My Husband Rocks - 1st Christmas

This is my father-in-law, my stepmother-in-law, and my husband's grandfather with my little boys...last Christmas


Here is my rockin' husband, his dad, and the boys last year.

This week the inspiration for My Husband Rocks Friday is our first Christmas spent together. Obviously the pictures above are NOT of our first Christmas, but in them are the people (minus the babies) that we spent our first Christmas together with.

The first Christmas we shared was 8 years ago (already??!?!). One of the main reasons I fell in love with my husband was his dedication and love for his family. It's hard for him because his parents live in seperate provinces and he rarely sees them together. Christmases we almost always spend with his dad, who loves the holiday and does it up right. This particular Christmas, the first ever with the Surrys, was full of love, family, food and joy. I have since learned that this is how every Christmas is for them.

Jon's dad is married to a wonderful woman who does her best to make everyone feel welcome and loved, accepted. She did that for me that first year, and every year since. Also with us were my husbands grandparents, who he loves very much. I could easily see that when he spent hours playing cards, visiting, and generally enjoying their company. Jon's grandmother has since passed on to a better place, leaving her family to remember her loving spirit and missing her still. I miss her so much.

So there we are, enjoying eachothers company and listening to music of the season, eating endless delicious dishes and treats. The holiday was filled with cards (canasta to be specific), food, and loved ones. It was wonderful. Jonny gave me a huge star-shaped vanilla candle (which I still have to this day, only half-burned up) and some chapstick, of which I am extremely addicted.

I loved our first Christmas together. I have loved every Christmas since. It is a joy to be around my husband and his family!! I am really looking forward to this Christmas, which will find me in the midst of laughter, loving family, and a few extra pounds to shed next year :) .

Youth

I have never really felt my age... I usually feel like I am still in my late-teens, early twenties. This feeling about myself brings on the shock when I see actual teens and young adults; I think to myself "but they are BABIES!!!" and "did I look that young??" . How can it be? How can time do that to us, where inside we feel young, vibrant and as though a day hasn't gone by since the world was at our feet? In another decade or so, will I still feel young, and look at people in their late-twenties, early thirties and think "but they are just BABIES!!" ??????

Giving birth to my boys did a number on my body; I have aches and pains where I didn't before, my joints are incredibly stiff after sitting for any length of time (which is embarrassing while trying to get out of the car after a short trip). I probably look like an old woman affected by arthrytis most of the time!! But in my heart, I am young. I am a fresh, myself-against-the-world, ready-for-anything young adult. Part of me loves that I feel that way!! But the rest of me is, because I feel that way, taken aback when reality comes crashing to a halt in front of me and my body insists on reminding me of all it's been through, for all these years.

I realize I am still young; please don't leave a comment for me saying that I am still young and what am I complaining for? Because if that is what you take from this post, then it wasn't communicated effectively.

Time is a funny thing. When I actually was young, the school year was F O R E V E R!!!!! Summer was short. I remember playing all day outside, to be a touch frustrated when that call came "SUPPER'S READY!!!", reluctant to leave that game of tag, touch-football or hide-and-seek to go in and eat. Then once the food was shovelled in, rushing right back out and playing until dark. Now, the days go by so fast. It is already nearly Christmas, and another year will begin. Where does the time go? I still feel like that young adult and the years are flying by at a rapid rate. "SLOW DOWN!!!" I want to shout at the top of my lungs. Just slow down and let me catch up!!

I don't feel I change, yet I look at loved ones all around me. My parents, my aunts and uncles; time seems to have caught up with them. They don't look how I remember them looking when I was young. Is that how I look to nieces and nephews?? Where does time go?? Where?

Progress

It has been awhile since I last wrote...consequently this will be a catch-up post. I have been busy with the boys lately! They are learning and growing at a rapid rate, and some days (weeks) it seems I can't keep up.

Sometimes I look at my sons and wonder where the time has gone; it seems only yesterday that those two were tiny babies and I was up 4 times a night with them. Now they are big boys. Sort of. Yesterday David used the Big Boy Potty, and it was so exciting! My husband and I just decided to start putting the boys on 15 minutes or so after they eat. Another new thing in their world!

They communicate more, wanting to know the names of objects around them. JD will point to something, and we will say the name of whatever it is, and the function. I will also ask them "where is the light?" and they will look at it or point to it. It is amazing to watch them make progress and communicate; they may not be able to talk yet, but it's easy to see they know what we say and understand certain things. They listen to everything.

David is walking like a pro; he keeps his balance and is now working on speed. JD is walking more every day, and while he still has trouble with balance, he keeps at it and soon will be faster. Some moments I watch them and just feel amazed and overwhelmed at their progress...it's like they want to grow and learn. The will to do and experience new things is so strong in those two. I'm sure it is that way with all kids...but these boys are my frame of reference. It's INCREDIBLE watching them process new and exciting things!!! I can almost see the wheels turning inside their heads. I find it fascinating the differences in them; David started walking before JD, and JD shows an interest in objects around him quicker than David. They are two different little minds and personalities.

When they were tiny babies, often they would hold eachothers little hand. Now that they are bigger they don't hold hands, but hug eachother. Such little sweeties! My days are now spent chasing after them, cleaning up after them, teaching them and enjoying them. When the day seems too much and I am down to taking things minute by minute, getting frustrated and fatigued, I'll see them hug eachother and my heart goes to mush. They remind me to slow down and not sweat the small stuff.

The bottom line of all this: I have been busy and I love my job. More later!!

Pictures

My boys are feeling better, and consequently my kitchen received a makeover. It was pretty tame while the camera was out. Once the camera disappeared, though, I was wading through pots, pans and bowls! So much fun, and soooo cute.


David loves to walk and is getting very good at it; JD prefers to crawl still. I assumed once one walked the other would; I was wrong. My sweet JD is taking his time, once he is ready he will be a walking man.

They like the stove because they can see their reflection. Same with the dishwasher! I was trying to get JD to smile, but no luck.

As I type this, I can hear these two up in their crib, NOT taking a nap. They have so much fun together. After these pictures were taken and the pots came out and back in again, David and JD were pushing around a kitchen chair and giggling like crazy. It was so cute, my husband and I just watched and smiled at them and eachother. They discover games with eachother that only they understand. I am sure they both have big imaginations too.

My baby David, always ready with a smile for the camera.

Our New Place!

The livingroom! That is our new sectional, which I love!


My sick little babies managed to crack small smiles for this one.....poor guys are under the weather.



Here's my kitchen...a little messy but not for long... I really like the lighting, and I LOVE having a dishwasher now!!!!! We still need to buy stools for our little breakfast bar.

Obviously the front...this pic was supposed to be first but I haven't figured out yet how to move them around. I love this place!!! Usually I have decorated for Christmas by now...but with the two little explorers I am holding off for a bit longer. Even though it's killing me!! I do have Christmas carols playing though.... can't help it.....