Christmas Reboot

Well everything did turn out alright. I was so stressed out and just couldn't see how everything was going to get done. *Note to self - stop worrying, everything will be ok.

Bivins Christmas - December 27

Leah & Michael made it into town and Mommy pulled off a Christmas dinner while she was at work. And we did our fun present time together. B&D are so grown up and they were super excited about presents. Having kids around at Christmas makes everything exciting.

Andy's Birthday/Micheletti Christmas - December 28

For some reason I decided to do a mini birthday party for Andy and cook Christmas dinner all on a day I worked, in the middle of our quarter/year end close. Hence the freakouts.

Friday morning it was misty and cloudy and gross, and I didn't think the weather would hold up to ride the Hermann park train. But some how, the sun came out and it was nice a mild so we decided to go. When we got on the train the wind started to blow, and half way through the ride it was frigid air blowing on us. Funny thing about kids... when on a train nothing else matters. Andy had fun so that was a success. I didn't manage to get balloons or cupcake with a candle, but luckily it was so cold we just ran to the cars and went home.

DP and I went back to the house where the chicken was already in the oven. I made Chicken Supreme, rice, roasted broccoli, a salad with creamy balsamic vinaigrette, peas and rolls. We tried to have prosciutto wrapped pears but I tried a bite and spit it out. Terrible. I'm thinking the prosciutto was just bad because we tried to use it again on Saturday and it was just foul tasting.

We had worked days cleaning the house and getting the house looking acceptable for guests. When I know people are coming over all I can see is Michmansion's faults but it never fails that guests never see the cracks in the sheet rock and the wonky tile. It shows well.

It was kind of a perfect night. Everything was sparkly, all the things I worried about went smoothly, and Christmas was deemed special! After dinner and chatting, and a short nap for Gil, we went back to their house so Mary could be readied for bed. Then we did presents and had David's pumpkin pie & wassail. (David made his pie without any measuring spoons or cups, just a plastic spoon. Amazingly it tasted good!!)

Bivins/Micheletti/Bivins Day - December 29

Dp and I woke up early and brought Shipleys down to my parents. Then with the boys pumped full of sugar David continued to play light saber monster tackle. Me and Mom looked through old Christmas pictures.

It had not been easy to put MeeMaw out of my mind this holiday. I had planned something fun for her birthday but David and I were sick. (I'm thinking about doing it in January instead) Seeing pictures of memories made me miss her terribly.

We ate lunch with David's family and his cousins/Aunt who came down from Dallas for the day. And then we took showers and headed back down to my parents for our big Bivins Christmas. Lots of kids, lots of noise, lots of food. I know how important it is keep family traditions going. Even if it is one day a year, we have to keep the family together. I realise how much I haven't been careful to maintain relationships. I need to make it a priority.

Micheletti Sunday - December 30

How did I convince everyone to have breakfast at El Tiempo? Not sure, I am deviously manipulative. And it was delicious. Delish. Then we all went back to his parents house to let the kids play and let the boys play Ipad Risk.

After we dropped everyone off at the airport David and I went home and collapsed.

Christmas was over.

Stress-ember

December has become one of my least favorite months.

It is plump with too many activities, too many projects, too many expectations, too much stuff.

I just want a simple December.

Simple days, simple nights

And I fear I am past the age of simple.

December 3rd

Mom and I started the month of right by taking a day off of work. The alarm went off at work because my butt wasn't in my chair, but I didn't care. I didn't check emails, I didn't even worry that it was the first day of our quarter close rush.

We were going shopping for Christmas presents (which turned into us just going shopping and me not buying a single thing). I love hanging out with my mom. We had lunch at Grand Lux and had my mom home before rush hour traffic.

December 8th

Dp and I went for a hike (but you can't really call it that when there isn't any toporgaphy, so it was just a walk) at Brazos Bend.  I always have this vision of what a walk in the woods will be like and then - never fails - Boy Scouts, loud and roudy, come wizzing past us on bikes. This troup also got a speech about how you dont throw rocks at horses...

