The Weekend

We've had a great weekend. I feel like we've been so productive and I love that feeling! I'm laying here in bed on the computer, Steve's laying next to me playing on his DS and Tanner is in bed snoozing away. Life is good at the Parker house.

Friday was a great day. That morning I had to work. Not a big deal since I was only going to be there half a day! The twelve of us civilian girls traded names earlier in the month and decided to do a gift exchange. My great friend Aleah drew my name and I got a wonderful travel mug along with a $10 gift card to Sonic. Yay!

I left our gift exchange and headed to Steve's office party. We had a potluck lunch that was too die for. I'm telling you, for an office full of guys, those men can cook! I love hanging out at his office-the guys he works with are a hoot. And it's just nice feeling like your part of the "family."

Friday afternoon I ran a few errands then headed home. One of those errands was running back by the PD. My boss had something for me and I forgot to get it before I left the first time. Come to find out, Russell (my boss) got me a gift card to Starbucks! Can you believe that!? A gift card to my two favorite places in the entire world! What more could a girl want!? Totally made my day that Russell would think of me.

We didn't do anything at all Friday night. I had been up late cooking on Thursday night for the Chastain family, so by time Friday rolled around-I was pooped and decided I wasn't going to do a thing.

Saturday morning I got up and enjoyed some much needed "me" time. Tanner was at her Dad's and Steve was sleeping, so it was so quiet and peaceful. I ended up putting the movie "P.S. I Love You" in and watching that as I wrapped gifts. After all that, I figured out that Steve had more gifts for me than I had for him so I decided to run out and pick up a few last minute things for him.

Holy Cow. Talk about a madhouse! Just with the two places I went...it was crowded enough to take the Christmas spirit right out of anyone! Praise God I found what I was looking for at the two places I went! I spent more time in traffic though then I did the stores!

I came home, popped open a bottle of wine, and got started on dinner. Steve and I always do the majority of our Christmas before we go to Kansas City. That way we don't have to take as much up there. We usually leave two or three things to open on Christmas day, along with our gifts from the girls, but the majority, we do here at home. Last night, we fixed a couple of different appetizers for dinner, then opened our gifts.

As most of you know....my husband is such a girl. He got me GREAT stuff and didn't even have a list to go off of! He and my brother had gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving and they both did great. I got a ton of stuff, my favorite, I think, being my digital picture frame for my office. I love that thing! I also got Bath and Body Works, pj's, a KU t-shirt, a KU sweatshirt, the wisemen figures for my Willow Tree nativity set, a puffy vest with a long sleeve t-shirt to go with it and a cream colored sweater. I told you he spoiled me!

I got him some DS games, a couple of shirts, a puffy vest type thing, some cologne, several stocking stuffers, the new Pink CD and the first season of Office Space. He loved all his stuff and between the two of us, we don't have to take anything back. How cool (and unusual) is that!

Today we got up and met our friends from Little Rock for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It felt really weird to NOT go to church on Christmas Sunday, but it was so great to see the Tates. Jeff Tate used to work with Steve. He is in the military and is a Physician's Assistant at Camp Robinson. Diana is one of my best friends. Not only did Steve and Jeff work together, but Jeff and Diana went to New Springs (our church) when they lived here. We have been great friends for several years. They moved from here to San Anotiono, TX for PA school, then moved to Ft. Leonardwood, MO for residency and then to Camp Robinson for Jeff's job. It's bee AGES since we've seen them and it was awesome to sit and catch up over breakfast. Neither of us brought our kids, so that made it even better-gotta love uninterrupted adult conversation!

After saying goodbye to the Tates, we went and dropped off Steve's Mom and Dad's Christmas gifts. We then came home and I took a nap! I was so tired from being up half the night last night, I had to take a nap in order to have the energy to finish the day. It was so cold here today too that all I wanted to do was curl up under the blanket by the light of the Christmas tree! So that's what I did. :)

We spent the remainder of the day getting ready for our trip back home to Kansas City. I think we've finally got things packed and I finished cleaning the house a little bit ago (I hate coming home to a dirty house). We are all excited about going home and I know we are going to have a great time.

My Dad, my brothers and Steve are going for the traditional biscuits and gravy breakfast at the Corner Cafe on Tuesday. They usually go on Christmas Eve, but my oldest brother has to work on Christmas Eve so they are going on Tuesday instead. Mike (my brother) and Steve also have a shopping trip planned (I swear, they are girls!). Tanner is excited to see all her cousins and I'm just excited to get the heck away from here for a few days! Matt and Tammy are in town and will be around to celebrate Christmas with us. What a blessing that is!

I suppose I'll stop rambling for now and finish up my web surfing and go to bed. My eyes are super heavy right now and I'm afraid I may fall asleep while typing this!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! I know I did.

Blessings!