This will be a special holiday season for our family. Every holiday season is special, but made even more by the events of 2012. Last year at this time, Davis was on a 12 week stint overseas – returning only for a week at Thanksgiving and a week at Christmas. I thought that was a hardship. He received the promotion to Dubai and we argued – I was utterly exhausted, resigned and sure of the calamity that awaited the outcome.
How much things have changed.
Life altering experiences are just that – a new lens through which you see the world. And if you are lucky enough to have one of those experiences using it is up to you. (another favorite quote – this one from the movie Overboard – are you sensing my complete lack of culture at this point?)
You, on the other hand Madam have had the rare privilege of removing your bonds for just a spell to see life from an entirely different perspective. How you choose to use that information is entirely up to you.
Yes, that’s from the Butler to Goldie Hawn.
I am using this year to enjoy the moments. I am sinus infection sick, exhausted from the treatments, and carry some extra weight I’m not used to, but reasons that this doesn’t matter to me too much are many:
- We leave tomorrow to head to Houston and embark on a Disney cruise. The excitements in our house is at fever pitch – Mickey called last night and you would have thought it was God himself from the heavens. “That’s so funny! I didn’t know the characters talked like they do on the TV all the time,” says Emmy.
- In direct correlation to the excitement about the Disney cruise is the excitement about the new Angry Birds: Star Wars. My three kids have been playing it since we downloaded it Wednesday night and they are already to the Piggy Death Star level. Obi Wan bird has the force, Han Solo bird has a laser blaster. It makes me laugh so hard I want to cry. And play. Brilliant.
- I have hair. I don’t have a lot, but I have enough that people think this is intentional. Now, I did have someone say “thank you, sir.” to me this week when I moved out of the way at the movies, but I will take that as a misguided observation and instead embrace the comments from the lady who said “you look so cute with your hair and that outfit – like a teenager.” I’ll take it.
- I’m cancer free. I feel like someone has a vice grip on my head and I’m wobbly from the mucus in my ear canals but I don’t have cancer. My throat is sore from pot nasal drip but I’m not in treatment anymore. The cancer bugs are gone – did that. Now, snoot bug? No biggie.
- My children are freakin’ hilarious. On the Disney cruise you can leave an item at Guest Services and the characters will sign it. I have made placemats out of flexible chopping boards. I let the kids decide what I would draw on them. Emmy wanted “Minnie Mouse SCUBA diving under dolphins” Henry wanted “Mickey SCUBA diving with a friendly shark – not a scary one” and Carter wanted “A turkey driving the boat wearing a captain’s hat.”
My attempts to fulfill their dreams are here.



This year, there will be appointments missed and presents not made. Thank you notes written and confused, cookies and bon bons aplenty. It will be about love and family and traditions.But most of all, fun.
I mean, you have to laugh when your spouse is trying to convince you that “box wine” would be a viable alternative to bottled wine on the Disney cruise because they have come very far in ten years. Let’s carry on some Franzia! Maybe some Zima and Boone’s! (And you have to laugh that you are packing wine to drink in your cabin before dinner like some teenager!)
You have to laugh when your five year old daughter looks up at you and says “I’m going to ask Santa for a Princess Leia Angry Bird stuffed animal with a slingshot.” Or her twin brother comes flying across the room to give you a giant hug for “Getting me Angry Birds underpants.” (I’m serious.)
And you have to laugh when your super amazing friend and photographer Erin (here) sends you a lookbook for family picture outfits and you realize there is absolutely no way your family could look that cool. Ever. Davis in a cardigan? Henry in a tie?
And you have to laugh when you take your swimsuits to Nordstrom’s to get pockets sewn into them for swim boobs and realize that the suits are haven’t been washed since August.
And, you have to laugh when you are drawing a turkey wearing a Disney cruise captain’s hat driving the ship.
Count your blessings everyone and enjoy the ride. See you on the flip side of turkey day.
I’m sure we will all be doing some power walking in December. But I will have tested out my swim boobs. SO there.