I am blogging. I am cranky and I don’t like it. I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to blog but at the same time didn’t because I’m feeling so grumpy. She said to do it anyway, that it might help turn my thoughts around and get me back into good spirits! I said, but, but but. But she’s right. I don’t just have to blog about the happy things. Life isn’t always happy!
I am a mother of five. I am a wife. Usually I put them in the other order, because really I am a wife first but these days my DH has been so very busy with other things. His work requires him to attend four Christmas parties/dinners. One for the typical staff party and three more – one for each senior’s manor that he does maintenance for all year long. Tonight was the last one. It ended up the way things were planned that he was at 5 Christmas parties/dinners in 7 days. Well, 6 if you count the children’s Christmas party put on by the fire fighters Saturday afternoon! I think the man has had a lot of turkey! I got to go to 3 of those 6 with him but could not justify the expense of a sitter for the other three! Plus being introverted and loving to stay home, for the most part, it would add stress and tire me out. But I’m not sure these parties haven’t added stress anyway.
The kids miss their dad for one. I miss him! He has to set up for these parties and clean up after them. Plus there is the addition of the occasional fire page (could be an accident, as they respond to those as well). He got one of them tonight while at his Christmas dinner (the 6th in 7 days).
It’s cold here. Really quite cold. I am without a vehicle and groceries are running low. Not so low that we can’t survive, but low enough that I’m getting sick of pasta and having to really think to find something to serve that everyone will eat! Not that they are eating anyway as we’ve had a bit of a fever running through the group. And it’s not that the money’s not there to go and get groceries, but without a vehicle and the cold temperatures and the new baby (almost 2 months) I can’t go without making some arrangements. Now, typically, those arrangements would be fairly easy to make. I have lots of offers of help, but with DH so busy I find it hard to discuss such things with him. He hardly answered his phone today.
Baby R has been particularly needy and only wanting me – whether she’s asleep or awake! Cutie Boy has been missing naps – not quite tired enough at nap time but exhausted by supper time! K was the first with the fever and so I didn’t have her help as much this week. CJ helped some, but because K does so much usually, CJ’s not quite as reliable or efficient. And now, CJ had a fever today. Good thing K was feeling better.
Miss M is such a willing helper, especially in the kitchen. I need to remember that!
So I was thinking, at the beginning of December, that this month was going to be a relaxing one. At that point I only knew about 3 parties/dinners we had to attend. And they were going to be fun. And those three were. I’m tired. I’m starved for adult attention. Oh, DH’s not ignoring me, but I’m getting the tired him. Not the happy-go-lucky, I’m here for you him. And everyone is pretty busy. Christmas is a busy time and it is sneaking up on us!
At least we got our Christmas shopping done. Most of it. DH and I did all of the shopping – for us and for them. Now, K and CJ want in on the action! So, if my man can ever find a little time to be home, we’ve kinda decided to take each one out to buy something for each of us. That will be a tonne of fun for them! Now I just have to wrap it; that’s the funnest party for me, that and the opening of the gifts on Christmas morning! I love filling the stockings!
Usually DH and I watch tv and wrap gifts on Christmas Eve after the children go to bed. It’s some special time together; we really get to talk about the kids and how much they are going to love the gifts. Then we go to bed really really late (but that’s nothing new!). Then Christmas morning we’ll have to wait for DH to get out of bed. He’s so not a morning person!!! And he’ll make an effort to get up earlier for us, because he knows the rest of us LOVE Christmas morning and are morning people. We’ll have bagels and cream cheese and sausage. And a late lunch/ early supper.
This year we are changin’ it up! We aren’t having turkey. (Can you guess why?) A number of reasons. I have no oven to cook it in. DH’s had a lot of turkey and I’ll get some this coming Sunday at a friends’ home. And we want to! This year we are serving everyone’s favorites. Here’s the menu:
- Egg rolls (deep fried) with plum sauce (DH’s request)
- Garlic and Butter Shrimp (DH)
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Rice (My favorite!)
- Peas (mine)
- Wonton Soup (DH’s; if we can find it, because I don’t make it)
- 5 Cup Salad (marshmellow and fruit one; me and the kids)
- Stuffing (stove top from a box; DH’s)
- Mac and Cheese and Hot Dogs (kids)
- Strawberry Shortcake (CJ)
- Banana Splits (me)
I can’t wait! The girls will love helping with the different parts! I love teaching them to cook and to work together as a family. I’ll try to get pictures, but it is so exciting some times that I forget to pull out the camera.
So, I’m excited for Christmas and it seems so far away yet! Oh, I know, the next week will fly by, but I still am getting very impatient.
And although I gripe and whine about it, we are so blessed that DH has a good steady job. Sometimes the politics over there are a nightmare but he likes the work and the clients. And he is really taking great care of his family! I am a blessed wife and mother.
But sometimes it sure feels good to vent and talk it out with my readers!
I’m off now, as DH has come home during the writing of this very long post, to spend some time with him and enjoy a quiet evening infront of the tv, discussing much that is on my mind.
Blessings to you and your families from us at the Harris House.
Sorry you are down…Understandably so. Doesn’t it feel good to get it off your chest though??