A heroic amount of clementines get eaten at the Woodings’ household
at Christmas time. Damian is carrying on the tradition.
22 December 2007

It is 4am local time (GMT), and I am wide awake.  I have been awake all night.  This is not a good thing.  My children will be getting up soon to open Christmas presents from Santa.  And then we are going to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa’s house for lunch.  Then back home to open the rest of the Christmas presents when Uncle Ben and Auntie Allison get here, followed by a large Christmas feast.

In other words, I have a very full social day ahead of me on no sleep.  I’m a shy, introverted nerd.  I need sleep to be “on form” during social events.  For extroverts, parties are food for the soul; for introverts, parties are work.  Don’t get me wrong, introverts enjoy parties, but we tend to be tense and nervous.  Lack of sleep just compounds the problem.

This is the first time I have been this badly jetlagged.  The jetlag is always a hassle, but I’ve never been awake at 4am before.

Oh well.  At least it’s Christmas.  Everyone should be in an extremely good mood and my lack of coherence or response may go unnoticed.

Merry Christmas. 🙂

Daddy and Damian fell fast asleep on the couch
after the hard 24-hour journey to Lincoln, England.
22 December 2007

We had a grueling 24-hour journey which involved missed plane connections and missed trains, dealing with Delta Airlines (anyone who has flown Delta knows what I mean by “dealing with Delta” — this was not the first time we have missed our flight connection while flying Delta), dragging five bags of luggage and two sleeping children in strollers through the London Underground, waiting in a warm pub on a cold day at King’s Cross Station while Grandpa Damian sorted out new train tickets, and running – literally running – down platform three with five bags of luggage and two sleeping children in strollers to get a seat on the train (the train was fully booked and it was first come/first served; if you didn’t get a seat, you would have to wait for the next train).

But we are in England now and I’m finally not tense.  And it finally feels like Christmas.  Cold weather, lots of pressies under the tree, surrounded by family, grandparents doting on the grandchildren and planning a magical Christmas for everyone, loads of sweeties in the kitchen.  It definitely feels like Christmas.

Christmas in England with Matt’s family is always fun and warm.  It’s going to be a good Christmas. 🙂

Pictures of the children in the back garden taken by me mum-in-law.
(Sarah has the most amazing natural talent for framing pictures… truly amazing.)
17 July 2007

We got home Sunday night, but everyone had really bad jetlag.  The journey was hardest for the baby. He cried and fussed all day yesterday.  And he wouldn’t let me put him down; he wanted to be right up against my body all day.  He just was not a happy little guy.  He’s back to his normal self this morning though — smiling and busy.  He is extremely good-natured.

And the journey had absolutely no effect on Lily, as far as we could tell.  She was chirpy and playing all the way home… all 21 hours.  Seventeen hours into the journey when we were waiting in the long lines at immigration and then waiting in the long lines at customs, Matt, the baby and I were at the very end of our patience.  There was nothing but grumpiness, extreme fatigue and general nastiness left inside of us.  But not Lily.  She was having a good ol’ time.  Even when we arrived home, after a 21-hour journey, she stayed up for a couple of hours and played with the toys in her room.

I have lots of piccies from England.  Shelrie asked me to send her photos of England so she could travel vicariously, but I realized that I don’t take pictures of scenery.  I take pictures of people.  So all my pictures are of Matt’s family and the children.

I would like to learn to take pictures of scenery.  Maybe I should start practicing.  I’m not good at it.  My landscape pictures are very dull — like being forced to watch a slideshow of your aunt’s vacation to Oklahoma.

It’s nice to be home.  I like my home.  🙂

No picture with this post because we are in England right now.  I didn’t bring my camera with me and I am seriously regretting that decision now.

We came for Matt’s grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary.  The party was yesterday, and it was very nice.  I really like Matt’s family — a lot.  They are quirky and fun and silly and they all love each other very much.  I have a very good time when we come to England.

And my children are doted upon.  They are snuggled and kissed and everyone plays with them.  As a parent, there is nothing in the whole wide world that makes you happier than seeing your children loved.

And it’s chilly!  Isn’t that completely whacky?!  It’s July!  I was dumbfounded.  I didn’t bring warm clothes because… well, because it’s July.  I didn’t even think it was possible to be chilly in July.

I really like England.  I would have no problem moving here.  I like the way the cities are organized; cars are not used nearly as much — a lot more walking and public transportation – which gives the cities a sense of community because everyone is on the streets.  In Texas, all the cities are designed around cars, so the streets are empty.  I know why this is: we have the room for the sprawl and the heat is prohibitive.  But designing a city around walking and public transportation gives the city a much more pleasant feel.

I also like the weather which is funny because the English are always complaining about their weather.  But Texas is just so hot, and the heat is very oppressive.  The heat drains your energy, and you don’t want to go outside.

Anyways, we’re having a great time. 🙂

ps. House Beautiful!

The house was beautiful by the time my mom arrived.  It was really important to me that the house be clean for my mom.  I want my mom to feel comfortable in my house — to actually enjoy coming to my house because the house itself feels inviting and pleasing.

And, just in general, I’m in a much better mood when the house is clean.  Matt was such a sweety to work so hard to make the house clean for my mom.  He would put in a full day at work and then, when he got home, he would work really hard with me to get the house clean.  And he did all this because he knew I really really wanted the house clean for my mom.  He’s such an excellent husband.  I truly am lucky to have him.