The Holidays

As you well know, my husband is in the military.  I will not be clarifying what branch of service he is in, though.  He has been in for over six years, now.  We have survived three deployments, two of them with the kids.  And there are a few more on the schedule.  Yikes.  As a military wife, one is expected to bear these deployments bravely.  Just because we are expected to be fine while we are along does not mean we always are. 

Thankfully, right now, he is home.  I am grateful that he will be home during the holidays. This time of year is when things get crazy around here.  It starts with Halloween, and it just keeps going.  This year, I am making #1 a costume.  This is her fourth Halloween.  Last year was the only year I didn't make her costume.  She wanted to be Tinkerbell (of course).  This year she wanted to be a princess.  I am sorry, but I have a hard time dressing my kid in a costume that every other little girl her age will be wearing.  No specific princess costumes here.  I went to the fabric store, found a pattern and bought some dark purple sparkly material that she picked out.  FIVE yards of it!!  Seriously.  She's not that big, but apparently this dress needs a ton of fabric.  We'll see how it goes.  #2 is getting a hand-me-down costume this year from his cousin.  I bought #1's costume.  Next year she will either get a hand me down, or I will make her a new one.  Back to my story.  I am crazy busy until January because of Halloween (and preparation).  Then comes Thanksgiving, which we will be staying nearby for.  The ONE's family lives nearby.  All of them except for one of his brothers, which says a lot.  He has seven brothers and sisters.  Four of them are married.  Well, one of them is in the middle of a divorce.  He's the one who does not live nearby.

November will be a little slower, since I won't have a lot of Holiday prep.  It will be filled with Christmas shopping, though.  I like to get started early.  I have already done a pretty good amount of shopping, and pretty much all of my planning.  December will be absolutely insane this year.  I have one sister who lives about 25 minutes away.  She is married with two kids.  I have another sister who lives in Texas (she's married and has four kids), and two brothers who live in California (one of them is married).  That is where my parents live as well.  This Christmas, they are all coming here.  So our four bedroom house will be taken over by my sister and her four kids, and my brother and his wife.  They are getting here a week before Christmas and most likely staying until just after New Year's.  I am very excited because it has been nine years since my family has all been together for Christmas.