The Shafferland Shuffle

Every week, Ryan and I say, "This week should be calmer." We're going to stop saying that. I think this is just supposed to be an eventful season of life! No resting this past week! Here's what we did.

* Last Sunday was our anniversary, and we woke up to a beautiful warm and sunny day in Louisville. We are so thankful for that day. We had brunch together at a lovely restaurant high up above the Ohio River, we walked through a park, we enjoyed all our anniversary traditions, and we ended the day with pie and ice cream. A sweet anniversary, indeed.

* We came home Monday, with a couple of fun last stops down in Indianapolis. (Hello, IKEA! We missed you!) We found out Monday morning that Ryan's mom had been taken back to the hospital, so on our way home, we stopped and visited her for a few hours. (That's when I learned my pretty boots from my Black Friday purchase aren't quite broken in yet. After IKEA and four hours in a hospital, I couldn't feel my feet!) We got home much later than we intended, and I flew into a flurry, trying to get us all unpacked and laundry done before we went to bed that night.

* Because on Tuesday, we welcomed our next round of company! I made up the guest room and borrowed a pack n play, because my niece from Kansas, her husband, and little Caroline came to stay with us for a few days. (This was all very unexpected. My brother-in-law lost his sister to cancer the same day we left for our little getaway. So while we were gone, they were scrambling to make plans to come home.) That night, our small group got together to wrap Christmas gifts for the local Rescue Mission, so Ryan and I played divide and conquer. He went to the wrapping party to represent us, and I stayed home to receive our guests!

* Our guests didn't have a car (they flew in) so Wednesday morning, while Ryan went to work, I got up and ready and took them to the house where all the family was meeting for the day - about an hour from here. I didn't see the point in driving all the way back home, only to turn around and drive all the way back for the funeral, so I stopped by my old office in Marion, saw the two people working there who remain from my days of employment, and met up with my parents for an afternoon snack! (Drove by our old house, too!) Ryan went to the hospital to see his mom that night, and I represented us at the funeral. (Photo credit to Ryan's sister for the picture of him with his mom and nephew.)

* Thursday was the only day our Kansas family had the whole day free to spend with us, so our house became visit central. Ryan had to work, so he could only join us for lunch. Guess what? I GOT TO ROCK THE BABY TO SLEEP!!!!!! Made my whole day. I said on Facebook that I didn't know if I had skill or was just boring, but either way, the baby slept, so WIN!!!!!!

* Friday morning, all our company left to go back home. :( That night, Ryan and I went out to my parents' house to take pictures for their church Christmas party. We ran a photo booth there as well, and when the church people weren't utilizing it, we had some fun of our own!

* Ryan worked yesterday, and I spent some time in the morning showing a future podcaster how all the editing software works. :) Phoebe showed up around lunchtime to stay for the rest of the day! I worked on our Christmas cards under her supervision, and while we ran a few errands last night, we got her a new toy. She was SO EXCITED when we came home with it!! (She found out it had a squeaker in it and was completely obsessed.)

So that's been our week. I am NOT going to say "surely this week will be calmer." No need to jinx it.