Happy Happy 2008

Whew! I feel like I just breathed a big 'ol sigh of relief for the first time in about a month! We had a really great holiday season and I have to say that I think I did pretty good in the balance department. Not too crazy, fun stuff for the kids without doing too much and I did not do my usual frenzy of gift making/buying. I made one gift. Yep! One! And let me tell you what, it felt really really good. Don't get me wrong...I love making things for people and I love receiving handmade gifts but I don't have the "get up and go" to start early in the year so it usually ends up as an "Oh shit" finish the gifts on Chritmas Eve fiasco! Maybe some day I will have it together but for now I have released the pressure and it feels good!



2007 Holiday recap:

*It started early with our O'Dell and Friends Annual Christmas Party on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year we only did gifts for the kids. The adults just ate and talked. Our friend Gabe brought over his Wii and that was seriously fun. Jimmy and I had a couple boxing matches and I think it was better than couples therapy. We decided that instead of fighting over dumb stuff and being cranky, we'd just get a Wii and beat the living crap out of each other. (You don't actually hit each other)



*I discovered The Daring Book for Girls at Costco and I think I'm in love! I decided that every girl needs to read it (even grown up girls) and commit to learning a new thing from it as often as you can. Then buy a boy that you know The Dangerous Book for Boys and trade with him when you're done. I love it! I bought it for my friend Buffy and my sister-in-law Robyn. I hope you girls like them!



*I know that I may be sending a mixed message about the holidays. Sometimes I hate it and sometimes I love it so let me clarify. The part that I love is the parties. I love love love Holiday parties! I love getting together with my friends, I love getting together with strangers, I love bringing something for a potluck and I love it when you feed me. I just love holiday parties!

The part that I hate is the pressure. The pressure to find the perfect gift, to decorate your house super fabulous-ly, to take your kids to every holiday fun opportunity, etc. So this year I just picked the things that I liked to do and to heck with the rest.
I bought everyone easy things that I knew they would like but I did not agonize over whether it was perfect. Jammies and Barnes and Noble gift cards for my dad and brother, a magazine subscription for my mom, Vera Wang stationary for Casey...etc. Easy and they'll like it. I put up my Christmas tree and a few other decorations and we did a few laid back fun things with the kids. It was really pleasant and not insane.



*We had a Winter Solstice Party. It was a blast! I made chili and cornbread. We had hot chocolate and spiced cider (and rum and peppermint schnapps) and a big bonfire in the back yard. And the most beautiful perfect thing happened. It snowed!! A lot! It was gorgeous and a perfect compliment to our party.



*Joe and Kelsey stayed in Rexburg for Christmas so it was just Warren and Casey and us and my parents. We went to a movie then came back to the house and had yummy yummy steaks for dinner. We opened our presents and played scrabble while the kids watched some Christmas movies and played with my dad. It was nice and low key.

*On Christmas day we went to Jimmy's parents. Again, pretty low key. We ate dinner and opened presents. They gave Jimmy and I cash. We were going to be practical and buy a new mattress but I think I have prevailed and we are going to take a short trip (no kids). I don't know where to...maybe skiing at Tamarack and staying at the Ashley Inn...with an in-room hot tub. Mmmm.



*We left for Rexburg at about 1:30 on Friday for a visit to Joe and Kelsey. It was a nice drive over despite the ugly weather in Boise. When we got there we did a whole bunch of nothing! We played in the snow, sledded on the sand dunes and played in the snow some more! There was so much snow!! One day we drove over to the big city of Idaho Falls (hehe) and we also drove over to Jackson, Wyoming to see the place where Joe works. It's a pretty town in that phony way.

*We got home pretty late from Jackson on New Year's Eve and then we didn't really do much. The girls played Legos and we played the Newlywed game. At about 11:55 Olivia threw up all over Joe. Happy New Year! At midnight I was sitting next to her on the bathroom floor. Good times. We were like a teen abstinence commercial!

*We drove home (with Kelsey and Chance in tow) on New Year's Day. The kids were great for the drive. Kels and Chance are staying at my mom and dad's then Joe will be here to get them tomorrow.

I thinks that sums it up! I've been working like a nut at the shop this week to get caught up and ready for the end of the year. Last night I got Olivia's bug and threw up at about 3 am but I feel fine today. Well, kinda.

I hope all of you had a terrific holiday season!!

Future posts...new years resolutions and new blog diet challenge!