sabine | holiday break (Reply)

I'm not going to do a 2014 Year in Review post. 2014 kind of sucked and I don't want to relive it. I'm going to go with Reverend Mord's (Hidden Almanac podcast) wish for 2015: may it be good. Like how a good lunch prepares you for the work of the afternoon. It doesn't have to be an amazing year, just good enough for you to get done the things you want to get done.

I'm sitting on my couch in my PJs, watching WI in the Outback Bowl. I'm also drinking a mimosa and typing this on my new toy - a Microsoft Surface 3. It's shiny and the kids are NOT ALLOWED to touch it.

Tomorrow I go back to work. Part of the day will be for setting this machine up with access to VPN. This will make my work traveling much, much lighter in the future.

Highlights from my vacation so far, in no particular order:

My MiL came up on the 23rd and stayed through xmas. The kiddos had a ball with Grandma Suzie.
On the 23rd, I went and got a super long massage in the morning. Then, that night, Downwood and I had a date night. We went out to dinner and then to a Paint Nite event. It was unsurprisingly nice.
The kids made out like BANDITS on xmas. Grandma and Grandpa were very, very generous. Emi got more Frozen stuff than she'd hoped for in her most avaricious dreams. Ox got lots of trucks, tractors, and cars. Santa came, but only brought them some small things - a stuffie, a couple of books, and some craft supplies. I read something about making Santa gifts small so the kids don't have to figure out why Santa can brink one kid a bike, PS4, and an iPod, but brings a friend just a pair of mittens.
Emi and I made lotion that's theoretically better for her and Ox than plain coconut oil. Emi chose peppermint essential oil for hers, so every night ends with her smelling like a candy cane. It's pretty awesome.
I finally cleaned out and reorganized my bathroom cabinets. I got rid of a lot of junk and expired stuff and made room for all the things that had piled up on the counter. I also deep cleaned the TV room today, including moving the couches to vacuum behind them. Go, me.
Emi, Ox, and I spent a lot of time at the kitchen table drawing and coloring pictures. I'd draw something and Emi would color it. Ox was just as chaotic as usual.
I've played a lot of GW2. Probably more than I should have. But it's fun and something we do together and with friends.
I did some sewing. I got two Ina maxi skirts done and one Moneta dress. I have another Moneta dress ready to put together. I haven't hemmed anything yet, just serged, but still. Accomplishment.
Spent New Year's Eve on my couch, cocooned in a pile of blankets. We ate cheap fried appetizers and drank some champagne. I feel asleep there about 11:30, to no one's surprise.
Every morning this break, Emi has come in and snuggled with me every morning. The best part of every day, to be sure.
It's been really nice not being at work. My stress levels are WAAAAY down.
I'm kind of tired of my family. No alone time for the Sabine. I love them, but I'm running out of People Points.
I'm not actually looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. Hopefully, it'll be really quiet and I can just go through my email and get through to 5 pm,
Not sure if we'll take down the tree today or on Saturday. I'd kind of like it to be today so that I can move the couch back so that I can get my exercise bike out of the corner.
Of course, I didn't get everything done that I wanted. There are still places in my room that I need to sort and put away. Also, my computer desk is a disaster. But the kids are happy, Ox is working on potty time, and Emi is running around like a madwoman. We ate far too much junk food, but everyone seems happy. I'm still battling some anxiety left over from last night, but that's unsurprising.

So, yes, it's been both a busy and a lazy vacation. We stay in PJs for a long time, get lots of snuggles and have lots of books and art time. I haven't made our travel plans for Germany yet, but I might start doing that tomorrow at work (don't judge). Life doesn't suck. It's hard and my messed up brain chemistry makes it harder, but it's also bright.

Happy new year. May 2015 be a good year that lets you get done thing things you want to get done.