictures really did it justice. The colors never seemed to compare. I've just been absolutely exhausted for the past week though. I'm wondering if there could be something wrong. I've still got this sinus funk and can't seem to shake it, and I'm tired all the time. Maybe I should go to the doctor. But I don't really feel that sick.
Today we took our last animal to be de-genderized. Mogwai went in this morning and when we pick him up this evening, he'll be an it. Plus hopefully they'll figure out why he keeps scratching and licking constantly and pulling out his hair. The lady at the desk said it's possible that when he briefly got fleas in the summer time, that he just still feels them, even if they're not there. So our assumption may be correct, he might just be neurotic. We'll see I guess.
My uncle just stopped by on his way back through to pick up the remaining gifts. He says it feels so nice down here, he's dreading going back to Indiana. He did say that my cousin (his son) called and they are to go see Maggie on Thursday (the same day my other cousin is flying in from L. A.). They'll go up to Chi-town and see them for a few hours, then head back to meet Angie and Dan at the airport in Indy. Angie and Dan have a layover in Chicago, so Tony and Carolyn were going to bring the baby up to the airport so they could see her too. I'm glad he's finally getting to see her. I mean, he's in Chicago a lot, but they never let him come by for one reason or another. The poor guy has only seen his granddaughter once. I'm glad he's getting to see her, even if only for a few hours.
We left work early to do some last minute shopping and get the house cleaned for a gathering later that evening. Much of the evening was spent staring at the table with friends. :P
I think this is the first time I awoke the next day after a gathering at the house to everything having been cleaned up. The coffee I made at the end of the night gave me just enough boost to clean up before passing out. I'll have to remember that for future reference.
Chris and I laid around much of the day. I wrapped some gifts that needed to be ready by the next morning. But other than that, I played with the pups and relaxed most of the day.
That evening we went to
branflake's parents' house. I've always loved that house, but what they've done to it now, WOW!! The bar on the back porch is perfect. Can't wait to see what they do with that kitchen. An excellent seafood dinner in a Christmasy atmosphere with good people.Chris and I woke up early to have our own "family" Christmas as planned. Of course his gift was still not here, but I printed out a picture of it and wrapped it with a bow. It doesn't do it justice, but at least he had something to unwrap. He had gotten me a beautiful rose quartz crystal ball. Can't wait to really charge it.
We let the puppies and kitties unwrap their presents first. All morning, Mogwai kept running up to us and putting his front paws in our laps as if to say, "thanks, mom and dad, I love the mice!", then he'd run off to bat one around for a while. There are probably 20 of 60 of them laying around on our living room floor (and stuck under various pieces of furniture). At one point Mogwai was just walking around and chewing the tails off of them. Neko has gotten wise to where we keep them though and always goes for the box when she's bored of the one she's playing with, regardless of how many others are in plain view. Just like children.
The dogs weren't interested in their new bed until they saw Neko lounging on it later. Then Jimi thought it was an all right place to lay and soon after, Sunflower joined him. They still try to sleep on our clothes in the bedroom though. Silly dogs.
After that, it was off to Chris' parents' place for another family Christmas and lunch with some of their church friends. We got our stand mixer, WOOT! Chris and I agree, we should paint flames on it (even though it's white, not black like Alton's). Also, we got 4 more place settings of Fiesta ware, although, one must be exchanged for a different color (we already had one of them). I took a tally of all the pieces we need to finish off the place settings we have (we've broken a couple of pieces and half of the place settings we had were the 5 piece ones and half were 4 pieces, so we're filling in the blanks). By the time the wedding rolls around, we're only going to need to register for serving pieces. That'll be nice.
My parents came over for lunch, so our parents all finally got to meet. I think we were all doing rather well 'til Mr. James Taylor wannabe busted out the guitar and Christmas carol books. Chris and I ducked into the back of the house, and we quickly left when there was a break in the music. The sun was setting too, so it was an opportune time. Gorgeous sunset on Christmas, by the way.
The rest of the night, Chris and I just sat curled up on the couch under a blanket watching cartoons. Man, was that nice!
We got up and finished last minute wrapping and what not and headed over to my dad's for the last family Christmas. Mike and Amy were there with little Matthew. Man he's grown so much! And looks just like his dad.
My uncle managed to make it down from Indiana as well. He had lots to say about the horrible weather they've been getting and the effects on the drive down. Despite it, he made excellent time, pulling in right at about 1:30pm.
We had a great Christmas, everyone together for once. I think my uncle really missed having the kids around for Christmas. My cousin (his daughter, wife of this guy) isn't flying in from California until the 30th, and my other cousin (his son) has no plans to come down from Chicago. In fact, I'm not sure of the whole story, but he's been denying my uncle from seeing their baby girl (Maggie, born October 13th, almost exactly a month after Matthew). The last time my Uncle saw her was when she was 2 days old. He says it's really been hard on my aunt, she's so tender-hearted. But he says there's always something, either someone is sick, or they have other plans, or "it's just not a good time". Makes me wonder.
For the first time in a couple of years, Mike and Amy didn't seem stand-offish. They were very warm and welcoming. They really seem to have the baby thing down to a science too. Matthew has a very tricky digestive system (they say he'll grow out of it) so there is a lot of extra care in feeding and post-feeding. Mike said he has a certain shift of feedings and Amy has a certain shift. He's so contemplative for a 4 month old.
So that was our Christmas. Chris' gift came in yesterday, it's really gorgeous. None of the pictures really did it justice. The colors never seemed to compare. I've just been absolutely exhausted for the past week though. I'm wondering if there could be something wrong. I've still got this sinus funk and can't seem to shake it, and I'm tired all the time. Maybe I should go to the doctor. But I don't really feel that sick.
Today we took our last animal to be de-genderized. Mogwai went in this morning and when we pick him up this evening, he'll be an it. Plus hopefully they'll figure out why he keeps scratching and licking constantly and pulling out his hair. The lady at the desk said it's possible that when he briefly got fleas in the summer time, that he just still feels them, even if they're not there. So our assumption may be correct, he might just be neurotic. We'll see I guess.
My uncle just stopped by on his way back through to pick up the remaining gifts. He says it feels so nice down here, he's dreading going back to Indiana. He did say that my cousin (his son) called and they are to go see Maggie on Thursday (the same day my other cousin is flying in from L. A.). They'll go up to Chi-town and see them for a few hours, then head back to meet Angie and Dan at the airport in Indy. Angie and Dan have a layover in Chicago, so Tony and Carolyn were going to bring the baby up to the airport so they could see her too. I'm glad he's finally getting to see her. I mean, he's in Chicago a lot, but they never let him come by for one reason or another. The poor guy has only seen his granddaughter once. I'm glad he's getting to see her, even if only for a few hours.