Changes....
Christmas was just not the same this year. Normally, we have us, the grandparents, and Aunt Chris, Uncle Paul and fam. This year, however, Brett, Nikki and Bubs were in Colorado, Joneses were home getting ready for a wedding, and it ended up being just the four of us.
Yes. Four.
Mom, Dad, Kells, and I were there.
I was afraid it would be a little...lonely. And, frankly, it wasn't very lonely. Not that we didn't miss those who weren't there like crazy. But, for whatever reason, like Thanksgiving it was just nice.
Kelli and I left right after school the day Christmas break began. She came and volunteered with me all day (Muppet Christmas Carol, singing assembly, Utah state maps made out of rice krispie treats, class party....It wasn't that bad!). We blazed the snowy, blowy roads by following a semi's taillights and rocking out to my "I Secretly Love Boy Bands" CD (well...so much for that secret!)
We made it home in time to make a eat tons of Christmas goodies, have mom read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever aloud, watch It's a Wonderful Life (I swear I cry every time, no matter how many times I've seen it), lay by the fire, sing Christmas carols, play instruments, watch movies we've been wanting to see, read, start A Christmas Carol (why did everyone keep falling asleep when I read it? You'd think it was Dickens or something, spending two pages just describing the pudding) and relax. It was SOOOO nice!!! Well....except for whatever weird Christmas goodie I ate that made me break out in hives for two or three days during all the moments I wasn't passed out from my reaction to Benadryl.
We had a nice Christmas--once Dad got home, that is. Someone definitely should have told me he got emergency called into work Christmas morning. It would have saved me at least an hour of thinking my family was super lame while I waited to hear it was time for presents.
After Christmas, we went to Utah for my cousin's wedding/New Year's Eve party. Creative, I have to say. I mean, watch the wedding, eat the dinner, get dessert, dance and ring in 2011 all in one.
Some of my favorite parts of the break were:
1--The fake family Christmas card we wrote. I told my mom I'd write it this year, so I did. After all, they never told me what kind of card it had to be. And so, we got a card that started, "Family and Friends, It's been a year of death, pain, and suffering. Well, not death, but it sounded good." You can only imagine the rest. We printed it off and left it for my dad to read. Oh, he read it alright. I think the last time he laughed that hard was when my skirt fell off in front of the temple. hahahaha. But even better than that was that he actually wanted to use it! (Don't worry. We didn't.)
2--Seeing the lights out by Shoshone. I mean, how many people spend six months on their lights and bring in a two ton camel you can feed carrots to?
50 pounds a night, FYI. If you thought YOU gained a lot over Christmas, feel better. The camel gained 250 pounds! You're not even close. Not EVEN close.
3--The gag gifts in our stockings. Few gifts were better than seeing Kelli actually get "Bump It" clips (hey, she does live in Utah now) or my mom with the dog that "poops" brown jelly beans.
4--Getting my dream gift. Tickets to Les Miserables at Capitol Theater in June. (!!!!!!!!! Be excited for me, I've been waiting over a decade!!!!!!!!) Plus, I got a murder mystery game (Brett & Nikki, you're awesome!), a Cutco knife (you know you're old when....), and a "man-catching headband" (according to Kelli) along with other fun things.
5--Watching the bride's grandma dancing with her boyfriend at the wedding
("Shake it like a poleroid picture....")
If the break were any longer,
I may have just gone straight to summer vacation
and not come back to Provo at all.
But then I would have missed the sledding.
On ice.
And the two huge bruises on my knees.
And who would want to miss that?
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| Lights at Temple Square |
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| Lights in Idaho...with the headband. :) |
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| Fatty McFat Pants Camel himself. (Proof that you CAN'T eat as many carrots as you want...) |
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| At Andrew's Wedding... |
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| ....../New Year's Party! |
Thanks for helping me feel better about the pounds that my midwife pointed out at my appointment that I had gained (more than I should have)! THat's a gorgeous family picture...and I can't wait to hear all your stories...I'd like to read your family letter! :) Love ya!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great break! Everything sounds awesome (except for the boy band mix CD). Use the man catching headband as often as possible, at church, driving, even at school-you never know who you're going to bump into.
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