My husband and I were both raised in Colorado Springs, and we both have a lot of family members who still live here. We also have a three-year-old, who is somewhat of a hot commodity around the holidays (does anyone get more excited about receiving presents than a three-year-old?!). For these reasons, this time of year often feels like we’re in our own romantic comedy where we’re driving around the city (sometimes multiple cities) to make an appearance at every holiday get-together, except there’s no dog to have monologues with outside. Two years ago, between just Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we went to FIVE different family Christmas celebrations. Crazy, you say? I. Love. It.
Living away from family for over three years meant I missed celebrating a lot of the little things – cousins’ weddings, Mother’s and Father’s Days, New Year’s Eves, Thanksgivings, and one Christmas, among other things. Missing those holidays was hard, but the idea of it was worse than actually living it. I enjoyed having tiny celebrations with my tiny family. We only had the three of us, and it was lovely. But, now that we’re in Colorado living near family, I’m surprised to say that I enjoy the hustle and bustle of seeing everyone.
In the months before leaving Texas, my husband and I were convinced that moving to Colorado and living near so much family would be difficult – that we’d feel pulled in every direction for every occasion that came up. Luckily, we both have understanding families; if we can’t make it to a celebration, function or get together, no one tries to put pressure or guilt on us. But I love seeing everyone! I love preparing and packing up three different types of appetizers for three different meals. Now that we own a house with a little bit of space, I can’t wait to have people over for Christmas morning brunch. See our tree? See our daughter in fleece Christmas pajamas? See the stockings?! It’s so much more fun when you can share the holidays with everyone!
I know many people won’t share my sentiments, and I can’t blame them. I also enjoy just being still. I love it when my husband, daughter and I are at home by ourselves in the evening and we have nowhere to be, but you also won’t catch me complaining about having to eat Christmas ham at three different houses.