Always the life of the party – that is our Papa!
Wishing you a fantastic, fun-filled birthday today, Dad – and a happy, healthy year too!
We love you,
J, C, E, & A
I had high hopes for Christmas vacation. We were going to rest, relax and enjoy the last few days of our vacation with our family in Michigan. I was going to take lots of photos of the grandchildren for, and with, all of the grandparents. I was going to edit the hundreds of photos from December that are sitting on my hard drive. I was going to blog about a bunch of stuff so we at least have some sort of documentation of all of the busy-ness that has been happening around here. I was going to wrap-up the 2010 year and make some resolutions for 2011.
All good intentions.
So what really happened? We did travel back to Michigan – the girls and I. There wasn’t a ton of relaxing and no matter what I do, it is always hard to see and spend time with everyone. And then I fought the stomach flu and could only wave at some of our visitors (so sorry, Aunt Vicki and Uncle Dick!). And poor SasserElla had to give up a birthday trip to Chuck E. Cheese in favor of an eat-in lunch of Mickey D’s and cupcakes. Then I attempted to get my girls and our haul of Christmas goodies back to California while Em fought the same stomach flu. And I have proceeded to spend the first weekend in January trying to reset our house and lives and get back to “normal.”
Despite the good (failed!) intentions, I’m feeling very optimistic about what is in store for 2011. And I still might manage to get some Christmas photos blogged yet.
Looking forward to a fantastic 2011 filled with perhaps tackling those good intentions.
Wow. When I fall off the blog bandwagon – I really fall off, don’t I? A few times over the past month I felt like I not only fell off the wagon, but was trampled under the horses hooves, too. But we are all still here, and all still doing surprisingly well.
I know that there is only one more week (4 1/2) days of school before winter break, only 13 more days until Christmas, and 14 more days til we go back to Michigan. I also know that my Christmas cards are piled on the dining room table waiting to be assembled and sent out and I just finished my Christmas gift spreadsheet this weekend …as in jotting down ideas…not actually purchasing any of it. We have another Christmas program tomorrow, two Christmas parties on Friday, a Brownie meeting and we are going caroling this week. And everyday it seems my list just gets longer and longer.
So what am I gonna do?
I’m going to Disneyland!
J.’s Christmas party – where they shut down the park for the evening for the cast members to enjoy – is tonight! And we are going. Without children! So I’m excited about that.
And it is Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. And, honestly…it really has been most wonderful. While we should have been Christmas shopping and making out our cards this weekend, we instead went to soccer closing ceremonies and did a little sofa shopping. We did find a Christmas tree that we all love – and I even gave in and put colored lights on it, much to the delight of Daddy and the girls. We managed to find MORE decorations for the outside, we seem to be slowly adding each and every day to the amount of festivity in and around our house. We went to see our very sweet friend Yvette in her musical theater production of Bah Humbug! (It was so cute and now Em wants to do musical theater next year, too. Of course.)
I love Christmas every year, but this year the girls really get it and are so excited about the little stuff – the advent calendars, Christmas caroling and the Christmas decorating. Oh, they are still very concerned with presents, don’t get me wrong, but the other stuff – the meaningful stuff – seems to be taking a little bit bigger role this year. Which is such a nice change.
And I think our “if it gets done, it gets done – if not, oh well” attitude is working. Even if some stuff isn’t getting done, other stuff is – like just chilling and having dinner with Uncle Jeff and Aunt JB and then watching the Amazing Race finale last night. (Yeah, Nat & Kat!!)
And in the end, I think that that “other stuff” is way more important anyhow.
We don’t have any of the WHITE stuff, like Kimberly here. But looking at her photo I can appreciate the beauty of snow – from the comfort of our own warm courtyard, which is where I shot my photo the other night.
I think you are either a WHITE Christmas lights or a colored lights kind of person. I definitely fall squarely in the WHITE lights camp. I think they look like stars and are just so pretty. Although I’m sensing some dissension among the ranks when I keep hearing how pretty the colors are.
As long as I can – I’m pulling for WHITE though.
The Birdies are off to the Boutique. Be back and we’ll catch up soon. Have a great weekend!
Our Team Up Thursday is a little late today because we both are BUSY!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – I so love the holidays. And this year I am determined to enjoy each and every day of them.
Although I have been a sewing fiend this week, I’ve treated myself to a few nonfat peppermint mochas (like the “nonfat” is fooling anyone), had the Christmas music channel on all day – all week, and have generally been very laid back about the busy-ness that is descending upon our life. I’m only one woman, and what gets done, gets done. (My new motto!)
I’ve decided I’m going to choose to embrace the BUSY and at the same time try to slow down the holiday a little bit so I can enjoy it and remember all the real reasons we celebrate Christmas.
Not that he needs it, (the luck part that is, everyone needs the love!) but J. starts his new job today. We are so very proud of him. And especially thankful that he is highly employable so we can enjoy living where we do and I can enjoy staying at home and being a soccer mom.
With that said, I am so happily sending the girls back to school today after their week off. We had a great week, but it is time for them to go, ya know what I mean? They need them some learnin’ so they can be smart like their Daddy.
Good luck, Daddy!
We love you.
~ All your girls
Here is to 41 years of finding & sharing fun together…and many more.
Happy Anniversary Nana & Papa.
Love you both!
J, C, E, & A
