A snapshot –
My brother just finished pounding out made up songs on our piano (he is a gifted pianist, with the somewhat tiresome caveat that every piece must be fast and loud), and has snuck up into my parents’ room (where I’ve been hiding for an hour) to play Halo right beside my ear. It’s an interactive internet game, so he speaks into a set of headphones to some people around the world that are playing right now on his team. I keep thinking he’s talking to me – oh silly girl.
My baby sister has three friends in from her old Virginia high school. They are all lovely kids. But they are sixteen. And giggly. Dinner was a sort of competition for who can make the most wisecracks in the loudest voice. They are currently running up and down stairs, pretty much monopolizing all 5,000 or so square feet of common living space. I now understand SO MUCH MORE about my father.
My oldest sister (who lives with me) has not changed out of her pajamas since Christmas Eve. I tried to get her to go out with me into the nearby town of Lake Bern, but she is having none of it. Traitor. She’s downstairs, yukking it up with the young loud kids and building our train platform (I wanted to help, but sensed some territorial issues, so backed off).
My middle sister has over the years mastered the art of hiding out somewhere in the house and doing her own thing. She is practicing this art as I type. Of course, she is the only one not sharing a room at the moment (Sister #2 and I don’t even have a room anymore, sob), so it’s a little easier for her to get away.
The parents are huddled by the fire, trying to snooze in front of the tv. The dog and cat are alternately sleeping and bickering at their feet.
My boyfriend has driven three hours away to visit his family. At the moment, he is drinking a glass of wine in a spa with two adult cousins, after enjoying a bowl game on a big screen tv. I chose not to go so I could spend more time with my own family, who are now for the most part pursuing their own interests and bored of me. Again I say, oh silly girl.
***This is usually the point of home visits at which I become somewhat frazzled. I have to remind myself that I enjoy my family, and that "vacation" is not necessarily synonymous with "rest," and I should be ok with that.
Anyway, despite the fact that my patience for sharing a house with 10 other people is wearing somewhat thin, I have had a great holiday. This Christmas was one of the best in recent memory – we had a lot of fun opening gifts and teasing each other on Christmas morning, and a very relaxing rest of the day. We are in chilly Wisconsin, so the order of the day has usually been to stay inside by the fire and keep warm, drowsing over a book or movie. It’s been very relaxing and a great chance to reconnect. I love the kids, I love my parents’ new house in Wisconsin, and I am going to brave the downstairs right now to get myself a glass of chardonnay and sit in front of the fire. With headphones on.
Hey, stranger! I think your blog is cool. You don\’t know me, but as long as you have time to take a look at my space, you\’ll start to like me. 😀 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* * 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* 。˚*。 * ˚ * 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* * 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* ˚ 。。 * 。˚*。 * ˚* 。 * 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* ˚ 。。 * 。 ˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* ˚˚ 。。 * 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 * 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* ˚ 。。 * 。 ˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。。 。* ˚˚ 。。 * 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 ˚ 。* 。˚*。 * ˚* 。* 。 Happy winter holidays!BTW, comments and random emails are always welcomed. -_-!
Hi,Sounds cold in Wisconsin. Of course you say Wisconsin I think cold regardless. Funny how that doing your own thing happens with family. Sometimes it is good, sometimes bad. At least you are there right?NoraHappy New Year.
So glad you\’ve had a wonderful Christmas. I didn\’t know that your boy\’s family was so close to yours…I still have so much to learn about you! Are you staying through New Year\’s? Our New Year\’s plans just fell through 🙁 so we are now investigating other options. I honestly wouldn\’t mind if we just stayed home, drank wine, and giggled at funny movies together. Any new news on the work front? I am beyond thrilled to not have to be there the rest of this week. And they don\’t know it yet, but I am not going to be there next Thursday or Friday either. I will be going with Michael as he moves out to Arlington. 🙁 -sigh- Happy Family time!Amanda 🙂
You\’re snapshot was a great read. It is fun to go back home and spend time with the whole family. Of course knowing that it is only for a short time helps. hahaI\’m glad you had a great Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful New Year!!
Okay, you made me smile and laugh out loud! Both amazing feats today! 🙂 I loved the list you made — it really cracked me up. I did have a fleeting thought of SSB the other day and I do have to admit that I did yearn for it a bit. Ah, the Saturdays of lazing around in my jammies, reading magazines, and eating Cheetos with no witnesses to see how many I really ate! 🙂 How are things in your world? I am anxious to hear about how work is going and what you are planning next!How was your New Year? I hope it was really fun!Amanda 🙂
Hi there! Blog surfed over from Nora\’s. *waves*