Friday, December 26, 2025

Ditto a chuckle over you gluing your shoes together. My DH does that until they no longer hold...

I too have to chime in about how much I love our family here. I cherish the support and kindness, and the comfort of being with people who understand your struggles. I welcome the breadth of knowledge and experience everyone brings from their own lives that helps me gain clarity. I so appreciate how everyone to a person can tell you a truth you might need to hear, but offers it in the most caring and unjudgemental way.

I was caught by surprise how much work it still was when the final hosting push came. I had shopped meticulously, pulled out pans and baking dishes and sorted ingredients into them a few days ahead. For example in the pan I was using to make the stuffing, I put the stuffing mix, the carton of vegetable broth, an onion, an apple, two ribs of celery so all I had to do was grab the pan and the perishable ingredients from the fridge and get to work. It was still overwhelming. In reflection, a lot of women my age are being hosted by their children. I'm still making Christmas happen at our house and transporting the food and goodies to make Christmas happen at my parents. I might need to cut back on one in the future.

Other people did lots of work too. My brother cleared out all the junk from my parents dining room. He brought all the boxes that were in the corners, on chairs, under the table upstairs to my parents vacant master bedroom, and lined them up in a row. Maybe they will get sorted through some day by my parents, or maybe they will sit there until the day my brother and I have to clean out the house. At least the downstairs where they live now is more useable. It actually felt more like a normal Christmas than in many years, because we ate in the dining room and opened presents in the living room. My Mom crossed the house in a wheelchair, and actually transferred to sit in one of the livingroom chairs. I can't remember the last time I saw my Mom sitting in any setting besides her recliner in the family room. It may be her last Christmas, so I've thanked my brother a number of times for making it more normal. And it was nice that DS's girlfriend saw at least the shadows of what the house and my parents once were, and not the full on dysfunction sometimes on display.

Today I will try to put the house back in order. Tonight we are going to a show called Luminesence at the Basilica in Minneapolis. It's a light show projected in the sanctuary along with a live orchestra. Seemed like a unique performance experience we all could enjoy.

Despite lots of treats, my weight is pretty much unchanged. A Christmas miracle.

DD so glad to hear that things went well with your mom. And yeah all the Christmas prep seems to grow as we age. I think Paula has the right idea - getting stuff ready made from the grocery. You are so lucky to have a brother that really pitches in. Glad the girlfriend got a good view of the family. Enjoy the church event - sounds wonderful.

DS

It sounds like a lovely low drama day at your parent's home yesterday. I think you all needed that. And I agree, hosting is exhausting. Best to pass it to our children if/when we can or figure out how to lighten the load as Paula did.

Christmas celebrated with the kids last night. Grocery dinner was only okay. It wasn't mama's cooking but mama didn't need to do much more than warm it up! Presents were opened, games were played, it was fun.

DSD didn't end up staying at our Air Bnb after all but came over for the Christmas festivities. At least she wasn't pissy! She invited a friend to join in which was fine. Got to meet DS2s boyfriend. Seems like a nice chap.

Laundry done and bags mostly packed. We will go out for pizza tonight with DSD. DS2 and DS3 are already gone, DC1 still hanging out with us but won't do pizza with us because unfortunately DSDs aunt and uncle will be joining us and she talks nonstop and is just a lot!

Will go to bed early with a 5am departure planned. 13 plus hours to our first stop which is Chattanooga. Looking forward to being back in FL. Thankfully we should miss the snow that is supposed to start Sunday.

Wow! What a quick trip with all that driving! Seems like you will have spent as many days driving as you did up north? But worth the family holiday time, I am sure!

More on the road actually! Nice visit but I will be glad to be back to our new home. Being back in our old town didn't make us want to move back! Perhaps if it was in July! lol!

That was a whirlwind trip! Safe travels. You'll know those roads very well after your multiple trips.

Sorry to be checking in so late today! Had a bit of a busy-ish day.

200 on the dot even with all the recreational eating done yesterday. Was a lovely, lovely Christmas Day with Ron's family. The drive was really easy with only very light rain and easy traffic. Really good food, excellent desserts and delightful people - can't really ask for more.

Had fun watching a few Christmas movies last night, too. Those Hallmark movies really are schmaltzy, but you know, they can be fun, too. We watched one because my SIL said that one of the characters reminded her of me. The character didn't really remind me of me. The character was obviously gay/effeminate, honestly blunt and a caricature of a gay party boy. Other than gay and blunt, I failed to see similarities, but you know... to each his own. If that's how she sees me, so be it. Ron's hackles were raised by the comparison. He disagreed vehemently. Gotta love him for defending my honor! The other one we watched was The Holiday Sitter, Hallmark's 2022 gay Christmas movie.

Today things went back to normal for me. Took Molly for a progesterone test, stopped at the pharmacy to pick up my meds for upcoming surgery, popped into the grocery to get eggs, made lunch, met with the NUT therapist, and hit the gym. Ron took a well deserved "slug" or PJ day. He's beat after 3 masses between Christmas Eve and Day (plus all the prep they take), and the excursion to Sonoma.

Left overs for dinner.

CC, Paula, safe travels home. Diamond D, hope you are still enjoying your children. Hosting is exhausting and stressful! Sorry you were a tad overwhelmed. Diane S. glad the rain didn't impact your day. It was pretty intense here Christmas Eve, but by morning the powerful part of the storm had passed through. Liz, your Christmas sounds like it was pretty perfect. Lucky you! Hope the sinus infection clears!

Cheers!

A lot of those Hallmark movies do like to stereotype people, but some of them are somewhat moving. Same story in each though: People find each other, have a quick connection, something goes awry and they break up, then all is resolved and they live happily ever after. The end.

Congrats on 200. I really do believe that sometimes when eating in a deficit, our bodies try to hold onto the weight at all costs, but then when there are some extra calories added back, it relaxes and lets go of some of that weight it was holding onto.

I am glad you had a good holiday and Ron definitely deserves some down time to recoup.