I pretty much knew that we wouldn't be able to make it to Georgia for Christmas this year to see my family. For a while I pretended that I would rather stay home anyway but when I dropped my little sister off at the airport for her flight back to Georgia, I couldn't help but feel homesick.
Not so much homesick for my home because, truth be told, Utah is my home now. More homesick for the magic of Christmas I felt as a child; for the ease of being a kid and not having so many responsibilities. But as it turned out, my little Christmas here with Christopher and Evelyn (and Oatmeal) was perfect. In fact, I couldn't picture a better Christmas day.
Our Christmas week was packed with holiday parties (read: two family events) culminating in the big Christmas Eve dinner on Wednesday with just our intimate little family. It was a minor remake of the Thanksgiving day feast and I realized how much more I enjoy ham than turkey. I don't think I'll ever cook a turkey again.
Evelyn feasted solely on candied yams and (surprisingly) green beans.
When dinner was done, we opened our one present on Christmas Eve...always new pajamas. I have been dying to give Chris this present all month. I decided to make him pajama pants. It's the first sewing project I've done on my own from scratch. I even made Evelyn a matching nightgown! They are far from perfect but I got so much satisfaction out of the whole project that I don't think it will be the last thing I sew.
Then we read the Christmas story in the Bible, put Evelyn in bed and set to work getting things ready for Christmas morning. Chris had to put together Evelyn's new car from my parents and I basically just had to set all the presents out and get the monkey bread ready to pop in the oven on Christmas morning.
Evelyn's car all wrapped up^^
Chris woke up at 6am Christmas morning to inform me that the white Christmas I was hoping for was actually here. The snow was falling steadily and he had to go move my sister's car from the street to the driveway to make way for the snow ploughs. I didn't bother looking out the window but I did fall back to sleep very excited.
9 o' clock rolled around and a cute little voice called, "Dada." (We can overlook that). When I pulled Evelyn out of bed, I stood her up on her changing table so she could see the snow out the window (we live in a basement, remember). She just kept saying 'SNOW' minus the S over and over. It was precious.
After a quick breakfast we let her wander into the living room to see the pile of gifts that materialized under the tree over night. It's my favorite when her tiny voice says, "Wow!" She picked out her first present and Chris helped her open it and she was ecstatic. And that's how it was for each gift she opened.
One of my gifts from Christopher: A nail polish wall rack!^^
We face-timed my family and they watched us open all our gifts. I love that I still got to spend the morning with them from the other side of the country. Chris went above and beyond for me and got me some incredible presents. I honestly was a little nervous with what he was going to come up with this year since I didn't give him any idea of what I wanted. But he went back into his little brain bank and remembered some things I had mentioned in passing. He never stops surprising me.
Evelyn's brand new shoes or "Doos" as she calls them^^
Oatmeal loved Christmas morning as much (or more) as the rest of us^^
Evelyn's favorite presents were her plush Backyardigan pals and her Cozy Coupe from my parents. She just kept putting her new friends in her new car and climbing in and driving (backwards) all over the living room. It was too cute!
Her best friends in the back^^
They go with her everywhere^^
Then, in honor of our white Christmas, we decided to go down the road to a great hill and go sledding. I'm not sure if it was the over stimulation of all the gifts AND snow or just a plain distain for zooming down a hill but Evelyn was not impressed. Cute. But not impressed.
She spent the rest of the day pretty fussy. I'm assuming from teething and the over stimulation. But she wouldn't even take a nap. And we ended up having to hide her car because she wanted to play with it so much but it was just too overwhelming. Poor thing.
She fell asleep Christmas night hugging all three of her Backyardigan friends in her teeny little arms.
It was the perfect Christmas day because I was surprised by my loved ones with gifts that showed their thoughtfulness. It was perfect because I got to watch my loved ones faces light up with the gifts I so carefully purchased or made. It was perfect because I still got to be with my family on the other side of the country without leaving my living room. It was perfect because I got to watch my toddler learn about the world and I got to re-experience the newness of things through her eyes.
It was perfect because at the end of the day it was a chance to be with the people I love most in the world and celebrate the best gift any of us have ever been given, the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope I can keep the happiness and joy of this holiday season with me all next year and remember what's most important and follow Christ's example to love and serve.
I hope everyone's Christmas was as fabulous as mine!
I know you've heard the song. You probably even like it, I know I do. But have you ever taken a minute to really analyze the lyrics of the song? Don't worry, I've done it for you and the results are a tad disconcerting. My brother actually brought it to my attention a few years ago.
The cold hard truth: "Baby it's cold outside" is about date rape.
Observe--
I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
We can sum up this whole section with an obvious, "It's been fun but I've got to get going."
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry?
Father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour
She's laid out a very sound argument but he's started putting on the moves. Well sure it's hard to leave when your crush is all like, "Heeeey" so she agrees to another sip of a drink. No judgement girl, we've all been there.
The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
But then she realizes the connotation of her actions. Say, what's in this drink? - No cabs to be had out there
And the roofies are starting to make her dizzy. I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
Of course she's calling it a spell, she's been drugged and is starting to lose her speech. He, however, is totally ignoring her fears and is continuing to 'woo' her, as if this is the normal way to get a girl to go to bed with you.
