Metal Meredith

I know everyone says this, but this year has just flown by. I seriously think that I could recall every single day if I wanted to try that hard.

This time last year, I was 120% miserable. My mother had taken Vivienne for 2 days so I could get a few days of sleep. I was almost ready to have Henry and get on with it. In fact, I had posted an eviction notice to him on January 1st.

I have few resolutions this year. My main and most enthusiastic one being to ‘declutter’ and reduce what we have. In fact, I started about two weeks ago.

I broke the news to Phil today that I will be having the house cleansed in the next few weeks. He thinks I am a nutjob, but we all know that, right? I got the idea from Stacey, who says she feels so much better now that all the bad juju is gone from her house.

So that is all my news. I can’t say good riddance to 2007, because that sweet baby of mine was born this year. I can, however, be thankful that we will get a damn tax exemption this year because of him. It is about time.

Stay safe. Be loved and love someone else. Take care and we will see you in 2008. 

I am SO GLAD that Christmas is over.

But, I am SO GLAD that we were able to enjoy it.

The tree is down. All signs of Christmas are gone with the small exception of those outside lights and the wreath on the door. Next up is Henry’s first birthday (geez, help me through that) and then Vivienne resumes school, also known as “The Day the Angels Sing”. 

We have been spoiled and spoiled some more at Christmas every year that my sister and I can remember. If it wasn’t my parents who were going overboard, it was my grandparents. We are really lucky that way. When discussing the past Christmases with my sister last night, I realized that there are only a handful of gifts I can recall in the 35 years of Christmases that I remember.

I can tell you events at most, people at most and even some things my sister got. However, I can’t remember but a handful of the gifts I received over the years.

This Christmas, Phil and I tried to keep our immediate family low key. Santa brought only a few things and Phil and I did pretty good limiting our gifts to more manageable amounts.

Before the kids got up, I spent a few minutes alone downstairs. This is how it looked:

By the time my Mom came and unloaded their cars (yes, they brought two cars and yes, it took 3 people 6 trips to get it all inside), it looked like this:

See what I mean? It is a bit ridiculous. My mom likes to add to the silliness by saying “What?” every time you point out how she went overboard. It is not 8pm and everyone is gone. Oh, how I am looking forward to a day alone with just us 4 tomorrow. We had a great time with all of the family. However, the house is still full of crap and looks just like this:

It is blurry but you get the gist.

Merry Christmas everyone!

We are not big on the “Christmas threw up in my yard” look. We have a demure and simple strand of muliti-color (LED) lights draped across our roof line. We have a wreath on the front door with a bow. That’s about it.

*Not in our yard*

Phil likes to remind me that sticking a plastic bag on your front lawn and plugging a fan into it, no matter what its shape once inflated, isn’t a talent. I have requested a few other simple things like one lighted tree in the yard or one snowflake hanging on the house. We always say we will pick something up after the holidays when it goes on sale, but we never do. Who wants to shop for all of that crap when you just want to put it away for 11 months?

I came across this site today which made me laugh out loud a few times. They give citations to houses that over decorate or decorate with little or no thought beforehand. My favorite is “Intermingling” where people add Santa into their twinkling Nativity Scene or a “Multiple Clauses Violation” when they have placed 5 Santas of different sizes and shapes on the lawn.

We always enjoy going to see the lights, driving by while Vivienne screams loudly about what she sees and Phil and I sit in awe over all of the crap these people pull out each year. Good for them! We won’t be on the Tacky Lights Tour for years and years to come.