So our heroine is at her in-laws all is still well, Steeler game is over it's a W and we're headed out to the Sister in-law's. You remember her - she loves us! (insert tongue firmly into cheek here). Where IS that sarcasm font? Any who.... I gave the Pap a quick call, he slept through the second half of the game, so we don't chat - we head out and away we go!
We arrive to happy, happy, kiss, kiss and I am waiting for the big reveal. My sister-in-law and her daughter decided to buy a puppy for said husband/ father (not in a West Virginia way -- never mind read the sentence again people!) Moving ON - Brother-in-law R is on the phone trying to clear up the mail order mess of his daughter's while everyone else is waiting for him to get OFF the phone so they can spring this "surprise" on the poor man. Now I say that as the breed they purchased (which annoys me - there are plenty of rescues out there not to mention the fact they let the last dog they had DIE because $400 was too much money for surgery!) And I am climbing down off my soap box and getting back to the tale.... So - off the phone herded down the stairs (as it got cold outside waiting) and this bundle is dumped into his arms.... and to our amazement!! He's HAPPY! Go figure. OK so everyone back upstairs, play with puppy, niece D's puppy comes out - sniff, sniff, play play looks good so far. So there is us, the sister-in-law and her family, the parental units, Granny, and an aunt and her husband. Niece A comes in announces that she saw some body's car outside, and she's not staying she's dropping off gifts. Now Mum-in-law J and sister T start shouting that this person isn't here and WTF and all sorts of other things. Now as Bubba and I have NO clue who this person is and what crawled up A's backside and took up residence we stay where we are and say nothing. I guess they sent enough repeated information to Niece A that it hit that the person she apparently had an issue with is not the car she sees, and all is better and she and family invades.
Now let me take a small left turn here and go back to the time at the mum's house where she proceeds to tell me that the new husband of 4 months has a work ethic issue. He has a seasonal job now and is laid off for the winter and instead of going to Wal or Target or where ever to get a job and some income he sits and home... oh goodie these two lay abouts are married. And Mum J ain't too happy about it - Bubba later told me that Niece A is coming to her for grocery money... seriously. If that were me I have that boy by the ear and be "helping" him fill out applications - get up off your fanny and feed this family you fathered.... it's official God hates me.
(and in and out --- ) So anyway -- back to crazy central where eldest grand nephew decides like his mother before him to scope out what was his and begins to kick (yes literally) kick at Christmas presents... as he got close the gifts I had purchased for Mum and Bubba which were 1) glass and 2) not cheap his foot met my hand and my words of wisdom of what would happen to his little fanny if he kept at it. He moved on. And yes I'm that Aunt Ing... don't mess with me. :-)
Now the fun begins, we open presents, kids are happy, big noise new puppy is asleep in a corner, Bubba and I do well and only one brief moment when I can't find the gift for Niece D's boyfriend - thankfully it was mixed with Mum J's and whew.... everyone seemed pleased and for a change I did right by the little ones. The car for the youngest when he shook the rattle the car went! The Elmo purse for Add was a big hit, and of course my legos didn't make noise or light up but I know they are a favored toy - sooner or later. There was family time and I managed not to say anything that would offend, think to offend or even hint around a mouth to filter failure of any kind. Do I have to say I didn't have anything - shall we say in the adult beverage category? No -- Not lesson learned - learned not to drink sweet wine crap served at the in-laws. Not to drink - do you read this blog regularly??? Seriously people.
So we stay late, playing cards and enjoying left late into the night and got home late. I feeling quite well in the in-law time even Bubba had no post-game commentary on what he perceived as an "issue" to which I usually and promptly ignore and then blog about.
We had a minor incident at Casa-De Ing's Parents when Violet proceeded to "gift" the parental units with a "present" in the kitchen. The jury is still out if this was sick or they missed the hound wounding through the house that she needed out... we'll vote again later.
and you can't just claim the not getting my twisty brain thinking... you read THIS don't you?)
