sweet. like molasses.

As I wait for something profound to say about the year that has passed, let me catch you up on the holiday happenings in our little bungalow. 

- I thought I was going to hyperventilate many times because I was so stressed out as the holidays approached.

- I went out to my first bar in Portland (remember, I got pregnant like as soon as the jet touched down when we moved to Portland) and had a great conversation with the mother of one of Sophie's classmates who said she also felt like she was going to hyperventilate. And then I didn't feel like hyperventilating anymore. (And I'd really like to grab a drink with her again.)

- Sophie and I made a game of shouting "oooooooh" (at a very high decibel ... poor Mathis) at all the houses with christmas lights on the way home from school.

- We did not make time to hit the Zoo Lights like we did last year, and I feel intense regret about that right now. (How could I not seize any and all holiday happenings for the sake of my 3-year-old?!)

- We DID visit with Santa (and he was a little odd).

- Sophie DID have a ginormous meltdown on Christmas Eve, nearly putting Christmas giftdom in jeopardy.

- Santa DID deliver big-time on all the unicorn requests.

- And Sophie and I had a good time making gingerbread cookies from scratch for the first time ... stars and gingerbread men, and unicorns and dinosaurs. I think it might have been my holiday highlight.

So, as you can see, the holidays were not all super sugary sweet. We missed our families and friends. I felt pretty stressed out. My Christmas Eve dinner of lobster tails and mussels was a huge fail. And my spontaneous idea to go to catholic mass up the street wasn't really the uplifting experience I had hoped for (see ginormous meltdown reference above).

But it was nice to start our own traditions for Christmas (lox, eggs and onion breakfast!) and spend it in our own home. And soak up Sophie's excitement about the day.

And lest you think that I am neglecting our 5-month-old bubbachunk because he has not really been mentioned in this post ... that little happiness factory made the holidays a lot merrier for all of us. 

Comments

[Linnea]

Wonderful! Holidays are always a mixed bag, I think, but on the whole it's a great time of year and there are fun memories to be made.

I've been in Portland for the last week and have been thinking about your family! My mom (Sally) and I love reading your blog, so thanks for continuing to share little snippets of your life with the blogosphere.

P.S. A cozy bar I bet you'd like: Migration Brewing Company on NE Glisan. I spent New Year's Eve there and it was a delight. All sorts of nice folks, laidback, hosts a bluegrass band once a week, good beer. Worth a try!

[Amy (frugan)]

Man, holidays are complicated. Siggy was overstimulated halfway through the 23rd, with many more days to go!

It sounds like you gave Sophie a great Christmas. All she'll remember are the lights, cookies and unicorns.

Oh, and hooray for drinks out with new friends!

[robyn]

i started reading your blog when you lived in sweden (i too adore ikea and found your blog searching for norden tables). I keep seeing little glimpses of your new place and it looks GORGEOUS! love all the archiectural details. would you ever consider a home tour?

[ginny]

Thanks, Robyn! I can't really take any credit with the house other than falling in love with it. :) The woman who lived here did an awesome job restoring it. Because of that, we've been a bit petrified to hang things on the walls, etc., and otherwise ruin it. But I DO absolutely love the details, which are very typical for Portland bungalows, so perhaps a blog post about is in order. Plus, that could be just the pressure we need to get moving on our own finishing touches.