Finally…a chance to sit down and catch y’all up on what has been going on in the life of Peachy!  Warning though..this is a longggggg entry and there are lots of pics!

Christmas was wonderful…crazy…but wonderful. I posted a photoshow in a quick entry on the 26th if you want to go back to the previous entry and take a gander.  Scott was in Japan until the 20th.  It took him a couple of days to get back on track time wise.  He said it was weird leaving Japan in the morning on one day and then arriving in Austin over 24 hours later…on the same day!  He brought back some pretty souveniers and had sent us lots of pics of things he’d seen over there.  He sure was glad to be home though!

Scott H got out of school on Wednesday the 19th. Preschool was in session though until that Friday but I had off on Thursday so he was lucky and didn’t have to attend the day care since Daddy was home.  I spent the weekend cleaning and getting ready. Scott’s brother and family were driving up from San Antonio on Christmas Day so we needed to make sure that the middle bedroom was ready for them and that the den was all straightened up. We tend to throw everything back there and besides Scott H’s usual mess, there were a ton of shipping boxes from various gifts I had ordered. (I did about 90% of my shopping online again this year and lucked out again with everything arriving on time and intact)  We have our dining room set back in the den and needed it cleaned off for Christmas Dinner…that in itself took awhile. I tend to put everything on the table, always planning on putting it away from there..yet it never seems to leave the table.  There was so much stuff on there, which would still be there if we hadn’t had guests for dinner. It is nice to see the table again!

In between the cleaning we went shopping..first to the grocery store to get a turkey and the fixin’s for dinner.  After some online research we also ran around shopping for Scott’s bonus gift. His bonus check came while he was in Japan and we always use it to get something big for the family. The first year was the big TV in the living room and last year was the new refrigerator. This year Scott wanted an HD TV for our bedroom.  I wanted a 32″…nothing too big…but he wanted a 37″. We had the room…and he worked hard (although we both feel that we both earn that bonus check..he by doing the work and me by holding down the fort here while he is away) so I agreed. We went all over looking to find a 37″ that met the ratings that I had found in my research.  No one had anything…they had tons of 32″ and 42″…but not many 37″ ones.  We ended up at Target to get one that they had…and they were out of the 37″ one. The salesman checked stock at two nearby locations and both had one left..which were their displays..but the one had another in stock as well. He was in the process of calling to see if they could hold it for us when two other salesman came walking by with the same TV on a cart. The one said, “Best deal of the day.” He quoted the price and it was the same as the one we were looking at..yet this one was a 42″ one!  They had sold their display of it and this was the replacement.  Scott and I looked at each other and I asked if it would fit. He looked a the measurements and it would so we walked out with a 42″ HD LCD TV for our room. The TV stand we’d picked out would work with this TV too so we grabbed that and next thing we knew we were home setting it all up. Scott ran out and picked up the HD-DVR box we’d ordered from the cable company and we were set. The picture on the TV is fantastic and I can even hear it without turning the volume all the way up!  Needless to say, my hubby was happy!

Since his bonus this year was so very nice…we decided that I could get something too.  I didn’t get to pick mine out until the week after Christmas (it was delivered on the 29th)…so what did I get?  A brand new super capacity washer and dryer.  So let’s look at the big picture here:

Scott’s present:  

Peach’s present: 

Um…what is wrong with this picture??????

I must say though that I actually enjoy doing the laundry…for now. Having a washer and dryer that work the way that they should and are the same size (as opposed to the super capacity washer and only large size dryer that we did have) makes things a lot easier.  And…I am getting to enjoy the TV too…so I can’t complain really.

