Our Christmas

So despite my scrooge-ness, on Christmas Eve I tried to muster up some holiday cheer. I put on some Christmas music and started making sugar cookies. I couldn’t quite gather up enough cheer to decorate, but that’s alright since my husband’s family prefers them plain.

That took a good portion of the afternoon. Later, I made homemade pizza for my nephew (He loves pizza and when I leave to go to work, I always tell him that I have to work to buy him pizza, if not he cries when I leave. So I figure I need to hold up my end of the deal every once in a while!) And then after that I prepared the breakfast casserole for them morning. Long story short, between cooking and cleaning I was in the kitchen ALL afternoon/night long.

Christmas Eve night was filled with fireworks from neighbors (poor Gracie) and a huge house party across the street. That went on until 5 in the morning. So about 3:30 am, I decided that Santa needed to make an appearance at our house. I got up with some Christmas spirit, got out our little tree, put a couple of doo-dads on it and put it in our room. Got the presents, put them under the tree, and when Sidnei woke up, I said, “Look, Santa came!” I was quite proud of myself.

Sidnei was a lucky one. He got clothes (that he needed badly), a fishing pole and all the gear he needs to go fishing, and a stereo for his car! (I didn’t get to spoil him for his birthday, so I wanted to do more than usual for Christmas.) My favorite part is Sidnei is just like a little kid on Christmas, He loves to get out all his toys and play with them. He has already put his fishing stuff together. Of course it’s now sitting in the corner of our room which I’m not so thrilled about. But I’m happy he likes it.

I got spoiled too! I got a beautiful ring to match the necklace I received on Valentine’s Day.

Sidnei is good, he knows what I really love. He has always picked out beautiful jewelry for me, from the moment we started dating. I have a feeling come my birthday, I’ll be getting the earrings to complete the set!

While opening presents I cooked my Mom’s breakfast casserole (which turned out great, everyone loved it!). At 6:30 am I had gotten up and put in a Christmas Lunch Turkey. I spent the rest of the morning making a simple lunch. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and of course, rice and beans. It was really good, the turkey turned out perfect (I was so nervous I wouldn’t cook it right!) and everyone gave their compliments to the chef!

Needless to say, I was pretty sick of the oven when I finished. And I didn’t even do half the cooking my Mom does at the holidays.

I spent the rest of the day talking with family back home and hanging out with my husband.

Despite the homesickness, despite all my complaining, I want to end the holiday season and this year, saying how thankful I am for everything. I have a good life, I have more blessings than I deserve, and I am so grateful to be by my husband’s side. Life in Brazil is not perfect, but it is good, and I am happy.