I just realized I haven't posted anything personal in a month. So here is a brief rundown of how I wound down '03 and opened '04.
In my family growing up the holiday season wasn't allowed to begin until after my mom's birthday which is 12/12. Brie and I have tried to get it started a little earlier but I still feel like it begins on 12/12. This year we broke down and bought an artificial tree. It actually was one of the smartest things we did. Christmas tree lots are few and far between out here and our woodlands are not filled with pine trees. Everyone we asked told us that they had an artificial tree. The great thing is we got a good one that really does look like a tree (my mom didn't even notice until we told her) and it was pre-lit! go team! I put up the tree and did most of the decorations myself. Then we all spent a night putting on the ornaments (99% of them are Hallmark) while listening to holiday music on directv (Sebastian feels that is our tradition).
My mom arrived in time for us to celebrate her birthday. Unfortunately, we were all sick so we didn't get to take her out as we planned. Brie and I got all out shopping done on two different Sundays. One for the kids and one for each other. Christmas itself was one of the best. We had so many gifts under the tree since most of the family shipped them to us. Santa was pretty generous this year as well. All of the kids commented that this was their favorite Christmas ever. Always something a parent loves to hear. We kept our holiday meal simple (see Brie's blog). I myself got a new Fossil watch (it has animated flames), a new GBA game, a new Gamecube game, some lounge wear (with flames to match my watch), some Goofy pajamas, and Brie and I received a new Bissel carpet cleaner and 2 new luxrious sheet sets for our bed. The boys also got me some tools from their schools fundraising christmas shop.
Brie and I have only been out a couple of times for NYE. For us it's always been about staying in, even before we had kids we babysat Bethany while my sister went out. To me it's the perfect time to be with the family and reflect on the year that has gone by. This year we managed to keep all the kids up (Maddy was so beyond tired we didn't get her to sleep until almost 2 am!
This past weekend Brie and I drove out to Viriginia Beach for the Holiday Party at the Sheraton By the Sea (I think that is right). The only downside to these events for me is that as Brie has risen in rank she has gone from one of the helpers to being the main person in charge of events like this. In the past I have taken dates so that her constant time away overseeing everything didn't leave me all alone. Typically I would also know a couple of people at her work I could sit and be with as well, but her position has left us in a precarious area of Upper Management where the only people who seem to socialize with you is other members of management and they don't see each other outside of work, so for the first time I don't know anyone she works with. I did manage to sit next to a couple of women in management who themselves were without their partners so we all talked.
Today Brie and I began the South Beach Diet. Our goal is to get back down to our wedding weights in time for our 15th Anniversary which will be in 13 months. I took down the holiday decorations and tree today as well. Plus, Sebastian started his new school and already we can see how much better this is going to be. For the first time in years he didn't come home with 2 hours of homework, because they actually give the kids a study period where they can work on their homework at school. My mom should be heading back to Georgia by weeks end which is good because by the end of the week the warm mid-70s weather we have been experiencing is going to turn into the low 30 winter we've been expecting.
Posted by John at January 05, 2004 06:17 PM