Fa la la la la...

The neighbors that live behind us have their Christmas tree outdoors. It's been out there since we got back from the US. It's lit and decorated... and sitting in their backyard. It's a little odd.

I swear my husband is like my father. The day after Christmas he was eyeballing the decorations and then he headed downstairs. "Where are you going?" I asked. "To get a box to start putting the Christmas stuff away," he answered. Just like my dad. "You don't leave it up until New Year's?" I asked. Let's just say I was met with a look but the Christmas stuff is still intact.

I had all these notions of what I was going to do with Sam over the Christmas break. I haven't done anything but drag him to the clinic with me and run errands. I went on Wednesday and had a gestational diabetes test and then back on Thursday for my rh shot so I don't start producing antibodies that try to attack and destroy Ralphie. I don't think he's stopped moving today, it's strange. Seems like he's been up all day long reminding me he's there.

We went out to dinner this evening, something we like to do on Friday nights. I ate too much, as usual. The thing is, I consciously tried to avoid overeating. I had some french onion soup as a starter followed by salmon filled ravioli. I ate about 2/3 of the ravioli and was happy that I left the rest. Unfortunately, I kept sneaking fries from Schmitty's plate and then had apple struedel and coffee for dessert. Maybe I'll hit the gym tomorrow. (Yeah, I don't think so either.) I'll be sure to brag if I do go...

Whew!

Christmas is over, thank goodness. It wasn't easy coming back a couple days before the holiday with jetlag. I'm pretty sure Sam knows I'm Santa now. (okay, I'm positive because he's a pretty smart boy) I hauled the presents downstairs and spent a little while bickering with Yagopuchae about how I overdo Christmas. Apparently, wrapping gifts is above and beyond in his book. Anyway, I stuffed the stockings and came upstairs to hang them on doorknobs and go to bed. I hung Sam's and brushed my teeth. I left the bathroom with Yagopuchae's stocking in hand only to bump in to Sam standing at his stocking in front of his bedroom door. It was after midnight but he was still awake trying to adjust to the time change. I dropped Yago's stocking (which has a jingle bell on it, so much for being sly) and asked what he was doing. He said he woke up. Oops.

On Christmas Eve we went to a small gathering at Karry and Amy's house. They have five kids with the sixth due in a month (Mormons). They do a reenactment of the birth of Jesus every year and invited us and two other families over. Sam got to be one of the wisemen, it was cute and funny. Sounds a little more bizarre than it turned out to be. I was braced for pure wackiness but it was fun watching them all.

Yago is bragging that he got 3 Christmas cards and I didn't get any. I'd just like to point out that getting a Christmas card from a merchant that sold you several thousand dollars in rugs a couple years ago DOESN'T count. His friend sent one addressed to Jason and Jennifer. Also, the neighbors don't know my name and addressed the card to Jason and family... joint cards. I assured him if people knew my new address I would have gotten many more cards. (or at least one) By the way stuckinmd, it's PSC 3 Box 64 APO AE 09021. Thank you, and feel free to address to just Sam and me!

Packy Pack

I drafted an entry the other day explaining why the German dry-cleaning ladies hate me but I became bored writing it so I knew you'd be bored reading it. Suffice it to say, they aren't very nice or forgiving of my forgetful tendencies. Even if it's in German I know they're insulting me. It reminds me of when Elaine knew her nail technicians were talking about her in Vietnamese. (Seinfeld)

Sam sang with the Catholic Children's Choir last night for the tree lighting ceremony on base. I tried to take pictures but by the time the flash when off and the picture snapped someone's head would pop in my way. It was a complete debacle anyway. They changed the song list at the last minute on a bunch of 4-7 yr olds. No one knew what the heck they were singing. They sang two songs and one of them was in German, you can guess how that went.

I have a lot of getting ready to do for the trip. I'll have two cranky boys that don't travel well and honestly? I'm not sure which one will be more difficult. At least I can give the little one a trinket or game to keep him busy. The big one is higher maintenance and not as easily pacified. I wish I could slip them some extra-drowsy Dramamine or something... And, by the way, I was supposed to by flying business class this trip until evil Delta doubled the mileage requirement on me!! Still bitter.

I haven't done much Christmas shopping yet. I've gotten a few games for Sam and that's it. That means I'll either have to brave the mall crowds in the states or wait until the weekend before Christmas here. Either way, it doesn't sound fun. Tonight is St. Nick's Night here. The children leave their shoes outside and St. Nick comes and fills them with candy if they're good or coal and switches if they're bad. Heehee, I can exact my revenge.

Well, I'd better get busy doing something or else Yagopuchae will be grumpier than usual. He's already in service dress today, I hadn't better push my luck. ...Where do I keep those Dramamine?

Nuernberg Trials

I've been quite neglectful of my little blog lately...

Yesterday we went to the Christmas Market in Nuernberg, it's quite famous. I got up at 6:00 on a Saturday morning to leave at 7:00. We got there at about 12:30. I really love the Christmas Markets but this one was so crowded it was difficult to really enjoy it. They serve Gluehwein, mulled wine, everywhere in about a thousand different varieties but being pregnant I had to practice restraint. Anyway, it was so crowded... It's a huge outdoor market and little amusement park for kids but it was shoulder to shoulder throughout and I get grumpy when people constantly push me and never say, "Excuse me." Especially when I'm pregnant, whether they can tell or not. I feel bad for Yagopuchae because he's been talking about the gingerbread there for over a year now and he bought lots of it to bring home only to discover it's fruitcake.

Sam nearly got suspended from school on Thursday. That's right, first grade. He punched a kid during recess and they tried to suspend him but couldn't get a hold of his parents to pick him up. The kid he punched is huge, going to be eight this year and I learned it wasn't so much a punch as a heel of his hand to the kid's forehead. I think the kid was running at Sam and Sam panicked...

Yago's 30th birthday was last Friday and I tried to make him a special lemon raspberry liquor bundt cake. Unfortunately, I forgot the baking powder, baking soda and salt. That didn't make a very good cake. Sorry.

Well, I've already skipped mass this morning and if I don't get my behind in gear we're going to miss CCD too. (For the third week in a row...)

Mistress... we need to work out what day we're coming up there. Maybe the 19th? What do you think?