Ski bums

After celebrating our last Christmas of 2014 in Chippewa Falls, we grabbed C-man's cousin and headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to go skiing. We started with a lesson - one for the boys and one for Beerman and me. And then we started up the hill on our own. I was so impressed with myself - we closed down the hill two days, and I was still able to go. We hit all the easy runs, had too many kiddy cocktails in the ski in lodge, and ended with an intermediate run.

Unfortunately, we woke up to -23 degrees this morning, and had to make the adult decision to not ski today. So after a pizza breakfast, we made the long trek home - 4 hours of which the two boys spent discussing who they would select for their fantasy football team. But boy, were they happy kids.

I had planned on taking photos of the boys skiing today, but because we didn't go, I don't have anything outside of my phone. Such a bummer. I guess we'll just have to go again next year.

Boxing Day

We had a house full of merriment until midnight last night. Every year I question if we'd rather just have a quiet Christmas and not deal with the fuss of the food and cleaning and one more Christmas thing. But then we end up inviting our friends, and it turns out to be so delightful and fun and happy that it makes my heart smile.

And now, we get ready for the final Christmas celebration of the year followed by skiing in Michigan's upper peninsula. If I don't come back with a Yooper accent, I haven't done my job, hey.

Nogging around the Christmas tree

Today, we drank tea, we saw the Nutcracker. and we searched for the pickle. May your navidad be feliz and your nog be strong. Peace.

R-E-L-A-X

It feels weird to have nothing to do. I'm so used to having a to-do list ten miles long, it's almost unnerving to wake up when I feel like it and just go about my day how I want. I really am loving it.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. The boys ponied up and got us tickets to the Nutcracker with reservations for high tea. Apparently they've realized I could use a little non-football related something in my life. I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it.

Until then, I'm going to make like Aaron Rodgers and R-E-L-A-X. Hope you can do the same!

Angry water

Today, I took a walk by the beach with my camera. I hadn't taken any pictures lately, and it felt like it was a hole in my creativity. We don't have snow, so it's that weird limbo between fall and true winter. The blues of the sky and water and wind are melting together, almost like an angry protest that the weather cannot seem to catch up with the calendar. It was kind of a perfect complement for everything lately.

We're on Holiday

After a grueling half-day of work and school, we are on Christmas break. And even better, we are all on the mend. Coughing, hacking, and short of breath, maybe. But on the mend. The Christmas presents need to be wrapped, but they're purchased. And everything for the upcoming ski trip is set. As long as Mother Nature cooperates and it snows a bit. (Who knew we'd be praying for end of December snow?!)

So now, we rest, relax, enjoy the Christmas lights, and recuperate.

Birthday Sickies

It's Beerman's birthday today. He took the day off. Unfortunately, he got all feverish in the night and is now huddled on the couch sick. Good times.

C-man had his band concert yesterday and his school Christmas concert tonight. It's really never a dull moment between rounds of fevers around here.

Cheers!

The Wisconsin family that toasts brandy old fashioneds together are cheeseheads together. Prost!

Happiness and Christmas Cheer

It was a happy Pelot family Christmas. There was a huge amount of food and lots of cheer. Somehow, there was no snow. Happiness to you and yours.

Huggable

Hug your kids if you've got 'em. If you they aren't nearby, give them a call. Show love.

Hump Day Stuff

I'm really missing my bees. So I decided there was nothing left to do but order another 3# of them. (Due in April, of course) If they make it through the winter, I'll add another hive. If they don't, then I have a safety hive already ordered.

We continue to look for our dog. Beerman is eyeing Wookie in Idaho. Roo has already been placed, so she is not our dog. (Of course not, she was in Illinois) But we're looking into Wookie. It could be a  (really long) road trip so I could check Idaho off the list and C-man could ski. We've inquired. We'll see if Wookie is our dog.

I went to the gym with my pants on backwards last night. I realized about halfway through and just kept going. I didn't do any stretching after and got the heck out of there. Sometimes I'm such an idiot.

The Christmas cards are starting to come in. I love getting Christmas cards.

I have Christmas brain at work. It's been really hard to focus.

Tidbits

• I've been looking at rescue dogs. This is such a bad habit, because I've fallen in love with at least 20 dogs that I now absolutely MUST have.
• Maybe it's time to move on a farm and rescue dogs.
• We're going to ski in Northern Wisconsin after Christmas for C-man's gift, so it probably isn't a smart thing to do right now. Oh, but Roo is so sweet looking...
• Today's word of a the day is "Jingle". What a cheap word. Like we all don't know what jingle means? Dumb.
• I'm getting really tired of all the home-based business marketing and event requesting on Facebook. No, I do not want your spices, nail art, jewelry, books, or bags. Neither do I want your weight loss supplements, cleaning products, candles, cure-all snake oils, or makeup. Thank you very much.
• Round 1 of Christmas cards are out, and they're getting rave reviews. Round 2ish went out today. (2ish because Beerman still needs to give me the rest of his work team to complete the list.)
• I sent almost 90 cards out this year. The remaining will now go out for the stragglers we get that I forgot, or are new to us. I really love Christmas card season.
• I've started to work out again. I decided that I'll work out at least when C-man is at wrestling practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And then at least a day on the weekend. I know I should be doing it daily, but it's a start. Something has to make this arthritis better, because it's been sort of brutal lately.
• My 2015 calendars are done, too. I only got them for work, because in the new kitchen configuration, I have no place to put a calendar. I guess that's what happens when you de-junk your life!
• I have 7.5 days left to work this year. Now that's something to get happy about!

