After Christmas Slow

     

Image from BBC.

     Yesterday was pretty nice with my husband's family. Oddly, nice and while loud, calmer. Well, that might have been just me with the aid of the Pinot grigio wine box. Since my MIL decided she'd host, but didn't want to do the main meal nor drinks, I think it took loads off her and she could just relax. Food was plentiful and she has a few meals for today and tomorrow, or enough for her and a friend without needing to do any work. It was a long day though- getting there before noon, and not home until 8:30. 

     No cooking for me today. I've got a second small pan of cheesey potatoes, meatballs from Friday (and I froze enough for a meal), and lots of fruit, cheese, ham from my SIL, and the smoked salmon. There's olives, hummus, and bruschetta. DD1 and I are going to check out clearance sales and I'll get a baguette to hold those dips, but there's loads if crackers. Later, today or possibly not until Tuesday, I'll take my youngest to pick out her hiking boots. She's very excited and I would have been wrong in the size most likely. I think all my gifts were hits, but as I don't have young kids, they're the practical variety- leggings, pj's, mittens, hats, shower kits, and a main gift with all the littles. I got DS the tablet, which he used yesterday to video call, DD1 new kitchen sheet pans, chef's knife, and glass storage containers(bundled as a gift), and hiking boots for the youngest. We always top off with cash. DH got me a very complex Ninja Coffee maker. I'll explore on line to see if it will work. Poor guy- this purchase and wrapping of it stressed him out!

     I got to talk with my son both Friday night and yesterday we got video call connection. My MIL was ecstatic to see him while talking to him. Sound quality wasn't great through phone and it was loud, but very nice to sort of have him join us. My other sister in law is getting together with her parents today. Her sister's family in Colorado had their Christmas day flight cancelled, which was why they changed to Sunday to begin with from their normal Christmas Eve. I'm glad to not have another Christmas today! DS had a 15% chance of a cancelled flight had he tried to push it. We're planning to talk tonight, 6:00 our time, and he and his sister will video game play together. It's their thing now.

     I'll do some menu thinking today- easy, but after these leftovers are done, just meals without cream cheese, creams, rich cheeses and canned cream of celery soup! Spaghetti with marinara and salad sounds good. Perhaps a curry loaded with veg over basmati rice.I have to work tomorrow but then have Tuesday and Wednesday off, to finish my work week Thursday. It's the after Christmas slow and I'm going to embrace it.