forced to sit down

so, the boogerbear refuses to let me do anything. really, i cant get up from the sofa with out him throwing a full blown tantrum. the only weird thing is that he wants nothing to do with me. he wont play with me, sit with me, talk to me. instead he's off stacking blocks WITHOUT his mommy. *shakes head in minor confusion* i suppose that finally gives me a little time to blog and get myself organized or at least rub it in on how organized i already am. *wink, wink*

Christmas gifting is gong well. i have all gifts purchased. two gifts are still in the mail. four gifts require photos inserted into them, which leaves 6 gifts to wrap. one gift involves baking this friday. and, last but not least, 2 gifts require shipping, but are mostly boxed already. not too bad.

this year i decided to go even MORE over the top for christmas than usual. a big part of that decision is because my mom is flying up on christmas day and spending a little over a week with us. that woman has had a rough year and is being a trooper about us not coming down to houston to spend christmas with my "side" of the family. so, we're having and "after-christmas, christmas" (to be referred to as "ACC" from here on out.) i have big plans which are as follows:

*12/21*
-grocery shopping for the next 4/5 days stock up on festive yummies
-ben comes home
-bake cupcakes (dessert for saturday's meal)
-bake cookies (part of a gift basket for theFIL)
*12/22*
-theKing family christmas dinner (potroast w/ parsnips&carrots, parmesan potatoes and cupcakes as a dessert)
-thaw premade sauce for tomorrow's lasagna
*12/23*
-prep lasagna
-shuttle to grandma's for annual christmas cookie making with MIL, SIL, etc...
-bake lasagna while decorating cookies
*12/24*
-holiday fun with husband and the boogerbear
-start christmas day's snoup
-start dry-aging standing rib roast for the ACCdinner
*12/25*
-PRESENTS!!!
-brunch at MIL's
-continue simmering snoup
-start ACC off by picking mom up at airport @11pm
*12/26*
-start getting mom into the christmas spirit with ACCshopping
*12/27*
-grocery shopping for the ACCdinner and new year's eve gathering
-pick up honey baked ham for new year's eve gathering
*12/28*
-prep all day for the big ACCdinner (standing rib roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, candied carrots, dinner rolls, and a fruit tart)
*12/31*
-bake new year's cupcakes
-new year's eve gathering (yummies include: honey baked ham, sandwich goodies, chips, veggies, fruit and new year's cupcakes. also, cooked cabbage and black eyed peas for what ever superstition they apply to)

i believe thats as far as i have planned. once my mom shows up things become a little more by the seat of my pants and not as easy to write down/structure.

things have been really calm around here. no husband this week. he's back in minnesota since monday. not too horrible. sucks that husband has to be gone the week before christmas, but still minor.

if you cant tell, i'm totally getting that "night before christmas" feeling. i love the years that i get really excited about christmas. sometimes its hard to be festive, but this year i totally got it. i have a lot to reflect on and look forward to, i'm really glad that i get to spend the holidays with most of my family this year and in our own home.

i have a bunch of photos, but no time to poke through them and edit all the red eyes out (stupid camera) so you guys get christmas in san fransico on haight street: