Christmas 2012: Counting Down

The beauty of starting your blog on Christmas day is that your blogoversary does not pass unnoticed. It was five years ago today I dove head-first into "that blog thing." I've never looked back and blogging has enriched my life immeasurably. So. Many. Wonderful. People. Love you all.

Today was a special day for all the normal reasons--family, fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls, lots of presents, a bike ride at the lake. Christmas is always fun, but this one is special for being the first Christmas Grownup Guy spent with us. It's also the day these save-the-dates-cards are ready to be dropped in the mailbox. 

T-5 months until the big day!  Which, if you believe the peeps in bridal shops, is tomorrow in wedding time. 

Grownup Girl and Grownup Guy are moving on in a couple of weeks--they still have their clinical rotations in other cities to finish. I always feel lucky, but I am especially blessed to have had this time to get to know my future son-in-law on a day-to-day basis. He is good people through and through and that's a very big deal when you''re bringing someone into your family. 

He is also the next-generation Mr. Fix-it. We needed a new garage door opener recently (the garage door got tired of rebelling only when Mr. Fix-it was out of town so that I looked like a lunatic when he got home, pushed the button and asked "what did you say was wrong with it?"); I had no idea what a huge undertaking it is to install an opener. It took the guys about three hours to get it up. It's very cool to know that with the GuGs living close by, there will be many more projects that will be tackled together over the years. While I babysit :)

GuGuy is also a car guy and a fishing guy which are two pursuits most of the other males around here consider to be worthwhile. He also cooks. I know.

I pen this as the kitchen bustles with the activity of dinner prep and we devise schemes to remove. every. last. sweet. from the house first thing tomorrow. I"m about to pour myself a glass of Champagne as it's either that or go into hyperdrive removing the detritus of a successful Christmas from the flat surfaces in my home--and really, nobody wants to see that, do they? 

Grownup Guy's analysis of the differences between the way his family does Christmas and the way ours does includes the way we open presents (his family does piles with the youngest going first while we do one-at-a-time in no particular order) and the fact that there's a lot more swearing at our holiday (we did have to rejoice over the fact that Social Butterfly may not have joined the rest of us in consuming a f*ck-ton of cinnamon rolls, she did have a bite of one and that is cause for all kinds of celebration to me!).

Also? We have less church and more vodka shots--which may not sound like family values to everyone, but it sure feels like it to me today. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all!

 

Much love and laughter from our family to yours.

The outtakes--better than the one that makes the card sometimes!

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jenrantsraves]

Merry Christmas and Happy Blogoversary! I love the fact that it's been five years and you are still going strong. Your Christmas sounds like a blast to me. Love the "Save the Date" and your Christmas card. I'll have to blog about my Christmas. I'm pretty sure we will not forget this one.

[gary rith]

Merry Christmas indeed :) your older son is, perhaps, sporting another new tat? :) your beagle was probably stealing cookie sin the kitchen, right? Merry merry and congrats on 5!

[lanes]

Sounds like a wonderful holiday to me -- and good luck to you and GuG during the wedding countdown!

[Janet]

Congrats to GuG/G :-) Happy blogoversary to you! And I love the outtake best!

[Smalltown Me]

So many things to celebrate!

[Mrs. G.]

What a beautiful couple of soon-to-be marrieds.
Happy New Year and Happy 5 Jenn.

[Deb D]

Loved your blog when I first came across it and I still do. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2013 to you and your family. I notice a strong resemblance between you and GuG in this photo.

[Brightside-Susan]

Sent my cards without a photo this year - yours isgreat! Now I have a new camera with lot's of pictures of everyone - I'll have to post them this week.

Our celebration is pretty irreverent and boozy, too!

Happy Holidays and blogoversary!

[Busy Bee Suz]

I am also in love with Grown Up Guy. She did good!!!
Your family holiday sounds just perfect to me.
XOXO

[Kim Kasch]

I haven't done family fotos for Christmas for a while...maybe next year. :D

And what a great thing to look forward to. I'm anxious for my turn to see the kids get hitched :D

[jo(e)]

It sounds like you have a lot to celebrate. Happy blogiversary!

[Cha Cha]

This sounds like an awesome holiday! I appreciate any Christmas celebration that features the term "fuck-ton."

Happy blogoversary - five years is impressive!

[shrink on the couch]

Why don't more candidates run on those family values? Happy five year blogoversary, Jenn. Happy New Year to you and yours.

[mom taxi julie]

Less church more vodka, love it! That's about how ours was but I had rum this year lol.

So nice to have a new family member that fits right in! I hope we'll be so lucky some day (but not anytime soon!)

[magpie]

merry happy to you!

[Jocelyn]

The thing about a lion t-shirt is that it's the gift that keeps on giving.

Congrats, indeed, on the blog anniversary--and the May nuptials. I can't wait 'til you shop for a dress!

(and shoes)

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

So wonderful that you are getting the time to get to know him and appreciate him! and don't think I didn't catch that "babysitting" comment. Do you have something to share?!?

As the groom's mother, you've got 5 months to go before the wedding. However, I suspect as the bride's mother, it's more like "you've ONLY got 5 months to go before the wedding!!"

[Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen]

Merry Christmas, Happy Anniversary, and while we're at it, Happy New Year. I always enjoy your blog and your thoughtful writing. I think I might have to add a f*ck ton of cinnamon rolls to our family celebration next year. Genius idea!

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

I forgot to say Happy Blogiversary and a belated Merry Christmas!

[Rainbow Motel]

I love your card pictures. One year you should definitely try sending the outtake version to see what happens.

[CC]

cute pics! And congrats on the upcoming wedding! :)