The First Christmas

This morning when my eyes popped open, my first thought was going pee (it seems to be lately), then it was on to setting up Justin's present (cologne and body wash). I had decided a while ago with this one that the bathroom was the best place for it, and it was the first one I wrapped, so it was good to go. I hid it as I walked back into our bedroom and into the ensuite. Justin asked after I left the bathroom what that clicking noise was - of course I was taking pictures of it, but I acted innocent. He got up shortly after I got back to bed and went to the bathroom. I knew he had seen it, but when he opened the door he just started walking out. I pouted, then he smiled and picked up the box and brought it to bed to open.

Sometime this morning Justin went outside to put something into the garbage bin. He came back inside with a box of presents: for Brent, Sandy and the kids. My dad called around ten to make sure we had seen them, and I pretended for a second that I had no idea what he was talking about. Yeah, I try to trick people pretty unsuccessfully lately!

Santa's workshop got moved down to the basement; Justin wrapped the boys' gifts, and I wrapped Heather's and Brents. When I looked up once, the sight of Justin's wedding band was all I saw. I'm sure he thought the subject of my photo was him wrapping presents, but it's really his ring. Since he doesn't wear it all the time, its a pleasant sight that makes me smile when I see it!

As I was wrapping Brent's meat grinder, Lowie decided it was a perfect spot to hang out. I think he enjoys all the hiding spots this year: in a pile of presents, up against the wall behind the tree. He thinks he's being sneaky.

Our non-ornamented tree looks pretty with all the wrapped presents under it. Maybe next year we'll feel the need to set it up properly, but it's really nice to think that it will only take five minutes to undecorate the house on the first of January!

Justin knows me all too well. When he was out grocery shopping (I was getting ready), I asked him to buy me something to snack on. He brought me home sushi - I love him!

We drove out to Taber with my mum to enjoy the festivities my Dad's work puts on: deep fried shrimp and scallops, french fries, chicken wings and libations! My Dad was one of the cooks, and my mum and I were first in line after everything came out. The one time however, when fries came out of the deepfryer there was a bit of an accident; fries were flying off a styrofoam plate, my mum was doing this crazy dance trying to save them, I was laughing histarically - and despite her best efforts the whole batch fell on the ground.

After the shop, we went to Gerald and Terry's. It was really nice to walk into their always inviting house, but for the added element of a Christmas explosion! There was decorations everywhere. Okay, I do miss that after seeing the difference between our drab little tree, and holly jollyness everywhere! This was on the table, and was so pretty.

We rushed back home, gathered the gifts in Santa's sleigh (aka the Blazer), then headed out to the farm. We sat at the table for awhile BSing about my new phone, Dalton's new phone, everyone else's old phones and life. Then we were asked if we wanted to eat first, or open presents first. I'm pretty sure the smile on my face gave away what I wanted - we were ushered into the living room.

I'm not really too sure who started this (one of the boys), but suddenly there were "thumbs up" in a lot of photos. Brian even snuck into one with Justin to pop up his thumb.

Then we moved on to the serious side of opening up presents!

I really like the details in this picture Justin took: my wedding rings, and the pearl bracelet that I wore as my "something new" for the wedding (I've never felt that the dress counted). And, as I told Gerald and Terry while at their house, it was Nicole's "something borrowed" for their Vegas wedding.

Since we had already opened our presents, it was time to have some dinner! Mashed potatoes, turkey, homemade bread, suffing - yes please!

We got back home pretty late, and because both of our cells were dead, we headed home since we weren't sure if my parents would still be up. My brother and I missed out on our traditions: watching Christmas movies (Home Alone, Home Alone Two, How The Grinch Stole Christmas the cartoon, Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer), watching old home movies of us opening Christmas presents, and playing Monopoly. Justin and I crashed hard, and went to sleep right after we got home. For as long as I can remember, my thoughts while falling asleep on Christmas Eve is always a re-count of presents that I knew I was getting; thought of presents I had seen being bought. With this new Secret Santa tradition, these thoughts have been eleminated, and I end up being completely surprised!

