Christmas Eve 2009
I was up late at 9:30 today. I had planned to take it as lackadaisical as I could but knew that wouldn't last long. I had a stern talk with Bo last night so this morning he told me that he was going to fill up my car with gas (he insisted). I argued a little but ultimately let him. I am against using Christmas or gift money for that kind of thing but he honestly wanted to help so I let him. I put a cap on it though telling him not to fill it up all the way. I also told him that he could take me out to lunch if he really wanted to do something for me. He asked where and I said Burger King. I didn't want to spent a lot of money, just have a meal paid for. :) He agreed to that and we got ready for the day.
Bo's dad was supposed to be there around 10:30 but showed up at 10:15 while Bo was just getting out of the shower. His dad called from outside rather than knocking so I let Bo know and he quickly got ready. His dad didn't stay long (which is too bad) but he doesn't seem to want to.
Once he had left and we were all ready we headed over to the gas station to fill up my car with gas. Lunch would be easy because my son was still sleeping and my daughter was over at my sisters so it was just Bo and I. It was nice not only to not pay but Bo ordered for me too. :) We sat in my favorite window seat so I could watch the traffic while we ate. I even left my laptop behind so I could just enjoy lunch. ^_^
When we got back I decided I would get online for a little bit. I had to take my grandma shopping but I wanted just a little more down time before hand. Well a little while quickly stretched into 2 hours but that wasn't even the best of it. Grandma called me at 2pm and asked if we were still going to the cemeteries. I had completely forgotten about that! -_- Now my quick trip to the store had stretched into a trip to the cemeteries as well and I knew there would be more before we were done. -_- I tried to suggest going tomorrow but apparently it was today or bust. _~_
So I quickly got ready to go and headed out the door. Grandma was outside picking greens to leave at the graves and I was dismayed to see part of that was Holly (very pretty but always painful). I didn't complain though, it's whatever she wants.
We headed to the Longview cemetery first. We could see that Robin had already been there and left Christmas arrangements for grandpa. It didn't take long at this place so we were quickly on our way again.
To get to Castle Rock we headed over Coal Creek Road. Suddenly my sour mood about the day was gone. It was so beautiful driving over this hill (mountain??) that I couldn't help but feel better. I wished that I had brought my camera too. I resolved to try to come back up tomorrow and get pictures but it won't be as good if it isn't foggy out. The fog made it so mysterious and just a gorgeous drive!
At the Castle Rock cemetery we left a tree for Betty (grandma's sister) and an arrangement for Barbie (Betty's daughter). It was nice to see that Barbie now has a proper headstone. The little plastic ones with a piece of paper in them are so sad. :(
We talked about how some people wont visit graves and cemeteries. For me it's become natural anymore. I do it so often it doesn't feel weird. I could see how it would be hard for people though.
While we were at the cemetery grandma did what I knew she was going to do. She asked to go to Wal Mart (adding to the list of places we were going). So instead of our usual drive back in over Westside highway we headed back over Delemeter Road (which turns into Coal Creek). I haven't driven this direction over this road in some time. It was just as beautiful and serene in reverse so it helped to keep me calm. :)
Wal Mart was busy as we expected. I did find a good parking spot up front though but it was near the garden center. I figured that would work out for the best though because it was closer to the chocolates that grandma wanted (which were the sole reason for us going to WM). It made the trip really quick and easy. I found a very pretty Christmas platter that I picked up for grandma as her Christmas gift since I didn't have one for her yet. She was excited about it so I felt good about it.
On the way out I also found a Coca Cola tin of popcorn that came with ornaments on top and naturally picked it up as a Christmas present to myself. The popcorn is to share with everyone though… I am not really fond of it.
I also had to feel for the guy at the register we checked out through. Someone had put a stereo on the shelf behind us and it didn't just play Christmas music redundantly it played ONE SONG redundantly and that song was redundant itself since it only seemed to have three lines… over and over and over and over…
After Wal Mart, grandma added yet another store to the list. She wanted to go to Safeway too because they have better potatoes than Fred Meyer supposedly. -_- I didn't know if we would even have time to wrap gifts or make dinner at this point!!
