{"id":12211,"date":"2014-12-26T10:29:55","date_gmt":"2014-12-26T16:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=12211"},"modified":"2016-08-22T21:07:24","modified_gmt":"2016-08-23T02:07:24","slug":"brian-saves-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=12211","title":{"rendered":"Brian Saves Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

I thought I was completely ready for Christmas. Things were going so well. All of the presents that we’d sent to friends and family around the world made it to their destinations on time. Christmas cards were mailed. We were just relaxing while waiting for the day itself to finally arrive. And then I got sick the weekend before Christmas. I had no idea how much still needed to be done. When I was no longer feverish and returned to consciousness I started to panic. I didn’t feel ready. Brian had everything under control though. I calmed down once I reminded myself that I completely trust Brian and that’s if he says that everything is under control then it is. It just sucks to be completely sidelined during crunch time.<\/p>\n

I was still feeling alright last Thursday. I had felt a little achy the preceding days but I’d just attributed that to probably sleeping crooked or something like that. Anyway, no major issues on Thursday. Brian’s parents were in town so we used the evening for them to drop off their presents for us in Wichita and to give them their presents from the two of us. Thursday nights are also usually the nights I hang out with my little sister Nickira. <\/p>\n

I had taken her to make a craft project for her mom at Color Me Mine a few weeks prior. She wanted to make something for her Aunt also but after she realized how much each piece cost, she suggested that we go to the dollar store instead. We were starting to run out of days before Christmas so we decided to do that on Thursday on the way home to have dinner and do homework.<\/p>\n

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My in-laws were still at the house when we arrived so Nickira got to meet them. They also had a present for her, which she got to open right then.<\/p>\n

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She also got to open a present from me.<\/p>\n

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She got to wear the necklace and earrings that day.<\/p>\n

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We were in presents-opening mode so while we were waiting for dinner to be ready, Kira helped us open the present from the Orbases that arrived in the mail that day.<\/p>\n

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They got us an awesome chess set where the pieces consist of Chinese soldiers.<\/p>\n

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Here’s a video Kira reading the Christmas card that came with it.<\/p>\n

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After dinner Brian left to take grandma to see Christmas lights. It was one of her requests this year. Kira and I stayed home to do homework, wrap her presents, and write messages for the recipients.<\/p>\n

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It was then that I remembered that Kira’s mom wanted me to help her with her penmanship. So I ordered a couple of learn to write tablets. They should be coming in a few days so we can start on this project at the beginning of the year. I also need to help her with her spelling. She keeps spelling aunt as ant. LOL.<\/p>\n

After we completed our tasks, Kira got to play with Molly for a while before I had to take her back home. Nickira and I didn’t go to see Christmas lights with Brian and grandma that night because my original plan was to take her to Illuminations at Botanica on Sunday. It was Westar night and I could get four people in free with my work badge.<\/p>\n

Sadly it was not to be. I came down with the flu on Friday. I was hoping to be well enough by Sunday but I still had a fever. There was no way I could go. I missed so much that weekend. I missed dinner with friends on Friday night, missed my Zumba classes (I was so glad Hideki and Alexa were able to teach in my place so the classes didn’t have to be canceled), missed my waxing appointment, missed a friend’s birthday party, and on and on. I spent all weekend in bed, feeling completely helpless and out of it.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Brian did laundry (my job every weekend) and everything else. In my delirium I was like, “What are we going to do about Christmas Day? What are we going to make for grandma?” Brian came up with a plan and went to the grocery store on Sunday. All this happened while I was out.<\/p>\n

Went back to work on Monday but took a few hours of vacation in the afternoon before my Monday night Zumba class. My fever was gone, but breathing was still kind of a problem. I tried to convince myself I was well enough though. Tuesday I worked the full day and taught two Zumba classes afterward. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have gone back to work so soon and I definitely should not have taught those Zumba classes. While I don’t have a fever, I’m still miserable and now I feel like I ought to go see the doctor before I kill myself completely.<\/p>\n

