Christmas wrap up.... en'nat

It was a rush, a whirl wind and and mess but some how gifts were bought, returned, bought, wrapped packed and given.  In one case a bit later than planned but still all delivered by Christmas day... unlike UPS - but hey I didn't order anything last minute - thank goodness.

So, break out the popcorn, the last of the eggnog and sit back and let's hit the way back machines for last Saturday December 21st....

No let's back up to the days leading up to our date to depart.... to say I was busy would be an understatement... I shopped, got home showed Bubba - had to return almost everything.  We had plans to pick up stuff Saturday morning in Frederick, that did not come to pass... but I'll tell you why later.  (build that anticipation ... )

ANY way... so rush, rush, return return, buy something else, Bubba's gift on back order, no worries it wasn't going home to PA anyway... he didn't have much to open from me... felt bad, but it wasn't a big Christmas for either of us.  In a fit of someone knew better than me... the massage I thought I had scheduled, Friday night was actually scheduled for January 20th... so I scheduled another for Friday 1/3.  A good way to kick off a new year... pampered princess am I.

Wandered again, apologies... SO Friday, rushed, everything packed, ready, and I see Bubba sitting in his chair looking glassy-eyed and snot-filled.  Oh goodie Bubba sick -- he's SUCH a happy camper when that happens.. NOT!  So after a Friday to get it all done, I sent him to the doctor's office Saturday morning - apparently everyone had the same idea... 2 hours later (he says) he basically has one prescription, and a bunch of over the counter medications... yeah if it had been me... it would have been pack the NyQuil, taken the dayquil or some other med, and kept moving.  Bubba - and any other man its akin to a national tradegy and all must stop to tend to him... I packed up me, the dog, the car, all presents, called my father to get a gift card knowing that we weren't stopping in Frederick for gift needed, - and based upon the traffic we saw when I went blowing by the Frederick exit I was a happier camper for not dealing with all that 'stuff'.

So we have a fairly uneventful trip home -- until we're about 20 minutes away from Nana's.... two lane road.... and it's blocked by something - we didn't get close enough to find out what.  So we sat, gave it 15 minutes then I turned around, and around the world we went and finally got to Nana's -- to which I said HI to Pap and ran up ... I was seeing yellow... yes boys and girls I had to pee....

OK so, we arrive, it's warm!  Unloaded the car, got things put together and Nana bless her made chicken soup for the ailing Bubba.  He needed to soak his head in it.  Anyway... dinner, enjoyed, then bed early, and then we morphed into Sunday...

Which started quiet enough, then everyone arrived and it was pandemonium, but the best Christmas with kids kind of crazy.  Pap got several surprised, and so did Nana.  It was a seriously good day.  It made the change of venue better --- and yes I'm sorry to admit that I did have a moment where it wasn't the house I grew up in, but it was the same people and walls are walls and its the people I love location doesn't matter.   It was a wonderful day.

Monday dawned, after the advil was downed, Shelby walked, we bundled up and headed out to dawntaun Picksburgh... (Downtown Pittsburgh for those whose yinzer is a bit rusty).   The place it called the Strip district, it's shopping and food.  It makes for happiness for all of us.  We still havent' found the portabello mushroom sandwich Bubba has been pining for - for years.  We still haven't found "the one" and frankly I think it's gone.  We didn't have to stand in line for 3 hours, as we had done Christmas the day before so the goodies were already shopped and enjoyed.   Another good day, home leftovers and enjoying our new Christmas toys.

Tuesday dawned, we missed that... and we headed North to the in-laws.  Another good, day, there wasn't the messy mishaps as there was at Thanksgiving and I think the distraction of presents added to the general Christmas mayhem versus the messy mayhem of Thanksgiving.  That and my sister-in-law would have flipped over the issues my mother-in-law ignored at Thanksgiving.  

