I’ve never really enjoyed the holidays much after elementary school. But this year, the holidays came and went all too fast. Alex and I didn’t get to spend our first Thanksgiving and Christmas as husband and wife together, and that is okay, it was expected. In the last four years, we have been able to spend two Thanksgivings together but no Christmases. This will make this year very special for us because come spring time, Alex will be home for good.
Alex was home for two weeks for his post-deployment leave from Australia. I had to work during the day while he caught up on some much needed sleep and saw friends that he hadn’t seen since our wedding or even before it. There are two hard things about Alex being home. 1) He eats like a champion and I will eat with him. Normally, I eat fairly healthy. I prep my meals for work on Sundays and have snacks like Quest bars and protein shakes. But with Alex home, it is restaurants and whatever his heart, or tummy, desires! Needless to say, I gained about 8 pounds in those two weeks. Shameful! And 2) having to send him back. I say that like he’s an item I purchased and returned after feeling buyer’s remorse. But it is kind of similar, the thought of having him home is exciting and I enjoy it but eventually he gets back on a plane and I return him to our beloved Marine Corps. It makes me feel silly for even having him home, knowing that the couple days following his departure I go through a small case of withdrawal.
Thanksgiving came and went. I ate dinner with my family and then headed over to my in-laws to say hello to some of our out of town family. My fun-loving sister-in-law, Ashley, took it upon herself to give me shots of tequila! I’m not much of a drinker but it did make it easier to relax around the crazy, outgoing bunch of my husband’s side of the family. For an introvert like myself, I have to mentally prepare myself to take on all the conversations and questions, especially my least favorite question, “So, how is Alex?” or even better, “How’s married life?” Unfortunately, I have no idea how married life is… yet!
The four weeks after leading up to Christmas flew by. Every year, I ask Alex what he wants and usually he responds by saying he needs new boots. This year, he says he didn’t NEED anything. That’s one thing I love about him. He only thinks of things he needs which balances out my impulsiveness. He did later decided that he wanted some cookies sent to him. So, cookies I sent. My brother and his family we in town for the holidays so they stopped by before I headed to midnight mass with mine. After mass I headed straight to bed and missed gift opening because I was so exhausted for some unknown reason. I could barely stay awake during mass that a headed right to my bed. On Christmas day, I made some more cookies for my family and my brother. This time, I ate dinner with my husband’s side of the family. Aunt Yvette had a really beautiful slideshow with some many old images of their family. My favorite was one of Alex at a young age wearing a gi, in the splits position, ninja punching the air! Aunt Maria had an award ceremony similar to one an office would have thanking every one for their number of years with the company. It was beautiful and there were a lot of misty eyes all around the room!
A few days later, to my surprise.. Alex called me at 1am asking me to open the front door. I complied and there was my handsome husband in the flesh! It was great being able to spend a week with Alex. I got to take him out to dinner for his birthday, binge on Sons of Anarchy on Netflix, bake more cookies, and cook one of our favorite dishes, stuffed shells.
Here are just a few images that I caught here and there over the holidays.
My cutie patootie nephew, Damion.
My in-laws.
The awesome peanut butter, chocolate chip and M&M and red velvet, white chocolate chip, and chocolate chip cookies I sent Alex.
My friend Shannon who assisted me at an engagement session.
And last, my husband helping me stuff the shells!