December 9th

I was "starting" to stress out that nothing is done yet, no presents, no Christmas plans, no decorations. So I forced Dp to help me get all the little Christmas goodies out. He gives me such a hard time about the excess of decorations. I have 1 tub. And I always think I have more nutcrackers than I really do.

December 10th- 22nd

I went into quarter close hibernation. My work load explodes at the end of the year just as everyone else slows down. Never enough hours in the day, lots of late nights.

Somehow we got our shopping done, in one strategically planned Saturday outing. Home before noon.

Dp gets a cold, Dp gives Analee a cold.

December 23rd

Christi, me and her brother Shane have seen every single Lord of the Rings movie together. So me and my phlem, saw the Hobbit together. It isn't really Christmas without LOTR. Of course David and Christi sat together as Tolkien fans.

December 24th

Such a weird Christmas this year. We haven't really done any of our Christmases yet. David went shopping with his dad... on Christmas Eve... in two of the most crowded places in Houston. Those Michelettis are crazy. Christmas Eve we went over to my parents house. Mommy mad chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes and we tried to remember our earliest Christmas memory. Then we went home and watched Treasure Quest on Netflicks. Very Christmasy.

December 25th

Dp and I woke up, opened presents. And then we went to take Gil & Mary to the Omni West for Christmas Brunch. Nope didn't cook, didn't attempt to cook. Huge spread at that place, and I forced Dp to eat a little green salad. Then we came home, took a decadent nap, watched Treasure Quest and ate a frozen pizza. And then I stayed up till 1am working on work.

December 26th

Back at work.

still celebrating?

I've seen trees on the side of the road already! Is it really time for Christmas to be over? We are still celebrating.

Christmas Eve
We had dinner at my parents and watched Home Alone, my dad's favorite Christmas movie. (And before our holiday movie? oh we just watched the first 5 minutes of Terminator 2... like the rest of America on Christmas Eve) We didn't go to midnight mass this year, and I am happy we made that decision to treat ourselves to a respectable bedtime.

Christmas Day

I woke Dp up. Who isn't still excited on Christmas? We opened our presents and went to church with rents and Aunt Susan. We had lunch at Lemon Grass, the family has done this before on odd Christmases. Mega buffet with shrimps, ribeye, curry, goat cheese covered grapes, sausages, crepes, omelets, bread pudding, tiny itsy bitsy pieces of pie... it was quite decadent.

We went home with full tummies and slept for 4 hours. Merry Christmas. Dp and I woke up from our slumber and went over to his parents cooked some pasta that didn't turn out well and watched Elf.

Christmas +1

So I worked on work stuff in the morning, yuck right? And I made Dp do some crafty things at the table with me so I wouldn't be at the computer while he is playing video games, cause that just isn't fair. And I think my mom told me that life was fair. Yes, that is how she phrased it.

That night was the big show. My performance at cooking Christmas dinner for the family. I've been full on freaking out over it for weeks now. And there was a slight disaster with the oven turning off and NOT cooking our food. Luckily Dp's family are the least persnickety people there are and my "disasters" were still gobbled up.

Christmas +2

I work this week. Yes, me and the other 6 sad souls who dragged their butts into the office.

Leah & Michael and twins made it into town around noon and certain little boys told MiMi I was taking too long to get there.

We had our little Christmas and this one was way better cause I wasn't in charge of cooking it. *hear my new found respect for my mommy and grammy*

Birthday and a Grad

Last night we celebrated Andy's birthday and David's graduation. Andy liked his cake and David loves "his" Ipad2.

to be continued....

make a joyful noise

Dp and I were trying to get the oven to stay on so we could cook some bacon wrapped dates. Don't we all love how trendy bacon is these days? No shame in loving you some bacon.

Mary started to get upset, which was somewhat expected for the time of day. I put on some relaxing Christmas piano music which she seemed to really enjoy. She got quiet and smiley.

Back to the oven.
Back to roasting eggplant.
Back to mashing potatoes.
Back to steaming tamales.

