Another Christmas dusted off....

Hi there,

Well, for us Christmas is over for another year. We had lots of food, wine and song (coming from the CD player anyway - I love Christmas music, it helps get you in the mood!)

After a week or two of losing interest in food I seem to have made up for it yesterday. Since MOTH is Swedish, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve day and night. We were up early finishing off any little things that needed doing (like me in a mad panic trying to finish cleaning the floors) and running around picking up a magnificent cheesecake from The Cheesecake Shop for dessert and any little extras I had forgotten or not got to yet.

Michael and Tonia and my beautiful nephews arrived about midday. The table had been set, the music was flowing and it was just fantastic to see them again. It's been four long years. Both boys, Joshua and Kristian (7 and 3 years old respectively) are just delightful children. We were amused to hear an American accent come through every now and again and words like, cookie and candy being used. All the children got on like a house on fire and they swum in the pool together and just played like they had known each other all their lives.


I have found my restriction - again - has deserted me. I haven't been hungry for a good week or so but yesterday as I prepared everything I found myself picking at stuff. Not much compared to the old days but still picking. And I had about two cans of coke. I never usually touch the stuff but it went down a treat. At our dinner, I loaded up my plate but found I was unable to eat most of it. I am at the stage now - band wise - where if I wolf food, I definitely feel it... it doesn't really get stuck but it does feel like it might stick a little. I am still adhereing to my band-friendly portion sizes too and find that gets me along quite nicely. But I definetely ate more than I have for weeks yesterday and today I'm feeling it. I have a tummy ache.. haha... serves me right. Today I will drink heaps of water and cull the food side of things back again. 

It's our actual Christmas day here right now as I type this. We are free for the day so we might indulge in some swimming or take the kids to Perth to Kings park. Just do something together. I ended up with some nice gifts. I got my beautiful leather handbag I wanted, a pair of silver sandals I had my eye on, a couple of books, a 2010 diary in silver binding (really pretty) 2 lovely nail polishes (in colours I had picked out over the net.. thanks Tonia x) a braclet and a few other bits and pieces. We had a really lovely day. 

So how did this whole double funeral thing go? It was tough. The first one on the Tuesday was not too bad - funerals are sad anyway... but I only saw my folks and sister by the back of their heads. MOTH and I sat up the back of the church and ducked out at the end to beat the crowds (and the mingling.) I had already seen Loretta and she had assured me she wouldn't be upset if we did this. The 2nd funeral, my Grandfathers was a lot tougher. Face to face with my parents and sister (and brother in law) yet not talking was just insane. It was an emotionally fueled day in so many ways and I was gutted by the end of it. Loretta and Carl stuck close by us for added support and it was so nice to be hugged and kissed by my aunts and uncles and cousins.. no prejudices there from any of them. I got a LOT of comments on my weight loss.. some verbally,  some by a blink and double take, and two people I hadn't seen for years looked right through me until I spoke... then it was the funny sight of trying to cover themselves... "It was the sunglasses ... I couldn't see your face.." I just smiled, said my thanks. I'm glad regardless that I honored my Grandfather, shed a few tears and now I can move on again.

Below are some pics from our Christmas Eve day/night. They aren't terribly artistic as the kids had a hand in doing some.. but still, this is what memories are all about. 

                                                                                   'Tis me!

             Riley (L) and Josh (R) enjoying the rays

                                                           Ragnhild my MIL and Mitch 

                                                         Tonia and MOTH's brother, Michael

                  Our very own 'Crocodile Dundee' - Little Kristian with Riley doing some adjustments.

                                                                     Xmas giving

                                                       Mitchell and Michael tucking in

                                                Another side of the feast - starring Tonia

 

MOTH and I

 

Our four boys

I hope you all had yourself a lovely Christmas... and I will see you again soon.

Cara xx