Christmas Shopping Relief

This morning, after Justin was out of the shower he asked me why I had gone to bed last night without telling him. I was worried that he would want me to stay up later, and I had just had enough of everything - and needed some rest.

It was another unwrapped present this morning for Justin. I just placed the wrapping paper around it, and set it all on the ottoman for him to open his pack of gum!

In the end, I am VERY happy Justin made my dish for the pot luck. It was actually a big success! Everyone got $50 gift cards from the boss' for the mall. When I went to thank Sheri for mine, she told me what a wonderful job I've done as the Social Club chairperson this year - better than anyone else. That made me feel a lot better about the whole deal.

After work Justin and I finished up the last of our Christmas shopping. He headed to the mall with Corey, and I went to the plaza mall by our house. I ended up going to one of the stores twice, but when I was driving home I had a sudden wave of ecstasy: I was finished Christmas shopping!!

When I got back to the house, I dumped everything in the entryway.

Justin had said to go ahead and eat without him; normally I know exactly what I want to eat when given the option to eat out - but tonight was different. In the back of my mind lately I keep thinking "Mexican Bootcamp." I'm thinking the less weight I add to myself during the holidays, the less work it will be to get rid of it afterwards! I got a frozen steamer meal while I was looking around at Shoppers Drug Mart. I really want to have a few frozen dinners in the freezer specifically so there are no more "fast food" runs.

I moved all my Christmas presents to my scrapbooking room, just before Justin came home. He must have also been tired, and relieved that the shopping is all done - he had a nap on the floor in front of the fireplace!

Today I Was A Scrooge

This morning I gave Justin Four Christmases on Blu Ray for his gift. I really am starting to lack in my creativity, again this morning, it was just there on the kitchen counter for him to spot!

I started getting really crabby during supper tonight. Justin wanted to eat downstars and watch the new movie. I always sit on the floor in front of the coffee table when eating downstairs to avoid making a mess on the carpet, couch or me. It felt like minus ten down there, and I lept up to go eat at the counter. I heard the movie start, and got upset with Justin because I had wanted to watch it together.

Then I made a startling announcement with a swear. I had just remembered that my work pot-luck is tomorrow, and we were going to make the surprise dip (the one with cream cheese, sour cream, green peppers, red peppers, cheese and crab - I like it better with shrimp though). I had wanted to stop at Sobey's on the way home, but completely forgot. Then I was trying to convince Justin that I simply didn't care if I had a meal to provide for tomorrow. It wasn't my idea, and I thought the added stress right before Christmas was a rediculous idea. He went to the store, bought the ingredients, and made my dip. I had a bath, and tried to relax; then I went to bed.

Four Months

I'm kind of getting a bit lazy with these twelve days of Christmas presents! I've run out of steam, I'm not finding new places to hide them, and am not doing it secretively! I tried to be sneaky, but I knew Justin was watching as I put the (wrapped today) box of Turtles on his lunchbox by the door.

After work, we went out for supper at OJ's. It seriously feels like I've been there so often recently (maybe because I have been!). We each had a drink, had wings (Tuesday's special), and enjoyed our meal. We've finally gone for a date on our monthly anniversary - and it only took us four months to get it right! A couple guys Justin works with were there too; Don (who was at the wedding) asked how we've been enjoying married life. He brought up how much fun the wedding was, and how crazy some of our friends were. It was nice to think back on such a wonderful day.

Today is the day that I decided that our Christmas tree is fine just the way it is. We STILL haven't put any decorations on it; we haven't found the time, and to be honest, it hasn't been a priority. I was upset that it wasn't going to be done a few weeks ago. But I now know it's rediculous to pull all those ornaments out, only to have to put them away again in a week at most! I don't have the energy. When I told Justin my non-plans for our tree while out driving tonight, he let out a sigh of relief! And these thoughts really tie up what married life looks like for us: making it our way, with no expectations of it to be "perfect."

