Friday, January 3, 2014

Minnesota Christmas

Happy Friday!  I imagine this has been a short week at work for everyone, so hopefully it was a good one!  I had an absolutely wonderful Christmas.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas I was kind of worn down due to all of the travel I had been doing and I was feeling very down about life in Charlotte, but this trip home was really good for me.  I slept well, relaxed a lot, and enjoyed spending time around family.  And no one brought up Charlotte - which I was thankful for as it's a topic I don't enjoy discussing.  For the rest of the post, I'll let the pictures (mostly) do the talking.

My trip home definitely did not get off to a good start, though.  I spent 6 hours at the airport as they kept delaying my flight due to mechanical problems and then they ended up cancelling it.  I was a sad, crying mess and going back to my apartment in Charlotte that night was the most depressing thing ever, but I got re-booked on the first flight out in the morning.


After connecting via Minneapolis, I flew into the tiny airport in Fargo, ND.  You know you are in the heart of the Midwest when there is snow removal equipment on display in the airport terminal!


My mom picked me up, we grabbed some lunch, and were on our way to the lake!  It was so good to be reunited with some of my nephews!


The weather was bitterly cold when I was home...  I did not complain at all.  I was just happy to be home.


Since it was so cold, I spent a lot of time huddled up on the couch in front of the fireplace, reading.  Most mornings I was awake before anyone else and it was really peaceful to start the day reading by the fireplace with a cup of coffee to warm me up.


While reading during the day, I'd often have the company of my Godson, James.  I'd read, he'd play on my mom's iPad, and we'd snuggle up together.  I am glad he's not 'too cool' for his aunt yet!


One afternoon we had a little Dance Dance Revolution face-off, which was a lot of fun (and a really good workout, I might add).  No one could beat aunt Lisa!  :)


Christmas Eve started off with me receiving a bracelet made by my nephew Matthew.  He is so thoughtful - he remembered to use my favorite color (pink).  Handmade gifts are the best. 


I was impressed with how well the boys all played together.  With 4 boys under the age of 10, it can get a bit rowdy at times, but that is to be expected.  It's tough to get them to sit still for a picture, but I managed to snap one of James and Charlie on Christmas morning.


And before I knew it, it was time to come back to Charlotte.  The time at home went incredibly fast and I wish I would have taken some pictures of the delicious food my mom and brother prepared. I also wish I would have remembered to take a picture with my parents and with my Grandma on Christmas Day but it just slipped my mind.

The trip back to Charlotte went better than when I came back in November.  I made it through the goodbyes and the flight without crying.  I think it it helps to come back knowing I am just over 3 months from my relocation contract release date.  For the first time, I came back knowing I could start to look for a new job opportunity, and I have an action plan.  Having a plan really helps.

Luckily, I came home to a bunch of Christmas mail which really brightened my day.  I think this is the most cards I have ever received!  So if you sent me one, thank you very much!  I look at them every day!


And so another Christmas season has come and gone.  To be quite honest, I am glad this one is behind me.  It was tinged with heavy emotions of sadness and anxiety, but like I said in my New Years Eve post, I am hopeful that 2014 will be a better year.

I'll be back on Monday with my goals for 2014!

16 comments:

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Wah, blogger just ate my whole comment.

Ok, take 2. To sum up, I just love that your nephew made a bracelet that is your favorite color :) adorable. I also am so glad you had such a great Christmas at home! I can't believe how cold it was there!

Marlys said...

Great recap of Christmas, but we just didn't take enough pictures! I only used my camera on Christmas Eve when we opened gifts! Glad you got some of the boys! It was great to have you home and I'm so glad you had a good flight back! By Monday morning our wind chills are going to be -70!

Lisa-Marie said...

Your Christmas looks much like mine -jammies, book, fire, family, food.

I'm glad you had such a good time, despite the whole flight situation!

Carolina John said...

Yay! Home for the holidays makes it really special. So nice to be able to spend that much time with family too.

Amber said...

Look at all the Christmas cards you got this year! How awesome! I am going to try really hard to get my act together and do a photo Christmas card next year!

Glad you had a wonderful time with your family even though I know it went by far too quickly. I could definitely sense more positivity coming from you when we chatted after you got there so that is definitely a good thing!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

It's when you're truly living in the moment that you forget to take photos - so, I think you most definitely achieved your goal to relax and live in the moment during your too short trip home.

Love all your holiday cards - we put ours on the back of our door, too. (Weirdly, it's magnetized, so we can use magnets to put up photos!) I should take a photo of it before we take down all the cards (and tree and wreath) this weekend!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

PS - As we get ready for high temps of -9F early next week (which is all the talk of Chicagoland and beyond!), I can't help but giggle to think people up in Minneapolis are laughing at us southern pansies! hahaha.

Leigh said...

So glad that you were able to spend time at the lake with your family. Your nephew Matthew is going to be a heart breaker!

Jeanie said...

Your nephews are so darned cute. And after seeing your temps there, I will not complain (too much) about what we are dealing with right now! I'm glad you were able to get back and that it was a good holiday for you. On to th enew year!

Stephany said...

-20! -20?!?!?! I am in awe of you Midwesterners and those brutal winters. I whimper when I go outside and it's in the 40s. Haha. I have NO concept of winter!

I am so glad you were able to go home for Christmas and see your family. And I'm glad your flight back to Charlotte wasn't too horrible. You're in the home stretch now!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

what a sweetheart to make you a bracelet! looks like a great break with fam!

Abby said...

Thanks for the pictures ! Oh my goodness, my nephews are getting so big!! It looks like a perfect time. Wish we could have been there!!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

That's awesome that you rocked the dance, dance revolution!! Haha!

Anonymous said...

Your nephews are THE cutest.

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

Wow, your nephews are getting so big! It seems like Charlie was just a baby...

That's a bummer about your flight, but I am glad you made it there in one piece and had a great time with your family.

Cherry Blossoms said...

Love the snowblower on display. I just heart the Fargo airport.
I can't believe how grownup and handsome all the boys are.