We headed out to Fred Meyers as soon as we were done at Wal Mart and It was as busy as the rest of the places. We were also lucky to find a good parking spot up front here. :)
I decided to get something from Starbucks while in Fred Meyers to warm me up. I got a gingerbread steamer with soymilk and that hit the spot! :D The list for Fred Meyers was really long so I knew we would be there a while. I was feeling much better though so I had the energy to keep up now.
Thankfully I kept really well to the list. We only had to go back for one item and since it was in the refrigerated section I made sure we got it last when we would be heading back across the store anyway. Grandma found one more gift for my son and I found a second gift for Bo.
We got everything on the list and then some. I found some things to purchase too, which didn't help, but we left with less than a full cartload so I guess that's something. Grandma wanted to go back and get more oysters for her soup but I didn't think we would need them. She was upset with me but we had more than enough for the people who were going to be there. -_-
We checked out and headed out to the car. Grandma noted that it was getting too late. She said she wouldn't be able to serve the little smokies now. I asked her why not (thinking they just needed to be put in a bowl). She apparently wanted to wrap them up in biscuit and cook them as pigs in a blanket. We ended up arguing about it a bit before I suggested that my daughter would help. She seemed appeased by this and agreed to let me find out before giving up.
Thankfully we cut out the trip to Safeway so I didn't have yet another store to go to. We headed to my house so I could drop off my stuff and pick up my daughter. She agreed to help grandma out, in part, to get out of the house. So after picking up my daughter and dropping her and the groceries off I headed back home to get my gifts wrapped.
Grandma and I had both agreed that we would not open gifts tonight since neither of us had anything wrapped. Of course I came home and got online for a while and started writing journal entries, which didn't help. I did get things out and start working on them while I was online, but had to pull myself away at one point so I could focus. -_-
As I got through the gifts I realized that if I just did the gifts for my kids and Bo that I might be able to get them all wrapped for them to open tonight. I got all but 4 gifts wrapped for the immediate family and decided that I could take a few minutes after dinner to get the others wrapped. This way we could still open gifts tonight.
Around 7:30 we finally headed over to grandma's. She called to tell me that she still needed help and was waiting for us. Grandma kept going on that she couldn't do anyone's soup but her own. I maintained that opening a can and cooking it wasn't that hard but she was adamant so I had to make the Chicken Noodle and Tomato soups when we got there. -_- It really didn't take that long and even my daughter, who was there already, could have made them. All in all we got dinner done and ready in a short time. We decided to eat in the living room
I took a few minutes while the soups were heating up to take pictures of Muffy, grandma's cat. I have pictures from last year but I wanted to try a few new angles and lighting ideas I had learned since then. Besides the camera is mine now. :D
We ate dinner around 8:30 and around 8pm the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" came on. I had never seen it before so I kind of watched here and there. When I sat down to eat I started watching in intently. It's a pretty good movie and I can't believe I haven't seen it before that. Somehow I got the feeling that it could have been told in a much shorter movie, but that's neither here nor there.
Ingrid arrived at some point (I don't remember time but it was late) and brought Garrett with her. He hammed it up for the camera as expected and I got some good pictures. :D Later, Caleb showed up and the three of them joined us for dinner for a little while.
During dinner we got into a discussion about Lost Season 5 and all the time traveling the island and people do in the season. Ingrid and I were trying to explain to Caleb how it wasn't possible to change the past by going back in time. Explaining that you could change the future for yourself but not anyone else. It seemed to be really hard for him to grasp the concept. Eventually we gave up trying and just called it good. :)
Ingrid and crew left around 10:30pm or so. My kids wanted to head out around that time too but I wanted to stay and see the end of the movie. We were so close to the end that I just wanted to finish it. It was finally over around 11pm and we headed out. I felt bad about not helping with dishes but there really weren't that many to do since we only had soup.
We headed out around 11pm and while it was too late to really go around and look at Christmas lights I thought we could still try to get some pictures of a few houses. I found a couple houses to take pictures of but it was too dark out for it to expose properly. It was too bad too because one of the houses was decorated with two lighted palm trees and three lighted pink flamingos. -_- Way to tacky chic.
When we got home I told the kids that we would be able to open gifts tonight but I wanted to finish wrapping them. They left me to finish up the last of the gifts and handed out the ones that were already wrapped while I did so.