I ought to say no, no, no - Mind if I move in closer?
She's trying to say, "No" but she's getting all woozy and confused. He's using that to his advantage. At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
Oh she did try. But no one is immune to being drugged. I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ah, but it's cold outside
She's attempting to leave again, but to no avail.
I've got to get home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
If at first you don't succeed, maybe pretending everything is fine and asking to borrow a coat is a good strategy. But he'll try and convince you otherwise. You've really been grand - Thrill when you touch my hand
You might even try to reiterate how much you do like him and maybe if things got serious ...but he's got a one track mind. Why don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
"Why don't you see, I'm slowly passing out...this isn't normal.." "But baby, you can't come over and just tease me like that.."
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
"Everyone will call me a slut and there's nothing I can do about it," "Yeah but think about how bad I want this..." At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
"I know you'll tell everyone it was consensual." "We can make this easy or hard..." I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
"Please, let me go." "Get over it, this is happening."
See, it's pretty obvious when you take a good hard look at it. Still catchy though. Just beware when your date for the evening want to sing this as a duet...
This Christmas I was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future (metaphorically speaking of course.)
Past showed me a warm home with flavorful smells and cheerful music dancing through the air. I saw a little towheaded girl who believed in magic and was full of wonder at all the little things the holiday brings. I was reminded of a young tight-knit family who sat together and read the story of the birth of Christ in the Bible as they lit a candle on the advent wreath. Then they knelt in a circle and prayed, together as one happy family unit.
I watched, as if it were a movie, my brother and I huddled together under a blanket on Christmas Eve night on the top bunk bed. I held the flashlight and he drew out our plan of how this would be the year that we captured Santa Claus. If either of us had any inkling that he wasn't real, we didn't say a word to the other. It was too much fun to pretend. Too much fun to believe.
On Christmas morning we tore open our stockings full of gifts that had magically appeared at the foot of our beds. We played show and tell with our presents and then unable to sleep anymore, we turned on the old TV in his bedroom and tried to find sense in the static until mom and dad led the way for us to see the Christmas tree.
But we weren't looking at the Christmas tree. We were mesmerized by what lay beneath. Dozens and dozens of brightly colored packages adorned with beautiful bows were displayed neatly underneath the tree, each one labeled with the recipients name.
I watched each past Christmas year in fast forward. It didn't matter what the packages held once the wrapping was uncovered, it was always something that we wanted, that we couldn't buy on our own. And every year was the same. Happiness. Togetherness. Family.
Mele Kalikimaka, as they say here in Hawaii. And it was a very merry Christmas for Chris and my parents. As unhappy as I was, our morning started off at around 5am. My nausea and fatigue wanted me to stay asleep, wrapped in blankets until at least 9. But our families were opening some special presents this morning and the time difference between Hawaii and Colorado and Georgia meant that we had to get up early so that we could facetime.
Chris told his sister Jessica our exciting news, and I told my little sister Maddie. We got them each to find a babydoll, attach a little note and wrap it from 'Chris and Jocelyn'.
The present my parents unwrapped
Their reactions were priceless. Both sets of parents were so excited for us and we were so happy to hear it and to finally have some people find out about our exciting secret.
Now, it's only a matter of time until the rest of the world finds out, but at least for now it's pretty much sequestered to family.
As for the rest of my Christmas, it was fantastic! Did I mention that I'm typing this post on my brand new macbook pro?!!?! I have the best husband in the WHOLE world!
The only thing that would have made my day any better was a break from the nausea. I'm a little miserable. And it's a painful misery that not even my new macbook can console.
I have had the most incredible Christmas ever! Let's start at the beginning (not the very beginning, I tend to be a little too wordy for that.)
PART 1- Christmas Decor
I didn't have a lot of money to buy decorations. Since we planned on spending Christmas just the two of us in Utah this year, a warm Christmas-y atmosphere was a must. We got really lucky and found someone selling their Christmas tree on the KSL classifieds. 7.5 ft, prelit, and we only paid $40 for it. Best deal ever!
My tree started off very bare. I had a few ornaments that I got for cheap at Disney World, and then I found some super cheap ball ornaments (bulbs?) at Smith's (the grocery store), they were good tree fillers. Then eventually my mom sent my ornaments from back home. It's our family tradition to get a new ornament every year, a tradition I plan to keep with my children; it's like a lit up scrapbook that you get to look at and reminisce with. Well after all those ornaments and a gift card from my mom to get a tree topper, my tree turned out like this.
The rest of my decorations we're pretty reasonable priced. I got a lot of things at the dollar store and the cheap section of target (my glittery nativity and reindeer and little snowman and Santa nutcrackers were only $2.50 each). Well anywho...this is how it all turned out.
Our pretty door with the Christmas cards from all of our loved ones.
This is a little Celtic nativity that my sister gave me. Isn't it pretty?
The TV was a happy Christmas present to ourselves. Originally over $400 but with giftcards we only ended up paying around $170. (We know how to get our moneys worth).
My Grandma made the beautiful stockings.
