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first xmas
Dec. 22nd, 2014 09:13 amWe went to Iowa over the weekend to celebrate the holidays with my mom's family. I ate far too much, particularly cookies. I don't want to see cookies again for a while. Oog.
Everyone was as warm, welcoming, loving, and family as always. We played cards, watched basketball, dodged the kids who were having an all-out Nerf battle - including Emi who now wants "guns" of her own, and talked. Emi and Ox were both thrilled with the presents they got. I'm getting to the point where I really like getting things that I can use up. Like, say, the GIANT box of coffee my sister gave me. I'll use that and then won't have to have a place in my house to keep it. This is why I encouraged Emi to look at the jellies and mustards when she was picking out presents for Grandma and Grandpa. It's just where we're at.
We got home shortly after 5 Sunday evening. Both kids slept most of the way back, which was lovely. I got zero alone time, of course. At least I didn't have anyone walking into the bathroom to say Hi, like I do at home.
Came home and checked my email to find a very generous Amazon gift card from my father. I promptly cashed it in for a new car seat for Ox (one that can convert to a booster when he's a bit bigger) and new flannel sheets for both kids. Practical, yes. Necessary, pretty much. I also bought some lotion ingredients to try to blend something that will help out the kiddos more than straight coconut oil. Not necessary, but I think it will help.
I'm having mixed feelings about the weekend. I'm so glad to have seen my family - especially the ones who live far away. I'm sad that the visit was short and was bracketed by long car drives. Someday, I'd like to move back to the Des Moines area...or convince my family to move here. I'm exhausted from enforced social time and herding of small children. I'm happy that the presents I picked out went over well. I'm feeling guilty for not spending more time with them. My back is really mad at me from the not-comfortable bed and the car ride.
I'm looking forward to having some time off work. I have to be at my desk until 5, then I'm off until January 2. I'm not exactly mentally present today as a result. I tried to trick my brain into work mode by dressing up - nice sweater, my green Mabel pencil skirt - but it's not really doing much to help. I'm tired, anxious, and sad. I'm looking forward to getting a massage tomorrow morning and having a date night tomorrow night.
Just...lots of holidaze free floating anxiety. Lots of feeling beseiged and beset. Lots of digging deep for new stores of patience and understanding. Lots of just wanting to be alone for a while. Lots and lots of stress, mostly self-imposed. Ugh. Holidaze.
Everyone was as warm, welcoming, loving, and family as always. We played cards, watched basketball, dodged the kids who were having an all-out Nerf battle - including Emi who now wants "guns" of her own, and talked. Emi and Ox were both thrilled with the presents they got. I'm getting to the point where I really like getting things that I can use up. Like, say, the GIANT box of coffee my sister gave me. I'll use that and then won't have to have a place in my house to keep it. This is why I encouraged Emi to look at the jellies and mustards when she was picking out presents for Grandma and Grandpa. It's just where we're at.
We got home shortly after 5 Sunday evening. Both kids slept most of the way back, which was lovely. I got zero alone time, of course. At least I didn't have anyone walking into the bathroom to say Hi, like I do at home.
Came home and checked my email to find a very generous Amazon gift card from my father. I promptly cashed it in for a new car seat for Ox (one that can convert to a booster when he's a bit bigger) and new flannel sheets for both kids. Practical, yes. Necessary, pretty much. I also bought some lotion ingredients to try to blend something that will help out the kiddos more than straight coconut oil. Not necessary, but I think it will help.
I'm having mixed feelings about the weekend. I'm so glad to have seen my family - especially the ones who live far away. I'm sad that the visit was short and was bracketed by long car drives. Someday, I'd like to move back to the Des Moines area...or convince my family to move here. I'm exhausted from enforced social time and herding of small children. I'm happy that the presents I picked out went over well. I'm feeling guilty for not spending more time with them. My back is really mad at me from the not-comfortable bed and the car ride.
I'm looking forward to having some time off work. I have to be at my desk until 5, then I'm off until January 2. I'm not exactly mentally present today as a result. I tried to trick my brain into work mode by dressing up - nice sweater, my green Mabel pencil skirt - but it's not really doing much to help. I'm tired, anxious, and sad. I'm looking forward to getting a massage tomorrow morning and having a date night tomorrow night.
Just...lots of holidaze free floating anxiety. Lots of feeling beseiged and beset. Lots of digging deep for new stores of patience and understanding. Lots of just wanting to be alone for a while. Lots and lots of stress, mostly self-imposed. Ugh. Holidaze.
