Hey y’all! How are we feeling in this weird after-Christmas week? I saw a meme yesterday that said, “Teachers, in case you didn’t know, today is December 28th.” This about sums it up! I am staying away from the calendar and any work-related, well, work!

So, let us recap, eh? When I last wrote, it was my last day of school – the 19th. I am fairly certain I went home that day and didn’t do much of anything! It feels like we had something going on but methinks not. On Saturday, Dakota had soccer practice and we did some work in the yard and some shopping and in the evening, I made sausage balls while Ash took her to her first babysitting gig! We have a friend whose daughter is a little over one and they came to our party the week before. I guess my daughter was so good with theirs they wanted to give it a go. It was only for 2 hours and the kid slept the whole time, but my kid made 40 bucks and the new parents got to get out for a bit!

While she was doing that, we had a party to attend. We always end up going to this one; it’s someone we know through a work friend Ash has and she was in the Girl Scout group. She always does a cookies, cognac, and carols party. It’s less so about the booze now that she is divorced and her husband was the one into that but we do still eat, sing carols, and do a white elephant gift thing.

On Sunday, my parents arrived about mid-day after I’d started laundry and made a lasagna. We did not do gift exchange that day because it was football and Elliot had been working. When he got home, his girlfriend came over and that’s when things went wonky. The car parking placement was off, due to my parents’ car, and my son, in a rush and nervous about trying to take his girlfriend somewhere nice, managed to hit her car upon backing out. It was not a lot of damage but it has caused quite the headache. In trying not to stress about it, we did our bowling arcade game with my parents. One day I need to get some photos of them playing because it is pretty funny. We had a really good time though, despite the fender bender.

Monday, I’d made an appointment for Bass Pro Santa, and we all went! That was fun and even my oldest suffered me. Actually, I think he had a good time even. We went to lunch afterwards then came home to do grandparent Christmas. After that, we watched It’s a Wonderful Life, which never fails to hit. We all cried! (Well, maybe not my dad. LOL.) The youngers scooted in the driveway after and we sat in the relative quiet. I assume most people were already gearing up for the holiday-ness that is being inside your house with family.

I had not hung out with my parents in a while. They had come to stay with the kids both in July and in September when we were gone but we hadn’t seen them much. It was fun, though by the time Tuesday came around, it was time for them to go and for us to get back to it. They left around 10 and Ash and I did some last minute shopping, which worked out well. Did some present wrapping that day, as well as movie watching. We have a friend who is 26 and had never seen Christmas Vacation, so we brought him with us to trivia the week before then told him he HAD to see it. He came over around 6:45 that night and partook. I am sure it meant a lot less to him than people of my age who grew up with it, but I know he liked it.

On Christmas eve, we did out obligatory (and now, traditional) trip to El Jalisco. What’s better than Mexican before having a lot of traditional food? Nothing! I was super full after lunch and drifted off during one of two final movies – Jingle all the Way and then Christmas Story. We wrapped last minute gifts and got everything situated for the big day!

Christmas day felt like it went really quickly to me. I got quite a few really awesome things, from a new robot vacuum to hand warmers to those earbuds that don’t go in your ear but vibrate on a bone in front of your ear. Pretty cool stuff. Kids enjoyed their gifts.

I immediately got started on the turkey. I know ham is traditional – and I indeed did have ham – but my family likes turkey more. So I always recreate Thanksgiving on Christmas. We were eating by 12:30, since it wasn’t a huge turkey, and by 1:30, I was resting peacefully in my chair, football on TV and a nice Buffalo Trace in my hand. I should have had Eagle Rare, since so many people have gifted me that this year!

The days after Christmas have been a somewhat blur. We have been working in the yard on the root that never ends, and trying to clean up. One of my goals today is to get the tree at least taken down. As much as I love holiday decor, I get a little tired of the clutter. The boxes and stuff are still here, since our trash and recycling day is Wednesdays, so until then, I have to work around it.

So here are the things we’ve done post-Christmas: eaten keto because I’m putting on weight (though, pretty sure it is perimenopause related), gone to a karaoke party that lasted way too long and exhausted us, brewed a 10 gallon batch of pilsner, watched all available episodes of Stranger Things, and gone on some longer walks. Today, Ash went back to work through Wednesday. I am happy for some quiet. The boys are here but won’t bother me too much, what with their games and stuff. My daughter is spending a week with her best friend who moved a few years ago so she isn’t here. It’s kind of weird without her; she’s my grocery store buddy. Anyway, that was a long recap and I will try to blog more in the new year; I forgot how much I like it!

I hope everyone had a great holiday with friends and family.