(no subject)
Christmas has come and gone this year, and now 2012 approacheth. I'm gonna have to put this Christmas on record as one of the worst to date. It had its high points, and it was fun watching Francisco finally figure out the concept of "opening a gift" (he engaged in this work with earnest concentration), but with less money to spend than we've had in the last few years past, the warm, sticky weather and the increased workload that closing out a year brings to an accounting department when the rest of the world is slowing down and taking a break, I just wasn't feelin' it. I mean, I've never been one to spew Christmas cheer out of every orifice 'round this time of year, not since I was a kid, anyway, but I'm going to say that Christmas cheer has hit an all time low this year.
Mostly it's the financial struggle that's got me down. I'm too old to be struggling like this, and not being able to buy the people I love the caliber gifts that they deserve is a poignant reminder of what a failure I've turned out to be career-wise, and that shit's just depressing. I especially want to show my appreciation for Gilbert and my family for all that they do and how hard they work... with gifts. But I can't.
Last Christmas was pretty awesome. It was the best adult Christmas I've experienced, I'd say. It was the baby's first, so that was exciting in and of itself, and we put up our first Christmas tree as a nuclear family, plus it was really cold for pretty much the entire month of December, and I had money saved up that I really shouldn't have been spending on Christmas, but at least I had something. That was a nice Christmas.
This year, we did our now-traditional white elephant gift exchange again at my family's house. That was fun, but I was sweating my balls off all night long wearing my sweater-dress in the muggy swamp air, and I was exhausted that evening before I even left the house. Anyway, the shark jacket made its annual appearance in a 60-in TV box that took up half of the living room, and it came with a Ninja Turtle Snuggie as a bonus. This set was the prize of the evening and was stolen, I think, four times before it ended up with its final owner. Gilbert had it at one point, and never did recover temperature-wise until we came home and he stripped down to his boxer briefs and black socks (gotta love that look).
Goddamnit it, it was such a hot Christmas. I knew we were in for it this year since the last two winters were so gloriously ice cold.
Anyway.
This is our tree this year, which is a $30.00 half-off, last minute special we picked up a week before Christmas after fighting all day long. BUT WE HAD A TREE.
The highlight of Christmas this year was definitely Francisco's suit.
But, he had to change into his comfy Christmas PJ's after he pooped his pants.
I'd brought these along since we did Christmas Eve LATE this year due to work schedules. Francisco actually stayed up until 10:30 or 11:00 that night, which is, for him, unheard of and EXTREMELY late (and extremely late for me to be out too, for that matter). He was having a blast, though. I think we was really feeling the excitement of being up and out late and doing something special.
After we came home, I was so thankful to finally unwind on the sofa with a Corsendonk Christmas Ale while we watched a Christmas Story and Francisco fell asleep in my arms.
Me and my handsome by the tree:
I did enjoy opening presents with Francisco on Christmas morning. As I said, he took present opening very seriously.
Here is a crazy, noisy toy he got from his aunt.
From Francisco's "then and now" photo shoot:
I love the mischievous little gleam in his eye in this photo.
I'm going to see what I can do about making next Christmas more awesome than this one. Saving up a little money to buy gifts would be a big help. I'll see what I can do.
Mostly it's the financial struggle that's got me down. I'm too old to be struggling like this, and not being able to buy the people I love the caliber gifts that they deserve is a poignant reminder of what a failure I've turned out to be career-wise, and that shit's just depressing. I especially want to show my appreciation for Gilbert and my family for all that they do and how hard they work... with gifts. But I can't.
Last Christmas was pretty awesome. It was the best adult Christmas I've experienced, I'd say. It was the baby's first, so that was exciting in and of itself, and we put up our first Christmas tree as a nuclear family, plus it was really cold for pretty much the entire month of December, and I had money saved up that I really shouldn't have been spending on Christmas, but at least I had something. That was a nice Christmas.
This year, we did our now-traditional white elephant gift exchange again at my family's house. That was fun, but I was sweating my balls off all night long wearing my sweater-dress in the muggy swamp air, and I was exhausted that evening before I even left the house. Anyway, the shark jacket made its annual appearance in a 60-in TV box that took up half of the living room, and it came with a Ninja Turtle Snuggie as a bonus. This set was the prize of the evening and was stolen, I think, four times before it ended up with its final owner. Gilbert had it at one point, and never did recover temperature-wise until we came home and he stripped down to his boxer briefs and black socks (gotta love that look).
Goddamnit it, it was such a hot Christmas. I knew we were in for it this year since the last two winters were so gloriously ice cold.
Anyway.
This is our tree this year, which is a $30.00 half-off, last minute special we picked up a week before Christmas after fighting all day long. BUT WE HAD A TREE.
The highlight of Christmas this year was definitely Francisco's suit.
But, he had to change into his comfy Christmas PJ's after he pooped his pants.
I'd brought these along since we did Christmas Eve LATE this year due to work schedules. Francisco actually stayed up until 10:30 or 11:00 that night, which is, for him, unheard of and EXTREMELY late (and extremely late for me to be out too, for that matter). He was having a blast, though. I think we was really feeling the excitement of being up and out late and doing something special.
After we came home, I was so thankful to finally unwind on the sofa with a Corsendonk Christmas Ale while we watched a Christmas Story and Francisco fell asleep in my arms.
Me and my handsome by the tree:
I did enjoy opening presents with Francisco on Christmas morning. As I said, he took present opening very seriously.
Here is a crazy, noisy toy he got from his aunt.
From Francisco's "then and now" photo shoot:
I love the mischievous little gleam in his eye in this photo.
I'm going to see what I can do about making next Christmas more awesome than this one. Saving up a little money to buy gifts would be a big help. I'll see what I can do.