Christmas goodies!

I guess after you've been married a few years, the gifts you exchange at Christmas (or any other holiday for that matter) change a good bit. For example, the first Christmas Mark and I were married, I literally unwrapped a piece of the laminate floor from the house we were building at the time. A not-so-subtle clue that the new house was my permanent present for a while. Last year it was much of the same as we were set to close on our current home a year ago tomorrow and start the tedious moving process. Neither of us did much as far as gift last year (I got a TCBY gift card); both of us acknowledging that the house was a big enough present! He tried to claim my "black granite countertops" as my gift again this year, but I told him that gift had run its course. :)

Anyhow, this year there was no new house to serve as our joint present, so we were forced into the normal rigmarole of thinking of, and locating presents for one another. Let me be clear - that is only super difficult for one of us. Mark had my detailed list (with links) emailed to him before Dec. 1st - his job is pretty easy as I almost always have a running list in my head of "things I need". For me, on the other hand, it is a torturous task. Mark doesn't want anything. He NEEDS things like new socks, undershirts, shoes, etc. but as far as wanting anything - he's just happy with what he has. (I know - this is a good quality. Just one I don't have.)

When I explained to him how frustrating it was for me and my family to not know what to get him for Christmas (gift cards get old after a while) his direct quote was, "As long as it's still functional, I see no need to replace it." The only good thing about that truth is that hopefully I have quite a few years left before I am not functional and need replacing!

Anyhow...because he refuses to pick out some things he wants, he gets what he "needs". 10 brand new, crisp white undershirts. Seriously...Merry Christmas?? He also got some lovely new socks and a composter. Fun stuff.

I, on the other hand, got some very nice and fun treats for Christmas...

Three new cookbooks (please go out and purchase the pioneer woman cookbook immediately - I read it cover to cover in two days and it's awesome).Some fun slippers that my family incessantly made fun of due to their excessive gaudiness...but if you know me you can easily see how much I love them. Yes that's fur. Yes, those are silver sequins. And then, my real-life Santa (the one who has been putting gifts under my tree since birth) surprised me with a real Christmas treat. This was my Granny's sewing machine and is the one I have been using for the past year as I have attempted to learn to sew. It is so dear to me - the smell of my Granny's house fills the air and visions of her sitting and sewing when I was a child fill my mind when I take off the cover. Dear? Yes. Outdated? Definitely.
My Dad has been so proud of my efforts at learning to sew and so impressed with my simple creations, this was my surprise Christmas present from Santa. Can I just tell you how excited I am!!??? I have started to get familiar with this machine and I can already tell it's much more knowledgeable than I! But oh the things I can do! Thank you Daddy. I really, really love it.
Turner has been with my parents since Sunday and we went to pick her up tonight. While she was gone, Mark and I enjoyed two dinners out in public, some un-interrupted shopping, and a much quieter house than we are used to. We worked around the house and got all Christmas decorations down, packaged, stored, and the house cleaned. (Sorry Mark - two hours turned into five didn't it??) When we left to go get her, our den was pristine clean and her toys were stored neatly in her room. Within 30 minutes of her return, this is what our den looked like. Welcome home Turner!
Oh well...it's late but we are finally settled down and this is my view from the couch. One of our favorite things about cold weather is burning a fire in the fireplace. Although it's slightly different and a little more scary now that we have a very mobile child, she told us tonight, "Oh...so beautiful!" I guess she likes it too!
Tomorrow is another big day - potty training boot camp day 1! Please pray for patience as we embark on this big journey for the next three days! Big girl panties here we come!