I'm feeling nostalgic. It might be the fact that we are in a new house in a new state on a new coast with a new baby. So much has changed in the past year and a half. Sometimes it's hard to get a handle on it.
Before, we were just status quo. Huzbend and I were married, we both had jobs, no kids, a house. Plenty of disposable income. It was the same thing, day in and day out. Year in and year out. Sure, we moved a lot. Sure, we both got new jobs. But, that's normal change. It's expected and predictable.
Every holiday we had the same 'plan' of where we were gonna go and who we had to see. The 'plan' remained virtually unchanged since our high school days, just a few tweaks here and there when friends or relatives moved away. It was something that I could count on and look forward to. The holiday season was my absolute favorite time of year.
But, things change, and there's nothing we can really do about it. It's hard for me to think about this holiday season without a little sadness.
I spoke with Poppop the other day. He said something that really hit home. I told him that this year the holidays were going to be different because we were so far away. He said, "They're never gonna be the same. Never. But, you have a family now. You gotta take care of them." He's right. Sometimes, it's hard to accept change especially when it means that you have to push on without the people that you love.
I spoke with Poppop the other day. He said something that really hit home. I told him that this year the holidays were going to be different because we were so far away. He said, "They're never gonna be the same. Never. But, you have a family now. You gotta take care of them." He's right. Sometimes, it's hard to accept change especially when it means that you have to push on without the people that you love.
But, we're a family now. And even though we are so far away from everyone and we won't get to enact our holiday 'plan', it's gonna be okay. It's time for us to start our own traditions and create our own memories. It's our job as parents to give KT the same great memories. You know what? I can't wait to get started.
So, without further adieu, here's a random list of some of my favorite holiday memories, traditions and all that jazz. Some of this stuff is really emotional, so be warned. Some of you should get out the Kleenex right now. Dudes. Just go grab a hanky, will ya?
Picking out a pre-cut Christmas tree every year at Gloria's.
Eating 'Ice Cubes' until I felt sick.
Going to (Great)GrandmaF's place for a heaping plate of cheese & crackers, veggies sticks, and lasagne. Oh yeah, she also always had Birch Beer.
Bubble lights on our family Xmas tree.
Cold 'Honey Baked' Ham at GmaC & GpaC's Xmas Brunch.
Santa Snax.
(Great)GmaC & GpaC's Xmas Eve Family Bash. Even Huzbend didn't know half the people there.
The dogs eating pine needles off the Xmas tree and having explosive diarrhea.
Exchanging put-downs, insults, barbs and wittiness at (Great)GrandmaF's.
My dad getting a jar of baby food every year in his boyhood stocking.
My Great Aunt Lollie exclaiming, "How 'bout those Flintstones!" while watching a Simpsons special on Xmas Eve.
Seeing Mema & Poppop drive up the street in their big white car on Xmas morning no matter what the weather.
My sis, Auntie Onion-Dip, getting her tongue stuck to our front screen door.
Having to wait my turn to open just one present. There was an order in our house. The director was my mom.
Getting Chapstick and underwear every year in my stocking.
Huzbend's dog, Shelby, stealing ornaments off of the Xmas tree and NOT giving them back without a fight.
Our first Xmas tree as a married couple.
Getting a bike for Xmas and having Auntie Onion-Dip tell me the night before. "Guess what?!?!? Santa brought you a BIKE!"
My sis, Auntie Skinny-ma-link (twice as pink), getting the full 'Annie' costume for Xmas. Yes, curly red wig and all.
My presents being stacked up in front of the TV. That was my spot.
The Santa sleigh and reindeer tree topper spinning on my parents Xmas tree.
Seeing my "1st Christmas" ornament on my parents tree and thinking that it looked just like me.
Being called 'Miss (insert my name here)'. Noone calls me that anymore.
Sitting around the TV to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' with a freshly made batch of Jiffy Pop.
Accidently knocking over our Xmas tree onto Auntie Onion-Dip.
Lavish black-tie holiday parties at the New York Museum of Natural History.
Throwing wrapping paper across my parents living room into the big garbage bags.
Meeting at Mike's parents house back when we were in school for food, laughs and presents. Yes, in that exact order.
The little plastic Xmas tree display stand at Mema & Poppop's that held Hershey Kisses.
My Caveman Video game.
My tape recorder.
Getting a trip to Disneyland for my birthday.
Finding out that I was pregnant the first week of December.
Driving back home on Xmas day in a blizzard. It must have took, like, 6 hours.