It started softly but grew. I looked and Dp, and he at me, and us at Mary.

She was singing.

I imagine God smiling, delighting in the joyful noise celebrating his birth, and maybe singing along.


Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. Psalm 98:4

christmas spirit

hope you all find your Christmas joy. i found mine

my breath

I didn't decorate. I did get the turkey's put up and put glitter on some pine cones.

I keep thinking that maybe if I get the tree up I will find my holiday spirit.  I've tried advent devotionals, holiday movies, a LOT of emotional eating and so far nothing but a deep desire to just skip December altogether. I just want to get 2011 over with. It has been an awful year. Last year wasn't particularly great either.

I was watching Oprah's Life Class, the episode about finding joy. (Do you miss Oprah like I do?) She says that if you really can't think of anything to be joyful about
  stop
  close your eyes
  quiet the world around you and the thoughts inside you and
  breathe
  think of your breath filling your lungs

Because maybe life isn't good or even bearable but at least you have your breath. And that is a start to findng joy.

Sure - I'm missing the "meaning of Christmas". I know everything this season means. I just don't feel it.

I think that is ok.

to do list

On Sunday I brought in the Halloween doormat, but it is still in the living room. I have my Tgiving turkeys and pumpkins out next to the Christmas tree which is just taken out of the box and not fluffed.

To Do-
Deck my halls

here is where we all blog about our Christmases

This Christmas was fully crazy and stress-filled and I could have used a week of prep time and two more days just to soak it up and enjoy. But at least it finally cooled off. Christmas Eve Eve we had the windows open. That's just silly.

Christmas Eve we did a thing at my parents.

Those boys. What a hoot.

And after the thing went to watch David's parents sing in their Christmas Eve service. I'm not saying church is a bad thing, I like church, but I don't like church in the middle of the night. Its it much too late, and I get grumpy when I am sleepy. It was also raining, and I get grumpy when the hem of my pants are wet. I was a tad grumpy throughout the whole thing.

After church, by this time it is early Christmas morning and Santa didn't come because we were still awake, we went home to ready the house for Christmas breakfast with David's parents. Thank goodness we stayed up to get everything ready because we over slept Christmas morning.

And when you get the call at 8am asking which is your house and your hair is sticking straight up, you still have your mouth guard in, sleepy crusties in your eyes and realise you have to make breakfast in 13 seconds... it feels a little like HOLY crap! So it went something like this:

Me: David! Brush your teeth! Ok- while I get the peaches and wassail going you mix up the waffel batter.

DP: Rodger

Me: David! take this trash out while I light the candles and try to fix the waffle batter.

DP: Rodger

It was a mad dash. I'm glad it wasn't a total disaster. Somehow we made "spiced" peaches, gingerbread waffles, eggs, sausage, rolls from 3 Brothers, wassail and coffee. And after breakfast I had written a little min-advent devo and after that his parents drove to DFW while we collapsed.

Christmas just didn't feel quite right this year. I'm not sure what it was. Nothing feels the same anymore, like everyone was aware that from now one everything is going to be different.

Sorry to keep you waiting... a study of the feline life. mmmmmm jealous!!

just dreaming

Humid Christmas

by David & AM

I'm dreaming of a humid Christmas

just like the ones I've always known.

Thanks to La Nina

we're sweating in sweaters

and everyone smells like B.O.

I'm dreaming of a humid Christmas

just like the ones I've always known

Instead of scarves and mittens

shorts and flip flops

adorn every Houstonian.

I'm dreaming of a humid Christmas

I guess we skipped winter this year.

So turn on your fans and open the windows

and may all your Christmases be warm.

So turn on your fans and open the windows

and may all your Christmases be warm.

it feels like years since its been here...

SUN!
We have sun today! I am doing a little dance! It is just what I needed.

I was so down this week, and stressed. And last night finally feel like we made some progress... and kinda did a little retail therapy, and had a great meal.

*Presents- check

*New cardigans for me- check (I wear cardigans almost everyday of the week and I wear them down to pilly, faded, shrunken disasters. I always need more cardigans.) Thank you BananaPet.

