This year has been a little bit different as our Christmas has taken a temporary hiatus, but is not yet over. We left after I got off work on Dec. 23rd and came down to spend the holidays with Kev's family in Atlanta. We got in late that night, said a quick hello, and went to bed. The next day started early, as my father-in-law surprised everybody with a trip to the newly opened (and reportedly world's largest) Georgia Aquarium. Tickets are difficult to acquire and I'm not sure how this feat was accomplished, but the gift was a huge success, by all definition. The exhibits were incredible and the whole family spent the entire day exploring. My favorite were the Beluga Whales. These creatures look a little like a cross between a manatee and a dolphin. They can grow up to 3,500 lbs. And yet, they are some of the most graceful creatures I've seen. We spent a long time just watching them swim and play.
Saturday night, we went to the Lessons and Carols service at church and then returned home. It is the tradition in my husband's family to read aloud O. Henry's Gift of the Magi and the Christmas story from the Gospels. We stayed up and talked for a time, but then called it a night and retired to our respective beds to allow visions of sugar plums to dance in our heads. After such a busy Saturday, Sunday morning was a time to sleep in. My brother-in-law, who is discovering in himself a talent and fondness for the culinary, had proclaimed he was going to make eggs benedict for breakfast Christmas morning. We lingered over to breakfast and then went to the Christmas Day service. Arriving home resulted in a flurry of activity as Kevin left again to pick up his grandma and uncle and the rest of us worked to make Christmas dinner appear on the table. This included ham, potato casserole, fried cornbread, green beans, ambrosia, cranberry salad, and pecan pie. All was a great success and after a full meal, we settled down to the serious task of opening gifts. Ooohs and Aaahs abounded. It's nice to see those weeks of planning come together and to know that the time and effort we put into choosing each gift was a success. I, too, was blessed by my new family. The evening ended with everyone settling in to watch a movie together and then going happily to bed.
Yesterday was a laid back day. Kevin and I hit the mall and came back with a few "after christmas sale" items, including our Christmas cards for next year. We then met up with a high school friend of Kevin's and went to Cafe Tu Tu Tango for dinner. The plan was to then go see Walk the Line, but by the time we'd finished dinner, we'd missed the start of the movie. Instead, Kevin, his friend and I saw Steven Spielberg's new contoversial, top-secret film Munich. It's hard to describe my reaction to this film. Spielberg is a master at his craft, as is John Williams, he wrote the very moving score that accompanies the movie. The story is, essentially, about the revenge mission of the Israeli government after the 1972 Olympic bombings in Munich. However, the movie dives into a much more deeper and psychological level regarding the effects of the mission on the lives of those who carry out the revenge. You really have to see it to get the full effect. The drawback for me? Spielberg holds NOTHING back in bringing each revenge murder to it utmost. The result is a string of horrible, brutal, violent, graphic deaths, all shown in full detail. The movie is rated R and I strongly support the rating. This is not a movie for a younger audience. So my final rating? A FANTASTIC movie, well worth the money. But if you are squeamish (as I am), be prepared to cover your eyes.
And that brings me to today, the 27th (I will never again abandon my blog for a week over a holiday). The whole family went to lunch at The Watershed and then Kevin and I ran errands, including a trip to James Avery. I bought myself a heart charm for my charm bracelet.
Now it's evening and there's a few more errands to run tonight.
Just running through the last few days makes me tired. But it's a fun kind of tired.
Hope your holiday was just as wonderful!
2 comments:
I'm glad it's the fun kind of tired. Me too!
LOOOOOVVVEEEE the new template!
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