Unusual Christmas

Weird day after Christmas here.  The girls only had the one day off.  They will get 4 weeks for Chinese New Years and a week of half days leading up to that, but it’s strange having the house to myself and have so much quiet the day after Christmas.  

Not that I’m complaining.  I’ve got a desk to build today, as Kiddo really wanted a desk and chair for Xmas and she got one.  On top of that she got a bunch of books and some new soft friends to cuddle with… Including a cat.  That’ll pretty much complete her collection, but I’m sure we’ll learn of new friends needed/wanted in the days and weeks to come.  Also, she has asked for a pet fish and has done well to keep her room tidy and show responsibility over the last 6 weeks, so come CNY break, she will get getting a pet fish as well.  So, there’s that.

On the 24th, SMIC had their Xmas concert and Kiddo hated it, but rocked it.  She was NOT looking forward to the outfit, to song, the dance… any of it.  She did great and rocked it.  Besides that, she did look cute as a button in the outfit.  Afterwords, the class had a party and she got a small gift from her teacher.  Sweet of him and pretty cool.  

Other that that, we kept up our tradition of keeping Xmas smallish.  J and I each got 6 gifts; Three from each other and three from Kiddo.  Highlights included a weighted blanket for me.  I loved my weighted blanket in Cali and it’s nice to have one back.  I just get so cozy under the weight and sleep like the dead.  I also got some new shirts and stuff like that.  All pretty cool.  Bunch of band shirts and the like.  J knows me and just wanted me to lean into me, rocking band shirts and funky shoes and the like.  She also got me a flannel, so that will complete my 90s go ensemble to the nines.  Also, she got me a puzzle.  I’ve missed puzzling.  She wants to do it more as a family and I’m ok with that.  I'd love to sit with the girls and just put a little 500 piece together.  

J, for her part, got the bike I posted already.  Kiddo got her some wireless earbuds to go with that.  I got her some stuff, but the highlight was a new dress that I found that is appropriate mid-fall thru late spring, so she will get a ton of life out of it and I think it was going to look great on her.  She wore it this morning for work and I was right.  It’s cute as a button on her, but still very work appropriate.  Win/win on that.  Of course, I’m biased and think she’s cute as a button always, but you don’t need to agree…. I’m the one that married her.  :P

In keeping with tradition, we carried over last year’s meal tradition and did hot pot for dinner.  It was nice.  I got to make a mushroom stock with morning coffee before we did presents and let that reduce and simmer while we were in gift mode.  It was just a day at home with the girls and then, in the evening, J had some colleagues over for some Xmas wine and cheer.  

All in all, it was a great Xmas.  Slow.  Lazy.  And under the radar.  Xmas isn’t a thing here like in the States or like it was in BKK.  About 65-70% of the stores have some Xmas stuff up, but it’s minimal and I’ve not really been bombarded with the music this year.  It’s subdued here.  We’re told that CNY is a whole thing and that gets crazy, but we’re yet to see and experience it.  Maybe that will be a bit much, but again, it’s only a holiday that I’m peripherally aware of and attuned to the customs of the season.  Maybe it’ll be a kitschy thing for me that more fun than overwhelming.  We shall see.

Enjoy and merry wishes to all.  We hope your Xmas was wonderful.  That the season and spirit of Santa brought you joy and cheer and that New Years is happy and healthy.  We all want to say thanks to the constant readers, the occasional readers, and the first timers.  Enjoy your holiday and seasons greetings and wishes to all.

Let’s go, Kiddo… It’s been a new experience of Xmas and the Holiday season so far, but with Chinese New Year to come, we are still in for fun and festivities.  We are glad that we get to have this adventure and experiences with you and we hope that you are loving it as much as well are.  From the look on your face in the photos, we assume that you are and that the memories and experiences are shaping and coloring your life in ways that you will carry with you as you become more and more you.  We can’t wait for the next and the next and the next after that.  We hope Mittens (the kitten), Packer (the wolf), and Nora (the llama) are good friends and play nice with Poley and the rest of the crew.  Merriest Xmas to you, Kiddo and all of our love.