*Pronto- tried it for the first time and I really liked it. (and I dont really care for italian food. I know. Ironic.)


Per my wise mother, who supports me daily...

“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it.”

Margaret Thatcher

And I do. Getting some things off my list made me feel supremely satisfied and has cleared the fog (LITERALLY!) to let in my holiday cheer!!

never say never...

It's never to cold for

:: icecream. And thankfully Bluebell agrees and we get peppermint this time of year!

:: flipflops. I did in fact run around town the snow day with my flips.

:: heat in the car to be on in the dashvents. Heat is for feet, floor vents only please!

But I would like to have a little word about our weather pattern lately. Gloomy much? It puts me in THE Worst Mood Ever.

I know what would put me in a good mood... balloon ride! I am dying to go on the balloon ride in Discovery Green. I seriously contemplated taking this Friday off to go ride it when the tickets are cheaper... sad.

I am behind on Christmas shopping. So so behind. Tonight and tomorrow night afterwork David and I are going to finish our shopping. I guess everyone realises a week from today is Christmas Eve Eve, it's coming fast this year.

David is done with school for the semester. He is free from now till January 19th! So he is going to be working on MichMansion non stop, as part of my Christmas present and our goal to finish some projects before the New Year.

blogarrhea...

I don't have a cute thanksgiving post with pictures. It came so fast, I am way too behind for cute thanksgiving posts.

Stray away
We have a stray cat in the neighborhood that has been spraying our door. A couple weekends ago we washed the whole door in vinegar, inside and out. I read that citrus deters sprayers, so we used orange glow (yet again the previous owner has provided supplies for MichMansion) on the porch. So far so good. Any other tips?

Gettin' nothin' but static
Apparently I need Houston humidity. On the car ride to Dallas my hair went wild with static; sticking out in all directions. The solution was sad and embarrassing... David rubbed his hands though his greese-ball hair and gave me some. With that and a hairband I survived my T-Day meal 'without' static hair. :/

Pygmy Elephants
After a year and a half of discussion over what was hit on a long drive from Abilene to Kansas David finally agrees that it was not a raccoon. I mean it was huge. We think it was a coyote. We saw one running along the road on Highway 6 on Thursday. (another suggestion was pygmy elephants... I'm still guessing no)

Merry and Bright
My Grinch let me decorate this weekend. I have been previously allowed the tiniest of Nutcrackers to sit on my bedside table... taunting me. He is serious by the way. A for real Grinch. Something about a traumatic experience...

We put together our brand new tree black friday gave us, we went artificial. (spare me. real is better. fake is easy.) Our first ornament on the tree this year is my new one I got at the Nutcracker Market several weeks ago. I know. It is so cute.
Here is my precious new Nutcracker from the NM. He reminds me of Mr. Peppermint. Anyone ever watch him? wiki -for your continuing education or nostalgic reminiscing.

Yes the hat is the best part.

Last one, of my dining table, new light fixture and square place mats. This is a plea, if you see square placemats let me know. They are so so hard to find and are usually wooden and $20 a piece... that is too much btw. I got these gold ones last year on clearance and I LOVE THEM.


We're gonna party
Things are crazy at work preparing for our big holiday party. That would be some of the explanation for my lack of blogging and...

Punch it
David and I have made a punch list for the house. I have a big giant list of things I want done before the new year. So MichMansion will start the year off right. Hoping to have before and afters as a New Year's treat!!

ok done.

christmas in june...

Monday I listened to Sleigh Ride. I know. But it came on and I said oh I'll just listen to the first part... and that turned into the whole song.

Today I forgot my lunch on the counter (I was flustered because my freeway was completely shut down and I had to find a route into town. :/) Basically I am starving. Thank goodness for the squirreling of cereal in my purse which I added to a Diet Dp for lunch. Partially hallucinating from hunger, (I am a wimp) I have a delicious taste in my mouth.... my mother's candy cane cookies. So buttery and delicious and 6 months away.

So unfair.

