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Dec. 26th, 2012 12:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_rckScott didn't actually end up working any overtime last week, but he kept having to be prepared to work twelve hour days and having the change to eight hour days come at the last minute. He didn't know until 2 a.m. on Saturday that he didn't have to be at work at 3 a.m. On the plus side, he got extra sleep. On the minus side, we had Christmas preparations we wanted to do and couldn't.
Saturday, Scott took Cordelia north. He picked up our niece and nephew on the way to his parents' place. This was the first opportunity for the now traditional gingerbread baking and decorating. Scott's parents only returned to Michigan on the 18th. I spent the afternoon trying to get myself to write and finishing a couple of library books. I may also have wrapped some presents, but I've lost track of when I did that.
Sunday, Cordelia went to visit a friend while Scott took our niece and nephew to see The Hobbit. The timing was tight as he had to be back to pick Cordelia up and to get to the library before it closed. I spent the afternoon doing laundry and making Christmas porridge (that's rice porridge that's one of my family's traditions. My mother picked up the custom when she spent a year as an exchange student in Sweden. It takes a bit more than an hour to make). After Cordelia and Scott were home, I made bacon wrapped dates. I had to send Scott out for more bacon because the package we had wasn't enough. Scott helped me by handing me dates. I didn't want the leftover dates to be bacon contaminated (I like to eat plain dates, too!). I baked the dates at a lower temperature than I have in previous years. I think it worked better. The bacon still cooked, and the dates didn't carbonize.
Monday, Christmas Eve, we had to be to Scott's parents' place by 2:30. Scott's parents wanted us there early enough to get some family photos. Scott spent the morning making an apple pie for Christmas dinner. I'd hoped to do some baking, but the timing didn't work. We went to the 4:00 service. It wasn't what any of us really wanted-- We all prefer a service with plenty of singing traditional carols. This service had a lot of music, but very little of it was anything that those of us in the congregation knew at all. They didn't have hymnals to help, just a screen with the words projected on it, and the projectionist wasn't keeping up with the singers. They did have one number with a children's choir and some girls dancing. They also had small children gradually placing the figures in the Nativity set.
After the service, we went back to Scott's parents' place for pizza and cupcakes. We sang happy birthday to Jesus. Then we opened presents. Cordelia got a microscope. I don't think she remembered that Scott bought her one last year. At least, she didn't say anything about it (thank goodness!). I got a couple of books and a CD. Scott got a shirt that I suspect is too large.
We were late getting home because we had to turn back just before we got on the highway. I'd forgotten my purse. Strictly speaking, there wasn't anything in it that I was going to need over night, but I preferred not to leave it. I'd hoped to do some baking after getting home, but it was after 9:00. Cordelia had trouble settling into bed. She played her CD through twice, trying to get to sleep. Once we were sure she was in her room for the night, I brought out the rest of the presents and filled the stockings. Scott and I were in bed by 11:00. Getting stuff wrapped in advance really, really helps.
Cordelia got us up at 8:00. We'd told her she wasn't allowed to wake us earlier. She exercised remarkable restraint, waiting while Scott and I got bathrobes and such. I think she was pleased with what she got. At least one of the books from the Scholastic book fair, she's read in the interim. I knew that was a risk. She seems glad to own it, anyway.
I got a couple of CDs and an iPod that I hope to use for books on CD while I walk on our treadmill. Now I just have to figure out how to get the stuff I want on there. My iTunes on my laptop is full of music that I hardly listen to (mostly because I don't know it well or can't separate it out from everything else). I definitely don't want all of that on the iPod. I think I'd like just a very little bit of stuff on the iPod.
I gave Scott a copy of Darth Vader and Son. It was too cute to pass by. I'd suggested it to Cordelia as a gift for her father, but she didn't like it. Instead, she got him a t-shirt. I had to scour a few websites to find one that Scott would actually wear. The t-shirt Cordelia got him says, "The Pessimist: The glass is half empty. The Optimist: The glass is half full. The Engineer: The glass is twice as big as it needs to be."
I served us all porridge. As usual, Cordelia got the lucky almond. Some day, she's going to realize that I try to make sure she gets it. After that, while Scott showered, I baked the bars I'd meant to make the day before. They came out pretty well. We do have the difficulty with our oven that, by the time things start to look done on top, they're quite well done on the bottom. The split levels didn't actually burn, but they were darker on the bottom than I liked. After the baking, I made the cheese spread. I'd cubed the cheese for it on Sunday, so the whole thing took about ten minutes, and most of that was clean up.
