Christmastime

I had some  help getting ready for Christmas this year.  These are my two sweet Sister Missionaries, Sister Fullmer and Sister Cox:

Sis Fullmer and Sis  Cox and the tree they decorated

They helped me  hang the lights in the window, put up my tree, and decorate it.  It was great.  I wouldn't have gotten it all done with out them :) (they've both since been transferred, and we don't have any sister missionaries at the moment. sad!)

Kitty decided she liked her cat-tree again (it goes in cycles):

This was my profile pic on Facebook for December

Even Ani came out to investigate:

"what the heck is that?"

Both cats are really good about leaving the ornaments and things alone.  There were a couple things under the tree with ribbons that got attacked, and  Ani found some ribbons I didn't (he eats them, so I try not to have things with ribbons under the tree).  I have to say, having my tree up this year was really nice.  I don't always put it up, particularly if I go anywhere for the holidays, but this year I stayed put.

My Christmas wasn't too bad.  I caught a cold the week before, which ruined several of my plans (Helicon concert: skipped. Second viewing of The Hobbit: delayed.  Mailing of  Christmas Cards: delayed until Christmas Eve).  Not helpful spending the whole weekend plus a couple days on the couch.  I did go over to my friends' house Christmas Eve, though.  We had Chinese Food and watched The Count of Monte Christo.  I got to pick the movie :)  I'd brought a selection as well, and they had all but two of them.  I got to see their kids (I did hold the baby for a bit, but once I started coughing I didn't even suggest it again), and we had a good time.  It was really nice.  Christmas Day I slept in, opened presents, and then took a nap instead of going to another friends' house.  Seriously, this cold was no fun.  But in the afternoon I did feel enough better that I went to see The Hobbit again.  I love that movie.  And I don't mind the Kili/Tauriel thing as much as I thought I would.  Helps that in the EE of the first movie Kili does actually flirt with some of the elves in Rivendell.  He's just a big flirt, for the most part.  And she does save his life, three times.  Maybe four.  Plus I love Kili, so of course he can do no wrong.  But I digress.

All in all, it was a pleasant holiday.  Although I have to say, if it weren't for my friends I wouldn't have had any presents on Christmas morning at all.  Well, ok, I did buy one present for me and had them deliver it in a gift box, but does that really count?  I found I didn't mind as much this year as I have in the past.  Maybe it was the cold medication, but really, I'm getting used to the family having things delivered late. 

I did have to be careful of Facebook, though.  Too many Merry Christmases from all these families.  And a conversation with my friend the night before.  Do you realize that many of my friends that I knew in college or High School that are my age are beginning to be grandparents?  My life plan was so much different than this.  Don't get me wrong, I have a good life, and I do enjoy the majority of the things I do - and the things I don't enjoy I can either stop doing (drama club) or endure (cleaning the bathroom).  But I wanted to get married in my early 20's, have 6 kids, and be a very Molly Mormon.  I might have even agreed to live in Utah.  I know, right?  By this time I could have expected a grand-child of my own (my mom's first grandchild came when she was 44, two years younger than I am now).  Instead I have cats.  And am completely self-sufficient.  Like I said, not a bad life, but sometimes I just get sad for what-might-have-been.  And this family I might have had would have left me presents under the tree, cuz I would be the Mom.  And my greatest joy would be being together with all of them.  Just like my Mom, actually.  Miss you, Mommy.

My friend was quite shocked to learn I'm 46.  She thought I was 35.  This happens to me a lot :)

Snow the week before Christmas.  It melted by Christmas Day, though.

Kitty's new favorite hang-out, under the tree, behind the nativity.

Next year will be different.  Next year I'll have just returned from New Zealand and probably won't even know what day it is :D