Married Christmas 1

Christmas was wonderful this year. I had to work Christmas Eve, which was a totally new experience for me (last year, it was on Sunday and I've always had academic jobs before). It felt like a typical, crazed Monday. At times it felt even worse! Not only was I trying to do all my Monday stuff, but I also had to help out for at least two other people that took the day off. Surprisingly though, things went very smoothly and quickly. I worked VERY hard but got things done in record time and was allowed to leave around 2 o'clock.

We took our dog to be babysat by Jeff's dad's family and went to Jeff's grandma's for her Christmas Eve shin-dig. This is Jeff's mom's family. She has two brothers with kids and there were a lot of people there. Jeff's nephew is 5 (or 6?) and still young and excited. The cousins are all young teenagers but they too were playful and having a good time. Jeff's mom and uncle's bought a big bird house on a stand for his grandma and she was so excited she squealed and cried. It was cute. Jeff's step dad is a gruff seeming guy who is always poking fun and making jokes. He also seems very sweet hearted but I'm never sure how to take him. And Jeff's grandpa, who is divorced from his grandma but they still "hang out," is a very sweet guy. I really like him although I haven't been around him much. Jeff's mom and grandma were very generous in their gifts to us. They have always made me feel very welcome and included.

From there, we went to my parents' house. It was snowing like crazy and we got about a foot of snow in an hour. The drive was scary and I wanted to cry. Jeff on the other hand, fell asleep in the car. We stayed the night at my parents', which was a really big thing for Jeff to do for me. I think it's awkward to stay at someone else's house and never even much liked sleep overs and slumber parties. I know Jeff felt a bit hesitant, but he was a trooper and even admitted to feeling okay about it afterward.

By they time we got there, Jeff had been awake for 27 hours so we went to bed about 8 o'clock. I wanted to stay up and play Santa with my mom- wrapping presents, eating cookies and setting things up- like I have in years past. But, Jeff didn't want to be left alone. After about an hour, not able to sleep or get very comfortable, I got up and wrapped ONE present and ate a donut. Mom was busy in the other room and Kiki was being her spaced out self. I didn't know what else to do and was finally feeling tired so I went to bed. It was hard to go to sleep and what felt like only an hour or so after I was finally drifting off, Jeff woke up. I thought he was up for good. We went out and found him some Mt. Dew and a donut and he wanted to play with our new iPods. I was so tired, but I tried to be a good sport for him. After about an hour, he was ready to sleep again- thank goodness!- so I got a few good hours of sleep.

We got up and had Christmas morning around 7:30(?). Kiki said a nice prayer and Dad was his normal self, trying to be organized and pass the black garbage sack around. Of course things were perfect and pretty and special, because Mumsy makes them so. I'm always impressed at how she can give you everything you want as well as the little special things you wouldn't think of. Jeff got a pendant with a quote from Walt Whitman on it and we (I) got a special ornament for our first Married Christmas.

We waited for Ben and Mel to come over and basically said hi before we had to go again. We went to Jeff's dad's again and visited there for a while. His dad cracks me up with all his silliness. His brother played video games and his step mom's brothers (they are 16?) live there too and they are always very friendly. I think they all look at Jeff as the video game king and like to talk and show him stuff. And our dog missed us. I felt very happy to see her and take her home.

Jeff spent the rest of the day playing with all our new toys and we ate chilli dogs for dinner (how festive). We were exhausted and went to bed about 8 o'clock, unable to stay awake to watch Harry Potter.

With the new year approaching, I've been thinking a lot about goals and resolutions and where we are headed. Last year, I'd been at my job for only a few months and Jeff was just starting his. We were starting to put our finances together and I was looking forward to planning our wedding. There was also a lot of change going on in the family. It felt like last year, for me, was about getting married and settling into new jobs, a new apartment, and putting our lives into one.
This year, I feel like we've accomplished something or arrived somewhere. It feels like a real jumping off point. It's like now we are officially US and things will be different from now on and it's okay. I feel a bit more... like I've taken ownership of our life and home and family (us and the dog). Last year I was still testing the water and now I feel ready to take off swimming.