Christmas is done. 2012 is about to end...

I haven't blogged lately because I keep telling myself to wait until I can put pictures on the blog.  But I will wait no more!  So here's a little about what has happened the last few weeks;

The last day of school for Alex was on his birthday!  I told him the whole school was celebrating his birthday by having a fun, party day.  After school he went to wrestling, where those burly, macho men sang him "Happy Birthday!"  (They're the best!)  Then the fam partied!!  First...dinner out.  Alex's favorite thing to do - eat out!  We went to an A&W / KFC because Alex has decided they have the best fries.  Then on our way to play laser tag!!  He loves that game and is actually pretty good.  I love following him and letting him tell me to "Stay back." or "Wait for it..."  We also gave Alex a pre-paid card for the games they have there and he thought that was incredible.  I rode a little kids' ride with the grand kids, Cali and Alex and made a complete fool of myself.  They even made me ride it a second time so they could video tape it.  The kid running the ride was clapping he was so entertained.  Let's just say I let everyone there know I was on the ride with my screams.  Maybe Colby or Josh will let me put one of their videos on here.  Ummm.  Maybe not!

Alex and the grand kids and I made some fun projects for Christmas gifts.  It's always fun to make a mess!  I'm all for messes - but that's another subject.

Christmas Eve was a beautiful evening and Christmas day was quite and enjoyable.  Colby's family ate dinner with us on Christmas Eve then we went to GG's and Papa GG's to get their Christmas Eve gifts (PJ's!!)  Later that evening Cali's family and TJ's family came to spend the night.   They LOVE watching Alex's reaction to Christmas morning (one of the benefits to having a perpetual child in the home) but I'm afraid our times they stay over are coming to an end since they have their own children to enjoy.  After they left, I snuck in a nap while Mike fussed around the house.  (He's a fusser!)  Then Colby's family stopped by so we could give them their gifts. 

I have to admit, my Christmas was a little disappointing.  Don't get me wrong...it was a beautiful day and I got spoiled.  But you know how the best part of Christmas is when you find that one surprise that you can't wait for someone to open up and gush over?  I actually had 2 this year that I couldn't wait for everyone to see.  And they both ended up being duds! 

The first one was a drinking fountain tap attachment.  (Pinterest!)  You attach it to any faucet and it flows like a regular faucet unless you pinch it.  Then the water comes up like a drinking fountain;  BOMB!  I bought one for each of my bathrooms, thinking how much fun the kids would love to get themselves a drink and one for each of the kids' families.  Christmas Eve I was attaching them to our bathroom faucets...well, I tried.  They wouldn't stay on!!!  It was like they were too big or something.  Cali's bathroom has 2 sinks in it and the fountain fits on the right sink, but not the left.  What?  The other kids haven't said if theirs fits / works, which probably means NOT! 

My second surprise was some Fanta Red Cream Soda for Mike.  He loves Fanta Red Cream Soda but they don't make it anymore.  I found a website that lets you find those long-lost loves in the soda world if they are to be found.  I found some!  In Canada!  It was Fanta.  It was Cream Soda (and the person who put them on the site said it tasted just like the old red cream) but it was just cream soda.  Bummer!  Good thing Mike likes cream soda, but I spent money on shipping and handling that I wouldn't have if I had just gone to Wal-mart and bought him some cream soda.  Wait.  I wouldn't have bought any i the first place because that's not what he wanted. 

Oh, well.  It was worth a try.

Yesterday we had my dad's family Christmas party.  Good times, good people and good food!  I sat with my cousins - something we never do but I think will become a cousin tradition.  It seems you get together with your extended family, but still sit together with the people you came with and see everyday!  Not this time.   We were smart and picked a table off to the side and just chatted.  It was so nice!  (And can I get a shout out to my all time favorite stalker - HEY!)  So, next reunion, next party, next outing...girl's table!!!

So only 3 more days of all of us having time off.  Only 3 more days until we are back in the same old groove.  3 more days to spend being with the 2 greatest men in my life!!! 

Happy 2013 to all!  May all our wishes come true!