Christmas Changes

Having Christmas in Norway means a lot of changes for me. Instead of opening presents Christmas morning (stockings first!) in our pajamas, we open them Christmas Eve in fancy clothes. Instead of going shopping the day after Christmas to take advantage of great deals, we'll take it easy at home and maybe go skiing. Instead of hoping for a white Christmas, you just hope it's warm enough outside to enjoy the snow. Instead of the Gilberts and noise and craziness, I get the Kindølshaugs and coffee and cakes!

OF COURSE I miss a WA Christmas...but I did get a dose of it right before I left! My family surprised me with a flood of gifts--Christmas came in early November, two days before I got on my plane! Ha! But as cool as it was to be showered with presents (that I somehow managed to pack) that isn't really what I miss about Christmas at "home". I miss the night before where the entire family gets together to exchange pajamas--the one tradition that has never died--and then play trivial pursuit and argue and eat pie. I miss the morning of where everyone is awake sooner than they want to be, nibbling on Costco muffins, Dad's cooking bacon and drinking mamoses, nieces and nephews making a mess of the living room floor with shredded wrapping paper, grandma sitting quietly picking away at her stocking stuffers, sisters, brothers-in-law...the whole gang together. Ah. That's what I miss.

But don't feel bad for me. Really, it's a win win situation. Yes I am nostalgic and would love to have both Christmas experiences, but really some things about the holidays never change for me, no matter where I am. There is still lots of love shared and I am still lucky enough to be with a group of people I adore and consider to be family. I just have too many families :D; it's impossible to be with all of them at once!

Like the extension of my family in Reno, for example--my biological mom, little sister and little brother (Susy, Emily and James, in that order). I can't remember the last time when we were all together at Christmas! But this year, they sent a little bit of Christmas our way.

Honestly, how exciting is it to get a huge box with Christmas goodies inside? The box was seriously STUFFED TO THE BRIM with presents for me and Lars. . . and seeing as how it came all the way from Nevada it means that it cost almost as much to send that box as it did to fill it up! International mail is NOT cheap, this I know from personal experience!

Check out the little Santa and elf that came from Reno's Santa:

Pretty darn cute, right? And thanks to this Santa and her elves our plastic Christmas tree has a much more appropriate smell--PINE!

Now, there is snow on the ground, pine scent in the air...I guess it really is almost Christmas!

P.S. It's -4 °F and there is snow on the ground. Wouldn't expect it is going to melt anytime soon!