Happy Windsday, Piglet.

I sure do need a lot of sleep.  And I still have bags under my eyes.  Going to go to bed early tonight.

I had plans for this evening, but they didn't become realities.  We did some Thanksgiving planning instead.  So many people are coming!  I'm really combining two Thanksgivings: my grandmother's, and Josh's mom's.  I think it is going to be great!

Still love my library.  I wish I had more free time.  I kind of want to re-organize it.

We've had some weather lately.  We had a 100 Acre Wood Windsday last week. Some flashing blew off the house, and something happened to our garage door, too.  Bub is coming on Saturday to help Josh fix it.  I hear there might be snow this week.  Sadly, the are predicting rain on Thanksgiving.

Last weekend, I had a super great day.  We had lunch with friends at The Fountain On Locust, and I had the Royale and pickle soup.  I never would have ordered pickle soup on my own.  The waitress recommended it.  It was amazing, while still tasting pickley.  Strange and incredible.  Everything was.  The kids had fountain sodas:  Abbie chocolate and blueberry for Grant.  We saw an IMAX movie at the Science Center, and I got to see Grant playing with some of his fiends from JET.  After the Science Center we went to The London Tea Room.  My jasmine tea was there.  I drank a pot of it.

It was a wonderful day.

My hands are so cold.

Cross your fingers that none of us get sick before Thanksgiving!

Rush, Rush, Rush

I just read my last entry, thinking I would giggle at how ridiculous I sounded.  As disappointing as it is, though, that is a pretty accurate depiction of my emotional truth, lately.  I was going to say emotional reality, but I just liked truth better.  Which do you prefer? 

My state of mind right now it good, though.  I have not made progress in most of the things I was obsessing about last time, but I have been accomplishing a lot.  Here.  Let me tell you about my week/weekend:

A week ago today was Monday - my day off.  In the morning, Josh had made an appointment for a realtor to come and talk to me and see the house (See Nov. 25th post).  Just as she was walking in, the phone rang.  More on that later.  It was an awkward beginning to an awkward visit.  She looked around and said that she could probably sell the house for what we owe on it.  If. 

Her recommendation was that we re-paint the interior walls, pack away most of our things and "stage" the house, and that we keep the house immaculately clean, especially the base boards.  This would be reasonably easy if I lived in the house alone.  But I live with Josh, two kids and two dogs.  Our other homework was to get pre-approval for a loan, to show our seriousness and ability to move.

So, back to that phone call.

It was my mother.  She and my father had been in Mississippi watching the Ole Miss vs. Mizzou game, but their car broke down in Arkansas.  At the time of the phone call, they were on their way back to Missouri, but were going straight to the car dealership in St. Peters.  They asked if I could pick them up and drive them back home to their other cars.  Luckily for them, it was my first of two days off, and no trouble at all.  Josh met me and the kids at the dealership and we all had dinner.  Then, Josh took the kids home, and I drove my parents to Rolla.  I wanted to come back home, but between Josh's texts and my mother's *ahem* recommendations, I ended up staying the night, and driving home after she left for work in the morning.

The whole drive to Rolla, Dad kept going on about how my CRV is such a good car.  He still hasn't forgiven the Subaru for breaking down.

Got home Tuesday around 11, and continued with the million little things I was in the middle of.  I priced the oodaiko's shipment with UPS, called my grandmother about the Thanksgiving menu, applied for a job, wrote that frantic post....

Taiko was not what I was anticipating.  We did some PR envelope stuffing, but then did NOT have a practice.  I ran off to Mongolian barbecue with Julie, Kelsey and Kiyomi.  I feel so decadent.

Wednesday, the kids were home from school, so I didn't work.  I don't know why I was so thrown off by that.  My brain just thought I had one day of work before Thanksgiving, and one after.  I spent the day doing laundry and packing for myself and the kids.  I cooked, too.  What did I make?  Oh, yeah!  I made spaghetti with cream cheese in the sauce.  I'd never tried it before.  A huge success.

