And just like that...

Christmas is over. *sigh*

Honestly, it feels great. Usually I am sad when it's over but there are a lot of things to look forward to this year.

January 4th I pay off my big court fine and THAT albatross that's been on my back for the last YEAR will be done. GONE. FINETO! I'll be able to "breathe" for the first time in a year AND possibly have a teeny tiny bit of money left over each pay to, I don't know, catch up on other bills, save for a trip back home to visit, do stuff to my house to make it pretty, possibly sign my kid up to play a sport to teach him coordination and burn off a bit of his excess energy :)

I also got a new boss at work. My old boss was good. Nice, mostly. However, she NEVER gave me anything to do. She would complain how swamped she was and how busy she is but would never give me anything to do. Even when I asked. Even when I begged. I asked other managers at work if THEY needed excess help. I also asked our office manager and nicely in a round-about way indicated my boss refused to give me work. Still nothing. So, I'd come into work and get paid to stare at my phone for 8 hours a day. Until someone complained. Well, everyone did. Right before Thanksgiving I got called into the office managers office due to the complaints. I told her I was very sorry. I like to work. I like to help out but, when you are turned down every day from everyone in the office when you ask for stuff to do, you eventually quit asking and you have to do SOMETHING to fill up the time.... anyway, Both a manager and her assistant put their notice in 2 weeks later. My office manager didn't want a manager who was new, with an assistant that was new and since she knew I was being GREATLY under utilized, she switched me to the new manager and gave the new assistant to my old boss. My new boss is AMAZING, and my new responsibilities keep me SUPER busy at work. Just how I like it! I'm happy because if I am actually WORKING, they can see how good of an employee I really am and hopefully by this time next year, I will be a manager making WAY better money. One can only hope. My Office manager said the difference is NIGHT AND DAY and she is happy she made the switch. It's a good job with a good company and if I put in the time, I can make decent money. At least comparable to what I was making in Ohio. That would be life changing for my family.

Christmas was good. Not the best one ever, but certainly not the worse. It fell on the side of one of the better ones. It's hard because my family (or maybe it's just me...) and I are used to how things were in Ohio. When I left my job, I was bringing home $7,000.00 Christmas bonuses. *I* took care of Christmas. Granted, I knew the money was coming so there were a LOT of bills that got caught up or paid off with that money, but I also took care of buying EVERYONE's presents. My kids didn't get a whole lot of extra through out the year, so I always spoiled them a bit at Christmas. I also bought for my extended family (Dad, sister, brother in law, Brother, nieces and nephews) and Bee's mom and brother's family) I bought all of Christmas dinner, too. You get the idea. This year (and since we have moved out here) Bee has had to pay for Christmas. It had to get cut WAAY back. Again, the kids still get mostly what they ask for so I don't think they really care. However, I do. I shouldn't I guess, but I do. Someday.

Friday, Santa (papa) came to Miss Gwen's (daycare). Santa walked in and Jackson lost his mind. He was soo excited. However, he kept telling all his friends that Santa was his Papa (whoops! Kid is way more attuned than I was) He no doubt believes in Santa....he just knows his Papa is the real Santa and told everyone who would listen as much. Santa read the kids a story and handed out gift bags of crayons and a coloring book. Jackson's favorites!

Saturday before Christmas, we went to a Christmas party of some new friends we have made this football season. Their son is a freshman who got promoted to varsity early on like Zach (sophomore). Some of the older kids didn't like him because he bumped upperclassmen from their starting position but, Zach was always nice to him. When they had team dinners, the older boys always got to eat first and there was hardly any food left for the younger kids but Zach always made sure he grabbed enough for their son, too so if no food was left, Mikey got to eat, too. I LOVE this family. They are so sweet and they love my son. They invite him to work out in their home facility every day after school. They want to take him everywhere Mikey goes so that Zach has the same opportunities to meet the same influential people as their son does. Mom is a lawyer and dad works in I.T. They are in a better position financially than us and I only say that because they know people that Zach would benefit in knowing. The dad also has contacts with college coaches which is nice :) On top of it all and MOST IMPORTANT, they are great people and we LOVE spending time with them. The party was fun, Jackson loved exploring their house and the grounds and the GIANT Christmas Tree. It was a fun night. I also was given something that I love. A really nice picture of my little hive in front the tree! We got two because our friend took our picture early on in the evening and then Cass showed p after she got out of work so, she took another one so she could be in it :) They did a crazy white elephant gift exchange which got crazy for a little bit but, we all walked away with a nice gift and possibly our Christmas card picture for next year :D

