A Merry (Pensive) Christmas…

Christmas 2010...

…came and went in a blink. (I have always had a difficult time wrapping my head around a holiday that takes four full weeks to prepare for and is “over” in under 24 hours ...and this year seemed worse than ever)

…was very different from our Christmases of the past 10 years.  (we didn’t host anyone and I didn’t have to prep a menu or cook or clean)

…still wasn’t what I picture in my head of what I wish Christmas could be. (or should be?) (decorations were put up, songs were sung, food was eaten, gifts were exchanged, stockings were hung and filled....Shouldn't it be more?)

…was enjoyed by my children. (we surprised them with a PS3 – half paid for by our oldest with money he's saved for over a year –and they actually liked the clothes I bought, and the other fun things under the tree)

…was something I was never fully able to embrace this year. ((sigh))


What didn’t happen this year?  
Cards weren’t sent, very few photos were taken, cookies weren’t made, carols weren’t really sung, the Christmas story (from the Bible) wasn’t read, a letter to Santa didn’t even get written and no cookies were left out for him.  Our yummy Christmas Morning Marshmallow Crescent rolls weren't made. No festive parties were attended or hosted, and no one outside of my family saw any of my decor. My shopping for gifts was still occurring the morning of the 24th...so I even failed to plan very well.


Highlights?  
Singing in our Christmas Eve service...(sort of)  
Stopping by some dear friends for a Christmas Eve open house...so warm, inviting and cozy.  I dream of hosting something like that some year...
Watching our children open the gifts they bought for each other from the Dollar Tree.  One of my most favorite traditions. 
Attending the Bella Voce Young Women's Choir concert - it was heavenly and is definitely becoming a tradition. 


And now it’s January.   Most of the around the house decor is put away (but sadly the tree is still up awaiting the kids help to put away their ornaments)  I have kept things up partly because I always keep them up 'til the day the kids go back to school, but partly to just stretch things out a bit longer.  I have no real point to this post, no moral of the story or lesson I've learned...I simply wanted to document it in hopes that maybe perhaps next Christmas can be different. 

Weekend by the numbers...

just 'cuz my last by the numbers post was such a fun and easy to way to post a re-cap, I thought I'd try it again.  Thankfully this weekend was a lot more fun to recall!   My Sonoran Birthday ....

Kiddos left behind in the care of some amazing friends and grandparents ~ 4

Delayed Flights ~ 2

Gate changes due to mechanical failures ~ 2

Moments of happiness when surfing, IMing, and facebooking with free in-flight wi-fi ~ at least 4

Meals of amazing authentic Mexican food ~ 2

Inches of snow accumulated in the Hinterland while we were gone ~ approx 17

Awesome neighbors who plowed our driveway of aforementioned snow and fed the kitty and the fish - 2

Awesome friends who are like family who cared for our kiddos for 2 days ~ 2

Awesome grandparents who cared for our kiddos for an overnight and one snow day ~ 2

Mornings spent sitting out by a pool in the glorious sunshine ~ 3

Hot breakfasts eaten that I didn't have to prepare ~ 3

Dishes washed by me ~ 0

Afternoon spent smiling at all the different kinds of cacti ~ 1

Kinds of cactus seen that I never knew existed ~ at least 15

New bits of information learned about tequila ~ at least 10

Number of different brands and/or variations of tequila tasted ~ 18

Hours spent smiling while watching RCPM doin' what they do best ~ 2

Birthday wishes/hugs/hand kisses from a Peacemaker ~ 3

Bottles of tequila stowed away in our luggage ~ 3

Broken bottles of tequila in our luggage ~ 0   

Kids missed and excited to see their mom and dad arrive home ~ 4

Memories of a lifetime ~ infinite

weekend by the numbers...

~ boy throwing up on himself in the car five minutes into our 90 minute drive to the Big city in a snowstorm - 1
~ swearing, cussing parents following said throw-up incident - 2
~ girls crying thinking we have to turn around and go back home and miss the gymnastics meet - 2
~ stress-filled miles driven on icy, snowy roads in the dark - 75
~ gymnastics meet barely arriving in time for - 1
~ moments of pride watching our girls compete in a big gymnastics meet - 8 (or more)
~ quiet afternoon spent with family - 1
~ amazing dinner of sushi and hibachi style steak and shrimp with good friends - 1
~ shot of patron - 1
~ one sakerita - 1 (japanese margarita) 
~ evening spent listening to some of Minnesota's finest musicians - 1
~ another round of boy throwing up - this time on the kitchen floor at 2am - 1
~ moments of misunderstanding and miscommunication between me and my Robot - too many to count
~ massive cold sore eruption - 1
~ one non-kissing goodbye at the airport (see above) - 1
~ kitty cat happy to have his people home - 1
~ tired, worn out momma - 1
~ missed Christmas party - 1
~ husband arrived safely to his destination - 1
~ kids tucked into bed - 4
~ quiet evening spent enjoying the glow of Christmas lights all by my lonesome-1 


If you add it all up, you get a weekend chock full of yuckiness with just a few moments of goodness to make it all worth it.   Such is life.

Thankful Thursdays…

Even though this will post just minutes into the day AFTER Thanksgiving....I wanted to share a few things I am continually thankful for....

This one... (the smallest of the small ones)

And these two...(the middle littles)

And there's this one...the oldest...

And this guy...oh my.

Other things (in no particular order)...

    Friends who are like family and family who are like friends

    Shingles that didn't get any worse

    My home

    Family vacations...such wonderful memories

    My church

    My Heavenly Father

    Good food

    Our sweet kitty cat (never in a million years did I think I'd be thankful for this)

    Cozy warm beds on cold winter nights

    The anticipation of the Christmas season

    Each new day