I found the mugs at DI and my mom sent me the plate. They go so nicely together.
PART 2- Christmas Eve Eve
On Christmas Eve Eve we had dinner with my aunt who's basement we're renting and my other aunt and their kids and grandkids. My aunt is vegan, so it was a very nontraditional holiday dinner of vegan chili over baked potatoes. I made the cutest reindeer cookies.
After dinner all 18 of us sat around the piano and sang Christmas carols. I'm really not much of a singer but I found that the whole event was a great way to get into the holiday spirit. There was such a beautiful spirit there amid the melodic notes and sweet words praising the birth of Christ.
BUT the sweet spirit was a little short lived. We sang a good number of songs and when everyone was winding down and ready to stop singing due to sore throats, my aunt had her own little chorus of, "But we haven't sung this one," and "What about this one". So Chris and I just sat and listened when she insisted on the group singing along to the Hallelujah chorus. Following all the songs, we were ready to call it a night and said goodnight.
To end the night, I fell asleep on the couch watching the Grinch and Chris worked on his vivarium he is making.
PART 3- Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve started off as a day like any other... only better, cause I didn't have to go to work. First thing, Chris and I made a trip to the gas station (our car wouldn't start since it was so lacking in gas and the other car we drive was on E) and then to the grocery store to get cheese and summer sausage. I love snacking on these during the day before our scrumptious Christmas Eve dinner. At the last minute I remembered that I needed to get a candy thermometer for the rolls but then I just figured my aunt would have one and didn't bother looking. She didn't have one. I ended up coming back to the store like 15 minutes later.
We snacked on our cheese and sausage and watched Deck the Halls, a really funny Christmas movie with Danny Devito and Matthew Broderick.
The movie was on TV and I actually didn't know the name of it until like a minute ago when I looked it up. It was cute though. I recommend it.
Anyways...after that I made our delicious Christmas Eve dinner. I must say that it was quite a success since I had never made a Christmas Eve dinner before. Check it out.
Menu:
Ham
Green beans with mushrooms and onions
Mashed Potatoes
Candied Yams
Rolls (not pictured)
Martinellis
DO you like our table cloth? We didn't have one, so Chris got the bright idea to use wrapping paper. I think it turned out really cute.
Funny story about the yams. I had never made yams before. In fact, I used to think they were gross. That was until I tried them prepared like this:
Actually it turns out they're delicious! Especially the way I made them. The recipe I found said after I boil the sweet potatoes to put a couple pats of butter on top, brown sugar and then marshmallows and stick it in the oven. I didn't really pay attention to how much of everything it called for, so I just went ahead a put a little butter on and coated it in brown sugar. I didn't want the marshmallows to burn so I decided I wouldn't put those on until the last 10 minutes. (Plus there had been an incident where I might have caught the oven on fire with marshmallows..hehe). Well the last 10 minutes roll around and I pull out the yams ready to put the marshmallows on...only I see something weird.
"Well that's weird," I think to myself, "what happened to the brown sugar?? Maybe the marshmallows were supposed to act as some sort of cover for the brown sugar and since I didn't put them on, all the brown sugar evaporated..."
And so I put on another, very thick, layer of brown sugar before adding the marshmallows. I mean it was so thick that all you could see was brown sugar, not the sweet potatoes.
*Skip to Chris dishing up some yams for himself* "What is all this sauce at the bottom?"
*Moment of realization* "OHHHhhhh...brown sugar liquefies...that makes so much more sense. Oops."
Besides all that, dinner turned out great. And we'll be eating ham for breakfast, lunch and dinner for at least a month.
We Skyped with my family technically before dinner since they had just finished dinner. Every year on Christmas Eve it's tradition for us to get new pajamas. We thought it would be fun if this year we opened them together over Skype. Aren't we cute??
PART 4- Christmas
I set my alarm so that I would wake up at 5am on Christmas morning so that I could watch my family open presents over Skype for a little while before going back to bed.
Maddie showed me what she got in her stocking, then I watched John and Tonya open their stockings and then the presents from under the tree were passed out and everyone took turns opening. It was fun for awhile. But you can only watch people open presents for so long before you start feeling a range of not so wonderful emotions. Mine were: Homesickness, jealousy, and intense sleepiness. Finally, at my mom's insistence, I woke Chris up and we all opened presents together as a family. Let me just say how grateful I am for Skype. How wonderful that we have the technology that allowed me to have a traditional Christmas morning with my family in Georgia, while I was in Utah. Granted I couldn't eat any of the monkey bread or have any hot chocolate. But I still feel very blessed to have spent the morning with them.
My favorite present you ask?? My brand new netbook!!! I am so excited that I have something I can take to classes with me. That and my old laptop is sort of retarded...and really heavy. So YAY!!
I love Christmas. It was a little hard to be away from my family this year, but it didn't seem like we were too far, not really. The sad part now is having to take down all the decorations. I just hope I don't fall into a post-Christmas depression. You just spend a whole month, or maybe more, looking forward to one day and then just like that it's over. But I still have New Year's to look forward to. And then my birthday. Maybe I should decorate for my birthday for the whole month of January. That'd be festive :)