It seemed like I was better on Christmas Eve but I was probably just happy that Brian didn’t have to work that day. In my elation I completely forgot that I was supposed to teach Zumba that morning in Alexa’s place (she’s celebrating the holidays with family out of town). The ironic part is that I had just received my review the night before and had gotten excellent ratings for being willing to sub other classes and for being dependable. So much for that record.<\/p>\n

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I may have missed my grooming but Molly didn’t miss hers. She looked so adorable in her Christmas sweater, with her fresh haircut. I was so glad that mom and dad let us bring her with us so she would not have to be at home alone on Christmas Eve. <\/p>\n

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Kevin, Kasey, Andy, and Kyndra celebrated Christmas Eve with us. It worked out well because we were able to exchange gifts at mom and dad’s that night.<\/p>\n

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The kids just wanted gift cards. GameStop for Andy and Gordmans for Kyndra. <\/p>\n

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Kevin and Kasey wanted their own Cards Against Humanity<\/a>\"\" set so we got them that and the first two expansions. We also got them X-Men: Days of Future Past and Wolverine Collection<\/a>\"\", which they didn’t ask for but we knew they would like.<\/p>\n

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The movie collection comes with X-Men<\/a>\"\", X-Men 2: X-Men United<\/a>\"\", X-Men 3: The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)<\/a>\"\", X-Men Origins: Wolverine<\/a>\"\", X-Men: First Class<\/a>\"\", The Wolverine<\/a>\"\", and X-Men: Days of Future Past<\/a>\"\".<\/p>\n

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Grandma received a pullover from Kevin and Kasey but was most thrilled to see her great grandchildren. I think that was the greatest present of all.<\/p>\n

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Jen and Armando also joined us this year. It’s their first time meeting grandma.<\/p>\n

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Grandma also got to meet the Cannadys and our other nephews on that side.<\/p>\n

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We had wonderful food and wonderful company. We were out later than we wanted but it worked out great because grandma didn’t seem to mind and she had the opportunity to meet the Cannadys.<\/p>\n

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The next morning grandma got to explore the contents of her Christmas stocking at breakfast: a new wallet, jumbo print playing cards, and Lindor truffles<\/a>\"\".<\/p>\n

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Brian and I don’t really buy each other presents to open on Christmas Day. We mostly just buy the things we want, say that we got them for Christmas, but immediately start enjoying them (much like our new Xorbee). The wrapped presents you see under our tree are all the presents that that we’ve bought to give to others. <\/p>\n

We have so many generous people in our lives, though that there’s usually not a shortage of presents to open on Christmas Day. This year we got to watch grandma open the presents that we got for her and the presents that she got from David and Donna.<\/p>\n

We also got several presents from Brian’s mom and dad, a Kurt Adler Christmas ornament from Aunt Sandy, cutting boards from Cousin Tracy and Jeff, and a personalized Christmas ornament from our neighbors Jim and Karen who were nice enough to stop by on Christmas Day. Grandma finally got to meet our awesome neighbors we’d been telling her about. And they got to meet her.<\/p>\n

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Molly got presents too — from me and Brian (new beds and toys) and also from Karen and Jim (outfit and treats). Karen and Jim got her a cute little Wichita State shockers dress that she wore all day. She looked like a little cheerleader!<\/p>\n

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After lunch we got to video chat with Brian’s parents and thank them for all the wonderful presents they gave us. It was a wonderful Christmas despite my not feeling 100%. Brian really saved Christmas from becoming a complete and total disaster this year. After he took grandma home we both took a very long nap. It had been a busy two days and we were completely and utterly exhausted. <\/p>\n

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Hope your Christmas was filled with just as much joy and happiness!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I thought I was completely ready for Christmas. Things were going so well. All of the presents that we’d sent to friends and family around the world made it to their destinations on time. Christmas cards were mailed. We were just relaxing while waiting for the day itself to finally arrive. And then I got […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[122,235,840],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12211"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12211"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15228,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12211\/revisions\/15228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}