Carol time

I'm feeling a little Christmassy. This is good news, because I'm often bah humbuggy for at least another week. But the tree is up and stockings are hung and presents are ordered. Look out world. The only thing left is for me to start singing Christmas carols.

Let the crazy begin

It's been kind of a lovely weekend. The house is pretty much in order, St. Nick came with Packers stuff, the Christmas cards are out, the tree is up, C-man has practiced his trumpet and finished his homework, and we've all been pretty productive and relaxed all at the same time. I even took some time to make an apple cake. (Not my favorite recipe, by the way, but it felt nice to bake something.)

I've pretty much been ignoring my camera lately - just feeling uninspired. But the time away from everything has been a nice change of pace. And tomorrow, we're back to it. I can't say that I'm really looking forward to it, because it really means the start to the crazy. But alas. It must begin.

On St. Nick's Eve

I stayed home from work on Monday because I was still recovering, and wanted to be extra sensitive to not infecting my co-workers with a plague, especially during the holidays. Yesterday, a co-worker who sits next to me came to work with a fever. And then I sat in a meeting in close proximity to my boss whose daughter had been home with a fever, and she was obviously sick. ARGH! What is with this martyrdom? Our schedules and ability to work from home are pretty flexible. I just don't get it. You don't get a medal for being a dick, so stay home! (For the record, I voiced my displeasure all day) I have a scratchy throat today. This had better not become something. I have a house to get ready for next weekend.

Speaking of my house, my kitchen is a bit further along. I have doors on my cabinets - a couple aren't the right ones, but at this point, who can be picky. We're moving forward.

And finally, it's St. Nick's Eve. I guess St. Nick should get on the ball and pull her act together! At least my Christmas cards are going out today. So that's something off the list.

Thursday Thirteen

1. I made strudel the other day. I'd been waiting for my counter top to come in the kitchen so I could make it. And it was a glorious work space.
2. Since I made 2, I have one in the freezer waiting for the right moment to be made and eaten. It's a good feeling to have a strudel in the freezer.
3. And all that even though it's still the wrong counter top. The new counter finally gets installed tomorrow.
4. Harry got a card from his groomer yesterday wishing him to feel okay. Sigh. I guess we need to go tell them the news.
5. I got the news that his ashes are ready to be picked up. So I suppose we should deal with that this weekend, too. Gosh, it's just so sad.
6. In good news, St. Nick's Eve is tomorrow. I need to go and get the chocolate for St. Nick!
7. C-man has night 2 of wrestling tonight. I hope he likes it.
8. He still hates his hair cut. I'm completely in love with not fighting over it. (Go brush your hair. I did. But it still looks awful, so do it again.)
9. I have to get the Christmas tree, wreath, and lights up before our family gathering next weekend.
10. At least I have a nativity and the stockings up. So that's something.
11. I also need to finish putting away my kitchen stuff. I meant to do that last weekend, but then we all got so sick, it just didn't happen.
12. I think about 1/3 of the stuff in the tubs is going to go straight to the donation center.
13. Our Christmas cards are supposed to deliver today. I really hope they turned out, because I'm incredibly excited about this year's edition.

Hairs

And the big news at our house is that C-man got his hair cut. Short. And he had his first wrestling practice. Oh, how this child loves his sports. He was so happy, he could hardly sleep last night. I sure hope that continues.

In the land of the sort of living again

• C-man starts wrestling practice tonight.
• Which means it's haircut night.
• Seriously, it's haircut night.
• I may love wrestling.

It was a bad weekend

About 12 hours after Thanksgiving, the stomach virus hit the house. Ours, and all the others who attended the festivities. C-man started with the aching and headache and vomiting and more aching and screaming headache. 12 hours later, it was my turn. And 12 hours after that, it was Beerman's turn. We watched so much football, I started to lose track. I think I even watched the Chargers play. If I wasn't so delirious already, I would have lost my mind.

So I stayed home from work today. I just don't have the stamina to do anything. Beerman made C-man go to school. He's probably okay, being a kid and all. But I tried to throw some laundry in and got lightheaded, so am glad I wimped out. Beerman, of course, went to work.

It's been a couple of rough weeks at the Rysewyk's. But it's December now. We're starting on a new note. Right after I nap it out.

The next day

It's the day after Thanksgiving. We had a lovely time with family, playing cribbage and eating and putting my bees to bed for the winter. And today, we went to Best Buy for a few minutes and bought a TV for the kitchen. I cleaned the house a little and mostly, did very little. It's felt a little indulgent and wasteful, but also, so necessary. Tomorrow, C-man is an altar server and I'm reading. Otherwise, we have no commitments. My brain and mental health are thrilled.