I think we need a Christmas in June, so we only have to live 6 months without lights, and yummy foods and snowglobes.... just saying.


ps- i found this recipie on-line, i don't know if it is my mom's but they look about right. seriously my mouth is crazy town watering.

Holiday cheer for all to hear.. er see....

I am a busy busy little worker bee. Hoping to post a long catch up post shortly.

Like a freight train....

It is two weeks till Thanksgiving people. The Holidays are upon us...

*I have a teeny tiny Christmas tree at my desk. (It is seriously tiny, like 3 1/2 inches) Everyone loves it!
*Our Thanksgiving Luncheon is next week! Yes people you better get ready.
*I do NOT have my Thanksgiving decor out yet. I know. Slacker.
*I have not started Christmas anything for my personal life. Getting a little stressed out. eeeek!
*Invitations go out next week for the holiday party at work. Busy Busy with preparations.

I need to get crackalackin'.

Friday is Christmas...

(I am not obsessed with Christmas. Although I am aware of how it seems)

Fridays are like Christmas.

:: There is a countdown.

:: Much excitement the night before.

:: Your mood magically improves!

:: A celebration is in store.

:: You have a short vacation and then back to work.

:: It is a gift.

:: Songs are written about the joyous occasion.

:: Brings families together.

:: Yummy food.

Happy Friday people. Happy Friday.

A Very Strange, not even white, Christmas

This was a very different Christmas. Not like any other Christmas before.

Our 12 days of Christmas

*David flew into Houston on Friday. He was FREE! I was still up in Abilene helping Leah test kids and prepare for the holiday week in school.

*Saturday I drove down to Houston. And it was a tough trip. My butt had not healed hardly enough to wear real pants. But I did. I was not even healed enough to sit, but some how I made it down. Although around Comanche, an hour in to the trip, I really didn't think I was going to make it.

*Sunday was MeeMaws 88th Birthday party. We all went to church with her, so she could show us off. Then a most delicious meal at Ninfas. And cake and presents at my Aunt Susan's house.

*Monday was our big shopping day, we had some more elf work to do, as well as be an elf for Leah. We went to Highland village, the Galleria and Rice Village. Oui, we were exhausted. Not to mention some other stores around my parents house. And we went over David's family's house to spend time with them.

*Tuesday was Robert (David's brother) and Dorothy's wedding party in Downtown Houston. The meal was very yummy.

*Wednesday was our big task of finding a bank and a storage unit. Ugh paper work. We went out to eat with Robert and Dorothy to Lupe's (angel chorus), and afterwards had a mini Christmas with David's family, R &D.

*Thursday. Oh Thursday. David got some warts removed, icky, and then our move started. You read about all of that below. That night I was just miserable, there was so much to do.

*Friday we packed all of David's things up, and went back to the storage unit to start taking pictures of broken stuff. We left for Ft. Worth around 4pm, made a quick stop in College Station to pick up some last minute gifts (elf work for Leah and my mom), and rolled into Ft. Worth at about 1030.

*Saturday was Bruner Christmas Brunch. We had a fun gift exchange, played some Catch Phrase and Mark had to go to work to be a police man. So we packed up again and drove back to Abilene.

*Monday we had another mini-Christmas. I cooked David a semi-home cooked meal. And we went over Leah and Michael's for a present exchange and to watch White Christmas.

*Christmas morning David and I opened up presents. Rigby played in the tissue and Abbey was peaceful in her hamper. I made pancakes and we drove to Midlothean for a Micheletti Christmas. And later that night we drove back. We were seriously delirious and spent the night looking for silly names of towns in Texas on the map.(Oh Noodle we thank you for 20 minutes of pure entertainment.)


Whew. It was definitely a weird Christmas.

Month-by-Month

Have you ever felt like you are just on a really fast train and you are looking out the window at the blur of trees and houses and that is how you days zoom by?

The past few months have been fast, disorientingly fast. (I make up my own words) But I decided to do a quick month-by-month update. But real fast.

November
-We had a really good Thanksgiving with our friends Chris and Jeni. I was really impressed with how yummy we made our dinner.