The Secret's Out

Originally I wasn't giving Justin's present to him until tonight. I couldn't bare the thought of him waiting all day to come home to watch a movie on the Blu Ray player. Then Sunday night came around, and I was all excited and couldn't wait for him to open that gift; I almost gave it to him then. This morning he was waiting for his gift I caved and gave it to him earlier than I had thought. I didn't even have the player wrapped, so I made him turn around until I got everything set up, then just laid the paper on top of it, and put the wrapped movies on top.

I know it's coming every year, and I longingly wait for it; the piles of goodies that customers and body shops drop off for us to snack on. Except these snacks turn into meals. The tray that General Collision brings us is my favorite, it's the one I look forward to the most - but this year they did it differently, and it wasn't nearly as good. (It's those pastel coloured chocolate mint milk duds that make me weak in the knees!) A welcomed addition this year, however was a cake from Crazy Cakes! They make the BEST cakes in the entire world (and I still wish our wedding cake and cupcakes would have come from them - the only downfall to that perfect day). Mexico bootcamp will re-start after the holidays!

With Justin having gotten the best (I think) present of his twelve days, I could tell him when he wanted to go to Best Buy that I had gone there to get some of the Blu Rays. In fact, I called Lincoln there on one lunchbreak to ask which of the Boondock Saints movies we own. When he told me he had left Minute, I had to keep it a secret that I knew; how would I explain to Justin without telling him, that I had found that out? I finally had to tell him that I knew, but asked Justin not to ask any questions about anything. I just can't keep secrets from him!

At my Christmas party, we had given away gift cards. Ryan and I were the ones handing them out (and the only people that knew about them), and we each got one - I'm sure everyone else thought we had rigged it! I got the one to Petro Canada for $25; my biggest pet peeve of all time is pumping gas and Ryan told me that if I won that gift card, he'd pump my gas for me. That sounded like a really awesome deal; then I got it, and he backed out of our deal! Justin pumped my gas for me tonight night thankfully!

Finding Comfort In Celery

I positioned present number seven (Tic Tacs, as set of six cases in a Christmas pack, and a red and white case) so Justin can see it on the couch when he walks in the door.

It's always nice to have more Christmas cards in the mail than there is bills to be paid! We got cards from Amber and Mike, Randy and Ginny, Grandma Bea, and Thom, Gloria, Kas and Evan.

One of the shuttle drivers at work loves soup, and his wife won't make any for him. When we had deep fried turkey last year some time, I had made him some soup and he thanked me so much, and said how good it was. While at the Christmas party, he brought up the soup I had made him. I was immediately trying to figure out when I could next have some bones to make soup with again for him. Since we had the chicken the next night, it couldn't have been more perfect timing. Because Justin hasn't wanted anything to do with chicken since he has gotten over his sickness (he thinks cutting up that chicken is what did him in), I decided to make it while he was gone this weekend.

Celery. The smell of it - that crisp, watery, green grass scent has so many memories attatched to it. It reminds me mostly of Christmas, that smell coming from the kitchen as my mum is making stuffing for the turkey; saute that celery, with some onion and my mouth is watery for mashed potatoes and gravy. Makes me want family in a warm house, the sound of laughter at the making of more inside jokes, and Britney Spears on the television as us "kids" wait for supper to be cooked. I cannot wait for our families annual New Years celebration, it will fullfil the need for that comfort feeling that celery brings to my mind.

The biggest pot we have never seems to be large enough for a pot of soup, so when my parents were meeting me for lunch yesterday, I asked them to bring their "soup pot." Maybe an idea for a Chrstmas present for next year!

This is the most flavourful soup that I've ever made. It's amazing, and has such a rich depth of flavours to it. I'm now am in love with those Knorr Homestyle Stock gel packs. And they really are worth it for a little extra money.

Yes, I live in Canada - where else can you put your pot of soup outside on the deck to cool down. The funny thing is, that it must have been really hot because after a couple hours of it sitting outside, it didn't need any microwaving when I sampled another bowl!