Merry Christmas to All and to all a good night's sleep!!!!

I wanted to make a quick post and let everyone know I would be thinking of them over the holidays and hoping they have an enjoyable time with family and friends. We are heading to Manty on Christmas Eve for church and the annual food and drink fest at mom & dad's. It is always way too much fun. Although, since I won't get plastered this year, I guess I will see how it really is when you are the only sober person there.

Christmas day, as I have mentioned, we are hosting Jeff's family, which consists of his mom and 2 brothers, so nothing too advanced. We are roasting a brisket of beef, making cheesy potatoes, broccoli and tomato salad, having dinner rolls and baking an apple pie for dessert. It should be fun and I will be distracted in the kitchen, so I won't need to talk to anyone. This year, the number of topics to avoid discussing with his family has tripled, so not sure how long talking about the weather will last. I plan to drink a lot when no one is watching, this way, they can avoid commenting on if it is a good idea to get sloshed and then feed Cooper.

Also, wanted to mention that the pictures on this post feature the gorgeous creations of my cousin Adrienne, she is a very talented knitter. I will miss seeing her over Christmas, as she is probably my most entertaining relative. I am sure she knows we will be thinking about her and that Cooper loves his gorgeous apparel from Cousin Adge.

Enjoy each moment of whatever you are doing for the holidays!

I am too tired to care about the following...

#1)Our driveway is an ice rink and my husband seems to think this is no big deal because we park in the garage. I will of course be out there next week chipping away at the ice and then running inside every 5 minutes to make sure Cooper isn't screaming. For whatever reason our monitor isn't quite working outside the house yet.

#2)Jeff asked me today if I thought it would be okay for him to go to fight weekend with his friends in February in Milwaukee. Which is fine with me(not really, but I will pretend), but I can't help but wonder - when in the heck do I get to have a weekend away????!!!???!!!??? In fact, when am I going to get a full nights sleep??!!??!! I would even take 4 consecutive hours of sleep.

#3)We are entertaining the in-laws on Christmas day, I have asked Jeff to discuss a menu about a million times, to which he replies, "ham". So I am not bringing this up again and I am seriously laughing my but off picturing us eating deli ham sandwiches and boxed potatoes on Christmas Day because he as usual has no idea what it really takes to properly entertain people and will seriously probably think he can run to the store on Christmas Day. Good thing Kwik Trip will be open:)

I will say I am looking forward to tomorrow, we will head to Manty for Grandma's 85th b-day celebration, then we are going out to dinner in Kohler with my parents and sister. We are eating in the Wisconsin Room at the American Club where Heidi is chef. Very excited for some grown up time. Although Cooper will be there and Jeff will be panic stricken because he seems to think Cooper should stay at home for the rest of his life, but oh that's right, I am too tired to care...wink wink!

All I want for Christmas is....

For people to be better listeners. Why does listening seem to be such a hard skill for some people? I don't want to name names, but I will give you a clue, she lives about 90 minutes away from us and she is related to Jeff. After we provided very specific Christmas Lists, she calls to say she wants to buy me clothes. Um- NO!!!! I have a closet full of suits and clothes I never wear, as since I work from home (and Angie O. can attest to this) I am usually wearing pajamas, a jog suit or workout clothes. Jeans are now what I consider "dressing up" for my trips to the grocery store. So seriously, I can barely wear the clothes I do have and to know that some one who asks us every year for a Caroline Ingalls style flannel nightgown for her Christmas gift wants to get me some apparel, I have to put my foot down. I am sure this will again characterize me as the B*tchy daughter in law, but seriously, get us what we ask for, not what you have found a super sale on.

PS)I am going to drink on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I figure it won't kill Cooper and I think it is the only way I will be able to deal with everyone on zippo sleep.

A method to Daddy's madness....

I am sure you have noticed, if you are even still reading my blog that I have not been very good at posting lately. So many priorities, so little time. But I do have a funny story to share about Jeff's very alternative parenting style.

Cooper has a very definite crabby time and it is evenings from about 4-6pm, which is miserable for poor Jeff, he comes home from work and is greeted by a screaming baby. And I usually need a break by then, even if it is only a 10 minute shower break, I need some time off from our little guy. So Jeff is tasked with trying to figure out what on earth could be bothering Cooper and then trying to satisfy him. Last week, Cooper was beyond upset and after both of us trying for more than an hour to settle him down, I had to pump, so Jeff was on his own. As I finished up and turned off the pump, I could hear some super loud music coming from the bedroom upstairs where Jeff and Cooper were camped out. I was a little worried as I approached thinking that Jeff had left a crying Cooper in the crib and had locked himself in the bathroom and blasted his new Matchbox 20 CD. Oh no....I opened the door and discovered Jeff playing air guitar on Cooper's belly as Cooper was completely asleep/out cold. Interesting method, I would have never tried it, but it worked. Cooper seems to really enjoy loud music.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and I promise to try to post more regularly!