The day after Thanksgiving, my house explodes. It spews christmas over every surface it can, decorations that multiply in the dark of the rubbermaid boxes in the storage room. When I was little, it was less of a big deal - most of the actual decorating got done when my brother and I were at school - but there was not one thing, not one itty bit of christmas out before the day after thanksgiving. I have, as an adult, made it a big deal. Especially for my kids. Today, while we watch christmas movies, the oldest will get his christmas sheets put on his bed, and I'll begin the LONG process of washing up the christmas dishes and linnens. I can't have a real tree - the last time I tried that, I wound up with nasty hives so we do fake ones. A lot of my christmas decorations were passed down from my mother and grandmother. Some were christmas presents from people who know me and my tradition and the house that explodes christmas. From the outside, it won't look like much (mostly because this is an old house with no outdoor outlets and we haven't got around to installing one yet), but inside... that's a whole different matter.
Maybe I'll put up a few picutres when it's all said and done - maybe.
Yesterday, the hubster went and picked up our half a cow. So of course - I used it last night - fresher than fresh ground beef and came up with the perfect stuff to use next time I make stuffed peppers. And it is SO easy. A little cheat since I used a boxed mix I had on hand but:
1lb ground beef with onion to taste, browned do not drain. Use the fat instead of the butter that the ricearoni spanish rice mix calls for, prepare as directed otherwise.
Then use to stuff great big green peppers, heat through and serve. I didn't have the peppers last night but otherwise - easy and yummy.
Everything has been on hold lately - first, I had the release of my book, then CrazyHorse got pneumonia again. This was the worst it's been - spent a night in the hospital after the meds didn't kick the ickiness. We're getting back to normal now in that respect. He's back to school, I'm back to writing, and Wolverine has suddenly entered that marvelous phase of 2 that requires he run and run and run and run until he's so tired, he has a meltdown and finally screams himself to sleep. He also has discovered that there is water in the toilet and water is fun. We try to keep the door shut (except when CrazyHorse forgets) but sometimes - we just aren't fast enough. He's a quick little bugger for two. Sometimes it feels like I can't look away from him because he'll get into something new!
CrazyHorse was so easy in comparison - there was none of this drive to get into everything and inspect everything. CrazyHorse was more inclined to ask questions and talk about everything. Wolverine is strictly hands on. Doesn't want you to explain it or help him or anything. He's going to be very interesting to watch over the next year or ten. CrazyHorse is too - he just has to figure a few things out on the way.
At any rate - we hope the pneumonia is behind us now - we're down to using the nebulizer three times a day (though I may try for two today- 12 hours instead of 8 as we are trying to wean him off). I really hate to have to wake him up at 11:30 to do the breathing stuff - it just means he'll be tired and whiny the next day and I can not keep him home from school any longer - he needs that daily Kid time. Not so much the education part - I could do that myself - but being around other kids his age has been so very good for him.