A Croniser's Christmas Carol

One of the tradition that Brandon and I have on Christmas is that we watch 

A Muppet's Christmas Carol.

This tradition came from Brandon's family, who always watched it around Christmas time, so we decided that we would carrying it on. I bet our future kids will like this one...and their daddy too! 

We had a rough couple of days leading up to Christmas. Brandon's Recruiting Station was given a 96 (4 days) off for Christmas. They had made mission for December, so this was their "present." Well, Brandon's specific Recruiting Sub-Station didn't make mission, so he wasn't given that "present!" I was counting on Brandon being at home for 4 days. I had planned and prepared for us to hibernate for 4 days - 4 days of eating, snuggling and watching movies. 

But that didn't happen. Brandon had to work the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. 

I was so mad. Really mad. And it made me hate Brandon's boss more than I already do. 

And for those of you that really know me, you know that I can hold a grudge. For a long time. 

It's really bad, but I can't help it. It's just who I am. 

Anyways, we were watching A Muppet's Christmas Carol on Christmas morning and a certain part of the movie struck me. It was the part where Kermit, Miss Piggy and their family were sitting down for dinner and Kermit toasts his boss, Mr. Scrooge as "the founder of the feast."

To which, his wife, Miss Piggy exclaims, 

"The founder of the feast indeed! If I had him here, I would give him a piece of my mind to feast upon and I bet he would choke on it! Hmph!"

Kermit stopped her from continuing her rant about Mr. Scrooge, so Miss Piggy redeemed herself by saying,  "Well I suppose on the blessed day of Christmas one must drink to the health of Mr. Scrooge, even though he is odious, stingy, wicked, unfeeling and badly dressed!" 

I started laughing immediately. I would totally say those things about Brandon's boss. I am Miss Piggy! 

I bet you think that I am going to write about my change of heart after watching this move and it being Christmas and all...but nope, I didn't. I still hate his boss and I still think Recruiting Duty sucks. 

Other than Brandon only having 

2 days off (just like a normal weekend after working 7 12-hour days in a row), we had a really nice Christmas.

Just the two of us. And Brawley, Tina and Penelope. 

When we came into the living room on Christmas morning to open presents, Brandon had commented that we had a lot of gifts for just being two people. And I had to agree. 

We are so grateful to have friends and family that love us and send us gifts, even though we are 3,000 miles away. 

I did have a hard time being away from my family. Coming from a family of 7 brothers and sisters, there is usually always at least one sibling that you can hang out with on any given holiday. But this year, it was just my husband. It was a little too quiet for me. And I found myself daydreaming about little nieces tangling up my jewelry, nephews fighting, brothers teasing and sisters gossiping. 

Things that used to annoy me, were now things that I was longing for. Maybe next year, we'll be with family. But good news, only 2 more Christmases left on Recruiting Duty! Well, hopefully only 2 more.

And this Christmas was special because I got something I would never, ever get in San Diego...

a white Christmas!

This is our backyard. 

We had been watching the weather for weeks, hoping for snow on Christmas.  

We woke up like little kids on Christmas, not for the presents, but just to see if it had snowed. 

It was really amazing.