The Packs

Christmas is a time for Family and Friends and this year I've finally felt like I have a complete family with Daniel in my life. NO stressing about trying to make everyone happy, happiness has come pretty easily for us. The kids have been back and forth between me and there dad's through the holidays so we just try to enjoy them while we have them, and enjoy our time alone when we get it.

Christmas Eve was the usual family get together, present and chaos... I haven't brought a boyfriend to Christmas in 4 years, so naturally everyone was curious. Poor Daniel was cornered by my dad and uncle and interrogated Ha Ha Ha. They had both already had a few drink so the conversation was interesting. I think i was more embarrassed then he was. He handled himself well, as soon as he mention his joining the army my uncle had nothing else to say but good thing. My family has a lot of respect for Daniel.

Christmas day we slept in only because the kids where at their dad's. Then we headed to my mom's after jump starting the dead battery in my car. We were 2 hours late but there was still food:) After dinner, presents and playing games we looked outside to find the it had snowed about 5 inches since we'd been there. It took us about an hour to get home that night...

I was just thinking today of how grateful i am for having Daniel in my life and here is just one example why. A few weeks back I wasn't feeling well and it was my weekend with both the kids. I did my best to keep up with them, after dinner all i could do was lay on the couch. Daniel scooped me up and put me to bed around 7:00 p.m, promising he would take care of the kids the rest of the night. I think they were more excited to hang out with him then with me... They made plans to stay up all night playing games and watching movies.

I feel asleep listening to my kids laughing and playing with him and it made me so happy that they both enjoy him as much as i do. I woke up the next morning to a disaster in my living room and kitchen but i didn't mind. It was only proof of how much fun they had that night. He said that Jayke feel asleep around 11:00 and London wasn't far behind. Daniel carried us all to bed that night. ha ha ha... Thanks honey for being such a sweetheart.

London and I had a rough night tonight. I swear sometimes i feel like I'm walking on egg shells with her. It seems like she's always mad at me for something, the littlest things set her off these days. She stuck between child and teen, trying to balance between these two emotional states of being is hard on both of us. We're both learning to give and take and mostly to forgive. I love you London!!!

It was a quiet weekend with the kids at there dad's, leaving just Daniel and me. It'd felt like a long time since he and i had spent anytime alone, so we were really looking forward to this weekend. We decide to save money on going out on a date so we gathered up all the Christmas decorations i had and set up the Christmas Tree.

It seems silly that such a simple thing like trimming the tree ended up being so romantic. We turned on our playlist that we had made during the first couple months of dating, and that was fun to listen and remember back to what we were doing at that time. We turned down the lights so we could check the Christmas lights. I had rearranged the furniture earlier that day to make it more cozy, i have a pretty large living room for an apartment and i like things spread out in the summer for more space, but in the winter i squeeze all the furniture together and it's amazing how comfy it is. So we talked and laughed and just really enjoyed each other that night as we decorated my place. After the trimming was done we watch a movie in the glow of Christmas lights. We held each other for hours that night on the couch and couldn't have been happier.

Daniel is preparing to go to basic training for the Army and is trying to get in as good of shape as he can before he leaves. He's been doing lost of push-ups, sit-ups, running and marching. So last night London and I decide to go on a walk with him after dinner. I had to bribe London of course with candy to get her to come walk around in the dark. Shes such a home body, she even brought with her my head lamp and a book. HaHa

We bundled everyone up in coats and hats, Daniel with his 25lbs weighted backpack and set off around 7:00 p.m. We started off on a trail that Daniel had discovered earlier that day and walked and walked and walked. London did manage to read for a minute while holding onto my arm to lead her way. What a Goof!!! We warmed up quickly and had a great time, finding a bunch of roads I'd never known where there. I haven't had a lot of time to hang out with London these days so it was nice just to have a chance to chat with her with no other distractions. She such a great kid...

Well Thanksgiving was a little different this year. The kids spent it with their dads. London's dad is a chef and she just thinks that's the greatest thing in the world to cook with her dad so it was pretty natural to let her stay with him to help out with the feast. Jayke and his dad spent it with some friends.

It was a pretty adult Thanksgiving at mom's this year. Daniel got to experience a big family dinner at mom's house. I had a great time with him and my family, very relaxing, and felt grateful to have him there with me. He's in listed in the army so his time with me is growing short. I can't wait to spend Christmas with the kids this year :)