Phewwwww. Well, we survived Christmas.
Christmas Eve day was tough. And a bit triggering. But we got through it. I spent mostly all day wrapping gifts…as I hadn’t even started before then. It was nice to have something distracting to do on an otherwise extremely difficult day.
The nighttime was spent building bikes for the kids (apparently the thing they wanted the most), wrapping some last minute things, stuffing stockings and making ✨magic ✨
But not before we took the obligatory Christmas Eve pictures.
I finally finished up for the night by like 9:30pm. Yes, I can assure you, magic was made. For the kids, anyway.
If that looks like a lot of presents…that’s because it is. But it’s 6 adults getting gifts for each other AND 3 kids. So, it’s a lot of people getting things for each other. Our house is the hub for the holidays where everyone comes to stay. Yay. (Sarcasm.) My husband and I didn’t get anything for each other this year, because…money. But I knew my family members would all have plenty for the kids, so for them, I wasn’t worried, despite my…no money.
Their faces in the morning was worth the literal sleepless night (Phoenix has had a hard time sleeping this past week, routine change throws every bit of him off when it comes to STAYING asleep (and in his bed)), and all the stress that came with getting it all ready.
Christian’s face when he FINALLY saw the bikes was priceless. It took them both a shockingly long time to actually see (and process) everything.
Honestly, it was as good of a Christmas as I could’ve hoped for. Everyone was good and well behaved. Except for my sister.
The kids played with their toys, there was no fighting or yelling or crying…it was just…okay. It was good.
We ended the day next door with Christmas dinner at my aunt and uncles house… a short but decent visit, where I got what I think is one of my new favorite pictures.
Side note, why do I go so far out of my way to get these pictures of everyone else…and yet there doesn’t seem to be any of me from this year….🧐
For me, Christmas began once all the kids were asleep and I finally got to sit down with a hot cup of coffee, blankets, and dessert. Hanging out with my husband and my brother is my favorite thing to do whenever he’s here visiting. We always have a good time and a lot of laughs.
If you’ve made it this far….well, thanks.
Tonight is my favorite event of the holidays…the New Years Cake. We’re Greek, and apparently it’s a Greek tradition to hide a dime in the New Years cake. Then it gets covered in powdered sugar, and each member of the household, INCLUDING the “house”, gets a slice. For our family, that’s 11 people and 1 house, totaling 12 slices of cake. It goes in age order, starting with the oldest. The house is last.
As soon as everyone gets their piece, we all break our slice apart and look for the dime. Whoever has the dime in their piece of cake has good luck for the entire year.
Listen. We all take this cake VERY seriously
In a few hours, we’re doing our cake.
And if ANYONE other than myself or my husband gets it this year? I’m going to scream. And excuse myself from life.
I haven’t won in a long time. Last year my uncle got it, the year before that was my mom.
It HAS to be me this year. I mean…I’d really like it to be.
So, you guys can hope with me on that. And of course, I’ll update you tomorrow with those results 🙃.
For real though, the odds are not in my favor for winning it. And I don’t care who does exactly…except for the fact that I’ll be PISSED if it’s my sister. Like, so mad. And also if it’s my aunt or uncle, but just because they got it last year.
So…stay tuned! And keep those fingers crossed for me!!!
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
Hope you get that dime!