I grabbed the camera again and got pictures as they opened their gifts. They liked all the gifts they got and were very surprised by some of them. My son's face when he opened his gallon jug of Habanero Tabasco sauce was nothing short of priceless! :D
After all the gifts were open and every one was contented I reminded the kids that they would need to sleep in their rooms tonight. Then I got online for a little while before heading to bed. It was a good day, but very busy. I still feel kind of sad when I don't get anything on Christmas eve anymore but I know that my kids are happy so things are all good. :)
Bo's dad was supposed to be there around 10:30 but showed up at 10:15 while Bo was just getting out of the shower. His dad called from outside rather than knocking so I let Bo know and he quickly got ready. His dad didn't stay long (which is too bad) but he doesn't seem to want to.
Once he had left and we were all ready we headed over to the gas station to fill up my car with gas. Lunch would be easy because my son was still sleeping and my daughter was over at my sisters so it was just Bo and I. It was nice not only to not pay but Bo ordered for me too. :) We sat in my favorite window seat so I could watch the traffic while we ate. I even left my laptop behind so I could just enjoy lunch. ^_^
When we got back I decided I would get online for a little bit. I had to take my grandma shopping but I wanted just a little more down time before hand. Well a little while quickly stretched into 2 hours but that wasn't even the best of it. Grandma called me at 2pm and asked if we were still going to the cemeteries. I had completely forgotten about that! -_- Now my quick trip to the store had stretched into a trip to the cemeteries as well and I knew there would be more before we were done. -_- I tried to suggest going tomorrow but apparently it was today or bust. _~_
So I quickly got ready to go and headed out the door. Grandma was outside picking greens to leave at the graves and I was dismayed to see part of that was Holly (very pretty but always painful). I didn't complain though, it's whatever she wants.
We headed to the Longview cemetery first. We could see that Robin had already been there and left Christmas arrangements for grandpa. It didn't take long at this place so we were quickly on our way again.
To get to Castle Rock we headed over Coal Creek Road. Suddenly my sour mood about the day was gone. It was so beautiful driving over this hill (mountain??) that I couldn't help but feel better. I wished that I had brought my camera too. I resolved to try to come back up tomorrow and get pictures but it won't be as good if it isn't foggy out. The fog made it so mysterious and just a gorgeous drive!
At the Castle Rock cemetery we left a tree for Betty (grandma's sister) and an arrangement for Barbie (Betty's daughter). It was nice to see that Barbie now has a proper headstone. The little plastic ones with a piece of paper in them are so sad. :(
We talked about how some people wont visit graves and cemeteries. For me it's become natural anymore. I do it so often it doesn't feel weird. I could see how it would be hard for people though.
While we were at the cemetery grandma did what I knew she was going to do. She asked to go to Wal Mart (adding to the list of places we were going). So instead of our usual drive back in over Westside highway we headed back over Delemeter Road (which turns into Coal Creek). I haven't driven this direction over this road in some time. It was just as beautiful and serene in reverse so it helped to keep me calm. :)
Wal Mart was busy as we expected. I did find a good parking spot up front though but it was near the garden center. I figured that would work out for the best though because it was closer to the chocolates that grandma wanted (which were the sole reason for us going to WM). It made the trip really quick and easy. I found a very pretty Christmas platter that I picked up for grandma as her Christmas gift since I didn't have one for her yet. She was excited about it so I felt good about it.
On the way out I also found a Coca Cola tin of popcorn that came with ornaments on top and naturally picked it up as a Christmas present to myself. The popcorn is to share with everyone though… I am not really fond of it.
I also had to feel for the guy at the register we checked out through. Someone had put a stereo on the shelf behind us and it didn't just play Christmas music redundantly it played ONE SONG redundantly and that song was redundant itself since it only seemed to have three lines… over and over and over and over…
After Wal Mart, grandma added yet another store to the list. She wanted to go to Safeway too because they have better potatoes than Fred Meyer supposedly. -_- I didn't know if we would even have time to wrap gifts or make dinner at this point!!
We headed out to Fred Meyers as soon as we were done at Wal Mart and It was as busy as the rest of the places. We were also lucky to find a good parking spot up front here. :)
I decided to get something from Starbucks while in Fred Meyers to warm me up. I got a gingerbread steamer with soymilk and that hit the spot! :D The list for Fred Meyers was really long so I knew we would be there a while. I was feeling much better though so I had the energy to keep up now.