Then I read my Yuletide stories. That's right-- stories. I got two! One is for "Helen All Alone," and the other is for Shamanic Princess. I'm thrilled. I love them to pieces.
It was afternoon by the time we got to Scott's sister's place. Scott and Cordelia pretty much immediately started playing games. I had my e-reader and a puzzle book. I didn't get far with either, but I didn't really expect to. Dinner was some time between four and five. It was pork loin with sweet potatoes, cooked carrots, three kinds of bread, chicken and noodles, jello (which I don't touch) and salad. Scott and I sat with the kids in the living room. There were twelve for dinner, six in the dining room/kitchen and six in the living room. In years past, the kids were in the dining room because the table there is more stable, but this year the kids wanted to be in the living room.
After dinner, there was present opening. Cordelia got a couple of Rick Riordan books, a Barbie and a pair of slippers, among other things. I'm really glad that Scott's sister's in-laws are willing to treat Cordelia as an honorary grandchild and give her presents. She'd have an awful time at these family Christmas gatherings otherwise. It also helps me feel better about the fact that my mother and step-father have never given her so much as a birthday card.
Then Scott's parents went home. His father was exhausted. That was followed by more game playing. Cordelia's presents had been packed on top of my e-reader (safely in a padded case) and puzzle book, so I was at loose ends and kind of bored. I helped my sister-in-law put out the cookies. I enjoyed the fact that I actually had cookies (well, bars) to contribute this year. That's a first. Two of the cookies I'd made came out well, but the snickerdoodle bars were very disappointing. I think those may end up getting thrown out. I should have paid attention to the rating on the recipe, but I was so excited at the thought of snickerdoodles that I could actually make. Scott loves them and rarely gets them.
We headed for home about 8:30. We listened to Christmas music on the radio the whole way home. They did, unfortunately, play the song that has become our least favorite for this year. It seems to be obligatory. I'm not sure what the title is, but it starts out, "Last Christmas I gave you my heart. The very next day, you gave it away."
Saturday, Scott took Cordelia north. He picked up our niece and nephew on the way to his parents' place. This was the first opportunity for the now traditional gingerbread baking and decorating. Scott's parents only returned to Michigan on the 18th. I spent the afternoon trying to get myself to write and finishing a couple of library books. I may also have wrapped some presents, but I've lost track of when I did that.
Sunday, Cordelia went to visit a friend while Scott took our niece and nephew to see The Hobbit. The timing was tight as he had to be back to pick Cordelia up and to get to the library before it closed. I spent the afternoon doing laundry and making Christmas porridge (that's rice porridge that's one of my family's traditions. My mother picked up the custom when she spent a year as an exchange student in Sweden. It takes a bit more than an hour to make). After Cordelia and Scott were home, I made bacon wrapped dates. I had to send Scott out for more bacon because the package we had wasn't enough. Scott helped me by handing me dates. I didn't want the leftover dates to be bacon contaminated (I like to eat plain dates, too!). I baked the dates at a lower temperature than I have in previous years. I think it worked better. The bacon still cooked, and the dates didn't carbonize.
Monday, Christmas Eve, we had to be to Scott's parents' place by 2:30. Scott's parents wanted us there early enough to get some family photos. Scott spent the morning making an apple pie for Christmas dinner. I'd hoped to do some baking, but the timing didn't work. We went to the 4:00 service. It wasn't what any of us really wanted-- We all prefer a service with plenty of singing traditional carols. This service had a lot of music, but very little of it was anything that those of us in the congregation knew at all. They didn't have hymnals to help, just a screen with the words projected on it, and the projectionist wasn't keeping up with the singers. They did have one number with a children's choir and some girls dancing. They also had small children gradually placing the figures in the Nativity set.
After the service, we went back to Scott's parents' place for pizza and cupcakes. We sang happy birthday to Jesus. Then we opened presents. Cordelia got a microscope. I don't think she remembered that Scott bought her one last year. At least, she didn't say anything about it (thank goodness!). I got a couple of books and a CD. Scott got a shirt that I suspect is too large.
