Christmas Vacation

Christmas vacation

I just got home from the grocery store and some last minute mall shopping.  Phew.  I'm exhausted.  In fact, I almost fell asleep in the line at the mall!  I always prepare for Christmas way in advance.  I don't like to do anything at the last minute, so around June time, I always start saving and thinking about Christmas--picking up little trinkets here and there, making shopping lists and strategizing my budget.  But, inevitably, there are last minute details to take care of.  Unfortunately, I can't shop in September for groceries for our Christmas Eve dinner!  

Up until today, I have been intensely focused on others.  I have 97 high school students who needed my attention and planning, I have at least 15 students who were counting on me to write eloquent letters of recommendation, raphodizing about their wonderful qualities, so they can have a chance of going to Stanford or MIT.  We had a number of church events to celebrate Christmas with our neighborhood, our church family and our friends. 

Now, we are four days away from Christmas, and I told my boys today, "The next 4 days are family time."  But  "family time" also involves shopping and baking and wrapping and cooking, among other things.  So...

Today I

Wrote some thank you notes

Helped Abel clean some muddy straw from his chicken pen

Started driving with Dale to deliver Christmas packages in Simi Valley, but then turned around after we got caught in a bad traffic jam (mission not accomplished)

Ate the most delicious olive tapenade and tomato sandwich on our way home, at a new Deli 

Stood in line at Macy's for 30 minutes. Listened to Abel complain about how hungry he was, and the ladies in front of me, argue with the cashier about the sale prices

Researched a new recipe for potato breakfast casserole. (Christmas morning!) because I can't find my usual cookbook 

Made a grocery list.

Printed my grocery list.

Lost my grocery list.

Decided to go to grocery story without my list and try to remember everything I needed.

Performed a private Christmas Concert in my car: Audience of One.

In a little bit I will

Make spaghetti for dinner.

Send my boys to youth group and collapse exhausted onto the couch and surf the Internet while drinking Apple Cider with a Diet Coke.  (and probably nibbling on the insane amount of cookies and candy sitting around our house).

Not a bad way to start vacation, I guess.