Its The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

Here we are, bumping up on Christmas 2018. Another year, almost gone. It has been a quick year, looking back, but a great one. I can't complain. I have been blessed this year. A few bumps in the road, but I know just how bumpy the road can get, so of course I am grateful for all of the blessings I have received.

January: We got married. I started my job with Air Methods.

February: Uneventful best I can remember..

March: Went to St Louis and passed HPS bringing me off orientation.

April: Went to Punta Cana for our honeymoon

May: nothing eventful

June: Summer family vacation to OBX. Shade turned 7! We had his party at home and went to the waterpark because basically nobody would come.

July: Lots of family time and fireworks with the in-laws and friends.

August: School back in session!

September: Darrell turned 39. Emma would've been 4. I turned 33. Isaac turned 3. Went to my first air show in Owensboro.

October: We went to NH for a few days to visit family and had a wonderful trip.

November: Went to NAS Pensacola, Fort Rucker, and took the boys to their first air show.

December: and here we are... a year gone just like that.

It looks like our tree exploded. Well...looked. Darrell and I opened gifts for each other last night since we work today and Christmas Day and we want to relax Christmas Eve. We added a couple presents since this photo was taken and a few are still in the mail, and of course we removed some to give to each other. It looks a little more bare now. Plus there are some still stuffed in the tree somewhere for the kids.

We had our family ornaments made this year, and the boys had haircuts before the holidays, which they always love and they love going to the mall so that they can ride the little rides at the entrance. Plus, the mall is always super festive during the holidays.

 

Thursday, I took the boys on a 45 minute trip to Stearns, Ky to a free Polar Express movie night. We got lost, because the GPS took us about 5+ miles shy of the actual place where it was. They really enjoyed themselves though and got to have popcorn, cookies, and hot cocoa.

 Isaac said hot cocoa was gross. He's ridiculous. We were on a road called Rattlesnake Ridge which borders Skull Bone Tower Road. Needless to say, I was packing and Darrell had me send him my location just in case I were to drop off the face of the earth. All was well, I connected to wi-fi where I was able to communicate. the people were super nice and the cocoa was good. 

They even punched their little tickets and gave them bells just like in the movie. 

 

On the way back... we stopped for McDonald's and the entire way there and back we jammed to Christmas music. I love Christmas, mainly because I love to give gifts. I know that does not suit my personality, but I do love it. I didn't get Christmas when I was young, so I love decorating for Christmas, putting up lights, flags, signs, trees, wrapping gifts (which is a catch 22, however because I hate the cleanup and the actual effort of putting the stuff up and wrapping), giving gifts, being festive, wearing warm cozy clothes and pajamas and just in general, the magic of the season. There's nothing like being able to provide a Christmas for our children and seeing them light up with joy because of the lights, sounds, and overall atmosphere of Christmas, especially while they're still young before bills and work and responsibility take the fun out of it. 

Yesterday, I headed to Leslie County, to begin the boy's beginning-middle part of their Christmas break with their Dad and their LC family.
First, I stopped at my Mom's for soup beans and corn bread. The boys and Ian played and tore the house apart while dad and I watched aviation youtube videos. And of course, Ludwig was begging for food. 

I bought some flowers and a potted plant for Emma's grave. I had intentions of going up there and visiting other family, but Darrell had to work and I just wasn't in a place emotionally yesterday to where I felt like it would've helped me or served me well. Sometimes that is how it is. Here recently its seemed like so many things of Emma's that I've had for years now have gotten broken or lost or something, I feel like I have so little left and the list is dwindling and that is starting to get to me I think. BUT, I digress...since Mom had to go up there again, I left the flowers for her to put up there and photograph when she has the time, since she already did the bulk of the decorating for me. Hopefully I can get up there to her grave soon and check on things, since I'm pretty sure my mom and I and maybe my Dad every now and again, are the literal only ones who go up there, in the family anyway.

Every time I go to LC I end up feeling some type of way and I wish I could explain it. Part of it is reminiscent, part of it is feeling that place literally dragging me down into a pit because that's what it does for some people. Another part is I feel cozy and painted into those mountains because that's what I know.  Part of me misses being able to drive a few minutes and go have coffee on the weekends with mom or visit dad when I want to, or having the easily obtainable free babysitting at my disposal. The rest of me thanks God I was afforded the opportunity to leave, albeit somewhat not by choice and I wouldn't change it for any amount of money. I think overall my problem yesterday is that I was alone and had nobody to lean on, its the holidays which will always always always have a spot missing from them for me, and it was a dreary day. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my trip and it was much needed and I'm super glad the boys got to spend an extra day with their granny and popaw, especially since before they weren't going to be able to. But...something about it, nostalgic I guess. Not really sure I have pinned down what feeling it gives me yet.
~

We have a  busy week ahead of us. Work and Christmas day, work again. Wednesday, we have a follow up doctor's appointment in Lexington, and we plan to check out Bear & The Butcher for lunch, and I plan to go spend my Victoria's Secret gift card from my hubby ;) Then it'll be back home with hopefully a little time to sit and relax before he goes to work again. Then Thursday, we plan to meet for breakfast at Frisch's like the old crotchety couple we are, head to get his boys, head back through and grab my boys and go home and watch them make a giant mess out of their gifts and I have plans to HOPEFULLY play a board game with everyone that evening.
 

Friday, my in laws will be coming up to spend some time with us for the holidays, and then Saturday will be somewhat of a lazy day, before our 2nd annual Christmas party (UGLY SWEATERS!) which I am excited about. Hoping for a decent turnout and glad we're reserving a huge table at Guthrie's instead of having to cook, :P and of course we plan to crash Muggbee's as per the usual.

Then the next week has some plans all of its own, including our 1 year wedding anniversary (Which we both work on, unfortunately, but we plan to celebrate the following weekend away nested somewhere quiet and cozy with a fireplace and a hot tub ideally) and more work.

Overall, it'll be busy, but that's how the holidays are. We enjoy it either way. January is going to be a pain in the dick. A royal pain. Lots of alone time and extensive need for babysitting that is giving me anxiety. But...we shall cross that bridge when we get there. 

xoxo