hello there
I took a bit of a break for the last few weeks... we've been
insanely busy, between work being more hectic than ever with the end of the year push to get books out, getting presents prepared for the family get-together, finishing up innumerable projects around the house and for others. Now that it's all done I can look back with satisfaction and enjoy what all was accomplished... but getting to that point was another story! I'm more than grateful for these few days that I have off of work and the fact that I don't have anything going on or anywhere to go to prepare for -- it's an amazing feeling! Jodi & I had talked about heading to NYC for New Years and while I still really want to some day... I'm glad it's not going to be this year, even with as much as I pressed for it. These few days of rest are so needed -- no guests at the house anymore, no major projects, no huge undertakings. Just the organization of a few rooms and the leisurely knowledge that I have projects to do if I want to... but they'll still be waiting for me if I choose to do something else.
I think if unwanted guests showed up right now I'd be more than tempted to simply close the door in their face, turn up the music, and ignore them!
I've been in desperate need of "me" time, and even if that time is spent organizing our second bedroom... so be it. I'm finally calm, relaxed, not worried about anyone or anything, and have (next-to) no responsibilities or obligations. I can honestly say I think this is the first time since the wedding that has been the case.
Speaking of which... our 6 month anniversary just passed a few days ago.... very unceremoniously
It's called being Dec. 23rd and just having finished with a day's worth of family, only to come home and find more projects waiting. Needless to say... the date slipped both of our minds until it came time to go to bed and we switched the advent calendar!
Anyways... here are some pics of our Christmas activities and decorations...
As you can see... there were busy little elves all over the house recently, evidenced by the many shoes they left behind:
...which, consequently, ended up being Christmas presents for my extended family, along with a batch of peppermint bark. I have already been informed by Mom that I have to make more of these particular shoes.
They were a lot of fun! I got the pattern from
AllSorts and shrunk it by about 60% to make these little shoes. They remind me of the little kids' book
The Elves and the Shoemaker In order to string the lights up (since there is no outside power in our balcony) he ran an extension cord through our front door, around the corner of the house, and onto the balcony, secured with Christmas light hangers and paperclips:
He then became a monkey and started securing them up and around our balcony slats, climbing on the rails to get them wrapped around the corner.
Unfortunately, one of the strands decided to blink persistently off and on for no reason... until he managed to switch out the correct bulb and stop the blinking...
which led to a very happy Ryan...
and a very beautiful balcony.
Here are a few views of the inside of our house as well. It was fun to be able to decorate on our own this year -- decide what went where, whose ornaments were going on the tree, where to put particular mementos, etc.
While rummaging in the garage for the last bits of Christmas boxes, we stumbled upon our winter clothes. While many of these are completely unnecessary for winter out here in Cali (although it DOES get cold and Ryan was very excited to find frost on his car the other morning!) we found a few things that we needed and had fun with the rest.
I think that's all I have the energy for now -- back to organizing I go
Hope all of your Christmas holidays were wonderful and have a blessed New Year!
mgt <><
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PS: you can have all our snow!