Somewhere toward the end of November, our TV died. I’d like to explain that my absence here has been due to a TV-less Revolution that occurred as a result. That we picked up books and played outside and went on more after work adventures. In real life, though, we’re both so tired at the end of the workday that we just collapse into a Netflix hole while we’re huddled around my laptop. And since I hate using the Word Press app on my phone and my computer has been otherwise occupied, I haven’t felt the urge to write.

Losing our TV was sad, and we mourned its loss for many days. Mostly though, we just miss being able to hear movies at a decent volume (seriously, why is the volume so low Netflix and Amazon? Do you know I fall asleep to you often so you’re just being polite?). But, all was not lost. Joel got a great deal on a new TV through his job, and yesterday he brought it home. And it’s beyond fantastic.

Santa sent another something in the mail yesterday. I ambled over to the post office and picked up a HUGE box filled with Christmas cheer sent from my parents.

I knew they were sending us a few things, but not a high chair box filled with stockings, wrapped gifts, and American tasty treats. I was overwhelmed with the gesture. I seriously have the best parents ever ( the best parents ever who have lived overseas before and who know how good it feels to get presents, haha) and I immediately felt bad that I couldn’t get a box out to them in time. That whole being unemployed for a month really kicked my Christmas budget in the butthole. I managed to get a couple things sent over in time, but they’ll at least have an awesome President’s Day box to open. I am nothing if not observant of all fine US holidays.

I knew this would be a weird/hard Christmas, as it’s the first one that I’ve ever spent away from my family, and it’s the first one I’ve experienced in summer. Because it’s been hot and sunny all December, and Joel has been working crazy hours, and I’m still new to the country, I tried to manufacture as much Christmas spirit as I could. I decorated my desk at work, and I participated in a couple of charity drives and Secret Santa (which, as a temp who knows no one, was just as awkward as it could be). Joel bought me a Christmas theme table cloth and every once in a while he breaks out into Mariah Carey. We had our tree party, and a couple presents stashed under there. It felt like Christmas, and it was pretty great.

But it still felt so strange to be away from everyone. I knew I would really miss the Christmas traditions with my family–just as much as I’m going to miss my family. But, as all of my siblings grew up, got married, and started their own families, they started doing their own thing. We all make contact on the day, but it’s been about 10 years since all 6 of us have been under the same roof on Christmas morning. What’s remained constant is me spending the day with my parents. I cared less about the presents and more about the fatty fat breakfast skillets my mom makes, the endless coffee and mimosa refills, and spending the day hanging out in my pajamas watching movies and taking naps. (ok, I know that’s what I do every weekend, but it’s different on Christmas. Christmas makes it magical.)

But now, it’s time to do my own Christmas thing, and that’s awesome. This year is crazy special, because it’s the first Christmas Joel and I get to spend together. We have our pimped out little tree, and we’re going to eat dinosaur shaped pancakes and open presents in the morning before we spend the day with his mum and her family. I get to wear a paper crown. And I’ll be able to Skype with my parents as we open Dad’s traditional Duct Tape wrapped present and presents wrapped in Hanukkah paper (long story short, I used to get mistaken for Jewish, and it’s a thing in my family now). So I might not be with my family, but I’ll be with my family. My Joel family.

And when I manage to get my box shipped off, I’ll have awesome President’s Day presents with my family.

Or Valentines Day. /punctual

With that, I’m off to bake a pie and finish some errands. Merry Christmas, everyone!