Oh what a day!
No, I didn’t schedule this post. I’d actually planned on it being a Christmas Eve post but I missed that by a bit. lol It’s 1:30am right now as I start this post and it’s been busy, busy, busy. But it’s been very cool since hubby was on shift and very different than other holiday shifts. It could have been pretty sad easily and I’m thankful for the help making it more fun.
I’d like to start with a disclaimer that I’m up so late because I had to finish my Mom’s present. Of which I could have finished how long ago? My fault completely there. BUT then I also had to wrap other presents. See, hubby was busy harassing me to make a list for over a month of what I wanted for Christmas, but he just made his final list 4 days ago. Yes, that gave me a ton of shopping time didn’t it? Plus it wasn’t the same stuff he was talking about a month ago, then not the same stuff that he said he wanted 2 weeks ago. Got stuff off his list an finally figured out what to get my family as well. Next year I really need to plan that out better.
Thankfully, I was able to buy his Kindle Fire straight out of my own money so I could hide the purchase. We’ll see how it youtubes. That’s the biggest thing he will be doing with it so I think it will work just fine.
When he works on a holiday it kinda sucks. But I try putting new traditions in when I can. If I need them, then of course the kids do as well. I have brought these kids up with odd traditions because of our odd schedule over the years with construction and fire. I was going in with a combo of some previous years plans before the talk went out to have Christmas Even dinner at the station.
Working at the main station means planning any event there can be kind of a joke. It’s generally really busy. However, we all tried to plan for that. We have a Ronco Rotisserie and used it to cook the beef. It didn’t take long and they could set it and forget it. The kids and I were coming in during that time so there was no emergency issue. None of us want to burn down the station. How embarrassing would that be?! All the other wives brought in dishes to share. We had PLENTY of food.
The guys were just cleaning up and most of the dishes done when the tones went off. We got darn lucky with the timing. It was just us girls with the kids waiting to see how long the call would be. We’re all comfortable with each other so it was different than hanging out has been in the past. Fun time chatting a bit, catching up and eventually giving up on the guys coming right back. Lot’s of other stuff we all had to do.
The kids and I then drove around looking at Christmas lights for a couple of hours and annoying each other with music. I wish I had enough power outlets to create the smurf house in red at our house. It was amazing and pictures just can’t give you even close to an idea of how bright it is. Their neighbors must have to get blackout shades to sleep.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas with your family no matter where they may be this year. Look at creating new traditions wherever possible 
