As evidenced by last week’s shocking dearth of posts, life here has been busy. Crazy busy. So crazy busy I’m currently operating on 4 hours of sleep today after a week of having the novovirus (which made me lose 10 pounds, 12 of which I will now promptly regain courtey of the holidays) and two major projects landing on my head then not one but two enormous (but largely resolved) arguments in the house, all while Nick and Nora are sick and teething to boot, as well as the startling descent of family yesterday, several of whom are still here courtesy of winter storms and oh yes did I mention Melissa and Jeff arrive tonight?
Give me a moment and I’ll prepare my acceptance speech for the World’s Longest and Most Needless Run-On Sentence.
It’s been wild. Melissa and Jeff arrive tonight for a week’s stay. On Christmas Angus’ family descend en masse to our home and we offered them the chance to stay the night, thinking one or two would say yes and the rest would want to return home. Instead all of them said yes and so we will be hosting 16 people (8 adults and 8 kids, most of whom are under the age of 10). I will start consuming narcotics, hallucinogenics, and alcohol very early that morning. I must be crazy. I also love a massive Christmas, and truly hope that this year we can escape yet another pre-holiday hosting argument (we are currently 0 for 10. Let’s turn this bad boy around now.)
So this week is going to be very quiet around here, I’m afraid. Not only do Melissa and Jeff’s visits mean little PC time but the nursery adjourns on Wednesday until the 5th of January, we have a huge Christmas and Boxing Day to host, I am up to my eyeballs in work and I am so exhausted I could cry. I would sleep (and I want to) but the insomnia is just going to creep in anyway.
I’ll be back in a week at which point I have a lot to tell you – including but not limited to the Mouse Mobile, How To Make Friends, Wrap Christmas Presents, Get Drunk and Nearly Break Up in 38 Days, Sex Advice and How to Give It, Being Lonely When I’m Not Alone, My Ex-Boss and My Ego, How I Dressed Like a Whore and Got My Groove Back, and how a simple and innocent touch from a stranger reminded me that sometimes it’s about knowing that there is nothing in my heart that can’t be reached with a little bit of kindness.
I should’ve capitalized that last one, but it still is rather fresh in my mind.
Told you it’s been a crazy week.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas from my little family to yours.
Be back in a week.
And if you want to leave Santa a message after the beep telling him what you want for Christmas, I’ll make sure I pass it on to him. He and I are like that. People talk, but we’re cool.
-H.
Go on – just watch this for the NSPCC!
Make me feel loved! Go on! Sign the Guest Map!
Happy Holidays! Hope yours are pleasant and stress free.
Sorry times have been so manic, doesnt all sound like good madness.
Have the best time!!
Love M xx
PS – Santa, would like a good 2009 pls. If you could sort that, I’d be grateful. If not, then some REALLLLLLLLY stong drugs pls.
Wow, that many in-laws is hard core. A new level of hard core really. Go you! Hope the days are merry and the nog is spiked. Heavily :)
Merry Christmas to you all! Sounds like the day will be crazy – but in the best way possible. Nick and Nora are so blessed to be growing up surrounded by mad family holidays – that’s where a lot of my great (and not so great!) family memories come from….don’t get me started about the year my cousin Mark and I had a * huge * row and threw each others Christmas gifts in my father’s fish pond! :-)
As for me… I’d like Santa to take some of the stress out of my current job and make the ratio 80% fulfillment and 20% stress rather than the other way around. I feel like I’ve done my time!!
Enjoy! xx
Merry Christmas to you, Angus, Melissa, Jeff, Nick, Nora and Gorby and all the rest of the gaggle descending upon your house!
Blessed are they who give
without expecting even thanks in return,
for they shall be abundantly rewarded.
(The next 10 years you will probably receive many christmas invitations in return)
Have fun and merry Christmas!
Paula & her little family
What a beautiful family photo.
VERY best Christmas wishes to you and all your families.
Good luck with all the Christmas madness you have going on. Enjoy the moments as they come–fleeting as they might be. Very Merry Christmas to all of you!
What a fabulous family photo!! Merry Christmas to all of you!
Wow, we are having the same week! Merry Xmas to you and yours – a beautiful family I spy in that photo. Take care and take time to enjoy. I’ll have a drink in your honor. (I think I may be honoring a lot of people in the next week :-)!)
if you could tell santa that tink needs a new work contract for next year, Ill happily leave him some very spiked eggnog with delicious cookies. or anything else he wants :)
and let him know I hope brings you all you can wish for too… along with a good dose of tranquilisers and holiday love. to you and the munchkins :)
Merry Christmas my dear, to all of yous. Have a lovely week with all your family.
Merry Christmas to you! I’ll be hoping that your record is now 1 for 10. Hugs and looking forward to hearing all about it in a week.
Helen, I only recently started following your blog, but I believe this needs to be shared – a family is being torn apart against all reason and it’s just so sad. Everyone, if you get a moment you can read all about it here http://theystayhome.blogspot.com/2008/12/this-is-to-all-of-people-that-care.html
Happy Holidays to all of you and your families!
Maria
What a beautiful photo! Good luck with hosting so many people. I’ll be watching Elf tonight with my sister, wine in hand, and lifting my glass to you and yours. Merry Christmas!
Have a very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year too. I hope next year is quieter and calmer. :)
Lovely photo, crazy life. Good luck with it all, and I hope that somewhere in there you’ll have a fabulous, fun – even merry! – Christmas :)
Merry post-Christmas
Happy Christmas, and a wonderful, shiny new year :-)
Lily
I love your family portrait. I hope you and your gorgeous family have a wonderful holiday celebration making festive memories. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Helen. xoxox
Good Lord you are all so beautiful, including the dog, that it almost hurts my eyes!
As for Santa, please tell him I would like a 30-lb. weight loss STAT, if he could arrange that for me, it would be awesome.
And yes, I’ve been a (fairly) good girl this year.
Happy Happy and Merry Merry :-)
I would like to have back the 1000 dollars I am going to have to give my insurance company because I moved my motorhome to my house so my parents can stay in it while my dad recuperates from his back surgery and hit the back corner of it and the money I had saved for a vacation is going to the deductable. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Merry Christmas Helen and family!
Sounds like you’re in for busy for few days! Hope you have an exciting, fun filled Christmas and that all stays relatively calm for you.
Lots of love
Merry Christmas Helen and Family!
Oh, and if you wouldn’t mind telling Santa that I’d like a January BFP, that would be much appreciated. :) Cheers!
… Merry Christmas to you and yours from Tennessee, Helen!…
You are FABULOUS. I want to be you when I grow up. :)