Finally! A Sense of Accomplishment..

So far today I have:

• washed, dried, folded and put away 3 loads of sheets and towels
• made a double batch of Spritz dough, pressed, decorated and baked half
• picked up about 45% of the mess
• hung my ribbon on my banisters
• put the garland on the mantle & hung the stockings (with care, no less!)
• wrapped 27 packages (all from my in-laws and only 1 was for BB & I, the rest were for the kids)
• fed, bathed, dressed, changed, and fed (lunch, this time) the kids
• Tiny Princess has napped and is currently happily sitting in her high chair, munching Cheerios, watching the Polar Express
• bathed the dog
• cleaned the cat boxes
• explained (successfully) my issue with my humidifier to the technician, and employed his service for the needed repairs
• balanced the checkbook
• paid the bills
• done the grocery shopping

While I have no pictures uploaded and posted, they do exist, and shall be up PRIOR to Christmas Day!


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On a side note, I'd like to strangle Missionary Man...now I realize that he and his family work hard just to live (no drier, no grocery store, no television, no "modern conveniences"), and have to rely on the support gifts to have money for food and clothing, there is no reason that after 2 weeks of being state-side, they should be totally unaware of the stress they are causing my parents.

My mother has totally had to abandon any of her normal de-stressing projects (like her quilting and knitting) in order to accomodate their son, who is, for some reason, not picking up on the rules at Grammy's house...and they are also totally oblivious to the fact that their attitude of "we have worked hard at the Lord's work, now take care of us" is a little over done.

I know they need time to relax and be refreshed and rejuvenated, but in my book, that does not entitle you to be waited upon, hand and foot, by your host and hostess. They actually came home the other day, put the children down for their afternoon naps, and turned around, left again for 3 hours, and never once said anything to my mom about where they were going, how long they would be gone, let alone asking if my folks has plans and would they mind terribly hanging around while the children napped?

OY! Now I know that I do indeed want time to do nothing on vacation, but I know well and good that when we go BB's parent's house, we are guests in their home...often for a long while, and that it is never acceptable as a guest to expect being served all the time. That is why I offer my services to cook, clean, tidy, etc...whether it is accepted or not is up to my host/hostess...but at least I know that I offered, and I take care to make as little extra work as I possibly can while staying with someone...

OK...I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest...and don't say anything about that to him will you? He apparently bit my mom's head off this morning when she confronted him. Needless to say, Dad will be doing any confronting from here on out...