Christmas Eve was busy…I stayed home while Scott and the boy ran out for some last minute gifts for moi. Scott had bought my main gift before heading to Japan but he wanted to get my stocking stuffers and some smaller things too. I got cracking on the stuffing and other stuff I had to make for Christmas Dinner.  After I cleaned up I actually got to rest a bit then I got ready to head to work in the nursery. I volunteered to work the 4:00 and 6:00 services since Scott H decided not to be in the pageant this year. We were going to go to the 8:00 service together so I had Scott drop me off. I had 2 kidlets at the 4:00..my bosses’s son (who is in our toddler class every day) and my coteacher’s son. They were both angels. I decided that instead of going home between services I would just stay…so I got a soda and took out my book. 6:00 rolled around and no one came. I hung until 6:15 then called Scott to pick me up.  I’d made chili for dinner so we ate then went to church at 8:00.  Scott H was ready for bed not long after we got home so he got into his new Christmas PJs                                  

Put out treats for Santa and the reindeer                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                 

then headed off to bed. I think he was out in 5 minutes.  Scott and I got the presents out of hiding, set up the camcorder and camera and we headed off to dreamland too.  Santa came quietly I guess because none of us were up until about 6:30.  Scott H stayed in his room until we told him we were ready…then hauled butt into the living room.  With a quick “Merry Christmas” he grabbed a present and he was off!  He loved everything he got and when he was done he even piled them up and slid over Scott’s and my gifts so we could open them.

I went first and started to laugh when I opened my first gift. Scott had gotten me a remote starter for the car!  He knew I wanted one and after I locked the keys in the car that one Sunday, he knew he had to get me one.  We had it installed the beginning of this month and I love it!  He had picked me up some other things too..all perfect…then it was his turn.  He loved his main gift from me…a portable GPS unit. He had a blast setting it all up later and we’ve used it several times already. He took it with him to Seattle this week too (he left Monday for an install there).  All in all it was a nice morning.

Scott’s brother and family arrived like a tornado mid afternoon. The kids had a blast (we did too) and dinner was really good…if I do say so myself!  Everyone was so stuffed that we never even got to the pies.  The kids were in bed early..although it took awhile to get to sleep. Once they were out….the adults went off to bed too.  I made french toast for everyone the next morning and the kids played some more. Scott’s brother got the car loaded and we headed off to get some lunch. The two places Scott wanted to take them were closed so we tried the last place and since they were opened, we headed off for pizza.  We parted ways after lunch and we came home to a quiet but messy house and relaxed. Scott and Scott H spent the afternoon playing Guitar Hero (I think Dad loves it as much as Scott H).

Preschool started back on Thursday so I was off to work while Scott secretly started to work on my birthday gift.  His birthday was the 29th and he ended up working a few hours. His friend was out of town and Scott was covering him and got a service call in San Antonio. It didn’t take long though and he was home a little after lunch. They’d delivered the washer and dryer earlier and I was doing some laundry to check it out.  We sort of just hung out..went out to get a late lunch/early dinner and came home for his presents and some cake.  The rest of the weekend was quiet. I worked Sunday morning in the nursery and then Monday afternoon in my preschool class. There were really only a few kids each day during the holidays so we were running on a skeleton crew. Monday was our anniversary and I knew we really weren’t planning anything so when Amber set up the schedule, I volunteered to cover Monday afternoon.  One of my coteachers and her husband decided to have people over on New Year’s Eve and kids were invited too, so we ended up heading there after I was done work. It was nice…several other couples..most from church/school (one of the pastors was there as well as the youth minister, one of Scott H’s third grade teachers…her hubby is assistant principal….and an 8th grade teacher) and a couple of their personal friends.  The kids played and watched some videos..Scott H hung with Scott in with the men since the other kids were all younger and he played Wii with the men and had a blast. The women were in the dining room near the kids (of course) and we played Catch Phrase..what a blast that was! We were laughing so much.  Later we went into the den and played Scene it with the men. Scott H played too and had fun.  I am so lucky that he can “hang” with the adults and not get in the way.  Midnight came and we watched the ball drop then all had some champagne. We helped clean up then headed home. Such a great time…and so much more fun than the hanging out here alone that we had planned!

