I’m certain I’ve used this quote before. I don’t care. If I could come up with a decent excuse I’d use it every day. I freakin’ love that movie. They’re so dysfunctional and real.

I’m starting to become disenchanted with the holidays already and we haven’t even made it to Thanksgiving yet. It’s so obligatory. There’s so much pressure. The expectations are so high and so different from person to person. I try not to get involved in any of the nonsense.

We’ve had Christmas Eve at our house for the past 8 years. Both sides of the family and multiple friends are invited. It’s worked out great. This year, hubby’s brother wants to have it at his house. He and his family just bought a house near us and are loving having parties. I resisted at first because I enjoy having it here. I finally caved because he can be, well….”persuasive”, and I figured why not let someone else deal with the hassle and mess for once.

Then the bossy-bosserman decided he wants all holidays at his house. Including Thanksgiving. My mother has Thanksgiving every year for my sister and her family and me and mine. It’s the only holiday she has. We always spend the day over there and then meet up with hubby’s family later in the evening.

Hubby’s brother does not like this one bit. He wants us at his house for dinner. In his defense, he did invite my mother but only after rigorously attempting to persuade her into giving up on having us over to her house. She flipped out, told my sister if we wanted to go to his house then she would just leave town and spend the day with her sisters and mother.

I agree that my brother-in-law can be pushy, but that’s just how he rolls. He’s not pitching a fit because she wouldn’t agree to give up Thanksgiving. He just gave it his best shot. Her temper-tantrum on the other hand, is so typical. And annoying. If she can’t get what she wants then she’ll just take her ball and go home. Ugh. Who knows what she’ll do now that Christmas Eve is not at her daughter’s house and is instead at my brother’s-in-law house. I know she isn’t happy about that but it was my holiday to give away and she is more than welcome at his house.

Apparently last year hubby and I had a spat right before leaving my mother’s house because I had thought we had to leave to go to his family’s at 6 but it was actually 5, and he mentioned that to me….at 5. I’m certain it was not a major blow up of an argument. Probably just some bickering over the correct time and most likely me saying he should have told me sooner. I’m told this was, “awkward”.  Now, I’m no fan of public arguments but I don’t even remember this one taking place. And no, I was not drunk. I have no idea why I wasn’t. Note to self….drink more this year.  But really, in the grand scheme of things, there is so much dysfunction and awkwardness at these things, could our bickering really have made such an impact that it’s vividly remembered a year later? Or is that just it….it was the only rational awkwardness, the only real conversation that took place that day that made it so memorable?

“Well, that was absurd, let’s eat dead bird!”

Thanks for stopping by!

 ”I’m giving thanks that we don’t have to go through this for another year. Except we do, because those bastards went and put Christmas right in the middle, just to punish us.”
- Home For The Holidays

I love that movie!

Seriously though, at this time of year most of us think about what we are thankful for, even if the only thing we can come up with is that we only have Thanksgiving once a year. 

This year has been….well, very strange.  Last year at this time, my marriage was falling apart, I was falling apart, and the industry I had worked in my whole life was falling apart.  One year later, my marriage is better than ever, I am better than ever, and the industry I had worked in my whole life has disappeared and caused a global economic crisis.  Two out of three ain’t bad, right? 

I am thankful for each and every painful, heartbreaking, enlightening, beautiful moment of the last year.  Without all of the turmoil, I wouldn’t be who I am today.  My marriage has been completely overhauled and not only is our relationship much different and better than it was, hubby and I are also both much different and better people than we were.  Our kids survived the craziness and are thriving and healthy.  And we are all together.

Don’t misunderstand, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows over here.  Hubby and I still disagree.  The rugrats still drive me nuts sometimes.  I’ve been unemployed since June, with no prospects currently looking promising.  We are not perfect.  I am not perfect.  And for the first time in my life, I know that is ok.  We are all ok. 

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to post again before Thursday since hubby and the rugrats will all be home tomorrow and we have lots to do.  So, just in case…I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you too have a lot to be thankful for!

Thanks for stopping by!