Whew--- Part II

So where were we?

Ah yes the in-laws where everyone else ate somewhere else but me and Bubba, and his parents.  Bodes well for this meal doesn't it?  Actually I will say my sister-in-law's turkey was better than my mother-in-law's turkey; and frankly the rest of the meal wasn't bad either, not a green veggie to be found but hey - its Thanksgiving ya gotta power load for all that shopping the next day.  Or if you are  like me sit and veg and wonder if you're the stuffed turkey this year... I digress.

I noted an interesting and somewhat sad thing on Thursday, and I was, I guess, a bit guilty of it myself, the little kids, Jr and Ad got all the attention while poor J had a pout-y face all day.  Of course the face was because the grown ups were watching football and eating dinner while J was full (from earlier visit to other grandma), bored and wanted to play video games - on the big TV.   Well, no, son, and ain't lift tough.   Of course this did not deter him from taking his wooden gun and shooting all the football players on the screen.  Oh yeah - that's healthy behavior.   Now I did offer to play a game with him, or be on the computer or anything because I did notice he was basically left to his own devices - and I felt bad.  But again I was reminded they are not my children so stuff the pie-hole with more pie.  A fattening if not effective way to prevent any filter to mouth slip ups...

I left the departure time entirely up to Bubba, I was not going to be the bad guy in this little play.  And I wasn't - I was the idiot wife telling her husband how to drive in Western PA - he learned in California - which is wrong on a number of levels most importantly how to drive on hilly, twisty two lanes roads - oh and when NOT to stop - like at the top of a major hill WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A STOP SIGN.   But the other 3 directions do... yes boys and girls, I almost had a new ass-end of my new car because Bubba wanted to stop at a four way - in which only 3 had stop signs... and we weren't any of the three - and I am sure the 'gentleman' behind us had a few choice football words for the idiot with the MD license plates who tried to stop when there was no need.... and breathe...

Home, actually beat the parental units home - color me surprise with Pap feeling less than his best.  No biggie let the pups out, run about, dinner fed, into sweatpants and ahhhhh peace.

Friday - up and moving, got he Christmas wreath for Bubba's grandfather's grave, and in a fit 'I am the good son he got flowers for his Great Grandmother's grave as well.  Away we went back to the in-laws to ensure all had the proper amount of family time given the no-dog constraints on their visits... (not that I'm cranky about that at ALL - not me!)  We take of things, discuss our eternal resting place, as his mother (shock and surprise) has changed her mind.   Groovy.  Problem is we want out too... only we have to sell our plots ourselves... lord love a duck... plus there is the already purchased head stone - so Bubba is unwilling to part with already spent money.   I'll nag him in 6 months to go where we want to... and frankly that is ENOUGH talk about this topic.    Oh sure it's all funny we discussing nursing homes and my sister's list of them, from the "I love my parents" place to "what-it's -name - yeah feed them whatever.." location.

I do appreciate both sets of parental units stating they do not want to live with their children,especially my mother-in-law who does not want to live with her daughter.   Can I get that in writing please?

Again--- enough on that.  We arrive at the condo-de-in-laws to find no Granny but plus Eldest boy J.   OK... from the habits, observations, and conversations of Friday, this happening was not unusual (the boy addition not the Granny subtraction).  Now 'splain this to me - you have a 6 month old, a 1.5 year old and a 7 year old... and you leave the 7 year old with the (great) grand parents to go shopping on 'Black Friday'??  Huh?   I would think rather than cart little ones around who will poop out early you'd take the big kid or dump all three to get your 'santa' shopping done without the darlings.  But no in the backwards, upside down logic that permeates my in-laws thought process, she dumps the 7 year old and hauls the two little ones around.   Now a more cynical or some would say bitchy commentary would be she's got two little ones who don't talk back yet and are still cute and by the baby -daddy she is now married to... and Senior boy J is wild, demanding and needs a VERY firm hand - which according to my limited observations with Mum and "Baby Daddy M" he ain't getting.    Bubba is right in a blink of an eye this kid is going to be a juvenile delinquent - about the time Bubba's parents start to need more assistance.   I will be in a corner with my nose buried in a book or kindle like device. No dear - this is your family as you have so vividly pointed out to me on numerous occasions - it is simply not my place to tend to this... it's all you pumpkin.   I fully intend to have that stitched on a pillow - or maybe just engraved on a gold flash card.  :-)

And I've wandered again haven't I?  So... in-laws groovy never complain about time with the little ones, and when you get J engaged one-on-one he's smart and quick.  This trip though he wanted to play with his Legos and the rest of us watched a movie on the TV.  Of course this was after we went to lunch, and of course A and D and the two little ones met us, it was nice, enjoyed, again I spent time with J, we did his kid menu puzzles and fun - but he sure doesn't sit still for long.  Frankly he's bored and you need to have stuff along to keep him busy.  If he's engaged and kept busy he doesn't feel the need to dance about and make everything else just a challenge.   No one sees that - and as my husband as told me - it's not my place to say.   So I say it here - in my happy place.

We do lunch, we head to the Wal-Mart very post Black Friday "excitement" get gifts for the two names we pulled out of the grab bag.. and head home.

Let me take a minute and detail this bit of fun!   My husband's family decided to pull names so everyone only had to buy one present - great works for me!  What struck me as odd was, 1) everyone wanted to share who they got, and of course Bubba professional keeper of state secrets told no one and 2) his parents were included in this little get together as was mum-in-law's sister and her husband.  (long involved story there and I still don't know all the parts!)   Ok fine, family is family and of course I put the damn whammy on myself and got Niece D's boyfriend. -- just shoot me.  so I ask, point blank, what do I get this guy - I don't know him from Adam and would indeed be hard pressed to pick him in a line up that included Niece A's new hubby... it's a Western PA look...

ANY way - we get that done and on the way home I asked my husband if your parents were included in the grab bag why did your mother call with  gift idea for your father?  Which he has since purchased?  There was no answer and the addition quip of "I don't try to understand my mother's thought process". 

I know why... not that I told Bubba - it's because "we have more money than God" - and it's the only reason his side of the family are nice to us... and probably my side too... :-D

We ended the evening with hot dogs, Bubba found a spot that has reproduced the chili sauce he loves from the now defunct place in Butler, PA.   Of course because my darling husband takes such care, he got all the dogs with onions - and I don't like onions on my dogs nor do I want to eat them because I will eat them ALL NIGHT LONG... so I pick off the onions and with it most of the chili sauce, grumble at my hubby about not paying attention... and move on with my day.  It still amazes me the woman has the most unreal upgraded kitchen on planet earth and  she DOESN'T COOK!   Bubba's Dad goes out for COFFEE!  Well that could be for the 15 minutes of peace and quiet a day he gets so we won't judge too much there...

It was a nice visit but like I said we didn't get much gossip in, we watched a movie and had lots of company.   I did one little busy body thing and ask how Bubba's sister and her husband were getting along... apparently it depends upon who you ask.  Ask Sister of Bubba and get things are just fine, ask her husband - about 180 degree different answer.  Bummer because I like her husband...

Next post - Saturday of the family I get and all the noise that comes with them....

Fixed all the crappy grammar errors - sorry about that gang.