We were late getting home because we had to turn back just before we got on the highway. I'd forgotten my purse. Strictly speaking, there wasn't anything in it that I was going to need over night, but I preferred not to leave it. I'd hoped to do some baking after getting home, but it was after 9:00. Cordelia had trouble settling into bed. She played her CD through twice, trying to get to sleep. Once we were sure she was in her room for the night, I brought out the rest of the presents and filled the stockings. Scott and I were in bed by 11:00. Getting stuff wrapped in advance really, really helps.
Cordelia got us up at 8:00. We'd told her she wasn't allowed to wake us earlier. She exercised remarkable restraint, waiting while Scott and I got bathrobes and such. I think she was pleased with what she got. At least one of the books from the Scholastic book fair, she's read in the interim. I knew that was a risk. She seems glad to own it, anyway.
I got a couple of CDs and an iPod that I hope to use for books on CD while I walk on our treadmill. Now I just have to figure out how to get the stuff I want on there. My iTunes on my laptop is full of music that I hardly listen to (mostly because I don't know it well or can't separate it out from everything else). I definitely don't want all of that on the iPod. I think I'd like just a very little bit of stuff on the iPod.
I gave Scott a copy of Darth Vader and Son. It was too cute to pass by. I'd suggested it to Cordelia as a gift for her father, but she didn't like it. Instead, she got him a t-shirt. I had to scour a few websites to find one that Scott would actually wear. The t-shirt Cordelia got him says, "The Pessimist: The glass is half empty. The Optimist: The glass is half full. The Engineer: The glass is twice as big as it needs to be."
I served us all porridge. As usual, Cordelia got the lucky almond. Some day, she's going to realize that I try to make sure she gets it. After that, while Scott showered, I baked the bars I'd meant to make the day before. They came out pretty well. We do have the difficulty with our oven that, by the time things start to look done on top, they're quite well done on the bottom. The split levels didn't actually burn, but they were darker on the bottom than I liked. After the baking, I made the cheese spread. I'd cubed the cheese for it on Sunday, so the whole thing took about ten minutes, and most of that was clean up.
Then I read my Yuletide stories. That's right-- stories. I got two! One is for "Helen All Alone," and the other is for Shamanic Princess. I'm thrilled. I love them to pieces.
It was afternoon by the time we got to Scott's sister's place. Scott and Cordelia pretty much immediately started playing games. I had my e-reader and a puzzle book. I didn't get far with either, but I didn't really expect to. Dinner was some time between four and five. It was pork loin with sweet potatoes, cooked carrots, three kinds of bread, chicken and noodles, jello (which I don't touch) and salad. Scott and I sat with the kids in the living room. There were twelve for dinner, six in the dining room/kitchen and six in the living room. In years past, the kids were in the dining room because the table there is more stable, but this year the kids wanted to be in the living room.
After dinner, there was present opening. Cordelia got a couple of Rick Riordan books, a Barbie and a pair of slippers, among other things. I'm really glad that Scott's sister's in-laws are willing to treat Cordelia as an honorary grandchild and give her presents. She'd have an awful time at these family Christmas gatherings otherwise. It also helps me feel better about the fact that my mother and step-father have never given her so much as a birthday card.
Then Scott's parents went home. His father was exhausted. That was followed by more game playing. Cordelia's presents had been packed on top of my e-reader (safely in a padded case) and puzzle book, so I was at loose ends and kind of bored. I helped my sister-in-law put out the cookies. I enjoyed the fact that I actually had cookies (well, bars) to contribute this year. That's a first. Two of the cookies I'd made came out well, but the snickerdoodle bars were very disappointing. I think those may end up getting thrown out. I should have paid attention to the rating on the recipe, but I was so excited at the thought of snickerdoodles that I could actually make. Scott loves them and rarely gets them.
We headed for home about 8:30. We listened to Christmas music on the radio the whole way home. They did, unfortunately, play the song that has become our least favorite for this year. It seems to be obligatory. I'm not sure what the title is, but it starts out, "Last Christmas I gave you my heart. The very next day, you gave it away."
no subject
Date: 2012-12-26 08:08 pm (UTC)I dislike that song, too, but my *least* favorite is "Santa Baby", sung in Betty Boop style, played loudly over the Sears loudspeakers. UGH.
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Date: 2012-12-28 03:57 pm (UTC)