My mom is a fantastic gift person. She has a knack for picking the right thing, and has always had wrapping down to an art. I remember as a kid looking on in awe as she wrapped gifts, from her perfectly organized tote o' rolls and color coordinated curling ribbon...always curled just so by her wrapping scissors. If I was really good, I could hold down the ribbon while she tied it just so. Her gifts were dressed for the best.
She did her best to teach me the fine art of wrapping. Buying quality paper with cheater guides on the back, crisp folding, and of course, how to curl the ribbon just so. 30 years later I still can't cut a straight line. I buy my wrapping paper at dollar tree. I CAN curl ribbon, but usually don't have any because anything resembling "web" in this house becomes one. The gift I just finished wrapping only has paper on five sides of the cube, because well, I can't find the "oversized" gift bag I bought for it.
So it's 12:20AM. I'm sitting here blogging, and I have all of FOUR of my kids nineteen gifts wrapped. (Miss D gets an extra because she didn't break the bank with her requests.) I have the stocking fodder in bags across the room, praying I get to them before Si Guy decides to move into our bed and realizes I'm not there. Moments like these, I appreciate my mom, and wish I could just wish her over here to do this for me. I need some pixie dust or something.
Hopefully the contents will make up for the packaging. Seven or eight hours from now it won't matter....the paper will be on the floor, later to be "rewrapping" gifts the kids "give" each other, made into paper dolls, or paper wads for a "snowball fight." We'll pick up after the fun, remembering the day and the King whom we celebrate. His initial wrapping wasn't too impressive either, but just look at the contents of THAT package.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas, and God Bless us every ONE!
Or merry Thankmas as my dear MIL would put it. That said, I think both Thanksgiving & Christmas deserve their spot. Trying to put all that tradition and meaning in one holiday makes my head spin. So, here's the "shakespeare in a minute" version of the last couple of months, not necessarily in order or logical by any means.
Our Turkey day was thanktastic here. Since the thermostat on our oven went out, (all of 2 months after Mr. Landlord brought it over to replace the one that had been totally dead for 2 years....) Mr. M bought me a roaster oven as an early Christmas present so we could have a nice, big bird at home. Mr. 24lb tom lasted all of three days in our turkey loving home.
We had mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies, and spiced apple cranberry sauce *new recipe*, absolutely delish! We had GF pumpkin bread, apple cranberry soup er cobbler, and cherry pie for dessert. A great meal with my great in-laws.
As much as I grouse about this house I am grateful to have 1700 square feet of space + basement+1 car garage + fenced in mostly flat back yard all of 1/2 block from the elementary school. I am grateful I have a laid back landlord that likes large families. That said, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, and we "should" be in our "real" home by spring break! The contractors are in, working like buzzy bees. Best. Present. Ever! I will be sacrificing my family room, the vicinity to the school, and central air. BUT, I will be gaining my dream home, cheaper rent, a 5th bedroom, a dining room, a laundry room, and brand spankin new stainless steel appliances~ NO MORE DEAD OVENS FOR ME!!!!! Happy joy dance. All this and I got to pick the color for every single room in the house. Fresh paint, freshly refinished floors., plaster walls & molding...aaaahhhh. And last but not least, a second WORKING bathroom! A very critical addition with our older boys speeding towards adolescence.
The last few weeks have been rough here. Mr. M has had a cough for weeks. When he recovered from round one, I was out cold w/ the digestive issues going around. His round two was attacking full force as I was just grateful to be able to eat my first meal. I'm fine and frenetic now, while he's just been given a "stronger" antibiotic because the bacteria in his lungs figured out the first one. Maybe this year we should be saying Merry sick-mas. Here's hoping round two works out and we can avoid steroids and all that joy.
Because of this ick Mr. M missed Princess P's last preschool advent program. Once again, she was the "star', a role that suits her well. Si Guy and his buddy A were both shepards, but after the staff sword fighting at dress rehearsal they were both empty handed for the real show. (I'm glad I was at the dress rehearsal! Staff fighting to music was something to see...C'mon. What did they think would happen when they gave 2 3yo boys sticks with handles???)
Rewind two more weeks, and Isaiah had his last role in a "kids" program. Next year he'll be in YOUTH! Next year he'll be a teen! A new adventure for us all.
So thank you for being patient. And still reading. I'll try to post orderly thoughts occasionally after New Years. Because I have at least 4 "events" between now and then...but that's okay. It's STILL not as busy as football season was.
Our Turkey day was thanktastic here. Since the thermostat on our oven went out, (all of 2 months after Mr. Landlord brought it over to replace the one that had been totally dead for 2 years....) Mr. M bought me a roaster oven as an early Christmas present so we could have a nice, big bird at home. Mr. 24lb tom lasted all of three days in our turkey loving home.
We had mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies, and spiced apple cranberry sauce *new recipe*, absolutely delish! We had GF pumpkin bread, apple cranberry soup er cobbler, and cherry pie for dessert. A great meal with my great in-laws.
As much as I grouse about this house I am grateful to have 1700 square feet of space + basement+1 car garage + fenced in mostly flat back yard all of 1/2 block from the elementary school. I am grateful I have a laid back landlord that likes large families. That said, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, and we "should" be in our "real" home by spring break! The contractors are in, working like buzzy bees. Best. Present. Ever! I will be sacrificing my family room, the vicinity to the school, and central air. BUT, I will be gaining my dream home, cheaper rent, a 5th bedroom, a dining room, a laundry room, and brand spankin new stainless steel appliances~ NO MORE DEAD OVENS FOR ME!!!!! Happy joy dance. All this and I got to pick the color for every single room in the house. Fresh paint, freshly refinished floors., plaster walls & molding...aaaahhhh. And last but not least, a second WORKING bathroom! A very critical addition with our older boys speeding towards adolescence.
The last few weeks have been rough here. Mr. M has had a cough for weeks. When he recovered from round one, I was out cold w/ the digestive issues going around. His round two was attacking full force as I was just grateful to be able to eat my first meal. I'm fine and frenetic now, while he's just been given a "stronger" antibiotic because the bacteria in his lungs figured out the first one. Maybe this year we should be saying Merry sick-mas. Here's hoping round two works out and we can avoid steroids and all that joy.
Because of this ick Mr. M missed Princess P's last preschool advent program. Once again, she was the "star', a role that suits her well. Si Guy and his buddy A were both shepards, but after the staff sword fighting at dress rehearsal they were both empty handed for the real show. (I'm glad I was at the dress rehearsal! Staff fighting to music was something to see...C'mon. What did they think would happen when they gave 2 3yo boys sticks with handles???)
Rewind two more weeks, and Isaiah had his last role in a "kids" program. Next year he'll be in YOUTH! Next year he'll be a teen! A new adventure for us all.
So thank you for being patient. And still reading. I'll try to post orderly thoughts occasionally after New Years. Because I have at least 4 "events" between now and then...but that's okay. It's STILL not as busy as football season was.
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