Scott was being very secretive about my birthday….phone calls and checking things online.  He hadn’t acted this way since he had planned our surprise wedding so I was curious.  He said he had to tell me a couple of things so that I could make arrangements…like. I needed to take off work on that Sunday morning before my birthday. He said that my gift was arriving on Friday the 4th…and that we had to pick it up. I got to thinking and asked if we had to go the airport to get it. He said yeeeeeeesss..but wouldn’t tell me any more about it.  I knew that Jason wouldn’t fly and was certain that Chrissy couldn’t get away because of John working and the girls having school…so I decided it was Katie coming.  Scott said nothing and refused to tell Scott H anything either.  I was so excited as the day got closer. I had to work at 2:45 but we tracked the flight all day.  My gift was to arrive at about 8 that evening so we were going to head over after I got done work to wait.  We sat at the baggage claim area waiting…and waiting…..the screen showed that the flight had arrived so we stood at the escalator waiting….and waiting…and waiting.  I was looking for Katie, but then all of a sudden…at the top of the escalator….I saw Chrissy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was jumping up and down hugging Scott…and crying of course.  Then I was hugging Chrissy!!! I couldn’t believe it!!  We both stood there crying and hugging.  I was so shocked and I think I thanked Scott a million times.  I also thanked my son in law every time I talked to him.   It was the best birthday present!

The weekend was busy.  I think we ate a ton. Scott was trying to give Chrissy a taste of Austin in just a day and a half.  Chrissy was supposed to head back Sunday afternoon…but she called John and asked if she could stay till Monday and he said yes!!  She worked everything out with the girls getting to school and covering their care between the time Katie went to work and John came home from work. Her neighbor said she would watch them..so Scott got the flight changed..at no cost!  So she actually was here part of my birthday too!  We took her to Mellow Mushroom, Kerbey Lane, Baby Acapulco’s, and to County Line on the Lake BBQ.  She got a slushie at Sonic…and then we took her on a driving tour of all the Austin sights….the Capitol, Sixth Street, Congress Avenue, Zilker, the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, Mansfield Dam, all the Lakes…we crammed it all in and she was having a blast taking pictures.  When we were home, she played Guitar Hero with her brother and her stepfather
                         

and she and I talked and looked at recipes….it was so much fun!  I love my hubby but he always manages to do something special that makes me love him even more!

Here’s a shot he took of Chrissy, Scott H and I at my early birthday dinner at County Line BBQ
                       

My actual birthday was nice. Dropping Chrissy at the airport wasn’t, but the rest was. When I got to work they had a party set up for me.  There was balloons and streamers hanging in our classroom along with a big sign on the door saying “Happy Birthday Ms Denise”. I got presents from a couple of the kids (after having received such wonderful Christmas gifts from them all). There was apple juice boxes and donut holes for a special snack (which was sort of NOT a good thing cause the kids were crazy all afternoon from the sugar which made for a not so quiet birthday afternoon!)  Scott made dinner when I got home then gave me my cards and birthday cake.  We had been talking that morning with Chrissy before she left about ice cream cakes.  The ones down here are not what I was used to. They have actual cake as one of the layers and I do not like soggy cake. The type we had in NJ had a layer of ice cream, a layer of some other frozen stuff with a layer of chocolate crumbles in the middle.  They were made by Carvel and I had not seen them down here at all.  Well, Scott found some (he saw them, thought that they were what I mentioned, called Chrissy at the airport and asked her…and they were) and he bought me one for my birthday!!!  
                           

What a great birthday I had this year!

Since then though it has been back to reality.  Work and school, work and school. I picked up Thursday afternoons at preschool though so I dropped the 8:00 service on Sunday mornings. I also am back to Wednesday mornings doing the nursery for Bible Study so I am thinking of also dropping the 9:30 or 10:45 service on Sundays too.  I will still come out with more than 20 hours and I will get to go to church again on Sundays.  That is still being worked on though.  I have subbed several times already this year at preschool. That virus is going around again as well as cedar allergies knocking out some teachers.  Our ECE conference in Houston is the end of this month and I get to go. I signed up for 3 classes and can’t wait!!

Guess this is long enough and I need to get ready for work…is anyone still awake???  

Have a great day Y’all!!