Despite the horrible time I've been having today ended up pretty good. On the plus side of things we closed at 6 pm or as close to it as possible. Starting at 5 pm and increasing in frequency were announcements made that we were closing at 6 pm and the registers would be closed at 6 pm. And we did. I don't know if anyone was turned away but I almost shut the register down before I did help one couple and I wish I had because they were just taking so much time trying to decide an arguing over price and coupons. I finally just gave them 20% off the transaction and they still wanted to dither. After the transaction they asked about the rewards points. I told them they have to use a store credit card for that (they had used a regular card) and then they wanted to know about how they could do that but they left their card at home. I finally told them they could bring back their receipt and card on Thursday and we could fix it for them.

Then we went to Matthew's brother's for their extended family Christmas. They have Make Your Own Hoagies for dinner (a tradition started by his grandmother because she was tired of cooking so much) and after everyone eats the presents are passed around and all the kids open one present each where they are the center of attention and then it becomes a free for all. There were about 12 kids (including teenagers). It was fun and kind of chaotic but we started opening presents at 8 and all the opening and thanking for presents and oohing and ahhing was over with shortly after 9.

And then tomorrow the families have their family Christmas.

Everyone liked their gifts! I got gifts from a couple I didn't know would be there so now I feel like I need to get them a belated gift. His brother and SIL gave us some pajamas and t shirts but the pjs smell of cigarette smoke so I have to wash them first. And they gave us a set of pots and pans which I have way too many so I have to cull some and figure out what to keep.

But the best was the reaction from one of the nephews. I decided to give everyone little stocking stuffer-ish things and a main present. Everyone got fuzzy socks, chocolate, and Gamecocks drink cozie, and the girls got a candle and face mask sheet (mostly because I over bought drink cozies and chocolate so everyone got some). For 2 of his nephews we got Play station cards and when one of them opened his present he got really excited over the socks and chocolate and didn't even see the gift card until I pointed it out (I didn't want him to accidentally lose it).He even kept the gift box it was in because he liked that so much. So that made me feel awesome.

One couple gave us a present and we didn't give them anything 1) we didn't know they were coming and 2) we don't know them well. I *think* they are related to ...someone...but Matthew isn't sure either they are blood family or found family. Their names are Jo and Paula but Joe is the name of his SIL's best friend's Dad who is kind of like an uncle (Matthew's SIL and her best friend have been friends for almost 25 years and are basically sisters so her family is like extended family). Matthew's mom can't seem to wrap her head around the fact their is a Jo and a Joe because no matter how many times we mention Jo and Paula and that Jo is not the same person as Joe (and that Joe is a man and Jo is a woman) she still seems to think that we are talking about Joe.

Somehow Maria and I are both sick! We have colds in the nose. Or I have a cold I. The nose and she has a cold in the chest. Also, I rediscovered that I hate Monopoly and also don't really know how to play. Like I didn't remember the part wherein you had to have all the properties of one color before you bought a hotel. We played Nightmare beforeChristmas Monopoly. I am looking more forward to possibly playing Chronology. At my family party. I am also making turnips right now.

Mac did not come to Christmas Eve service despite his grandmother asking multiple times and thus being our last Christmas in Texas. He's always awful at holidays, but I thought he might step up.

Theo, 6K seems like a lot for a hot water heater. I had an electric (that is still somehow hooked up to the oil furnace) one replaced about 5 years ago and it was until $2K.

I lost LBD today, thanks to some Rankin-Bass cartoon on AMC that I wasn't even watching. So close!

Lit candles, turned braising liquid and turkey bones into stock, laid out clothes for tomorrow. Back under the blankets with a cat on my feet until tomorrow morning

I am still in LBD. I don't think I've ever made it this far, it feels kinda weird.

So. You didn't braid the turkey legs?

I think I might be up at midnight. Do I open my stocking then (Maria does a stocking for me, plus presents. They are all under my tree). I went through my sisters presents and pulled all the candy/food to take to the Dunkin Donuts people tomorrow, along with the candy ai bought. She got my cat a USB charged ball, and also some nice gloves and scarf. I will really have to meet her soon, and then just deal with my mom. Who is making me crazy with this ham thing! So, I am cooking sweet potatoes and rutabaga right now!

Salad would have gone fine with ham. Don't make yourself crazy. Bring something else if you don't want ham.

Well, sweet potatoes are pretty done, and so are mustard greens. Rutabaga is boiling, and then I will do mashed cauliflower. I knowI am nutty. But not Nutty.