Merry after-Christmas

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, or, at least some restful time off from the daily grind.

Christmas went well at our house.

My MIL came to town from about 2 hours away. One BIL was supposed to come with her, but, he got called into work at the last minute.

It was kind of a bummer because, until this past Thanksgiving, we really haven’t seen him in about 5 years. No one has. It’s kind of a long story, but, things are better for him, now, I think.

We missed him, but, he was going to bring a dog with him, but, since we have 2 dogs and 2 cats of our own, and, are dog-sitting a 3rd dog and a lizard, we are well up to standard with pet numbers already.

I never know what I’m going to get with my MIL. If I get things ready ahead of time, then she’s all, “Well, I guess you don’t need me, there’s nothing to do”, but, if I leave stuff to do, then she’s all, “I would have done some of this ahead of time, and, brought it with me if you had just told me.”

I can’t win either way, but, I’ve at least got her pattern down.

We weren’t sure when she was coming, so, I really couldn’t assign her something to bring, so, I just play along.

My dad was fine.

He cracks me up. I was lamenting the fact that I hadn’t wrapped any gifts, and, he said, “Well, don’t forget, there’s 3 more here for you to do (the kids’ gifts).” I reminded him that he had gift wrapping supplies and bags in his hall closet, and, he said “OK, you can use them when you get here.”

I thought perhaps he wanted them wrapped in some special manner. I had ordered the stuff myself, and, knew they weren’t large or awkwardly shaped.

I drove all the way to his house, and, asked what he had in mind for the gifts, and, he said, “Well, whatever you do will be fine.”

So, I went to the hall closet, got out 3 gift bags and some tissue paper, put the gifts in the bags, and, I was done.

Didn’t occur to him that he could have done the same thing. I don’t mind doing it for him, but, I feel quite sure he will encounter a future gift giving occasion where he will have to perform this complex task alone, and, what ever will he do?!

How’d things go at your house?