This year, I spent Christmas with my dad, stepmother, and two sisters up in Northwest Iowa.  It was technically my mom’s turn to have my sister and I in town, but things worked out that it would be best if we were with her for Thanksgiving instead this time around.  We got there Friday night and spent the days leading up to Christmas just hanging out in between church, going to a movie (We Are Marshall — a decent football flick despite some pretty obvious cliches), and opening presents.  For Christmas, we started the day by celebrating with my step-mom’s side of the family which consisted of my step-uncle, his girlfriend, and my step-cousin.  The lunch was an absolute feast and, after partaking in some pie for desert, I was left feeling completely stuffed.  Dinner was spent at with my dad’s side of the family.  It was good to see everyone again although I still feel like a giant pile of poo after eating so much.

As far as presents are concerned, I pretty much got everything I wanted (which wasn’t much) and then some.  My mom already got me my present (a down comforter and duvet cover) when I was there for Thanksgiving, and it’s been rockin’ my face off ever since.  I used to delay going to bed until I absolutely couldn’t take it any longer.  Now, though, I look forward to nights in my comfortable bed.  I ended up getting both casual and dress clothes, a scale (which showed that I gained 6 pounds in the past week), a SonicComplete toothbrush, cologne, a jacket, and two suits.  Not too shabby, I must say.

There were three pretty memorable quotes from this past weekend that I feel need to be posted on here. 

“What’s Iowa State doing playing all those negroes?  There are no negroes in Iowa.  They need to get some white people in there.  They’d be a lot better than all those negroes they have in there now.”   — My grandpa

“Oh yeah?  Try getting circumcised at 25 like I did.”  — My grandpa when we were talking about my cousin’s newborn getting snipped

“Those cows are silly.  Sometimes they’ll put their front feet up on the back of another one and try walking.  They’re really funny when they do that.”  — my cute, naive seven-year-old half-sister

I’m leaving tomorrow morning for a family trip to Branson.  I think most everyone I’ve told about my Branson trip either responds with laughter or with a sympathetic “I’m sorry”.  I really don’t know what to expect.  I’m kind of looking forward to it, actually.  I mean, the way I see it, it’ll either be really Christmas-y and entertaining or it’ll be really cheesy and tacky which would also entertain me immensely.  I’ll be back on Saturday and will resume blogging then.