3 posts tagged “parties”
If you're ever going to take some meds that make you a lunatic, don't pick December. We've been running around like crazy people, and I've been wound up like an eight day clock the whole time.
The Saturday before Christmas we had invited Simon's classmates over to eat, decorate Christmas cookies and carol. We didn't have as many kids show up this year, but since you have to cook and clean no matter how many show up, it was still stressful.
On Christmas eve we had Steve's niece and her husband over for dinner. Unfortunately, we forgot until the last minute that Steve had to leave the party early to go play at Christmas eve service. We also found out that my poor nephew-in-law is allergic to cats. The poor guy was all swollen and stuffy by the time our meal was over. I finally took pity on him and suggested that we go drive around and look at Christmas lights to get him out of the house. After that they dropped us back off and left. I can't say I blame them.
Christmas day was also kind of stressful. We went and got my mom from the nursing home to spend the afternoon and evening with us. I feel guilty because she's in there, and I knew I should really spring her for Christmas, but it fed my anxiety.
Two days before new years we had some friends over for dinner. That wasn't too bad. I made barbecue ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, deviled eggs, chips, etc. I had fun--probably because I threw the ribs and baked beans in a low oven first thing in the morning, and didn't have to get everything done at the last minute. After dinner we played games for a while, which we haven't done in ages. (We should do that more often.)
The day before new year's, we went to visit our friend Cory from Nashville and our friend Christine and her kids from Cincy over at Cory's mom's house. Christine's kids are a little more active than I'm used to, but it was still a good visit.
New year's eve, we invited some friends over at the last minute. We originally called to see if their son wanted to spend the night with Simon; but when we started talking, we realized that none of us had plans so we invited the rest of his family over as well. We had all kinds of good junk food, with the idea that it would be our last hurrah before we start eating healthy for the start of the new year.
Of course it didn't work out that way. We spent too much for Christmas, and then I've somehow misplaced an insurance check that we figured we could use in a pinch. Then, nobody bothered to inform Steve that the church doesn't cut checks during the last week of the year so we're short that much more. All of that means we're waiting to restock the pantry with über healthy veggies, whole grains, etc; and instead working with a menu comprised of foods that have inexpensive ingredients until payday. For example, I pulled some dry beans out of the pantry and the ham bone from Christmas out of the freezer and started ham and bean soup for tonight's dinner. Yesterday we had homemade pancakes for breakfast and homemade pizza for lunch while Simon's friend was still here.
Today has been a really sleepy day for me. I didn't sleep well last night, and then took several naps today. I haven't even worked on laundry or dishes. I did start the soup, but I think we're going to have something else for dinner since it won't be done until later. I don't know what we're having--maybe spaghetti or something.
I'll post again soon with some pics I finally took out of the camera.
I hosted Bunco here on Friday night, which meant I've spent the past few days getting the house clean and getting food ready. We had lasagna, salad, focaccia bread, tiramisu, and cranberry bars with the lovely champagne cocktails for fun. (All homemade so it took me a while to get it ready.) We were also supposed to have soup, but I ran out of time at the last minute. Trust me, we didn't need the soup, we had lots of leftovers.
Everyone seemed to have a good time, and the house is already clean for Simon's Christmas party next weekend. Last year, we had Simon's classmates over for a Christmas party on the Saturday before Christmas. We fed them cheese pizza, let them decorate Christmas cookies, took them around the neighborhood to carol a few of our neighbors, and then brought them back here to eat their cookies and drink cocoa while we waited for their parents to come. The kids enjoyed it, and it was pretty low stress on me so we decided to do it again this year.
Anyway, after the Bunco party Friday night I was pooped. I managed to hold off a cold or sinus infection until after Bunco, so I spent all day yesterday mostly sitting around and doing nothing. It was good. The only housework I was forced to do was to clean out my fridge after I realized that it was only 53 degrees inside. (Which sucked because I had to throw out the tiramisu and several other leftovers.) The good news was that I hadn't really stocked the fridge with anything but party food, so it could have been much worse. I think I've decided that the defrost timer has gone out in this stupid fridge. I can get one online for $24, so I might try to replace it and see if that helps. The fridge is supposed to defrost a few times of day, but ours just freezes up until it stops cooling. Then I defrost it, and it works fine for another month or so. It is driving me crazy, so I hope replacing this part fixes it. I'm too cheap to hire a repairman if it's something I can replace with a screwdriver for less than $30, especially this close to Christmas.
Right now, I'm looking for a sugar cookie recipe that doesn't spread when it bakes. I have some cookie cutters that make four separate cookies that fit together to make an elf or Santa. I thought Simon's classmates would get a kick out of decorating an elf or Santa this year. I think Simon and I are going to work on making the cookies today, so we can keep them in the fridge until next weekend. (I'll try to post pictures when we're done.)
I haven't had a decent night's sleep in weeks. I can fall asleep, but somewhere around 3:00 or 4:00 am I am wide awake and worrying. (Usually about things related to our parents.) Back when I was still drinking caffeine, I was convinced that it caused my insomnia; but I haven't had caffeine or any other stimulant in ages. I had Steve unearth our treadmill that had gotten covered with boxes a few weeks ago when our basement flooded, but I've been so tired that I haven't used it. (I think that sort of thing can be an ugly cycle.)
Sometimes I can get back to sleep, but almost every day this week we've gotten a 5:30 am call from one of Steve's co-workers telling him that they have a weather related delay or closing. One day we got the 5:30 delay call, and then another call an hour later telling him that they were closing school for the day. (I don't *have* to be awake until 7:00, so I was not pleased to hear the phone ring before that.)
The past few nights, I've refused to let myself worry. I've forced myself to lie there and play a mind game where I pick a topic and then have to come up with a topic oriented word for each letter of the alphabet. I used to do easy topics like food or girls' names. Last night I was trying to come up with first names of people I went to college with. I remember getting to N before I fell back to sleep.
Fortunately several good things happened today. Not only I finally manage to unclog our bathroom drain that has been running extremely slowly for the past several days, but I got some news on the two things that have worrying me the most. For the first time in weeks I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Right now I'm exhausted, but I have high hopes that I'll get a good nights sleep. We're all fighting off a cold, and I'm sure the changing weather and my lack of sleep haven't helped.
Tomorrow morning we have the staff Christmas brunch at Simon's school. I hope it's fun and not a lot of quality time sitting around listening to the school administrator lecture. (I like the administrator, but man is he wordy!) Last year they offered free child care for a few hours so we could go Christmas shopping, but I haven't heard anything about that option for tomorrow. No matter, I need to get this house cleaned up and finish Christmas decorating so I don't have to rush to get it done before I host Bunco a week from tonight.
I barely know most of the twelve women coming over, yet I'm extremely nervous about having them over for this party. I have no idea why. I don't think they're judgmental--and I don't care about what the judgmental ones would think anyway. Yesterday I didn't feel well. Instead of doing constructive things like cleaning; I made up a list of all of the food I'm going to serve, my grocery list, and a rough draft of a to-do list. It involves having the house mostly clean and decorated this weekend, so let's all keep our fingers crossed.
