Christmas

It's Christmas Day.  And I just finished an 11 hour work shift.  Please, everyone contain your jealousy.  I always know in January which Holidays I can plan to not look forward to.  This year, my holiday was Christmas, next year, it'll be New Years Day...and so it goes.  My family knows to, and I appreciate my job for this, because I don't have to even think about it much past January 5th.  However, back around the middle of November, my dad asked me if there is anything I would like for Christmas.  I gave it a good stir around the old noggin and came up with nothing.  Nothing I absolutely needed.  Plus, my brother is having a baby, I thought just use the money you'd spend on me, and put it towards a gift for them.  Honestly, what I really wanted, was to be able to go home for Christmas. <sigh>  When my step-mom asked me again on Thanksgiving, I caved...."I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle"...no I didn't really ask for that, but I did ask for about a handful of things, things that I can live without, but would still appreciate nontheless.

Headed to Chico...specks on Peck

me and my Baby Brother, doesn't he look just like our Dad

me and my Dad

funny faces

sweet TyTy

fun in the sun...

Alan getting his awesome Wine Packin' Kit

 I found out Sandy was coming to California 4 days before Christmas, and really, that's when I really hated that I had to work on Christmas.  So, Alan, being the sport he is, suggested a quick 24 hour trip to Chico, to visit my BFF and to see my father, my brother and his fiance's growing baby bump.  Going up I-5 has got to be the most boring way to travel to Chico.  But I suppose it's the fastest.  When we got to Chico, Ruby in tow, we met Sandy and her brood for lunch at La Comida, cause as pretty much the cheapest Mexican Food place in town it's my most favorite.  After that I suggested we visit Capre Acres, and watch the kids run around, push their way to the slide, and cry if they didn't get high enough on the swing.  Fine, that was me, but whatever.  It really was though.  I slid down slides, crawled through crawl spaces, played on the teeter totter.  I think there are only signs in the park that say kids up to 12 only, so that parents can point at the sign and have a reason not to play with their children.  It's sad, really.  Mothers get so mad at their kids....way to go champ, you just won worst mother of the year award.  The weather was cold and I was cold, and it was getting dark and I was getting angry watching all the adults ignore their kids.



We said our goodbyes.  Time is never our friends when we want to visit longer.  I miss her, I miss her kids.  But, I'm so glad I got to see them.

Me and Sandra D. Still friends after 18 1/2 years

My Dad and Jan's vintage decorated Christmas tree.

Going over to my Dad's is always a bag full of treats.  I always am so excited to see him, hear him tell jokes, and make an amazing meal.  I can't say enough good things about my dad, he really is my anchor when I feel like I'm about to go crazy, and I love him so much.  Just getting to spend time with him really, was all I needed for Christmas. I never realize how much I miss my family, until we say our goodbyes.  I got presents, gave presents, and ate an amazing crab dinner.  And after they tucked themselves in for the night, seeing my brother was next.  I'm so excited to see my brother be a father to a son.  But more on that later.  He couldn't stay out for long, because of work the next morning, but going to our favorite bars in Chico, and visiting and seeing ultrasounds was really all I needed.  I was so glad to be able to visit home, even though it was a short visit.

My Dad looking at 2012 Calendar I made

So, while I may have had to work today, I got everything I wanted and more for Christmas, and couldn't be happier.

Merry Christmas, friends.  Goodnight.