I must document a bit of an issue...let's set the stage.  My mother in law J has a half sister with whom she is now very friendly.  Aunt K for this purpose.  Aunt K's husband had to work until 3 PM, they were expected to arrive at 4.  We were to meet at my sister in law's at 2.  Rather than eat, and let the kids open 1 or 2 gifts and wait for Aunt K - they opened everything.  My husband was ticked.  Did he say anything?  Of course not Bubba would rather stand there with his disapproving look and let his day be ruined, rather speak up and say - "Why don't we wait for Aunt K and Uncle G?"  Dumb ass... (checking blog title -- right place we're OK)

The fact that I did agree with him, that indeed we could have waited but consideration of other is not high in this family's mantra... including my hubby.  I did note that that when Aunt K did arrive she mentioned "you opened gifts already?!"  I said nothing... better that way.  Still a nice day, ended with 2 hours in church.  First hour was the choir singing - which frankly I enjoyed very much.  The second hour was Mass.  To say my husband was less than pleased... understatement.  His mother read the bulletin wrong, and him having to sit for the that long was frankly pretty funny (checking title again) .. I like I said enjoyed the music the time to sit and enjoy and frankly ignore my husband it was all good.  Added to the fact the ceiling didn't fall in on my heathen backside was frankly upside all the way around! 

Christmas Day was mellow, we ended up at my brothers... two reasons, one to get out of the house, and two to deliver my brother's Christmas gift - I found it in the car when I unloaded the in-laws gifts... whoops.  Plus it was an extra hour with the nieces, I offered 3 times to go see the in-laws to Bubba.  He said no, repeatedly.  It was because we had parental units with us yes, for sure.  Now had the reverse been true, a phone call would have handled the issue and we would have gone.  Bubba for some unknown reason can't do that... what is the big farting deal?!?  Well a week later I know - and I quote from Sunday "I'm sick of people"  We drug Bubba out of his protective shield for too many days - he needs to hibernate now for a while.  God love him... he is what he is.

Nana made Bubba stuffed hot peppers for dinner, he was thrilled, especially by the fact they were seriously warm, my father - less so.   We had a mellow night, watched a movie and basically began Bubba's hibernation.  Thursday we were up and moving, Nana and I went shopping, I got a new pair of pants and a top, almost bought new shoes -- didn't have my size dag-nabbit.  I did get cards and a new Snoopy Christmas plush.  I also got new gloves for me and Bubba... I over spent but mine are REALLY nice... leather with a soft warm inside... life is so nice with those on!!!

Bubba and I packed up Thursday and made our way home... always interesting that we leave Western PA, snowy, cold, and then we get back to MD...no snow, brown, dead, and frankly soggy... warmer.   Shelby quality sniffed the front and back yards, we unpacked and generally mellowed for the remainder of the day.  Bubba logged on, I putzed.  Friday say Bubba at work, and me with Rainbow duties, the wig shop is closed until after the new year... so I ring out 2013 with a wig that needs washed.  Like anyone can tell.. (I hope)

It was frankly a great Christmas, always too little time with family, and the rush to get there is then the whooosh and it's over...paper bits and ribbon and done.  Its fun with the kids and more fun with sibling parents who need sleep...my four legged kid sleeps through the night and doesn't really worry about Santa. 

Snot -Am I.  :-)

Stay warm, stay safe and off to the year end wrap up that will probably take me until January 3rd to finish.

The sprint to the finish...

Allow me to document my life in the last three days.... whoooshhhhh.... I haven't stopped since we got of the plane Tuesday night.

Stay tuned for updates from PA - check the other sight for stories from the Vegas trip... I'll get into the juicy details here when I can.

One final thought for this quick hit --- is there a woman who doesn't think why isn't there 29 hours in a day?!?! 

Ho - ho ho - oh boy I'm tired.  :-)

Post one..

My happy place, in a new Bubba Free Zone... stay tuned... only a select few will get this address.

My sister in law - aka Blabber mouth won't be one of them.

Stay tuned.