Ahhhh, Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love to buy presents for others and I get great joy watching them open them up. My hope each year is to get others something they've been wanting but won't buy for themselves, or something clever that goes with something we've experienced together, if that makes sense. However, when it gets down to it, I never seem to get everyone that clever or wanted gift. Either there is no time to do all the shopping or I simply have no idea what to get. So gift cards become the gift. While I enjoy getting gift cards, I don't enjoy giving them as much. It feels impersonal and not so clever or thoughtful. (Now if someone specifically tells me that's what they want, then it feels OK to give.) Even though we began shopping in July, we somehow ended up shopping this past Saturday, during the snow storm slipping on the ice covered roads. Chance had shopped all week while I was at work but I was holding out for that light bulb for a few people. It never went off. So we white knuckled a trip to the mall, Toys R Us and Walmart. It seems we never learn.

My other favorite part of Christmas is seeing family and spending time with everyone. We were particularly happy that my family decided to have the celebration a day early so we could spend more time at both places instead of having to rush from one event to another all in the same day. That was really nice. Somehow, I think we are just as worn out having 3 celebrations in a row. It sorta feels like the rushed day makes it go faster, but I think I prefer the spread out thing. We don't have to haul as much with us each trip and again, we get to spend more time with each family. Oh and I really enjoyed playing cards too. I miss our family game times. You have to watch out for Chris, he loves to skip people! All in all, I'm glad it's over now. We got home today from Chance's dad's, cleaned up all the mess (there were boxes everywhere from all the toys), and now we are all relaxing in our jammies.

After our Sanders family Christmas, Tristan came home and tried out all his stuff. He decided which clothes to wear to which Christmas event, we played his new music in his new CD player, taught him how to records his voice on cassette and then he played with his new Star Wars ship that he got from Caden. He found all his men and put them in there. Missiles were flying everywhere. He was a bit upset that his Darth Vader was a bit too big for the cockpit so I guess we will spend some of his Christmas money finding a smaller Vader. Vader HAD to fly the ship you know. When he woke up his CD player came on with Shrek soundtrak blaring out of his room. Now we will have 2 people to tell to turn it down. Oh my...didn't think of that. LOL Taylor loved her gifts. She has big plans for shopping. I promised to take her. She is really sick. I looked at her throat last nite and it has those white puss things on it. So now she could have strep or something bad like that along with her new staph infection on her stomach. I am calling the doctor first thing in the morning. I feel so sorry for her. She completely lost her voice last night. She is at her mom's until Thursday so they will have to meet us at the doctor. I can't believe how much that kid has been sick this year. I hope this is the last round. I don't know what I'm going to do if it lasts for weeks. I am not allowed to take off work in January, although my schedule is erratic and I do get some mornings to myself. We will figure it out I guess.

On Monday, we spent Christmas with Chance's Mom's family. That is where the kids get to open all their gifts from us. Taylor loved her Zune and it's a bit different than the Ipod. I think she's already emailed Sami for tips. Tristan got tons of stuff...he has too much. So much he can't decide what to do next. Chance's grandfather is in very ill health. They spent 8 days without electricity in the ice storm and he refused to leave the house to go stay anywhere else. He's on oxygen too. Poor Pap tried his best to stay awake and take it all in. I somehow think we all knew that it will probably be his last Christmas. Bless his heart. He is one tough cookie I tell you. Taylor and Tristan (especially Tristan for some reason) bring such joy to him. He seemed sad we could not go over there today, but we now have Chance's dad's to go to. I guess we are going to have to try another trip over there while we are off. We were talking about how things will change when his grandparents go. We will probably be hosting Christmas for that side of the family at our house. I'm not sure how that will work as they always do Christmas Eve too. I read Tara's blog about change and I completely understand. I guess that's how life works. It all comes out in the wash as they say.

Today we had a good time at Chance's dad's. For some reason we didn't end up playing games like usual. Melissa's kids (Chance's step sister) got a new horse so she took all the girls to see it. The boys played out back all afternoon. And the rest of us ate and talked. And ate. Man, Ruth sure makes sure there is plenty to eat. I got to take home the rest of grandma Betty's chocolate stuff. I am so thrilled about that. I love that stuff.

So here I am excited that the "me" part of my vacation has started. I have big plans:

• I plan to prepare my syllabus for my spring class.
• Do all the work I brought home and need to have done before my return to work on the 2nd.
• Take Taylor and myself shopping to use our gift cards.
• Take her to the doctor.
• Get my hair cut and colored.
• Take Taylor to get her hair cut (she got a gift certificate for a cut and manicure for her birthday).
• Set up my OU class and order my book. Yes that's right. I GOT ACCEPTED!!!!! Just found out on Monday.
• Update my myspace page and get some old stuff off there.
• Read all my emails that have piled up the past few weeks.
• Make a mini scrapbook for a friend who's had to move back to Texas. This one is extremely ambitious as I can't seem to work on my own family scrapbooks very much. I love making them but don't take the time. Well I have the book and papers bought and most of the pictures selected. I'm pretty sure I can do it.
• Oh and we are celebrating New Year's Eve at Dave and Heather's as usual. We will play games and the kids will play. I'm looking forward to some champagne. I only drink it once a year.

Tomorrow is our 9 year anniversary. Can you believe that???? We aren't able to do our usual date night as we will have Taylor most of the break, so we are going to dinner with Tristan. (Taylor is at her mom's until Thursday morning.) Mom has agreed to let Tristan come over and spend the night the next weekend Dad is off, so that will be when we get to celebrate and have some alone time.

Well, I am not sure what all else I needed to say. Beth got on to me for not writing in a while. I feel like I have so much on my plate being mom, working full time, teaching and now I'm adding being a student to that. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess. I hope I survive. I always do I suppose.

I need to post some pictures. Getting ready to download some. Working on the scrapbook but I still have pictures from Caden's birthday on there as well as Taylor's birthday. I just keep taking them and then not doing anything. There just aren't enough hours in the day for all I want to do.

If anything else comes to mind, I'll drop a note. Merry Christmas everyone!