Merry Christmas!

I have either gotten up early to open presents and was disappointed my family was not up yet, so I put this post together - OR I did it before hand and set it on a timer. You'll never know! Still, I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Thanks for checking out my blog! Now, if you want to give me a gift, click one of the boxes at the bottom of the post or write in the comments so I know you were here!

Bah. Humbug.

I have tried my hardest to find my holiday spirit. I think I started having a hard time finding it when Santa started finding his way into stores in October. It also doesn't help that I have saved the shopping for the last minute. But this week has been especially challenging.

First, I was counting on getting one gift at a particular store. It was the sure thing! I went to one mall, fighting crowds and sprinkles (of the rain type, not what you find on cookies and cupcakes) only to see the store's space was empty. Hmph.

I decided I'd check the other location on my way to work. I headed to the strip center, fighting traffic nearly the entire way, only to see that location was also dead to me (and anyone else who enjoyed shopping there). I was late for work and irritated when I went online to see the closest location was near an outlet mall - not a realistic option on Christmas Eve. This meant I'd have to find an alternative gift.

So, I went to bed, planning to get up and finish up the shopping. At 5AM, I heard the dog whining. I yelled at him to zip it, then just as I was going to sleep, I heard it.

BEEP.

I got up. I walked down the hall. Where the hell is that beeping coming from? I narrowed it down to the smoke alarms in my office and the hallway.

BEEP.

It was the hallway. Last month, I climbed the ladder and was trying to find out what kind of batteries I needed for the detectors (I have lived in my house nearly four years and have not changed them - I know, it's dumb). I couldn't find a battery hatch. I figured, since they're wired into the ceiling, maybe they didn't need batteries? Now, in a sleepy haze, I found the hatch. I don't have those square battery types in my house. Somehow, letting the alarm dangle from the ceiling got it to stop beeping so I could go back to sleep.

I slept a few hours, then got up to do some shopping. We haven't had rain in months, so I should have been excited about it - except that I had to walk in it. Not a mood lifter. I hit the first store at 9:30. It was calm and quiet - until they lost power for 10 minutes. It wouldn't have been such a problem except registers kind of need electricity since they're computerized.

On to the next store, which was super crowded. I went straight to what I needed, picked out a few items, then found the back of one of two lines. I stood there patiently for 20 minutes (yes, patiently). Then, just as it was my turn, a lady walked right in front of me and turned to put her items on the counter.

ME: The line starts back there.
LADY: I'm in a hurry.
ME: It's Christmas Eve. We're all in a hurry. The line starts back there.
Blank stare.
STORE EMPLOYEE: Ma'am, you'll need to get to the back of the line.
LADY: But I'm in a hurry.
STORE EMPLOYEE: I understand. You still have to stand in line.

I was *this* close to throwing down my things and shoving the lady. But she rolled her eyes and moved to the back of the line.

I returned home with enough batteries to replace the ones in every alarm. I wound up replacing the offending one (which involved some expletives and bloodshed - mine, not the alarm's as it's not real, dummy). I'll get to the others later. Oh, if you're taller than me and not afraid of ladders, please stop by my house. I have two alarms that I can't reach. You're a peach!

I understand that shopping on Christmas Eve means crowds and traffic and people who have lost nearly all of their patience. It's also why I will pledge to start shopping at the first sign of Santa next year (stay tuned to see how that goes). But, I am done with the shopping. If you don't get a gift from me this year, it doesn't mean that I don't love you. It just means I was either too lazy or uninspired while shopping. I love you. I really do. And I'll make it up to you at some point in the year.

I hope.

On a nice note, I did see my Christmas cactus, which I recently replanted in a much larger pot, magically bloomed overnight!

I have had it for a few years and have managed to keep it alive. Love that it always knows when to put on a pretty show!

Christmas Pictures

I wanted you to see the pictures from our holiday fun. I'll add more pictures as soon as my mom and aunt send me theirs. Enjoy! :)

Christmas Day

I woke up Christmas morning to a nice, warm breakfast. You should know that it's hard for me to eat something as soon as I roll out of bed. However, since my parents wake up before the sun rises, they're ready to go by nine (this is apparently what happens when you get old).

My brother ate with us. I accused my dad of wearing cranky pants, which made it even more difficult for him to be cranky (he doesn't like for us to be right). Then, we headed to the living room for some present opening. As the gifts were sorted, we noticed my dad had apparently been on Santa's nice list - he had more gifts than all of us. In fact, he had so many packages, we made him open two for every one we opened! That certainly made him change out of his cranky pants!

I scored some good stuff - gift cards, perfume, more gift cards. I felt bad that the only gifts I bought were of the literary kind (my only stop had been Borders). I will make it up to my incredibly generous family before the next holiday!

I took a Christmas nap (another tradition in our family). Then, we loaded up and went out to the Grandparents. I think my Grandmother may have been taught a little lesson. She told my Grandfather she wanted hair pins and Q-Tips for Christmas. That's what she got. You'd think after being married nearly 60 years, she'd know better!

Us four cousins were confined to a small wooden table outside. We decided it was probably better than being in at the adult table anyway. We ate, then went back to my parents house for some Wii play. We were being good kids until my parents came home.

Mom decided we should be drinking and proceeded to play bartender. There was a whole lot of rocking going on. And boozing. And game play. This went on for hours until my cousins got a call from their mother stating their grandparents would like to see them on Christmas.

Party over.

It was beddy-bye time for me. I don't know why, but every time I stay at my parents, I want to sleep. I could fall asleep before 10:00 and sleep for 12 hours or more. It's not that the bed is that comfortable. I usually toss and turn until I get to a relaxed state. Perhaps there's some carbon monoxide creeping into the house. I don't know. Whatever it is, I get sleepy fast.

Have You Seen My Holiday Spirit???

I have tried and tried to find my holiday spirit these last few days. It has gone AWOL.

Because this is my kitten's first Christmas, I've decided not to get a tree. Plus, the thought of getting the tree in the stand all by myself - well, let's just say there would be a whole lot of expletives flying. I did put up a tree last year, my first in my new house. See?
It smelled lovely! My gold and bronze ornaments glowed with my white twinkly lights. Charley thought the tree water was some special treat. But I just know Chaplin would get into the tree and knock it down. I cannot imagine what will happen once I start shopping and wrapping presents. I have no doubt he will be tearing open presents. Maybe I'll use bags this year.

I do have a small tree made entirely of red ornaments and lights that I'll probably put out. But, that will be it. I think. I noticed my poinsettia from last year died. I'm waiting for my Christmas cactus to bloom (hopefully the somewhat cooler weather will make that happen).

I tried to bring out the holiday spirit by adding holiday music to the rotation on my iPod (Josh, my carpool partner, will probably not be happy with that). I even watched three of my favorite holiday movies this weekend, Elf on Friday, Christmas Vacation on Saturday and Love Actually on Friday. While I enjoyed them for what seems like the millionth time, I'm just not excited about Christmas. And that stinks! It's my favorite holiday! What has happened to me?

If you've seen my holiday spirit, will you kindly send it my way? Maybe it'll take those holiday cards filling my mailbox that will do the trick. Maybe some fudge (hint hint). Maybe I'll just wake up one day and not be annoyed by the phrase "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." Go ahead and sing it. It's just making me roll my eyes.

I'm hoping my spirit finds me soon. I don't like feeling all Grinch-like.