Thursday, of course, we all got ready early and left as soon as we could to get to Versailles.  I had spoken to Gran the day before and knew that she was going to have a lot of food, so I decided to bring A) grape tomatoes, and B) my yellow cake with cinnamon apples that Josh loves.  I made it in the cathedral bundt cake pan to make it extra fancy.  We got to Gran's, and I helped a little, but really I wasn't needed much.

As usual, it was a crowded, happy, slightly chaotic day.  Hannah did not bring her new(ish) boyfriend, because he was moving that day, and Fawn did bring hers.  So glad he was so comfortable around so many new people.  Personally, I don't think we're particularly scary, but I'm not sure all agree..  ;)  It was really sad not to have Sky and Kelsey, since they are always there, and I had been hoping for some Walters kids, but at least they were mostly together...just elsewhere.  Mom's cousing Ricky brought his daughter, Erin, who I am quite fond of, and her husband, Eric, who we always enjoy.  Mackenzie was driving up that morning, so she was the last to arrive - around 3:30.  Luckily, we were staying at Josh's family's condo at the lake, and didn't have far to drive, so we were still about.  Had a great time seeing all the aunts and uncles.  I think it was after 6 when we left for the condo.

The condo was very, very cold.  We don't appreciate the fact that central heating pre-heats our houses in cold weather.  Imagine back in the day when you walked into freezing cold buildings and then had to build a fire.  Can't imagine.  In the morning, we had leftover apple cake for breakfast, then went to the Outlet Mall. 

I am not the Black Friday type.  First of all, I'm not much of a shopper.  Well, not for pleasure, anyway.  Usually, I have a list.  I try to see if I can get stuff on the list for extra cheap.  Sometimes, something is on the list and I find it and won't buy it because I don't find it worth the price.  And I'm not into new technology that no one else has yet, so the thrill of Black Friday isn't really something that I can share.  Josh, however...

Anyway, we waited until the civilized hour of 9ish before heading over, and even then I had a clear idea of shopping only for Christmas clothes for the kids.  We did, in fact, find some.  Also, Josh replaced my shoes that I was moaning about in the earlier post.  It was quite extravagant.  I have been told to consider it a Christmas present.  *sigh*  How un-Christmas-like.  Josh also got a few works shirts.  Abbie found a bathing suit for 2 dollars.  Grant got a funny t-shirt.  I was not permitted to get cookies from Harry and David's, but it was otherwise a very indulgent day.  We had lunch at the condo with Josh's mom and dad and Mariah, but it was....awkward.  Mariah kept pretending that she didn't hear people.  Then we drove home.

Naturally, after a busy two days away from home, we got up Saturday morning and drove to Wentzville. 

I just wanted to say that.  What really happened was this:  I came home to a phone message saying that I did NOT have to work on Saturday, so I immediately made plans with a dear friend who was only in town from Chicago for the day.  We had breakfast.  We were going to meet at Denny's in Lake St. Louis (Trivia!  Josh and I first met there in 1999.), but it was closed for remodeling.  We went to St. Louis Bread Co. instead.  After a long and lovely time, we parted ways.  Josh and the kids had dropped me off, and after fetching me, we all stopped in Wentzville to run errands.  The kids and Josh got haircuts, and then we bought paint and supplies.

Then we came home and prepped the living room and hallway.  Dinner was Breakfast For Dinner, including crepes in the pan my Grandmother gave me for my birthday.  Yesterday - we painted, and then I made another new recipe - apple and cheese soup.  Today, while I am getting a lot of little things done, I will also be replacing the outlet and light switch covers.

So, I have accomplished much, and feel reasonably good.  Three new recipes tried, a room and hallway painted, Christmas clothes for kids bought. 

Today is my day of rest.  I do not plan to leave the home.  However, the busy season has started.  This Friday is Josh's work party.  So, I plan to enjoy the break while I have it.

Hope you are well!


   

Sunday, yawning.

