How is Christmas over already?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Well, the Meadows had a fabulous Christmas. We had both sets of parents plus our sister Nicole over for Christmas Eve. We actually broke out the fine china and cooked everything from scratch. It was very exciting. Plus, it was just good quality time with the whole family. After dinner, present opening (though both sets of parents held our presents hostage so we would come home the next day to open them), and some Kathleen Madigan for good cheer, we headed to North Avenue for the Christmas Eve candlelight communion service. Duncan even read the Christmas story and he and I were designated candle-lighters. It was a beautiful service and sweet way to welcome in Christmas.



As this was our first married Christmas, we were very excited Thursday morning to open our presents together. Granted, we woke up at 6:30 so we could have our Christmas together and still make it to breakfast at the Meadows', but we still had a special morning together with Moki Cat (who now has more toys than any cat could ever possibly play with). Christmas presents included new digital cameras for the both of us (though we both opened those early as we thought it necessary to document the vacation in last entry and our Christmas Eve gathering), camera cases, perfume and robe for me, plus a gift certificate to a spa! Duncan got new slippers, the first two seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, new clothes, a new coat, and his most favorite-- new socks! My stocking was also filled with fabulous goodies like a glow stick wand. Yep, it's as awesome as it sounds! We also got our final place setting of china, which was much needed. Seven was just a strange number.


After all of the fun and trashing of the living room, we headed up north to Cumming where we had a fabulous gluten-free breakfast. (I feel very loved by my in-laws as they go out of their way to cater to my strange dietary restrictions). Let it suffice to say that present opening lasted two hours, and everyone was so generous, we can't even list everything we received. Though, I will report that Duncan opened not one, but THREE lego sets. Not to my dismay as he likes to make it out to be, but I told him he has to let me play too. I also got this amazing book that I am already digging into about the gluten-free life, and it has been so informative that it is one of my favorite Christmas presents (which is kind of sad as all of the other stuff I got was so awesome, one would think that a gluten-free book would be low on the list).

Then we went for round three at the Williams' household with my parents and grandparents. Despite the tempting turducken, we ate very well sticking to vegetarianism. We spent the rest of the evening playing with our new toys and watching Tropic Thunder with the parents. We blew up the air-mattress and slept next to the fire for a lovely ending to a fabulous Christmas.

This morning we went to Kaufman Tire and cashed in Mom and Dad's present for two new tires (the final replacements needed for Humphrey); this was a very much needed and wonderful present! Humphrey drives much better now! We also stopped by Target to pick up our stationery for next year's Christmas newsletter and wrapping paper, all half off. Then we swang by Ulta where I used my gift-card from the Meadows to stock up on makeup and irritate Duncan by wasting time trying to find moisturizer for my dried out face. I was insistent that I must find lotion for the face, not something that said it could be used on heels and elbows. That sounded gross, though his argument that lotion is lotion was probably true.

Then we headed back to the Williams' where we went through my old room and claimed anything we wanted. Mom and Dad are beginning to get ready to put the house on the market in a few months, so we're trying to help when/where we can.

Going through all of those old things brought back strange memories. For the first time EVER, I parted ways with old journals (that I had kept since 6th grade!), threw away old notes that I had once deemed important, and even weeded out the majority of pictures of that had made their way into albums. But as I looked back on those times, I thought about how I'm not really that same girl anymore and can't really think of many reasons to look back with such detail on memories that are probably better left as they are in my mind. There was something sad about letting some of those things go, but in a weird way, it felt like one final leap in the process of growing up (if that process even actually comes to completion).

Needless to say, there were some things worth saving, and they have all made the trek down to Decatur. As I type we have so many books, piles of clothing, and other general Christmas madness strewn about the floor, it's extremely overwhelming. Do we have room for all of this? Certainly not! But to say I condensed all 22 years that I lived with my parents into one carload, I think, is quite an achievement. We'll just hope that Duncan won't have to do the same until we have a little more space!

So now we're finally home. When we opened the door I immediately heard two things: Moki meowing and Duncan's Batman alarm clock ringing. Poor cat, who knows how long she had to sit through the alarm. But as soon as we opened the door, she received us with open paws and motor purring! She has definitely forgiven us for being away so much lately and is now currently enjoying the boxes of mysterious toys (or so she thinks) scattered about the apartment.

To everyone that we couldn't share this Christmas with, we hope yours was as full of happiness and joy as ours was!

Merry Christmas,
Whitney (and Duncan!)

P.S. Phones died about half-way through Christmas celebrations, so sorry for being unreachable!