7 Quick Takes – A Night Out, an Afternoon Out and Reflections on Life with the In-Laws

Here’s this week’s Quick Takes post. As usual some of the stuff that happened has branched off into other posts, which will follow shortly but will be backdated. In addition I found out that the advent confession session is tomorrow, so I have to prepare for that as well, so it may be a little while before the photos get here…

Also, for lack of other inspiration (or gratuitous photos), for now I will leave #7 blank for advent, as a reminder to everyone to find time for silence.

1. I dug out my advent wreath last week (4 days late). I had forgotten about it because I hadn’t figured out where I could put it that would be safe from a toddler… It’s on the dining room table, and we’re starting to eat supper in that room more.

2. I took another walk with my son the other day. He is getting better, each time we go out we seem to cover more distance because he’s walking faster and not stopping as much. I decided to hide just to see what he did when he realized I wasn’t there… He wasn’t upset, just confused. Then I gave away my hiding spot one way or another and ran after him. He got all excited, he was squealing I hadn’t actually ran in months, and I was really tired by the time i got home.

3. On Saturday we had the adult Christmas party with DH’s work. They asked for $10 for the guest ticket, so for $10 we got a night out for 2 complete with 2 full dinners with dessert, 2 drink tickets and a $25 gift card to Ultramar Everyone got a gift card, the smallest was $10 to Tim Hortons.

4. On Sunday I went to see the 2nd Twilight Movie with DH’s sister and her friend, the one who had the baby 2 hours after me. It was great to get a girl’s afternoon out. Most of my friends don’t know each other so when I see friends it’s usually one on one, but it’s nice to hang out with more of a group. And it was really great to catch up with the friend about her life since the baby. Someday we’ll all get together….She’s also still nursing which makes me happy (she never nursed her other 3 kids).

As for the movie I think I liked it better than the first one, and I really can’t wait for the 3rd . The third book was also my favorite.

5. This week I’ve been thinking about how I fit in with DH’s family… Thinking about the way things were before we moved in, I can say that our relationship is changing and mostly for the better. (I guess living together really did help, though at times it has been challenging for all of us and I think part of what has brought us together is card night.)DMIL and I understand each other better now, and can usually get along quite well. DFIL and I are having more trouble which drives DMIL crazy. DFIL is very set in his ways. We’re just very different and we seem to clash a lot of the time. I really do try to please them though, I help out with dishes and laundry whenever I’m asked (but I don’t always do it right away) and I try to turn off the lights and keep my toddler from damaging their things. And DFIL is helpful back. He fixed our artificial Christmas tree’s wiring and my coat zipper and my umbrella too.

6. Last night I finally remembered to register for my last 2 classes next term. I applied to graduate in the Spring, so if all goes well (I pass my classes and I didn’t miss a philosophy one) then I’ll be all graduated and free to move further out of the city if necessary (it’s cheaper) by May

7.