Christmas

A lot has happened since my last post, though at the same time not so much. Christmas came and went. It was good, great even, but somehow didn't feel 100% like Christmas. This is mostly due to the fact that I had to work on Christmas eve, and the day after (boxing day). Which makes it just not quite as relaxing. Also, it was my first Christmas as many of you know away from the states, away from my parent's. I think it bothered me more, the thought of them there opening presents and missing a piece of the equation than me being here without them. Alex made it amazing, we had a great sleep in, got up and opened presents (to follow my tradition, where I made piles of our presents, and opened them one by one) and had an amazing breakfast... smoked salmon, peeled cucumber, creme fresh, lemon juice and a dash up of pepper. we then ate it on some bread. We also had toast, with butter and strawberry and champagne jam and honey! Ah! Going back to presents... I gave Alex a cardigan, a book (Where's Wally), a Moka coffee/espresso machine, lots of chocolates, some big football socks and I think that is about it. We set a low budget, as we don't have much to spend. He got me a wonderful panda (there is a long story behind this stuffed animal, but the short of it is that the Adelaide zoo has adorable panda's Wang Wang and Funi. And, this line of stuffed animals I am extremely fond of.) a wonderful bowl from Anthropologie, chocolates, a box of kraft mac and cheese, a Dr. Pepper zero (they don't have diet here), a tea defuser and a wonderful card from Oxfam with a donation that meant a family in Africa somewhere gets a dinner! It had a photo of the cutest little boys, I wanted so badly to have them to eat our meal with us, I am so glad that they were able to enjoy good food too! I really hope to go to Africa soon and give them some love, maybe at an orphanage. Though that might be quite a bit of trouble, I am sure I would have a very difficult time not coming back with a child! I love that we, though we feel the pressure of having tight money, were able to help someone else! That is a feeling that cannot be beat! 

After our wonderful breakfast we relaxed, snacked and showered before being picked up by paul which is an extended member of Alex's family. We went to he and Alison's house for Christmas dinner. It was great. We took their dog on a walk in the park which was really nice. We then came home to relax more, I think I took a nap, read some (We also were mailed a gift from Kacey and Alexei, our friends in Colorado, which was a wonderful Colorado koozie and a great book... or great random facts!). All in all, it was a wonderful, wonderful day!