OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

Okay, the weekend is over and somehow we made it to the other side. It was a good weekend but just how much stuff can you cram into 48 hours? Evidently you can cram a lot. 

 

Friday: The man of the house and I headed to Crab Tree Valley Mall because we had a craving for a new restaurant that has opened there. The mall was packed because it IS Christmas and it WAS Friday night. But somehow it is the things like no parking spaces, long lines, a sea of baby strollers and the smell of every perfume available at Belk being squirted at the same time that gets me in the Christmas spirit. It was nice to sit down for an hour and take a few deep breaths, it was like the calm before the storm. That night at home during our "Official Family Agenda Meeting" we spelled out our expectations to the princesses about our schedule for the weekend and departure times.  (Why did we bother?) 

Saturday: Princess #3 had a piano recital. Planned Departure time:  8:20. Instructions: Meet family in the kitchen 8:00, completely dressed including makeup and hair dried, have anything you need for the 6 hours you will be spending in the car (movies, books, and so on). Official Departure Time: 8:40. 

Princess #3 played beautifully, look beautiful and walked with such grace across the stage. You Go Girl!!

We had to sneak out midway through the recital because we had a 3 hour drive ahead of us. Next stop: Sunset Beach, NC. Event: Husband's Family Christmas .

Arguments and bickering in the car: minimal. Arrive in Sunset Beach: 12:30ish. We had a lot of fun there and a good lunch. Played some Wii boxing and those with a good self image  (and small rear end) tried the Wii Hula Hoop....I did not. We ended up staying until 7:30 or so, and we didn't get back home until  10:30.  I couldn't pull my clothes off fast enough and get into a pair of sweats.  

Sunset Beach

Sunday: Headed to the grocery store around 9:oo (I was showered, cleaned and presentable) I was assigned Deviled Eggs and Green Beans for my father's family Christmas gathering.  I reminded everyone to be dressed and ready at 11:30 to leave the house for the day. My plan was to get them to help me in the kitchen for an hour and then us girls would leave to go downtown to go see the Governor's Mansion and the historical district all dressed up for Christmas. My kitchen help arrived around 12:15 (no make up and grouchy). Princess #1 was having a wardrobe issue and suddenly this morning she decided that her make up no longer suited her skin tone and yes folks, there were tears over the issue.  After giving them a few dirty looks, they started moving a little faster and pitched in and made the deviled eggs. We somehow made it to downtown only 45 minutes late!! 

     The Governor's Mansion   

  

                                We loved the Governor's Mansion. It was so pretty and festive.  We then walked through the homes downtown that were open. They were okay. I just don't get the houses with little tiny  rooms and no closets that cost a fortune to buy and then a fortune to redo. It is just not my thing. So we had a good girls afternoon and when we got in the car I said: "Well, that was fun and interesting. Kind of gets in the Christmas spirit, doesn't it?" And then Princess #3 replied: "I've had better afternoons." 

The man of the house met us at his office (that was our meeting point) and we all piled in the car for one more out of town trip to Bunnlevel, NC. Had another BIG meal and another family gathering. Arrived back home at 9:00PM. Princess #3 reminded me that we had not done any of the baking I had promised her we would do and she still needed to make the gifts for her friends at school. So we did. She and I painted clay pots until 11:00. (Tiffany Blue, black rims and monogrammed them) At 11:00 I was outside on the driveway spraying them with varnish because a dull pot would just not do. And then literally I stayed up and watch the paint dry.....and dry...and dry. When all was done, I stuffed them with candy, wrapped them with cellophane (don't you love a gift wrapped in cellophane?) placed them in gift bags and called it a day. HO HO HO!

CUTE!

Not one of the Tiffany blue pots but still a cute one!

Weekend Accomplished!!