X-mas Cheer

So another Christmas has passed. Unlike the past few years, the holiday came and went and I'm still not in an utterly depressed state. I got some decent gifts. I made some important decisions. I hung out with some folks I haven't seen in six years. That still seems weird to me. I think six years ago would have put me around age 12. But somehow without my knowing I've grown old. Six years ago I had my driver's license. Six years ago I was picking out a college and a degree program. Six years ago I was still dating Cory. Six years ago I had bright pink hair (a story for another blog). But yeah, it was an ok holiday. No big surprises, but no big let downs either.

I spent Xmas eve and Xmas day at the in-laws. And thankfully I made it through without getting sick, as I did during Thanksgiving. The same cannot be said for my sister-in-law who spent most of our gathering in my bed (gathering at my 'rents'). Though there was some question over whether or not she had picked up the flu from her sisters, I'm still convinced she was hungover from her own family's gathering. She's got a big family. She's even got an extended family that she gets along with. I find this all amazing as I was not blessed with the big, exciting, loving, holiday gathering-type folk. But back to the original story. I spend the actual days of the holiday at the in-laws. I was reminded of last Xmas where the boy and I woke up at 5am Xmas day so that we could make it to his folks' place by 9am so that we could partake in his family's Xmas tradition--nachos for breakfast. Yes, I'm disturbed by this too. It really solidified why his entire family is a little on the heavy side. They celebrate the holidays with nachos!! Maybe that realization was what made last year's festivities so unpleasant for me. Maybe it was knowing that the rest of my family was visiting Grandma and Grandpa and having a wonderful ham and potatoes and lefse while I was stuck with chicken bathed in onions on top of noodles with...more onions! Either way, I remember going upstairs shortly after dinner and laying on the bed, crying. That was my first Xmas away from my family. I'm starting to get used to it though. The chicken this year wasn't too onion-y and I tried to enjoy nachos for breakfast. Plus the boy's family didn't give me a bunch of stuff I would NEVER EVER want and/or use this year. In fact, I actually got a bunch of stuff I could use.

Stuff I received that I can use:
1. Cookie cooling racks
2. Chinese checkers (I requested this, though I'm still not sure why)
3. 101 cookie cutters (not on the list, but I look forward to making all my future sandwiches shaped like flowers and dinosaurs)
4. Money (thanks to the boy's g'parents)
5. Money (see above--they drew my name so I got extra)
6. Money (this time from my g'ma--spent most of this on gifts for others)
7. Money (mom and dad were too busy on their 2 cruises to pick up other gifts--I'll forgive them)
8. Money (the uncle surprised me with this one--he's not big on exchanging gifts--or Xmas in general)
9. Big Sexy Hair products (thanks to the brother's girlfriend for hooking me up--seriously, I got like 8 bottles)
10. Bathroom rugs (I picked out, mom wrapped and paid for)
11. Family picture from brother's wedding (no better Xmas present for someone than a picture of yourself...everyone--you will be getting pics of me for Xmas)

That's my Xmas in a nutshell. I made lots o cookies that I have been eating continually. Good thing I got that treadmill a couple weeks ago. I hope I don't break it.