We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It is always remarkable how quickly Christmas day passes. After months of preparation decorating, listening to holiday music, shopping, and anxiously awaiting the last day of classes, Christmas day comes and goes much too quickly.

It is similar to a free fall slide at the waterpark--you wait in line it seems forever, mentally preparing, anxiously anticipating and discussing what it will be like to experience the nearly vertical drop. Then, when your turn finally comes and the 12-year-old lifeguard gives you the go-ahead, all of the waiting culminates into a girlish squeal, a rush of adrenaline, and a horrible wedgie before it is over--just like that.

Even though it passed quickly, Christmas was indeed wonderful---all of Christmas, not just December 25th. And in contrast to the waterpark, my Christmas season was full of peace, not wedgies (although there may have been a girlish squeal in there somewhere on Christmas morning).

This was me and Isaac's first Christmas together as a couple, and similarly, my first Christmas away from family. I was excited to spend Christmas with my husband and my new family, but I still felt a little sad that I wouldn't get to see my family at all during Christmas. I was sad about missing our ski trip to Canada, but mostly I was sad about not getting one of Nathan's hugs and missing out on my dad's cheesy jokes. I was sad about not being able to have late night talks with my mom, laughing fits with Jordan, and the chance to reminisce with Erica. However, thanks to Skype, I was still able to talk to everyone on Christmas, and while I still missed being with my family, I LOVED spending Christmas with the Proctors and being a part of all of their Christmas traditions. I really felt happy and at peace despite being away from home, and just realized how much I love everyone in Isaac's family.

Sadly, I did not take a single picture on Christmas, which is surprising considering how much I love photography. However, there are certain times in life when I really just want to enjoy the moment as it stands and remember it without the added obligation to capture the perfect frame. But I will remember this Christmas, for it was new and exciting.

• We spent the 23rd tearing through Jan's closets searching for her passport and birth certificate. She was headed to Canada with my family, but had forgot to bring those important documents, and needed them the next day. We found them, sent them, retrieved them from the mail room, then sent them using a different company. Luckily the package arrived just in time. Whew!
• Christmas Eve consisted of the feast of a life-time, exchanging gifts, a visit from Santa (Isaac), who terrified Brooklyn and didn't convince the rest that he was was the REAL St. Nick, songs, a nativity pageant, eggnog, a lot of laughing, and "a Christmas Story"
• Christmas morning still holds its same excitement for me it seems. I woke up at 6:00, then couldn't fall back asleep. I convinced Isaac to get up with me (who wasn't feeling too well), and we opened presents by the tree and realized that we have so much to be thankful for. by 8:00 we had gone back to bed for a few hours. We spent the rest of Christmas in Highland playing with new toys, talking, and watching Julie and Julia.
  
• We found ourselves in a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant called T-bone on boxing day. Delightfully wonderful food and service for the price. The rest of the date was spent at RC Willey picking out carpet for Michelle's new house (hooray!). Jake, Brian, Michelle, and Isaac all received an itouch for Christmas and we laughed as they huddle together everywhere we went discussing and playing on their new toys.
  
• Sunday-- Isaac still isn't feeling well, but we continue to enjoy being together during this season.
  

Just as Christmas has passed, it will not be long before 2009 has come and gone. I want to enjoy it while it is here and cherish the memories that it provides-- in all their imperfection. So Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you~