SO! All Church'ed up and with both Bubba and I in there the place is still standing -- bonus! Dinner prep begins in earnest I again have the honor of massaging the roast beast (aka beef roast) with oil and spices and chopping all veggies and goodies with wine and stock and all sorts of happy things and into the oven it goes. I finally change clothes and then about the time we have some expectation of little ones arriving Violet decides to get SICK... she's barfing, and pooping and thankfully this is outside, but her tummy was all extended and she's hiding and it's freaking me out! We can't find an ER Vet in Western Pa that is willing to answer the freaking emergency number... then finally after nearly an hour - everyone has arrived - she bolts up on last massive noise, her tummy is back to normal and I am nearly beside myself with relief that she looks better. We get her back into the house, tucked into a corner she sleeps, we open presents, it's all happiness and shouts and bouncing and typical Christmas with kids. We get through all that, we make gingerbread houses - well decorate them, and then clean up THAT mess - get dinner on the table, and the noise level drops to one kids... niece Z begins to regale us all with tales of who knows at -of course - full volume and self entertainment. Post dinner violet drinks some water - which makes the stress level drop again, and a bit later with 4 drops of beef juice on her food Violet eats! Things are moving again as they should with the pup and much relief is felt.
Everyone is happy, but there is a level of caution as my brother's mother in law was again the ER, and to this date is still there, another surgery and is being told to stay put. Apparently when they sent her home the first time before Christmas she did too much and is now paying that bill.. major bummer to the Sis W and her family. And to my brother as we all can attest - having a spouse with family issues be it sick or otherwise - well it ain't fun for nobody and as every mother's child can also confirm if Mama ain't happy no one is.
Moving on, everyone heads out late, we all enjoy and embrace the noise level down from 12 to 3 and a short time later we all find our pillows. I think Bubba was pleased with his Christmas I know he liked the Lladro dog I got him and he wasnt' sure about the Muppet Show DVDs I got him - but hey I want to watch those! My parents were supposed to come down for a visit this week but thanks to Sandy and her traveling Nana service they are home with Martina - and seriously bummed I'm sure... (again see sarcasm font). Which also turned out to be a good thing as I have to work overnight tonight... yeah. On the upside home 'early' Friday - like post lunch.
The trip home was uneventful, again apparently I consulted the "don't say this stuff around Bubba list" and he had nothing to complain about. Oh sure I'm sure parts of him were not happy that he had to go back up to his family without me because my parents refused to have both of us gone with a sick pup at their place. What a hardship - shopping with Nana and sis while Bubba dealt with is family - alone. Tough going but I think we managed to figure it out. And frankly it was probably a good thing - he needs that time with just his family and without the in-law filter in place. Plus he can't accuse me of spreading anything around because I wasn't there. OH of course I asked but only in the nicest possible, good visit? kind of way? I did refrain from the "What is the latest up there?" questions - Bubba don't listen but he does occasionally catch on to that kind of up front gossip pump. I let things flow is how you get the tidbits of grocery money and a new puppy crying all night long...
Between you and the bits and bytes - that eldest Grand Nephew is going to be an issue sooner rather than later... he wanted to dogs to fight - he points toy guns at people and yes Nana negative attention is attention but negative can turn ugly in a heart beat. And with the two morons as parental figures.... that isn't nice... the two....people... who live with him in a pseudo- adult capacity (let's go with that) will not take the time, energy or good parenting skills to get things under control... please explain to me again why .... 3 kids without even working at it.... and me - oh never mind. Does anything think I will ever let this go? Me either... and shame on me for it. I am the QUEEN of let it go.... so letting go and getting back to getting ready for tonight.
One last thought on the trip it rained 2 days the entire time we were off.. the day we left and the say we came back to MD -- really?
Happy New Year... something tells me I may have time to post with the holiday... it's just me and Bubba - for 3 days. Thankfully we will have company for at least 1 of those days. Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment