With 2022 being the year we decided to make the big leap and move to a different state 10+ hours away from our home state it meant that holidays would look a little different for our family. Thankfully we had some great friends come down for Thanksgiving to celebrate with us and see our new home, town & a little bit of Kentucky while they were here. It's never enough time to show them all of the things before having to head back up to Minnesota, but we tried to fit in as much as we could. Thanksgiving turkey on the pellet grill, a first time for us but it was a huge success. The guys were able to go golfing two days while being here, which was a statement in itself, golfing at the end of November...it was a rare occasion if ever in MN. Black Friday shopping in a new area was new for me, but we were able to go just the mom's with no dad's or kids which was a breath of fresh air. It was sad not to have the same traditional Black Friday shopping with my own mom, but it was the first year in probably 10 where I haven't had kids with us. We were able to get everyone a chance to horseback ride, we did a little adult trip to the distillery district in Lexington & checked out a very cool arcade bar for the first time . My favorite thing about traveling or exploring new areas is to find those small places that would never been the tourist guide. To be able to find those diamonds in the rough and be able to go back as often as we want because this is our new home is very fun!
For Christmas, it was bitter sweet. I can't really put all the emotions into thoughts or words, but I can say it was sad to not be around all the family & do all the Christmas traditions....but it was so nice to be at our own home for the first time EVER! We were home when Lenny was born, because she was a Christmas Eve baby, and discharged on Christmas Day night. But that doesn't seem like the "being home" experience that I had always envisioned. Postpartum, newborn and 2 girls trying to adjust to having a new baby...it didn't seem like Christmas to say the least.
To celebrate Lenny's birthday with my mom in town was special, she flew in on Lenny's birthday morning! We celebrated with other MN friends who also live near us here. It was a small birthday celebration, which was a little sad, but yet felt so special. The girls got to watch movies on the living room floor with popcorn and hot cocoa. We watched The Grinch & everything was so relaxed. For the first time since having kids, it was the first year that holidays weren't stressful! It was the first time where we didn't have to spread ourselves thin and run everywhere. Don't get me wrong I love chaos at times, but my husband and children struggle, emotions run high and everyone is just stressed. I have always wanted our kids to sleep in their own beds and wake up in our own home on Christmas Day, so it was a blessing to be able to have that for all of us this year. When you have to constantly pack up and run...trying not to forget gifts, trying to make sure you have all the food and treats packed...all while trying to keep all the kids emotions in check...it's mentally & physically draining! This was a refresh for us & I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Will every holiday look like it did in 2022? I'm not sure. I know we will make it back to MN for holidays every so often, but what I have come to realize is that holidays are meant to be spent with family and friends, however that may look, but it is also about truly being present and enjoying the holidays. I can say for the first time, my husband was not the typical holiday scrooge. He wasn't stressed. He wasn't crabby. I wasn't trying to keep him off the "edge" and let me just tell you...that looked so good on him! (haha)
We miss friends. We miss family. We miss the traditions. But we have started to make our own traditions. We have gotten closer as a family. We have started to make special friends here. Life is a journey, it's a funny thing at times. Sometimes you have to throw yourself into an entirely NEW place to realize how simple it could have been for years, but you were too blind to see it! I think that happens with age as well...you value the special ones you have in your life & you hold them tight!
Holidays away from family and friends, it is something that is hard to put into words. The sadness, but yet the happiness that you find when you determine to make the best out of something new. It's bittersweet.
That's all for now friends.
XOXO. -KK
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