à bientôt...: 01.01 - December 26, 2010

Oh hi.

Facebook - deleted.

Amount new stuff received for Christmas set my move back - 62%

Photo documented Christmas morning - absolutely.

I was psyched to be able to celebrate a low-key Christmas with Moses and my family this year. On December 24th, we sauntered to Gram's new place in Osborne Village to eat Tortière (delish!) and carrot jello (does anyone else's family do this?) and green beans. This was topped off with something we called squash - though I don't think we got (SEGUE: there's no such word as got. love you mum) a final answer on the specific type of squash. I didn't really care; I just wanted pastry stuffed with meat.
4 bottles of wine later, we were in fine moods and everyone's true personalities came out. Turns out, this family meshes well!
It was my first ever Christmas dinner with both my Mum and Dad, plus Moses, Chris, family friend Sue and the matriarch - Louise Lydia.

After dinner we decided we were all pooped, and headed to our various homes.
Not many hours later, we once again descended on poor Gram to host Christmas morning (also my first-ever Christmas morning away from Mum's living room! Sans tree...a bit sad, but the company made up for it).

Top moments of the morning:
Mum and I opening the SAME present at the SAME time....twice.
Moses' reaction to receiving a National Enquirer (he thought it was serious...)
Moses' reaction to everything, actually.
Fresh Belgian waffles with too much butter and strawberries.
Falling asleep in my Gram's bed, like I was six again

Next up was a trip to Dad's. His Christmases are always very personalized and he gives great gifts. We were served eggnog (straight? no, crooked. baha.) and sat around a warm mantle and opened even more gifts. I was spoiled with Microsoft Office (I'm a dork) and sound-silencing over the ear headphones (attempt to minimize chronic ear infection's flare-ups). Dad also gave Moses a gorgeous Fossil watch, which was engraved. Moses was so thrilled.
Chris got tickets to the Game in Vancouver! On the blue line! (whatever that means...)
Capped the day off with a 5-hour nap (it's still a nap right?) and then making liver and chicken and rice for Moses and I, cozied into a CSI marathon. Moses lasted only two episodes before falling into a deep slumber, which ended up lasting twelve hours.

Today was spent at St Vital Centre, searching for a new knap sack for Moses ("Dude, I got too much stuff.")
and then to Uncle Chris' to spend much-needed holiday time with the Muirheads. Gallons of wine, punch, crown royal and peach vodka poured into our tummies. A hilarious cousin gift exchange took place followed by an informal dinner and a hilarious game of Apples to Apples, where, unsurprisingly, Auntie Linda prevailed as the winner.

This week is a busy one with last-minute get togethers with friends and family. Chris and Dad are both leaving for BC in the morning, and Moses and I will be painting the town red until 9:50am on Thursday.

Were your Christmases as beautiful and reflective as mine?
I'd love to hear about them!

Lesson of the day: Parentheses forever. Apparently, I like 'em.