Wrapping It Up--Better Late Than Never (Right?)

Let's see here. Where to begin? The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. Christmas Eve was wonderful. There were approximately 25 people here dining and visiting and laughing. It was relaxed and wonderful and I couldn't have done it without my mother. Plus, she made potato salad, a dish which I will never be able to replicate this side of heaven, so you know, I was one happy camper.

Christmas day dawned considerably later than it has around here in years past. My children are all getting older and we haven't had a predawn opening of gifts in a couple years. In fact, we had to practically drag the teenager from her bed. The children were excited and then happy as they opened their gifts. And it was a wonderful treat to have my mother-in-law with us, as we weren't at all certain that she would be able to make the trip this year. Then after the gifts there was eating. Followed by a few more gifts when my brother-in-law came by. Then there was more eating. And then we ate some more. Oh yes, then we decided to eat. And after we ate, we thought it might be kind of fun to eat. And then after all that eating, we nibbled. We nibbled for days, my friends. Just writing about all the eating is making me feel kind of sick. Ugh. But it was soooo good.

After all the presents and eating, there was construction. My husband and my dad started to wall in the loft. And after my folks left, my husband put the drywall up. So now we are waiting for the drywall guy to put up the last pieces of drywall that require scaffolding and then tape and mud and sand all of it. It's not that my husband can't do the taping and mudding and sanding, it's just that he's done those things before and discovered that not only do the pros do it more quickly and efficiently and better, but they are much less likely to lose their everlovin' mind in the process and then drive their wife crazy too. Sometimes paying someone to do a job saves more than money. I'm just sayin'.

For New Year's Eve, we found ourselves with only one child under our roof. Maggie, James and Sean had all been invited to sleepovers, so Patrick and Mary and I were left rattling around this house like so many seeds in a gourd. Usually New Year's Eve finds us cranking up the karaoke machine, playing wii, playing board or card games, and eating appetizers and drinking goblets of sparkling grape juice. This year, Mary got to eat her favorite meal (mac'n'cheese and a grilled cheese sandwich) and then watch television with no interruptions from siblings. Then she entertained Patrick and I as we ate a delicious dinner by candlelight. After that, Mary got both of us for bedtime stories--an event nearly unheard of around here. When she was finally settled into bed, my sweetheart and I sat before the fireplace sipping wine and talking. And when the New Year came in, we were....in bed. Asleep. It's official. We are old and we have no life and I am ready to weep at how uncool I have become. The only reason we were able to wish each other happy new year at 12:02 was because the dog was growling something fierce because of all the celebrating she could hear other people doing. Sigh.

We did a little celebrating on New Year's Day. It was the birthday of a dear friend and so we went to her surprise party. There was more food (um, would you think it impolite if I unbuttoned my pants?) and lots of laughter. Then we came home, popped our party crackers, and had our goblets of sparkling grape juice and many, many toasts.

All in all not a bad way to spend a couple of weeks. And now, I head back to work and the kids head back to school and life gets back into it's regular schedule and routine. And I promise not to write such lame stuff in the future, but all of those pecan bars have made me stupid. It may take a few days to get my brain out of the sugar haze that is currently enveloping it.

In the meantime, how were your holidays? Did you get a present that made you dance with excitement? Did you stay up too late on New Year's Eve? Or, are you going to make me feel better about my lame uncoolness and tell me you hit bed before midnight? Come on, you can tell me. You know where the comments are--don't you want to be the first one to post a comment on my blog in 2010? Sure you do!