Having Auntie Skinny-ma-link stand next to our first pick tree at the tree farm and then not being able to find her.
Getting the Norwalk Virus on Xmas day and puking my guts out. The next day, Huzbend had to shovel out from the blizzard mentioned above.
Entering Poppop & Mema's house through the back door and hearing Xmas music playing on the radio in their office.
So, without further adieu, here's a random list of some of my favorite holiday memories, traditions and all that jazz. Some of this stuff is really emotional, so be warned. Some of you should get out the Kleenex right now. Dudes. Just go grab a hanky, will ya?
Picking out a pre-cut Christmas tree every year at Gloria's.
Eating 'Ice Cubes' until I felt sick.
Going to (Great)GrandmaF's place for a heaping plate of cheese & crackers, veggies sticks, and lasagne. Oh yeah, she also always had Birch Beer.
Bubble lights on our family Xmas tree.
Cold 'Honey Baked' Ham at GmaC & GpaC's Xmas Brunch.
Santa Snax.
(Great)GmaC & GpaC's Xmas Eve Family Bash. Even Huzbend didn't know half the people there.
The dogs eating pine needles off the Xmas tree and having explosive diarrhea.
Exchanging put-downs, insults, barbs and wittiness at (Great)GrandmaF's.
My dad getting a jar of baby food every year in his boyhood stocking.
My Great Aunt Lollie exclaiming, "How 'bout those Flintstones!" while watching a Simpsons special on Xmas Eve.
Seeing Mema & Poppop drive up the street in their big white car on Xmas morning no matter what the weather.
My sis, Auntie Onion-Dip, getting her tongue stuck to our front screen door.
Having to wait my turn to open just one present. There was an order in our house. The director was my mom.
Getting Chapstick and underwear every year in my stocking.
Huzbend's dog, Shelby, stealing ornaments off of the Xmas tree and NOT giving them back without a fight.
Our first Xmas tree as a married couple.
Getting a bike for Xmas and having Auntie Onion-Dip tell me the night before. "Guess what?!?!? Santa brought you a BIKE!"
My sis, Auntie Skinny-ma-link (twice as pink), getting the full 'Annie' costume for Xmas. Yes, curly red wig and all.
My presents being stacked up in front of the TV. That was my spot.
The Santa sleigh and reindeer tree topper spinning on my parents Xmas tree.
Seeing my "1st Christmas" ornament on my parents tree and thinking that it looked just like me.
Being called 'Miss (insert my name here)'. Noone calls me that anymore.
Sitting around the TV to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' with a freshly made batch of Jiffy Pop.
Accidently knocking over our Xmas tree onto Auntie Onion-Dip.
Lavish black-tie holiday parties at the New York Museum of Natural History.
Throwing wrapping paper across my parents living room into the big garbage bags.
Meeting at Mike's parents house back when we were in school for food, laughs and presents. Yes, in that exact order.
The little plastic Xmas tree display stand at Mema & Poppop's that held Hershey Kisses.
My Caveman Video game.
My tape recorder.
Getting a trip to Disneyland for my birthday.
Finding out that I was pregnant the first week of December.
Driving back home on Xmas day in a blizzard. It must have took, like, 6 hours.
Having Auntie Skinny-ma-link stand next to our first pick tree at the tree farm and then not being able to find her.
Getting the Norwalk Virus on Xmas day and puking my guts out. The next day, Huzbend had to shovel out from the blizzard mentioned above.
Entering Poppop & Mema's house through the back door and hearing Xmas music playing on the radio in their office.
Going Xmas shopping with my Dad and sisters at the last minute. It was always, like, on Xmas Eve.
Having to get to the Xmas tree farm early so that we could get the perfect parking spot.
Getting in the car and driving around to look at the Xmas lights. "Oooooooooooooooo".
Razzleberry Pudding.
The hum of Mema & Poppop's Xmas tree. They had a silver tree that they would set up in their office. It came with this spinning light display that would shine on the tree. Every 10 seconds, or so, the light bulb color would change. The light would shine on the tree and make it change color. It's kinda hard to explain, but it sure was beautiful.
Wrapping up one of Huzbend's own flannel shirts as a decoy "Big" present one year. Just watching him try to get excited about a flannel shirt was priceless.
Eating popcorn balls.
Well, that's all that I can think of right now. I'm sure that I'll think of more as the days go on. Things that I've come to cherish. It's great to think that I'll be able to share some of these memories with KT someday. Maybe even carry on some of the traditions. I think she's ready? Don't you?
Merry Christmas to you all!
We love and miss you.