Sunday, Bee and the boys and I lounged around all day. It's rare we get a day like that so we took full advantage. Around 5:30 pm Bee and I went to the gas station to get drinks and decided to hit up Goodwill. We LOVE Goodwill :D A month ago, we got a brand new brown leather couch that happened to match the other couch we have AND an almost brand new brown leather recliner for $40.00 total. Ya'll... I have a 4 year old who runs around like a coked up business tycoon and two older kids who could give a rat's ass about how they treat my furniture. I'm NOT buying brand new furniture and spending $5,000.00 for them to destroy it in a month. I'll continue shopping at Goodwill, thank you :D Anyway, this trip we walked away with a whole new wardrobe for Jackson and an almost brand new pair of knee-high boots for me!! I love my boots!

Christmas eve, Jackson and I went over to my dad's at about 1 pm. Bee and Zach were at Home Depot getting materials to build Jackson a playground for Christmas. Ya'll. My Hubby is straight up talented. He makes such beautiful stuff. He made Zach's bed when Zach transitioned from a toddler bed to a "big boy" bed and he also made our current bed frame that we sleep in now. It's a tall canopy style bed. I. LOVE.IT! Anyway, he had no plans drawn up. Just a picture in his head and he knocked it out of the park!

 I kept Jackson at my dad's with me while they were building it. I wrapped all of our presents while Papa kept the little one entertained. Then, we went with him to Church. Jackson wasn't a huge fan of the sitting and being quiet but we managed. Then, we came home and Didi was there! So, my already wound up 4 year old was even MORE wound! Cass is seriously his favorite person ever. They took their annual picture in front of the tree. They have done the same pose since Jackson was just 2 months old. I don't think they will be able to do it next year LOL 

 Then, like pouring gas on an exhausted, excited 4 year old fire, SANTA (Papa) CAME FOR A VISIT! He was so excited. He made us all sit on Santa's lap and tell Santa what we wanted. Then, he told him how we made cookies and he was going to leave him some. At 11:30 pm, we were still going strong. He balled his eyes out when Didi had to leave to go help a friend in an emergency but, I convinced him to cuddle with me in bed and watch "Steve" (Cloudy with a chance of meatballs....his current fave) Within a few minutes, he was out! I put out all the presents and dragged my tired butt to bed....Christmas was was going to come early. 

Christmas Day, *I* woke up first. Then, I dozed a little bit more and finally Jackson stirred around quarter to seven. Honestly, that is the latest we have ever gotten up. He was so sleepy but so excited to hear it was Christmas day. He clapped and yelled, "Santa came! SANTA CAME, MAHM!" We all opened up presents and when he got his Jack in the Box (the thing he has been asking for since October :D ) He was so excited! He knew exactly what to do with it and when it "popped" he belly laughed for a good 5 minutes. After stockings, we told him Santa brought him one more present but, he had to put his shoes and coat on. He walked to the back slider with us and when he saw it, he jumped up and down and yelled, "I HAVE A PLAYGROUND AT MY HOUSE!" He went outside and just stroked the swing and said, "oohh! I wub it! I just wub my swings!" He climbed up the ladder a little ways and then got down. He wanted to play right then and there but, it was still early and even though we live in Arizona, it was 41 degrees so, we told him he could play a little while later after it warmed up.

Papa came over around 9 am and we opened presents with him (He got me a space heater for my desk at work! woot!) and Jackson finally got to go outside and play wearing his new "Mario" hoodie. We asked him if he liked the playground that Santa brought and he said, "Yes but, Santa didn't bring it. My Du MADE it for me!" So, alright kid. Yes, Du and Dak made it for you :D Bee made it in such a way that as we get a little more money, we can add to it! Jackson got ALL of the things he loves. Play dough, Crayons, plain white computer paper, his Jack in the Box, and his swing set. Didi bought him a new Paw Patrol hooded towel for bath time and a Cars 3 play set. I was a little worried because he doesn't play with any of his cars anymore but, sure enough, after bath time last night, he sat quietly and played with the play set! My sister, brother in law, 2 aunts and my cousin came over for dinner around 2 pm. We ate too much, enjoyed each other's company, and did our gift exchange. All in All, it was a wonderful and blessed day with people I love. That right there is the best gift one can get :)

Merry Christmas!