7 posts tagged “inlaws”

I am not normally someone who returns gifts after Christmas. As long as the item fits or isn't broken, even if it isn't my taste I usually keep it.

That being said, I made my first major return of a Christmas present today. This would probably not even usually warrant mention on my blog, if it weren't for the fact the item I am returning is from my husband's Grandmother( my grandmother in law I guess).

You see my inlaws usually buy me something expensive for Christmas. In previous years I have gotten a coach purse, an ipod, gold earrings, etc.

I know they consider me hard to shop for so every year I make them a list of things I really want. I asked for an Ipod stereo, a hello kitty tv, workout clothes, and here is where my mistake occured. I asked for a purse. You see I think purse, I think small bag, costing under 50.00.

They of course think extragant for some reason. So I got a gift card from my mother in law and  this purse from his grandmother.

My husband on the other hand got cologne and renewal to a sports newspaper which he gets every year.  and thats it.

I felt bad. I felt guilty.  and mostly I felt like what am I going to do with yet another coach purse. I love purses, but I don't have a need for a super fancy purse. And as mentioned above, they got me a coach purse before, three years ago, that is still in style and in good shape.

I really wanted to return this bag once I saw the retail price. It was way too much and all I kept thinking was I could think of way more things to spend that kind of money on.

I asked my husband, and he wasn't keen on the idea, but finally agreed to let me return it, which I did today.

I had to go to the mall for a follow up to my eye exam and so I thought I would do both things today.

I had such fun shopping and spending the money.

Below are some pictures of my purchases. I got an adidas jacket, work out capris, two pair of workout shorts, a watch (it looks like a bracelet then opens to watch), and two tops for work (not pictured). Everything I bought was on sale or clearance, which means i still have almost 40.00 left on a gift card.  I am much more happy with these items then I would have been if I kept the purse.  

So I neglected my blog today, too busy at work trying to finish up things before the out of town trip.  Have company this evening. My 11 year old sister in law (she needs a nickname) and I went to the women's basketball game tonight. The game was really fun and close, we almost beat the IRISH. It was just her and I and realize that it is fun having a little sister around to do things with.   The game was reminscent of when my sister and I used to go to the women's games before she moved to Chicago.  Its not quite the same, but I enjoy spending time with my new little sister and I suppose she will do until I am able to spend time with my real little sister.

After the game was autograph night, now the women's team has never been as popular as the men's team, but it was good to see a crowd waiting around for autographs and to see the team. I don't understand though how parents are so rude to encourage their kids to cut in front of people to get in line for something that is free and open to everyone. Luckily J was polite and said thank you to the girls and was really cute.  I think she had a really good time.

We got a free poster, free balloon, and free temporary tattoos. The only thing that would have been better would have been if they won...they lost by 2 pts.

In other news we are finally getting the snow that everyone else has been talking about, no accumulation yet though. J is spending the night anyway , its just easier that way.  Tomorrow I am off to do some charity christmas shopping then packing and laundry or vice versa.

I heard they are expecting 6 inches of snow where I am going. Prehaps I can break out my pink snowboots.

 I found out from my mini in laws yesterday that I am the smartest person they know. Funny. I also realized that my in-laws tell people things about me that I would never use to describe me. They told the newest addition to their extended family that I like to use coupons and and am always using the internet to figure things out. Not that these are bad traits, but just something I really don't consider definining features of my life. 

I can't tell you the number of conversations I have had in these last couple of days about me having children and when that would be. From my in laws, the mini inlaws , the extended family.   My sister in law asks at last 1-2 times every time I see her lately, I am sure she doesn't know that it isn't appropriate to keep asking this, and sometimes I think that my mother in law is behind it all.  It isn't that I don't want children or that I don't plan on having them any time soon, but I really don't think it is something I need to get asked as many as 5 times a day.

Ok enough venting.  I also realized that by agreeing to help with the diorama yesterday, I have sandwiched myself into a whole weekend with my inlaws. I will see them today at the basketball game we are going to and tomorrow as well.

Oh well.

Yesterday we took my six year old brother in law to basketball practice.  He just started playing organized basketball through the local rec and ed.

When we were visiting last Sunday, he was telling me about how he started playing and all about the coaches etc. He also did funny impressions of his coaches.  Talking in a deep voice yelling" come on guys, come on" it was funny.  Anyway he asked if we could come watch him play so we did.