Thankfully I kept really well to the list. We only had to go back for one item and since it was in the refrigerated section I made sure we got it last when we would be heading back across the store anyway. Grandma found one more gift for my son and I found a second gift for Bo.
We got everything on the list and then some. I found some things to purchase too, which didn't help, but we left with less than a full cartload so I guess that's something. Grandma wanted to go back and get more oysters for her soup but I didn't think we would need them. She was upset with me but we had more than enough for the people who were going to be there. -_-
We checked out and headed out to the car. Grandma noted that it was getting too late. She said she wouldn't be able to serve the little smokies now. I asked her why not (thinking they just needed to be put in a bowl). She apparently wanted to wrap them up in biscuit and cook them as pigs in a blanket. We ended up arguing about it a bit before I suggested that my daughter would help. She seemed appeased by this and agreed to let me find out before giving up.
Thankfully we cut out the trip to Safeway so I didn't have yet another store to go to. We headed to my house so I could drop off my stuff and pick up my daughter. She agreed to help grandma out, in part, to get out of the house. So after picking up my daughter and dropping her and the groceries off I headed back home to get my gifts wrapped.
Grandma and I had both agreed that we would not open gifts tonight since neither of us had anything wrapped. Of course I came home and got online for a while and started writing journal entries, which didn't help. I did get things out and start working on them while I was online, but had to pull myself away at one point so I could focus. -_-
As I got through the gifts I realized that if I just did the gifts for my kids and Bo that I might be able to get them all wrapped for them to open tonight. I got all but 4 gifts wrapped for the immediate family and decided that I could take a few minutes after dinner to get the others wrapped. This way we could still open gifts tonight.
Around 7:30 we finally headed over to grandma's. She called to tell me that she still needed help and was waiting for us. Grandma kept going on that she couldn't do anyone's soup but her own. I maintained that opening a can and cooking it wasn't that hard but she was adamant so I had to make the Chicken Noodle and Tomato soups when we got there. -_- It really didn't take that long and even my daughter, who was there already, could have made them. All in all we got dinner done and ready in a short time. We decided to eat in the living room
I took a few minutes while the soups were heating up to take pictures of Muffy, grandma's cat. I have pictures from last year but I wanted to try a few new angles and lighting ideas I had learned since then. Besides the camera is mine now. :D
We ate dinner around 8:30 and around 8pm the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" came on. I had never seen it before so I kind of watched here and there. When I sat down to eat I started watching in intently. It's a pretty good movie and I can't believe I haven't seen it before that. Somehow I got the feeling that it could have been told in a much shorter movie, but that's neither here nor there.
Ingrid arrived at some point (I don't remember time but it was late) and brought Garrett with her. He hammed it up for the camera as expected and I got some good pictures. :D Later, Caleb showed up and the three of them joined us for dinner for a little while.
During dinner we got into a discussion about Lost Season 5 and all the time traveling the island and people do in the season. Ingrid and I were trying to explain to Caleb how it wasn't possible to change the past by going back in time. Explaining that you could change the future for yourself but not anyone else. It seemed to be really hard for him to grasp the concept. Eventually we gave up trying and just called it good. :)
Ingrid and crew left around 10:30pm or so. My kids wanted to head out around that time too but I wanted to stay and see the end of the movie. We were so close to the end that I just wanted to finish it. It was finally over around 11pm and we headed out. I felt bad about not helping with dishes but there really weren't that many to do since we only had soup.
We headed out around 11pm and while it was too late to really go around and look at Christmas lights I thought we could still try to get some pictures of a few houses. I found a couple houses to take pictures of but it was too dark out for it to expose properly. It was too bad too because one of the houses was decorated with two lighted palm trees and three lighted pink flamingos. -_- Way to tacky chic.
When we got home I told the kids that we would be able to open gifts tonight but I wanted to finish wrapping them. They left me to finish up the last of the gifts and handed out the ones that were already wrapped while I did so.
I grabbed the camera again and got pictures as they opened their gifts. They liked all the gifts they got and were very surprised by some of them. My son's face when he opened his gallon jug of Habanero Tabasco sauce was nothing short of priceless! :D
After all the gifts were open and every one was contented I reminded the kids that they would need to sleep in their rooms tonight. Then I got online for a little while before heading to bed. It was a good day, but very busy. I still feel kind of sad when I don't get anything on Christmas eve anymore but I know that my kids are happy so things are all good. :)