*pokes head out of box*
Yes, I've been hiding. This time of year makes me want to pull the covers over my head and not come out until Spring.
Hubby got me some very nice surprises for Christmas. A new digital camera since our old one died. Also, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension ! YEA!
Hannah's big gift was a FLY Pentop Computer. She has wanted one forever, but I kept putting it off because I knew it would be to complicated for her. It is, but she has been having fun with it in her own way. She uses it to make funny noises. Thankfully, I got it for almost half price on sale at toys r us. I also got her a Dance Dance Revolution game for the playstation. I was hoping it would help her get some exercise. Unfortunately, it is too hard for her. It just seems to make her frustrated. 0 for 2. Go me. *sigh*
Rachel's big gift was an Ariel Talking kitchen set. She has been making me a lot of "snacks". She also got an Ariel carriage that is pulled by dolphins. She has been putting it at the foot of her bed every night and sleeping with it there.
They both got a pair of Moon Shoes. There hasn't been a lot of bouncing yet. Mostly they've just been walking in them. That's probably for the best. It really is more of an outside toy.
Scott got clothes and sausage and cheese snack boxes. Every year, I buy him a couple of pair of silly boxers. this year he got Darth Vader and Metallica . He was so impressed that I knew that that was his favorite Metallica album. I told him that was the only Metallica undies they had. I also got him a BSG T-shirt .
I think my favorite part of the holiday was the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was just so laid back and comforting. Since the service was at 11:00pm, I got the girls dressed in their PJ's. Several people told them how cute they looked. A couple even said that they were jealous that they couldn't show up in their pajamas. I just feel so much more comfortable at this church.
The big drama was the MIL nearly breaking down over Scott's brother, not that I can blame her. He never called her on Christmas. When she tried to call him, he was at her ex's house. She feels very slighted by him because he and his family won't spend any holidays with her. His wife's family absolutely refuses to allow anyone outside of the immediate family to celebrate Christmas Eve, and day with them. So when she visits them over Christmas, she winds up spending those days alone. I think it's pretty odd. I can't imagine telling someone, especially a guest, sorry you're not invited. They claim that they alternate between his father and her family, but I think they do Christmas morning at her parent's, and the evening at his dad's. His dad has shown us photos of them spending Christmas with them, so I'm pretty sure it's an every year thing.
It's very obvious to everyone who knows them that Scott's SIL runs the show in that family. It's also very obvious that she doesn't like our MIL. So she makes up all kinds of ridiculous excuses to get out of spending time with her. The whole situation is very sad. I know if one of my children treats me the way my BIL treats my MIL, I'll be heartbroken.
There are times when my MIL makes me absolutely crazy and I'd like to put her through a wall! But she is my husband's mother. She is my kid's Nana. She deserves some respect and attention. There are also some times when she and I have had some really good heart to heart talks, and had fun bird watching and hiking. She's not all bad. I know I've complained about her a lot in the past, and I can't guarantee that I won't in the future, but she really isn't all bad.