home for the holidays...!

I haven’t had time to get on the computer lately.  I’ve been so busy.  Last week, my hubby and my son took a mini vacation.  They left last Tuesday and came back on Sunday evening.  I’m glad they’re back but it almost seemed like they never left.  Before I knew it, they were home!

I know my hubby wasn’t too happy to get back.  It has been so cold!

Last week, I spent too much time on the computer trying to figure out how to download my pictures from my new digital camera.  And, I ended up spending three hours on the phone with a Kodak representative.  She finally told me that it was not the digital camera or the software that had the problem, but my computer.  For some reason, even though the software indicates that the download was complete and successful, when I try to download the pictures, it indicates that the “device or camera is not connected”, even though it is!  I’m still upset over this!  I don’t know what to do!

I had promised my daughter that I would not be on the computer and that we would do things together.  And on the second night, I prepared a nice dinner for the two of us to enjoy.  But this is how it went:  

Me:     Dinner is ready!  Let’s sit and have a nice dinner together.
D:     Can I go and eat in the living room instead so I can watch t.v.?
Me:     No.  I want us to have a quiet dinner.  
D:     But I want to watch t.v.
Me:     What about us talking and spending time together.
D:     Mom… but you’re boring!
Me:     Gee, thanks!

Yes, I was hurt!  My teenager thinks I’m boring …!

I finally sat her down and had a little talk with her.  She said to me that she was upset because she didn’t get to go with my husband and son.  I told her that it was their father and son trip together.  Plus, since she was having trouble with her grades, I told her she couldn’t afford to take that kind of time off.  I told her we needed to plan for our next mother/daughter trip.  She wants to go to Hawaii… how fun!  Maybe next year!

So for the rest of the week, we spent time doing things together. Unfortunately, it was too cold to do much, especially go downtown, like she wanted to.  Over the weekend she volunteered at the school so it kept us busy.    

I took my little niece with us on Sunday for “Tea with Santa”.  While my daughter was helping the little children with the arts/crafts, my niece was making different Christmas ornaments.  She had so much fun doing so.  Then came Santa….she was so excited and happy to see him!  I took her to take a picture with Santa.

Santa:  “Hello, and what is your name?”
Niece:     “My name is Italee.”
Santa:     “And what would you like for Christmas Italee?”
Niece:     “I want for everyone to believe in you Santa.”
Santa:   (I don’t think he expected that response!) He smiled and said, “Why, thank you!  
             And do you believe in me?”
Italee:     “Yes, Santa, I believe in you!”

She was so happy to have met Santa!  She turned around and said to me, “This is the best day of my life!”

My gosh!  Time is really flying!   Weren’t we just getting ready for Thanksgiving?  I got reminded today that our Christmas party at work is next Friday.  Next Thursday is my last day at work since I’m taking two weeks off for the holidays.  We originally planned to go out of town but apparently, I was told that maybe our family from NM are coming down to spend Christmas here instead.  

I’m actually looking forward to attending the X-mas party... maybe I should not take that Friday off so as not to waste a vacation day.  Every year, they give out a free trip…maybe, if I’m lucky, I will win!  But I have to be there to win.

Now, my hubby mentioned to me that the family is probably not coming after all.  So, I don’t know if we are going or staying!  

And since we had mentioned to our friends that we were not going out of town, they are looking forward and are already planning on having a New Years party at our house.  

I don’t know… with us, it’s always last minute things….we’ll see…!