2015, Welcome

Dearest Friends and Family-

The tree has been taken down, and there is no sign of Christmas anywhere in this house. Makes me sad?!  How the time does fly.  Pretty soon, I'll be 32, oh my.  Pretty soon, summer will be here.  And pretty soon the holiday season will begin all over again.  I sit in my living room, typing this to you all.  Wishing each and everyone a Happy New Year, and reflecting a little, on the last month.

As Decembers are for most people, ours was action packed!  Despite being annoyingly sick the first two weeks of it.  I managed to get the decor up... the gifts wrapped... and all the preparations under way.

Adam's Christmas party in the city was fun, the food was excellent, and the entertainment- always a hit.  Adam played President and I, First Wife, as we mingled with his co-workers, and they all one by one pulled me aside to tell me the JOY that is knowing Adam.  As if I don't know that my husband works incredibly hard all year to move his company forward.  They let me know it personally, which was very nice.  If only they could share the kind words with him too.  Perks of First Wife, I suppose.  Very unlike us, Adam and I chose to attend the after party for the second year in a row, and were partying till 3a.m.  I point this out because it never, EVER happens.

The next day we headed to Andrea and Dave's to have our Christmas celebration with my very best girls, Andrea and Amanda.  It's always fun, and happy when the three couples are together, and this year now, their children.  After it was determined that all 3 of us could drink wine and drink however much we wanted, we sat around and caught up on the happenings of the last few months.  There was a lot of playing with the kiddos and a lot of laughter.  We agreed to do a nail polish and sock exchange which by the way was excellent and fun to see how the other's interpret this idea.  Ahem, Andrea with the holiday socks.  Dave kindly slaved over a smoker all night and day to make us smoked pulled pork.  It was delicious.  Amanda, Ryan, and Julia left while Adam and I extended our stay till many  hours later, drinking root beer "beer," scotch, wine, espresso, and watching a German ornament thing spin and spin... Wonderful and very cozy.

Christmas Eve Service at church has to be my favorite service of the whole year!  You get to sing carols!  And believe me I sing them, loud and I sing them proud.  This boy in front of me caught my eye.  He was at that age where hanging with the family isn't quite embarrassing yet, and was super affectionate with his Grandma.  At the end we all sang Silent Night, (which Andrea, I have decided, is my ultimate favorite Christmas song, overall) one by one, we light the person's candle next to us.  There is nothing like getting a group of people singing this song, no music, no instrument, just voice.  It makes you think about the words and the meaning and perhaps give you an insight as to what it would have been like to be there in that manger 2000 years ago.  To make the chills on my arms grow more, the main guy who started the candle lighting's own candle burnt out when he was walking back up the aisle, and he didn't know it, the boy in front of me noticed and got out of line... tapped on his shoulder and kind of lifted up his candle as to say... here let me light this back up for you... he saw that his candle was out and said "thanks buddy."  It was such a heartwarming moment between a stranger and this boy.  It was the cutest and made my heart light and happy.

We hosted Christmas Eve at our house.  And while the avocados that I bought for the 7 layer dip were rotten, and I spent most of the day by myself prepping(Adam was bringing home the bacon at work), and I was anxious about serving 17 adults, 2 children and a baby... it all came together in the most chaotic way.  As it should be, as it will always be.  At 6pm... one by one the arrival of all of those I love walked thru the door one by one.  Loaded with gifts, with chicken wings, with cookies, with cheese balls, salads, cookies, and a white dog named Simon.  With 20 foot ladders, to clean a window we just can't reach.  Thanks to Jeremy our window is now Squeaky Clean, and the bugs were vacuumed up from the ledge.  The chaos of a normal family Christmas Eve had begun.

I was not exactly the sweetest kid growing up.  I cried a lot and was very clingy to my parents.  So I try and understand when kids are shy and don't want to come by me and try hard not to take it extra personally.  One of my GREAT nephews who never ever talks to me or will even look my way  sweetly came over after we had waited too long for his taste and said "may we open presents now?"  I was so shocked and said, "of course."  This was my Christmas miracle.  Not to mention it takes me back to the days were Rachael and I would beg to open presents, two minutes after the food was served!  The tables have certainly turned!!!

Elliot, Alexander, and Marshal

My family was extra generous this year with the gift giving.  I can honestly say, I loved everything I received.  Thank you so much for all you did, for the positivity, and the love.  You all are the best.  I know that families are growing, and there were other places you could have been on this night.  But I am glad that you were with us, in our home.

Since we are childless, Christmas morning makes me sit back and think about Christmas as a kid.  When Santa was real, and what I worried about was far from what I worry about now.  I think about the craziness of what Christmas morning involves.  Waking up early, opening the tons of gifts, playing with said gifts, and then eating.  Lots and lots of food.  My husband was extra good to me this year, and I received lots and lots of goodies from him.

Calls were made to our far away family... Linda, John and Barbara, Morgen, and Brenden.  We can't wait to see you all in 2015.  Great to hear your voices and open our wonderful gifts from you all.

And then for dinner we went to Aunt Emilie and Uncle Bill's house where we enjoyed unlimited tenderloin, potatoes, beans, corn, desserts, shrimp, gravy, Coke, dips, and Grandma's cranberry Jello mold... which I tried again for the first time since SHE made it last.  We will leave the reason why out of this story.

And as always, Auntie Em never forgets and as long as you return your stocking from the previous year, you are rewarded with another the following.  One for Adam, one for me.

A few days later we spent time with Mike, Alisa, Gavin, and Baby Tessa to celebrate Christmas.  The boys exchanged beer, and Alisa and my theme for this year was a necklace exchange.   Our new year's resolution is to "Embrace Gold."

New Year's Eve again, and as always was low key.  It was my holiday on call at the hospital.  I was lucky, no one started bleeding, no one got anything stuck in any gastrointestinal related orifice, and everything was quiet.  It's a pleasure when the stars align.  

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.  I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art... write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.  And I hope, somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself." -Neil Gaiman

Cheers to surprising yourself-

-e-

Things, I am looking forward to in 2015