Christmas was a little different this year. Usually, we celebrate Christmas morning/afternoon with Tim's family and Christmas night with my family. Sadly this year my family decided not to do anything. I was a little disappointed since we travelled all this way and we won't be back for another Christmas for at least another 3 years. I also made the stockings for all the kids and 2 of them won't even receive them until after we're gone. But we still had a great time with Tim's family. We had our traditional Christmas sushi followed by a friendly game of mahjong.
Part of my family did settle on a day after Christmas lunch where we rushed to open gifts, got to the restaurant late and scurried off to our respectful locations immediately afterwards. I think one of the best part of my day was when my oldest nephew who is 18 told me how much he liked his stocking. Then the 3 kids argued about who's stocking was better.
So far our trip home has been great! We had an awesome meal prepared by Tim's parents the day after we got home. We went to NYC to visit my brother, explore the city and watch Wicked. Got to visit the Rue's in Highland Falls for Christmas Eve and went back to West Point for the first time since Tim graduated. We were supposed to go skiing today but it rained all day and I got violently ill last night. So instead Tim spent the day cleaning the basement with his brother and I got to go shopping. It was sad to go shopping by myself but it beats cleaning the basement anyday. All I wanted was to buy some cute flats but I came home with no shoes and a bag full of sweaters that I won't be able to wear in 4 months. At least I went for the thinner sweaters and some of them have short sleeves.
Skiing has been rescheduled for tomorrow. Then we have to rush back for dinner with the parents. Tuesday will be our last day here. Gotta visit grandma and pack up. We'll have been "home" for 10 days but the time has flown. I really enjoyed our trip but I miss my puppies and I'm ready to get back to our own house.
We'll have visitors pretty much waiting for us when we get home to celebrate the start of the New Year. Then we go back to normal. I'm hoping someone will call me about that job I'm supposed to be starting. But if not I'll enjoy a few more unemployed months! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ahh...the holidays are quickly approaching...
I have to say, I'm not a very festive person. I hate Christmas shopping and I always wait until last minute. We didn't put up any decorations this year since we're going home for the holidays. And once you start receiving gift cards as gifts, it's just not fun anymore. It's a good thing there's a better reason to celebrate Christmas than just trees and presents because otherwise I probably wouldn't participate at all. Bah humbug...
My parents were in town all last week. I enjoyed their visit. I had classes during the day so my mom did a little bit of cleaning every day. My toaster and microwave are spotless! Well, they were a week ago at least. I got to show off some of my culinary skills and learn some from them. We had real Chinese food in Atlanta. We've been here for 6 months and have only been able to find one good Chinese restaurant. My parents were here for 3 days and apparently found all of them. It's pretty amazing to walk into a restaurant I've never been to before in a city my parents have only been in for a few days and have them greet my parents like they were old buddies. I guess my parents had eaten there once already.
I don't know how much fun my parents had since we had zero time to spend with them but I know my dogs enjoyed their company. My dad keeps telling me how much he misses the dogs. I don't think he's ever told me he's missed ME before! Scout remained faithfully by his side the whole time. I'm pretty sure she thought he was a walking treat machine. Denny was a little more timid. He's never been chased by a seventy something year old screaming "why don't you like me" before. My dad has issues with dogs and small children not liking him. Whatever he has to do...they will like him before his visit is through.
Since my parents were in town, I got no Christmas shopping done. I decided to make stockings for my nieces and nephews. I have 2 done so far...much more time consuming than I first thought. My sewing machine is also giving me all kinds of grief. Hubby really wants to get me a new one for Christmas but I can't see spending money on a new machine when I have one that works. It doesn't work great but it works. I also ran into problems with ideas to fill stockings with for a 17 and 18 year old. I still haven't bought anything for the hubby yet.
Just a few more days until we fly home for Christmas. I addressed all my Christmas cards yesterday. I was excited to finally do photo cards but we were rushed and I made some poor decisions with them. The photos turned out soo tiny that you have to squint to see our faces. But alas I ordered 50 of them, the 1 hour photo machine at Walmart is broken and I just want to get them out before I give up on sending Christmas cards all together. I'll think smarter for next year. Hopefully next year's card will be set in Hawaii!
Alright, I've put off finishing the stockings for long enough. I have 4 out of 8 projects that must be completed done and 10 more projects I'd like to do. Wish me luck!
My parents were in town all last week. I enjoyed their visit. I had classes during the day so my mom did a little bit of cleaning every day. My toaster and microwave are spotless! Well, they were a week ago at least. I got to show off some of my culinary skills and learn some from them. We had real Chinese food in Atlanta. We've been here for 6 months and have only been able to find one good Chinese restaurant. My parents were here for 3 days and apparently found all of them. It's pretty amazing to walk into a restaurant I've never been to before in a city my parents have only been in for a few days and have them greet my parents like they were old buddies. I guess my parents had eaten there once already.
I don't know how much fun my parents had since we had zero time to spend with them but I know my dogs enjoyed their company. My dad keeps telling me how much he misses the dogs. I don't think he's ever told me he's missed ME before! Scout remained faithfully by his side the whole time. I'm pretty sure she thought he was a walking treat machine. Denny was a little more timid. He's never been chased by a seventy something year old screaming "why don't you like me" before. My dad has issues with dogs and small children not liking him. Whatever he has to do...they will like him before his visit is through.
Since my parents were in town, I got no Christmas shopping done. I decided to make stockings for my nieces and nephews. I have 2 done so far...much more time consuming than I first thought. My sewing machine is also giving me all kinds of grief. Hubby really wants to get me a new one for Christmas but I can't see spending money on a new machine when I have one that works. It doesn't work great but it works. I also ran into problems with ideas to fill stockings with for a 17 and 18 year old. I still haven't bought anything for the hubby yet.
Just a few more days until we fly home for Christmas. I addressed all my Christmas cards yesterday. I was excited to finally do photo cards but we were rushed and I made some poor decisions with them. The photos turned out soo tiny that you have to squint to see our faces. But alas I ordered 50 of them, the 1 hour photo machine at Walmart is broken and I just want to get them out before I give up on sending Christmas cards all together. I'll think smarter for next year. Hopefully next year's card will be set in Hawaii!
Alright, I've put off finishing the stockings for long enough. I have 4 out of 8 projects that must be completed done and 10 more projects I'd like to do. Wish me luck!
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