Dec. 30, 2006 - Christmas travel

Well, we declined the New Year's family trip to Mississippi since it only seems like a month since we've been there.  Oh, it has only been a month.

We came home from the happy holiday time with both our sets of parents.  As usual, we spend part of one day with my folks and part of the day with his family, part of the next day with mine.  It usually depends on who is doing something or has something planned to do (hopefully something fun, but usually just eating.)  And so we spend our holidays, hopping back and forth between family.  I'm glad our parents only live 17 blocks from each other (and a walking trail that runs close nearby both houses).  I wonder if it sounds like my husband and I are related, but since we live in Arkansas, we shouldn't even joke about such matters.  Truly, we are only related b/c of marriage, and also our in-laws are now semi-friends b/c of our relationship and their commonality, i.e. grandchildren.  I say semi-friends b/c they don't "hang-out" together, rarely see each other, but are nice to each other, visit each other if someone goes to the hospital.  My husband's brother and his wife go to my parents' church.  So catch-up among family has that connection.  It is really very strange and yet it seems like such a blessing--for us and for the kids.  I'm glad we don't have to agonize over who's parents we go see to the exclusion of the others.  We see both, frequently.  However, Texarkana is the only town in which we can have a child-free evening, a.k.a "date."

Well, after a week of being with family, we are now home.  It is after mid-night, and I'll wait to unpack  until tomorrow.  We brought home more Christmas presents that we took with us.  There were a few I had to leave behind b/c of packing issues.  I'm also going to have to figure out how to best organize all the toys that were so generously given with the toys that have been generously given in Christmases past.  I also have to figure out what to do about baby stuff.  I only have half a year.  It's not enough time.  I think I'm going to panic.  I'll have to wait until tomorrow; it's late.  Good night.