It was the funniest basketball practice I have ever watched. There were about 11 boys of which my brother in law was the second tallest (he is very tall for his age).  They started with running laps and it was funny because  a few of the boys were just running in mini circles instead of lapping the gym.  Then it was calistetics, of course most of the boys don't know left from right so they had trouble following directions. Then they broke up into mini drills.  The most entertaining was the defensive shuffle drill. Seeing already small boys crouching and running back in forth with their arms out was funny.  My brother in law did pretty well and even made a few baskets in the warm ups. Then it was time for two on two scrimmages.  It was hilarious since the kids have trouble catching and dribbling and one little boy kept running around with the ball like he was playing football.

It was definitely an amusing event and I think J was glad we went. He kept looking up to make sure we were watching and waving.

Everyone who knows me well, knows that I love presents.  The thought of an early birthday present usually excites me. That is until now. Seems as though my inlaws have this grand idea to go on a Mystery Train.  It started as something they wanted to do this fall with me just for the fun of it, and has now turned into "oh we think it would be a great birthday present" .   It will be my mother inlaw and grandmother inlaw and their friend.  Not even someone I want to go. My husband will be babysitting his siblings

Now this is not something I would pick to do for my birthday. And it costs a lot of money. Money I would prefer to spend on other things, but there is really no way to get out of it. I tired saying I really didn't know if it would be fun, but they said oh you never know unless you try.  The tickets are booked for this weekend. 

I am sure it will possibly be ok, but I am really not looking forward to it.

"Our murder mystery dinner train is a 2 ½ to 3 hour fine dining and entertaining experience aboard a moving train.   As the train makes a leisurely 12 mile round trip through the countryside you are served a wonderful five course meal all the while being entertained by our troupe of actors and actresses performing a comical interactive murder mystery.  The actors actually ask a passenger to “volunteer” at the beginning of the trip to be their victim.  The show is more of a comedy versus a drama and the best way to describe the experience is that it is much like being in the front row at a comedy club, where you are likely to be involved in the show.  The show is rated PG-13 and would be considered adult oriented humor. "

Today definitely feels like a Monday to me, but I am glad its not.

The weekend went well, we didn't do much of anything Saturday, just watched the football game. Sunday after the previously mentioned run, we went over to the inlaws for a barbeque.

Sunday night we had my husbands eleven year old sister spend the night.  So we went to see Step it Up, which reminded me of save the last dance , and it was pretty cute. She enjoyed it.

We then at 11pm when to 7-11 to get Slurpees.  They now have yummy crystal light slurpees.  After that we headed home and played multiple rounds of hello kitty Uno.  Much like the regular UNO, but with hello kitty on the cards in different outfits.  There is a special Love me Not card which involves saying Love me if you play a card, love me not if you have to draw. 

At about 2am we went to bed, only to awake at about 9am .   The morning was pretty quiet just hanging out while everyone showered. Then we went to breakfast and then to the bookstore where she got this book

We then went to the mall while her brother went home to nap.  We had a great time at the mall and were able to find some good deals.  I got a cute skirt for 3.97. 

We then took her to Olive Garden and then home.

I think it was really fun.

I really didn't get much exercise in yesterday, except for walking around the mall for 1.5 hours.  I also tried to eat reasonably well the multiple times we ate out, which isn't always easy.

This morning  we went for our run at the local park again.  Thankfully, I felt much better then I did on our Thursday run.  We decided to do 3 laps or 3.3 miles.  The weather was perfect about 60, sunny with a breeze. The trails were pretty empty and I ran about 25 minute before stopping to walk for a minute or two.  I then ran for another ten minutes or so.  I would say all total I walked for less then 5 minutes.  The only bummer of the whole thing was that ipod shuffle needed to be re-charged at the third lap so I ran much of the third lap in silence.

Total time for 3 laps 42 minutes, 3.3 miles.

I have a 5k next weekend so It is good to know that I am still going about the same pace ,and haven't slowed down any.

After I finished my run, I went for short walk to see where my hubby was at in his run, except I wasn't paying attention and turned onto the wrong trail.  I realized this about 4 minutes into my walk and then turned around and of course when I got back to starting point of our run, my hubby was there waiting for me. I felt like such a dork for getting lost.  I think I was hungry and not thinking straight.

Total walking time 10 minutes.

After running, we came home and showered and hended to big boy where I had their yummy multi grain pancakes with oatmeal and almonds in the pancakes.   I am now thinking of taking a short nap before heading over to the inlaws for the afternoon,

We are grilling today and I just hope they have a lower fat option so I don't have eat sausage and barbeque, which wouldn't be bad if I wasn't trying to lose weight.

My 11 year old sister in law is spending the night tonight so I am not sure what our plans for tomorrow are.