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December 30, 2009

fa la la la pbbbththh

I have post-holiday-too-much-time-with-the-kids-blues. It borders on depression at this point. What I really want to do is whine and whine and whine and cry about how tired I am, how sad I am and how I just need to get back to work. It's been done though. I've boohoo'd to everyone who will even look at me and that's that. I'm just going to have to work through this on my own, right? like people do.

Last night I went to Amy and Tyler's house for dinner and wine and it was such an awesome break. The turd child known as Max had to go with me because he's such a clingy kid that he can't let me leave him for even 2 or 3 hours. He finally came around and stopped whining in time for me to enjoy the company of adults and it was really nice to eat and drink and laugh with my friends. The only downer of that was Dan getting rear-ended (and not in a good way. har har) on 95 on the way home.

Today's Trevor's birthday. He's going to celebrate by going to dinner w/ my folks and then Saturday he and a friend are going to the movies. He always gets screwed over on his birthday because we're so exhausted from the holidays. He takes it well though and I've tried to make today special for him by only nagging him a little and by making him a cake with the kitchenaid mixer that I got for Christmas from Jake. I love my kids...all of them, even though I complain way too much about them.

Tomorrow night we're going to Becks and Aaron's house for New Year's Eve. It's going to be so nice to take the kids to mom and dad's house and go out. Plus we'll get to meet Jamie and Ashley's new baby, Phoebe. PLUS Tree's coming down and I miss her so. I plan on ringing in the new year with a new attitude and hopefully it'll stick. Good intentions are half the battle.

but for now....bleh.

Posted by krystal at 3:15 PM | Comments (2)

December 25, 2009

Christmas

I'm camped out upstairs in my room in the dark. Max is crashed beside me in bed. Every now and then he lets out a snort or says "no mama!". But for the most part I'm alone here.

Christmas has been awesome. Christmas Eve Eve was fun. I hung out at Suzie's and Kim and Cindy were there. The highlight of the evening was when Kim slapped Cindy up side her head for saying something completely not ok in the world of women who have got.it.going.on. We don't let people fuck with us or our friends and if they do, we slap our friends in the head til they stop tolerating it too. Then I came home and the neighbors came over. Many drinks were involved. fun.

Christmas Eve was a blast. I made dinner for some friends and our family. I'd never made prime rib before but my dad is a huge fan of it and he said I did it just as well as any restaurant. Booyah! I admit my creme brulees did not set up, but that's dan's fault. It always is, right?

Christmas morning was uh-maz-ing. The kids got so much stuff. I think they were all happy. BUT...Jake got me a kitchenaid mixer. I mean, the real one...the kind that I can't afford. I'm so happy I could cry. I did cry. My son...the one who sometimes forgets he's not the only human in the world...got me an effing amazing gift without prompting. He happened to hear me and my sister-in-law talking about it and he bought it for me. There's so much more than the gift that speaks volumes here...he heard something and thought about it in advance and acted on it. I think maybe he's going to be an awesome man or at least an awesome husband some day.

Then we went to moms. There was abundance everywhere. We had gifts and food and drink and love to the point where we all just needed to rest. So we came home and here I am...hiding upstairs. The rest of them are downstairs playing wii and I'm wearing my Christmas pajamas in bed with Max in the dark and life is just great.

Posted by krystal at 7:46 PM | Comments (1)

December 22, 2009

let it snow

We've been so snowed in this week. I refuse to complain because it's been the best thing to happen to me in months. I had my shopping mostly done but had no idea how I'd find time to wrap them. I also had no time to dye my roots and work on the Christmas gift I'm making for Ellis and Megan. Add to this the fretful feelings of not being able to get in the Christmas spirit because we're always on the go.



Enter the blizzard.



I don't know how it got called a blizzard. We got a lot of snow but it hardly seemed like a blizzard. It's just a lot of snow, but whatever.



I've gotten the gifts wrapped, the roots dyed, the gift almost made, and tons of in-the-spiritness has been had.



I feel like I was given the gift of slowed-downness and I feel so happy about that. I think maybe I'll schedule a snow storm like this every December.



Today it's back to work, and I'm actually excited to get out of this house for a bit.

Posted by krystal at 7:29 AM

December 1, 2009

Dear grammy and grandpa O'Brien

I am writing to let you know that tomorrow I will be done with the year of "the meaning of life". I can't say that I really feel like I've learned a lot this year, but I've come to a point where I have a higher understanding of some things.

First of all, I understand that the weather is awesome other places, but it's never as good as it is here, in Virginia. You must trust me on this even though you've lived everywhere inthe world and I've only lived in Virginia. We have 4 seasons. Just as you're tired of one, you get another one. It's cool like that. We have city life right up and down the road and we have privacy right in our own town. Well, privacy of sorts. If you're doing something wrong around here, someone's going to tell on you. But for the most part...Virginia is the place to be.



Secondly, my kids are growing at such an amazing rate that I can't seem to keep up. Jake is a man now, Trevor is a musician and Kendall is a young woman. Don't tell her brothers, but she has her first boyfriend. I'm handling it well, but they would not. Tess is so smart and demands so much ear time. (ear time...you know? she talks a lot and someone needs to listen to the child). Max is talking more and more and more everyday and he's smart. He is so much child that Dan and I are really exhausted from taking turns holding him. It seems like he was just born and now he's almost 2. He, alone, is reason enough for this blog post. What you need to see, is Max. He's so much better in person than in pictures. He needs you to see him. He needs you to carry him around and like, take him for overnight visits. He needs you to watch him grow up.



Third, (or thirdly?), I've learned that life is fleeting. You have to spend the time you get doing what you want. Work is not what defines us, it just provides us with a way to live life to the fullest. If you are working too hard and enjoying life too little, there's no "do-over" once it's too late. I plan on living and enjoying and crying and laughing as much as I can before my life is over.





So, mom and dad O'Brien. It's time for you to pack your duds and move back here. We need you, our kids need you and you might not know it, but you need us too! (just trust me on this)

Amber and the crew should come too! I promise to not corrupt her too much.





love,

krys

Posted by krystal at 10:58 AM | Comments (1)