Carmella's Hang Out

This year was very different for me and my family. For the first time in years, we spent the day alone. Since I was very young, we have gone to my Grandparents house for Christmas day, and spent it with all of the MI relatives and any who came from out of state for a visit. Grandpa’s health being as it is, it was thought best to not have the entire family over.

We started early, and did lots of things to make this year special. We did lots of things that we have never done, or not done in years. We had a caroling party with our students and introduced many people to the idea of singing in ones neighborhood! As a family, we went to a winter festival and spent a few hours freezing together and laughing.

Even with all we did…..to tell you the truth, things were just not the same Christmas day. That is not all bad! We had a great day! I had worked Christmas Eve closing the store, so I was able to get bagels for my families breakfast! Mum, Kade and I made a TON of food, forgetting that none of us eat as much as we use to!! That night, we all played games and laughed our heads off….my sides hurt from the laughter. But….I was glad for our family Christmas eve. I did not want Christmas day to be just another day, and it wasn’t, but I found once again, that our Christmas Eve traditions are very special to me, and I was glad we did not change it because of the other changes. It was a mixed up day emotionally for me, I guess…even if I did not show it. But I loved it. I am so very thankful for my family!!

I actually slept for a few hours that day! lol. We are not sure what did it, but I must have had something I am not suppose to, because I began to break out and swell a bit. I ended up taking a Benadryl and becoming very sleepy {I think I have explained it before, but the meds coupled with the fight to breathe, and the nerves, attack my ability to stay awake and upright! I ‘passed out’ on the couch for a while, and it gave the others a chance to play Boggle…which is a game I really don’t like! lol} but felt better by our evening meal time and was awake enough for playing Taboo that night.

I had Boxing day {the day after Christmas} off work and some of us went to a few stores and did some shopping! One top of finding some cool Christmas things on sale, I was able to get a new pair of jeans…that FIT!! I got them as a gift from my American grandparents. {The last time I saw her, my grandmother did not recognize me due to the amount of weight I had lost since last visiting her. I thought she would appreciate me buying new jeans with the money they gave me.}

My parents gave me Wiggy…..my piano!!! {Wiggy=Ludwig Von Beethoven} This is the piano I began learning how to play on! It is also the piano my Dad use to take to Church with us when we met with a group called CFC. I was reminded of that the other day, and it made the gift even more special. {The years we spent with that group changed me and helped make me more of the girl I turned out to be. I am very grateful for the time we spent with those people, and the friendships I still have from those days.} Along with the piano {which is a very cool electric Yamaha keyboard…one that has really COOL sound changes you can make, since it is a synthesizer keyboard} my Dad gave me the hard topped case, and a stand for it that Mum had made a cover for. I now store it under my bed so I can take it out at anytime and play. This also means that I now have a piano of my very own for my own house someday!! YAY!!!

My older brother gave me a MP3 player!!! Its so cute, and tiny, and so something I did not know I wanted as much as it turns out I did! lol. I take the thing with me everywhere now, and I finding more and more music to fill it with!!

Kade got me an Anaheim Ducks shirt {she bought in back in early October, before her birthday….where it turns out we got her the very same shirt!!} and my FAVOURITE hockey book!!!! She ALSO got me….a BUKKIT!! A BLUE bucket to be exact! Now…all we have to do is go bowling in Canada and I can die a happy big sister.

The kids made me some really sweet crafts!! They all did a wonderful job on them and even wrapped them all themselves!

I was also given a really pretty necklace from a friend at work, a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond from another co-worker through the gift exchange we did at the store {I got a penguin…..and have yet to spend all the money} an awesome gift card to Barnes and Noble to help me with my dream to go to Bible school and a book that makes me smile and remember some very fun times, from a good friend of mine. Another friend sent me a beautiful jar that says that we are in each others lives for a reason! {the lid has a drawing of two little girls…..now called us!} I was also given a CD of pretty music {YAY, a new artist!! I like finding out about new singers} and a beautiful bookmark to go with a book that was also part of the gift!! A neighbor gave me a makeup kit, another gave Kade and I a HUGE Rolodex {?!} and the family we work for gave us a daily scripture calendar. Yes…I got spoiled!! I have good friends and family!!

Friday, a friend sent me a text message and asked if I was busy that day. My work day ended at one, and all I had to do was get my shots and my afternoon was free. So Kade and I went to the mall at 4 and picked her and her little sister up {her little sister is friends with my little sisters} and they stayed here till after 10, as we played games, ate dinner, and had a wonderful visit and fellowship!! She is one of the friendships I have been blessed with from CFC and she had a free day while home for winter break!! We have not been able to see each other in a few months. She made my day when she did not know who I was at the mall!! As we walked up to her…I could tell she was trying not to make eye contact. Turns out…she thought I was some stranger wanting to sell her something and she was trying to get away as fast as she could! YAYness!

The next day we got a call from a family with whom we have been friends for many years. {I use to rock the kids to sleep as babies…..but we don’t bring that up these days} They lead very busy lives, and live many miles away so we are not able to get together often at all. They found they had the day free and asked if they could spend the afternoon with us!! Two nights in a row we had friends over?! It was insane and SO much fun!! Oh the noise!! lol. Three or more conversations going at the same time, and all of them very animated, happy, and filled with laughter!