I am so exhausted on so many levels, I'm not surprised that I've been a touch emotional this morning. I don't mean that I've been weepy, but for such a short time, I have experienced quite a range of them.

This weekend really deserves the "Long Version", but as I said....I'm tired. It starts, I guess, with me being worried about the weather.

Monday, I babysat Izzy and Alivia for the last time, Josh worked overtime and Grant joined me and Abbie at dance. Grant played with Keegan, and there was a new girl whose mother...bothers me, but I can't quite put my finger on it. She's....hard. That's the best I can do. She's a type, but I don't have a word for it. There weren't many kids at dance that day, but the good news is that Abbie's tap shoes came in. And...it was rainy. When I got Grant from the bus stop that afternoon, Abbie and I got soaked to the skin on any part that wasn't directly covered by the giant umbrella. I was a puddle from the knee down, and my hair curled itself. When we went in and out of dance, though, it was only a light rain, and nothing too serious.

Tuesday was my performance. I left to get Michelle before Grant was even home, and we performed at Oak Hill Elementary school. I enjoyed it, I guess. I was a little sorry that the audience was as small as it was. There were maybe 25 or so kids, and fewer parents. The teachers, though, were enjoying the show just as much as anyone else, and that made me happy. Plus, there were sandwiches left over from the meeting and we were given them as we were packing up. It was wonderful.

Wednesday I had planned to cook, but after talking to my grandmother (She called to ask which way my Aunt was driving to Versailles. Why do people think I've been told these things??) I found out that there was no room at the inn for anything (the inn being the oven), so I had extra time. We went to lunch with Josh, instead. We had Culver's, and it was wonderful. It was still rainy, which was a problem. I spent half the day looking at the weather on the internet to find out if the 20 degree weather was going to get here before the wetness left.

Thursday morning, Callie woke up around 5 to go out, and everyone got up, so I just started the day an hour early. It was still 40 degrees, so I went ahead and packed the car and left before it had a chance to cool off. We got to Versailles in the mid morning, but were by no means the first there. I helped Gran get serving dishes and such, and when my Aunt Kathy made applesauce, I helped. I have to say, it felt weird that that was the only cooking chore I really did. (Making tea doesn't count. Especially when they are bags.) Oh, I almost forgot, I helped get Hannah's macaroni and cheese started, too. We were all so surprised that she didn't bring a dessert! She usually picks up desserts. And I was pleased that her Travis came.

Yes. The guests. Ben and Lisa came, but couldn't bring their dogs. It's a shame, but probably for the best. There wasn't much room! Amy, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob were there, and Uncle Bobby, Aunt Betty and Mackenzie, both of my parents, Uncle Tim, Aunt Laurel, Sky and Kelsey, Uncle Pete, Aunt Rose and Hillary, and Aunt Nanny, Hannah and Travis, as I said, and Brother. Miss Laura also came, as she usually does, and my mom's Aunt Betty. I wasn't expecting Ms. Mary Francis to come, but she did (old friend of the family). My grandmother was also there, as she was the hostess. Oh, and I almost forgot me and the kids. Is that 25 people? I think it might be. And everyone brought TONS of food. We were very much over the top with food. and I didn't get any leftovers. A pity, but not too bad. I think they ended up with the right people, for the most part.

Nothing too exciting occurred. Aunt Rose left the keys in the truck, and Hillary's dog danced on the lock button. Amy and Brother had to go and break into the truck. It took a while, and the audience was large. Since it ended well, we can call it entertainment. The really funny thing is that the same thing happened to a different guest with a different dog two or three Thanksgivings ago.

My mother kidnapped my children and took them to Rolla. She wasn't the first to leave, but nearly. Mackenzie went in her car, too. Brother and I stayed overnight and had breakfast with Gran and Uncle Pete in the morning. We said good-bye to Aunt Kathy's family, but funnily, most of them came back to the house one more time. Not long enough to have lunch, though. In the late morning, Brother and I left for Rolla. We had dinner with my mom and dad, Mackenzie, Uncle Bobby and Aunt Betty (and the kids). After dinner, me and the kids helped mom decorate her tree, and sang carols. I love carols.

