A Very Merry Christmas

From (most of) our family to yours!

Today couldn't have turned out to be a more perfect day. The past couple of weeks I've been feeling slightly dissatisfied with Christmas this year. There were many things that I intended and planned on doing that just never happened. Our "12 Days of Christmas" calendar never quite came together even though I did have our 12 days planned. Watching a special, new Christmas movie on Christmas Eve ended up not being feasible, besides the fact that I never was able to purchase the movie. I never got the Babka made.

Instead, my cookie press broke and I wasn't able to make Christmas tree cookies. The only time we saw Santa was at the Christmas Train. The weather turned too bitter to take the boys sledding. And money was too tight to buy the presents I wanted to get for the boys.

I had a picture in my head of how I wanted our first Christmas together as a family, and here in North Dakota to go. And it just didn't happen. It left me feeling disappointed and ready to have the not-so-jolly-season over with.

And then yesterday came along. And even though I had felt no energy or motivation earlier, I decided that it just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without pierogis and set about to making them. As the day progressed and I started getting things prepped for today's meal the 'holiday spirit' came back to me.

While its something I've always known, I really felt for the first time this year that the most important thing is having those you love and cherish close to you. Our Christmas was nothing spectacular. M worked 8-4 yesterday and then started midnight shift so went back to work at midnight and came home exhausted, just as the boys were waking up. We opened presents, M went to bed, and the boys and I watched A Very Merry Muppet Christmas on TV, and I made a big ham for supper. Other than that our day was almost like any other (besides the fact that the boys had a ton of new toys to play with and were happy almost the ENTIRE day).

It was a quiet, peaceful day. And it helped me once again see, and appreciate the most important thing in my life.

And with all that being said... M did get me the most gorgeous watch and necklace for Christmas! Thank you love, for the beautiful present, for everything you do for the boys and me.