I know I’m a little late with this, but I’m just finally settling down.  Like others in the blogging world, I love Christmas, but I’m so happy it’s in the rearview mirror for another year!

I headed out to my MIL’s place in Indiana on Friday after work.  On the pretence of going to the movies, my MIL and I made a trip to Walmart to pick up some last minute Christmas gifts for DS.

On Saturday, DS and I went to House of Stitches to pick up some floss I needed (see previous post.  Karoline – you mentioned in your comment that you would buy 2 skeins of the Country Lane for the Ladybugs & Bumblees – I don’t know whether it was that the chart called for 2 skeins, although this wasn’t mentioned, or whether I lost some of mine.)  I could easily have spent several hours in there, as I love the store, and rarely get the chance to visit, but the patience of a 7 year old only lasts so long, so it was a quick visit.  After that, we met up with my girlfriend, Holly for lunch at Chili’s, and then the three of us went to the movies to see “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”.  We all enjoyed the movie.

The Christmas celebrations started on Sunday at my MIL’s place, where we had a buffet style lunch for my FIL’s side of the family.  We have a secret santa gift exchange, so after eating, we exchanged gifts.  I received a gift card to Target and Hobby Lobby.  Husband was supposed to join us, but ended up arriving late, after everyone had eaten, and gifts had been exchanged.

Everyone left by 6pm, and MIL, husband, DS and I decided to go to the movies.  We ended up seeing National Treasure again, as husband had wanted to see it, and we were told that the other movie we wanted to see wasn’t as great as expected.

Monday involved a little last minute shopping.  I had my shopping done by Friday night, but husband claimed he had been busy with work, and didn’t have time to shop.  I understood him not having the time to go out to the mall, but reminded him of this lovely invention called the internet, where he could shop online.  I told him he’d known all year that Christmas was on December 25…  As it turns out, the last minute shopping was for me.  After having not received an anniversary or birthday gift from him, I was surprised that he wanted to get me a gift, but I didn’t say “no”.  He wanted me to pick something out, so being the practical person that I am, I chose a pair of shoes for work, a pair of pants, and a sweater from the Ellen Tracy store at the outlet mall.  I love Ellen Tracy’s clothes, but could never afford to buy them retail (the pants I selected normally sell for $300 retail…)

We managed to keep DS awake as late as possible, so that he wouldn’t wake up too early on Christmas morning…. 

As it was, he was up at 6am, and after he got the rest of us (husband, MIL, FIL) up, he eagerly opened his presents.  As usual, he was totally spoiled by his grandparents – my parents ordered a Lego set online, and had it delivered to our place earlier in the month.  My in-laws gave him an assortment of toys, games, and clothes.  Husband bought him a PlayStation 3, and I bought “Rock Band” for the Playstation.  As my MIL pointed out to husband, she thinks the Playstation was just as much for husband as it was for DS (I tend to agree).  Boys and their toys…

I received a pair of flannel pj’s from my in-laws.  That is my traditional Christmas present from them, and this is always much appreciated by me!  In addition to getting the shoes and clothes from husband, I got a DVD boxed set of Season 2 of “Lost in Space” (which was my favorite show as a kid.).  DS presented me with 2 gifts – a little ornament with his picture inside, and a hand painted picture frame that he crafted at Cub Scouts, including a picture of him in his Cub Scouts uniform.  Hand made gifts from DS are the best presents!

By time we got everything open, and cleaned up the living room, it was time to head out to my husband’s aunt’s place in southern Michigan, about 70 miles from my MIL’s place for Christmas lunch.  We ate prime rib and all the usual side dishes.  Desert included 2 different kinds of cake, 4 different fruit pies, and chocolate covered strawberries and cherries.  As usual, I ate too much!

Before we headed home, DS had the chance to try out the snow boogie board that he received from his aunt. We didn’t have any snow on the ground in Indiana, but there was a little snow on the ground in Michigan, so DS took a couple of goes down the hill, in the dark (probably not recommended, but there was no other chance to try it out!)