Have you ever eaten white truffle oil? We had scrambled eggs with white truffle oil for breakfast. Brother gave a little bottle to mom and to me. It's very distinctive, without being overpowering. Now that I have some, I'm going to have to find some recipies that use it. It's very fancy.

I left with the kids around 11:30. Brother followed a few hours later. Poor Josh had a good time with his mom on Thanksgiving, but Callie was awful while I was away. She made potty messes in the house, and dug in the trash....the last night, she even ate my books. Yes. She ripped up two of my books completely, and mangled another one, and left tooth prints on a fourth. I am sad, of course, but the ones with my mother's handwriting in them weren't bothered, so I'm mostly relieved that it wasn't worse. Since I've been home she hasn't done a single naughty thing.

Brother and I picked up Michelle and watched movies last night. We had pizza, too. It was very reminiscent of Columbia, only the accomodations (and the pizza) were better. We saw the original Clash of the Titans, and a really horrible 70's B Sci-Fi cult classic, called Dark Star. Brother left to go back to Colorado this morning, much happier than last time when he was sick.

I've invited my uncle and grandmother over on Wednesday, but I'm not sure if they will be available.

It's really been great seeing everyone. With all the dog and kid difficulties, it makes everything exhausting, but what are holidays without kids and dogs? Well, what I mean is...I like my kids and dogs. And my friends. And my family. We should get together again soon!

I'm still looking forward to a taiko karaoke party, but now the general consensus is leaning toward a "We Have Our Own Place" karaoke party. Do you think everyone will show up? That is the most important part.

Since Callie had so many issues while I was gone for Thanksgiving, I'm not even going to consider adding a Christmas tree until after the weekend. She's doing great today, but I want to make sure she's in her routine again before I add anything.

I made that CD for Uncle Pete and forgot to bring it on Thanksgiving. I'll have to mail it. Well, unless he comes on Wednesday.

Wow. I get more tired every second. Well, know that I am thinking nice things about all the good people in my life, and wishing them good health, good times and good feelings. And rest.

Have a happy last few hours of Thanksgiving break. Tomorrow we return to our routines.

Thanksgiving Dinner, with a side of Christmas Jitters.

Well, I didn't get better before Thanksgiving. In fact, I'm still not. But I'm ignoring that as best I can.

Thanksgiving was fun. I drove to my grandmother's house in Versailles. We were the first to get there, besides those who had come earlier in the week. My Aunt Nancy had the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. Do you watch that? I kind of forgot it existed. I don't know if I've ever watched it before. Abbie was very impressed, and sat watching the whole time Gran and I were getting things ready. Both my aunts were asleep in the den, and Mackenzie wasn't up yet. Josh went to get beer with my uncles. Oh, and my mom's youngest sister was out for a walk in the woods with her husband. My cousin Hannah and her mom both got lost on the way, poor kids, but the driving was free of any real disasters. When my mom arrived, I got bumped out of the kitchen. I spent the whole day talking, even though I had some serious laryngitis. The food was not balanced at all, but was tasty. We somehow ended up with 3 turkeys, plus ours which we had brought so Mom and Dad could taste the Alton Brown version. And we had brisket and corn and my squash, and green bean casserole, gravy and mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, and 3 stuffings (though 2 were the same), and Waldorf salad that I didn't get any leftovers of. We also had sodas and beer and LOTS of wine, and cran-apple juice for me, and French silk pie and pumpkin pie and some fruit (peach? apple?) pie that I wanted some of, but was too full and then too late, and mom made chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and 3 different loaves of St. Louis Bread Company bread.

The guests were: Uncle Bobby and his wife, Betty, and Mackenzie, Uncle Pete, Uncle Tim and his wife, Laurel and Sky and Kelsey, plus his daughter Hannah and her mother, Rosy and sister Hillary, my parents, husband and children, my Aunt Nancy, my Aunt Kathy and her husband, Bob, and an old family friend, Ms. Laura, and my grandmother's sister-in-law, Aunt Betty. Oh, and we brought Jake, Hannah brought her dog, Carmen, and Hillary brought her beagle, Isabel. A full house, no?

Hannah was the most excited about the pictures, and is going to make enlargements for her house of some the old black and whites of my grandparents, and of her dad in his football uniform. He actually had my favorite quote of the day while looking at that picture. He was TINY!!! He laughed and said, "When I was 16 and got my drivers' license I put down that I was 5'1" and weighed 105 pounds.....and I lied on both!"

Well, Thanksgiving was great fun, but it was too much for a sicky like me. Josh drove home, but I couldn't sleep or anything. I felt dreadful, and couldn't even sing Christmas carols all the way home. You never notice how much singing you do until your voice is gone. Friday, I was much, much worse. That is particularly not fun, because I wanted to go out Friday night with my old friends who were in town, but it was obvious I was much too sick. I sent Josh and stayed home with the kids. He came home Saturday morning and slept on the couch half the day.

Josh took Grant to his first Rams game on Sunday. It was Josh's Christmas present from his dad. They had a great time, and I stayed home with Abbie. We watched Winnie the Pooh. I started to get some blessed sleep, but Abbie noticed, and woke me up violently. Then we danced until I started coughing, and listened to Christmas music on Youtube. Josh brought soft tacos for dinner, which was just what I wanted. Still wish I had some apple pie, though.

Last night I actually got a few hours of sleep. I was hoping to wake up recovered, but not so. Maybe tomorrow.

All my friends are asking me if I did any shopping on Black Friday, or what I am getting for my family for Christmas, or what Santa is bringing the kids. It's hard to know what to think. The truth is, I've made no lists of presents to buy. I don't know what to do. I mean, October and November I got multiple notes from the bank, complete with insufficient funds penalties. Christmas is a scary, insulting thing to me this year. I still need to pay my personal property taxes, and now I feel like a bad person for not loading up my Santa Clause bag with presents for everyone I know. Yes, I WANT to do that, but it doesn't seem like anyone understands that I can't. I don't even know what to do about my own children, but I'm already getting lists of things I'm required to bring to all the family Christmas parties Josh insists we are still attending. Josh is the worst of all. We decided that we could only afford a present each to Grant and Abbie from us, and one each from Santa, and stockings. He's already dancing around because he got me something. I know he's trying to make me happy...but....

Anyway, I had planned to decorate the house this weekend, but I might do it next weekend. I should be better by then. Josh needs a haircut then, too. He has his job interview a week from tomorrow. Then, I have my hair appointment that Friday. Then, the Christmases begin. How am I going to make it?

But you want to know what I am looking forward to? Visits from friends. Ms. Darci is coming the week after Christmas, and that is going to be great. And then Rob is coming in mid-January, and we are already making plans with his sister to go out.

On a completely different note, Abbie's 4th birthday is the first week in January. I'm having a party for her on the 9th. It is finally decided. It will be between lunch and dinner (haven't picked a time yet) and all are welcome to show up in a costume. Yes, it's the Birthday Costume Tea Party. All are welcome. Oh, and Abbie doesn't want anything for her birthday. What she wants is to see her friends. If you feel weird coming empty handed, just bring your favorite tea, and I'll boil some water for you.

Sorry I'm not especially eloquent today. You can tell I need something to read, can't you? Well, I'm going to spend today recovering from illness, and then we'll see what I can come up with, later.

I'm so cold! I'm getting tired of apple cider, but it has 100% vitamin C, and makes my throat better. Maybe I'll go make some now. This message sounds pretty cranky, but I promise you that I'm actually doing much better, and even have intentions to enjoy my day, if possible. Hmm. That sounds cranky, too. Well, if Grant weren't being so mean today, it would be a perfectly nice day. My kitchen is sunny. (There. That's much better.)

Happy last day of November!