For those of you who know me, you know very well that December is my favorite month. I love the cold weather and I love celebrating Christmas. While we are on the subject, I’ll answer a question I got a couple days ago. Someone asked me how I’ve spent the holidays since I first got engaged until now… Well, here is a quick breakdown of our important dates in the month of December:
2009
December 22nd 2009 == We got Engaged (We told his parents the next day…)
December 24th/December 25th== Our First Christmas as couple and it turned out his family left earlier that day, Christmas Eve, and he went to the Beach. We didn’t spend Christmas together and I saw him after New Year’s. My parents and I spend Christmas dinner, as usual, at my grandparent’s house and then we went home. I texted Gerard to his cel phone to wish him a Merry Christmas.
December 31st, 2009--January 1st, 2010= =Gerard had gotten back from his vacation the day before, but he kept finding excuses for us not to get together. We mainly spoke on the phone. I had a family New Year’s dinner get together. I invited him but he had plans with his family. His mother invited me to join them. I told Gerry that since he spent Christmas with his family he should spend New Years with my family. He told me the same thing. Since we didn’t agree on anything, we each spent it with our respective family members. We call each other at midnight.
2010
Graduated from College December 3rd, 2010
Married December 15th 2010
Honeymoon: December 16th until the 23rd.
December 22nd, 2010== We celebrated our One Year Engagement in the Airplane in the way back from the Honeymoon. Due to the time difference we arrived back home on the 23rd. Technically since we were already married, there wasn’t a big point in celebrating it.
December 24th,, 2010== We went to mass at his Church with his family and then we went over to my grandparent’s house. We had Christmas-eve dinner there and then we went over to his Mother’s house. She had the whole family over. Most years Gerry spends half of the time at his mother’s, with her family and then at this fathers house with this family. This time to avoid having us going back and forth everyone met up at her house. It was a nice evening. We arrived back at our house at 4:00a.m.
December 25th== We spent the morning at our house opening the gifts from each other. It didn’t take long but we’d slept in a little longer than expected. In the afternoon, our parents came to our house and we had roasted ham, mashed potatoes, a vegetable casserole my mother-in-law made and lots of other leftovers. We exchanged gifts and enjoyed the evening. Since we still didn’t have a lot of furniture, my father-in-law lent us folding tables and chairs to set up for the afternoon.
December 31st, 2010—January 1st, 2011== We spent New Year’s at a mutual friend’s party. I am still not a huge fan of New Years but it was an enjoyable evening with friends. We danced and took pictures wearing silly bright-colored hats with the years “2010-2011” marked on it.
2011
December 1st to 13th== My Business Trip.
December 15th, 2011== First Year Wedding Anniversary.
December 22nd, 2011== Second Year Engagement Anniversary. I’m probably the only one that cares about this date, but we celebrated with a nice dinner.
December 24th, 2011== Gerard’s father hosted Christmas Eve dinner at his place this year. Unfortunately we knew due to the driving distance we wouldn’t make it over to my parents or grandparents house (where traditionally we celebrate Christmas Eve dinner). So we stopped by earlier to wish my parents a Merry Christmas. We agreed we would celebrate Christmas Eve at Gerry’s father’s house and then Christmas lunch with my parents. It’s complicated to have to split time between 2 families. (Really there are 3 families, since his parents are divorced and we have to spare time with each one, so it’s His Father, His Mother and My Parents.) Christmas Eve was delightful at my father-in-law’s house. He’d invited family from both sides (his and my mother-in-law’s). They brought out old family videos and we watched them on his Widescreen TV. It was adorable to see what Gerard looked like as a little kid.
December 25th, 2011== We woke up late and enjoyed a good breakfast before we tackled our presents. Then we went to my parent’s house and had lunch with them. Compared to the energetic evening we’d spent at my in-laws, the afternoon with my parents was quiet. Even though this was the second Christmas that I haven’t spent at my parents house (since I’m married), I could tell my mom still has a hard time with it. The month of December has always been my favorite month and Christmas is my favorite holiday. I know my mom misses having me at home with her. I am a couple minutes drive away, but I think sometimes she still feels lonely without me.
December 31st, 2011—January 1st, 2012== The FIRST year, I can say that it was the Best New Year’s Ever. We spent it at home, in our warm PJ’s, watching the Countdown on television. I called my parents and in-laws to wish them a Happy New Year. Then Gerard and I spent the rest of the night watching old movies. It was perfect. There wasn’t too much excitement and nobody made a big deal out of the New Year. It was a nice relaxing evening.
I go back to work on the 9th of January, but I’ll try and write more again soon! Updates for the missing days coming up soon!
Till Next Time
Desirae Valdespino
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