-My computer also contracted a ridiculous amount of viruses that attacked my Internet explorer and AOL.

-It snowed and we had an interesting experience sliding down a hill and me screaming, STOP! STOP! STOP! We did. Thank you to the brave curb.


December
-I decided to remove myself from all of the drama that I was being weighed down by, and in doing so was unbelievably at peace.

-We also packed up the kitties and took them to Houston. A word to the wise: Red Eye + 2 cats + a very tall husband+ claustrophobic me = HORRIBLE FLIGHT!!!!

-I got really sick in Houston, thanks mom.

-Being sick as a dog was not helped by a phone call in the middle of the trip stating David's pull out date was being pushed up from January 16 to January 2nd and instead of Japan they were going to the Persian Gulf. Panic and crying followed.

-But Christmas was nice.

-Right before we got on the place David's chief called and said never mind about leaving early but definitely straight to the gulf.

January
-David had duty New Years Eve.

-We started packing and getting things ready for David to leave for 8 months. Think packing for a 2 week vacation is tough, how about almost a year!

-We started painting, and boxing things up and moving, all the while missing my little kitties.

-It snowed a bunch. It was not fun.

-We said goodbye at 3am, January 16th, the only way I knew how. We didn't say goodbye at all, we just danced to the first song we danced to as man and wife: I Love you by Coleman Hawkins.

-I barely made it home from taking David because of the terrible snow storm.

-My mom flew in and worked really hard with me to finish packing/cleaning my apartment. Thanks mom.

-Then we drove from Port Orchard, Washington to Houston, Texas. A long haul.


I hope that clears up alot of curiosity and now I can jump to the present time and continue my blog life.

It was my new year's resolution last year to have more people read and enjoy my blog and I think I achieved my goal. I really enjoy sharing with all of you. :)

Confessions

What I must confess is that I listened to Christmas carols today and put them on my Ipod. Yes, I am aware it isn't even Thanksgiving, but they make me so happy and excited. And holidays are even more important when I am so far from family and friends.

I must also have double the Christmas spirit because David is anything but a joyful Christmas elf. (He had a bad childhood experience with Christmas) So I am forever trying to get him jazzed for the holidays.

I promised no Christmas stuff till Thanksgiving, but I slipped and had to listen to my Relaxing Classical Christmas and Christmas Baroque cd.

I must also confess that I have been deep in thought this past week. I am in the middle of a complicated issue with another wife. I have been searching for a Christian solution to the problem for months now. But the proper action has elluded me. Christians are supposed to be kind, gernerous and "nice" to everyone. But when is nice too nice? How many times do you forgive someone? Where is the line between being a good Christian and letting someone take advantage of your kindness?

The verse that has come to me quite often in the past months are:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42, NIV)

If someone manipulates, uses and hurts me, what is the Christian response?

I must confess I do not know.

Christmas Christmas time is here!!!

Yeah the day has FINALLY come that we go to Houston. I guess some of the stress of everyday life has smothered a little bit of my Christmas spirit. As soon as Thanksgiving came around I was so excited. But with David being gone for most of the month I have realized that Christmas is really only fun when you are around the people you love. So that is why I am so excited about coming home.


Yesturday we worked our selves raw cleaning the apartment because one of David's buddy's is taking care of the cats and we don't want people to know that we are dirty dirty people. Which reminds me that we are leaving our sweet little friends alone while we are gone. But the two little boogers are getting along so well. They "fight" every once and a while but most of all they are sweet to each other. And they both sleep with us all night. We are finally a family. Here is Rigbey's most recent photo he he, isn't he so sweet.

I can't wait to go home and see my family. I have missed them so much while I have been so far away. It is going to be great to be back in Texas with my family. But this is our first holiday season with sharing between families. The planning has been unpleasantly stressfull. David doesn't get very much time off this year and so we have to do a whirl wind trip it seems again. But I will soak up every last bit of family and Grammy's gingerbread!

So Merry Christmas people! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. The P.O. Times will return after the holidays.