merry & bright

so today we were supposed to be in lucerne, switzerland, staying in a faboosh hotel with a view of the lake, ordering room service and planning out the next few days of our adventure in a new city. and instead i’m in our own bed, sporting my 2007 pac-10 basketball championship t-shirt (stolen from wen, of course), planning our staycation agenda for the next few days. and honestly? couldn’t. be. happier.

the unexpected (and unwelcome) arrival of the stomach flu made our decision to stay home very easy. add to that the fact that we hadn’t yet prepared ONE THING for christmas (literally, not a gift had been purchased prior to 2:43pm today). we decided to maintain our theme of “keep things simple” and enjoy our christmas at home in nuremberg, with just the 4 of us, a few small gifts for the girls, and lots of merry & bright.

december flew by in a whirlwind of birthday parties, long days at work and the occasional night out with friends. if we didn’t get the gout while living in temporary housing, we should have gotten it this month. not a home cooked meal was consumed in december – literally. well, i must give some credit to wendell who “assembled” a few meals here and there, but for the most part it was pizza and thai food and this & that which i care not to remember. as such, i was a mom on a mission today at the grocery store – if it came “from the earth,” it went into my cart. and when i arrived home, i was a flurry of chopping and dicing and simmering. i have no idea what 2012 will bring, but for the final days of 2011, the maxeys will slow down, breathe deep, and eat some freaking vegetables.

quiet days ahead, no agenda, and nothing on our hands but free time. happy. me.

wishing you a week full of your own merry & bright. xo.