Lesson #32 - Christmas Is A Time For Family

To say that I am a little stressed about Christmas this year would be a bit of an understatement!

Thanksgiving was fun...our little fam ate with the man's side of the family on Wednesday night. We were going to go all out - since the man was off for once - but since I was being forced into solitude had to work that idea was quickly nixed. There is no way that the man - or even someone as talented as me - could have put together a home-cooked meal while taking care of the babe. The fried turkey takes a watchful eye, the mashed potatoes needs supervision and a bit of elbow grease, the stuffing was made by the hub's grandfather - whether we home-cooked dinner or not - and the gravy (and cranberry sauce...and corn) was coming out of a can. Okay, so maybe there wasn't THAT much to do...but with a broken wrist, there is no way of getting it done - while I'm at work - and being ready to eat at 5pm.

For those of you who are feeling less than ambitious around the holiday season - and have a Bob Evans somewhere around - I would highly suggest purchasing a pre-packaged holiday meal! Now, just because it was purchased somewhere, that doesn't mean that it isn't flavorful or cooked with love with some degree of care. The family came, they ate, they drank, they talked, they conquered, they passed around the babe and they went home.

As soon as the last family member was out the door - into the car we went with all of our luggage and the babe. Saying that we were driving down the interstate at 100 mph just doesn't give the siutation justice. My parents were awake and ready to welcome us with open arms...even though we were all dead tired and just wanted to curl up in the fetal position cry ourselves out of delerium pull the covers over our faces and sleep for days. The following day everyone began the cooking frenzy of sweet potato cassarole, fried turkey, garlic mashed potatoes and various desserts. Did I mention that we were all going to the neighbor's house for dinner...oh, I forgot that part...well, now you know! Needless to say it was a long and stressful and tiring day.

The man thought it would be a better idea if my parents stayed with us over Christmas - to avoid us having to go between our house and their for presents and festivities and dinner - because it really is all about us! So, our home will be filled with the man, myself and the babe in the master bedroom - my grandmother is staying in the 2nd master bedroom - my parents (minus the puppies, thank goodness) will be staying in the basement bedroom. They are arriving tonight and staying until Saturday afternoon. Oh joy!!

Since the man is back to work now, after being at home after breaking his wrist, we will have to eat an early lunch around 11a. That means that the cooking will start LONG before that - since we'll have to get a fried turkey, loin roast (not mine), green bean cassarole, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato cassarole, chicken stuffing, chicken AND beef gravy (yes, home made) and an apple pie done in time for that 11a deadline. Ugh!! I hope things go better in real life than they're playing out in my head.

On the upside...Macy's is open for 24 hours today...YAY for shopping!!

Wish me luck everyone!!