christmas 2013 (better late than never).

I wrote this post (minus the photos, which I just found in iPhoto and added tonight) last year, but didn't finish it and obviously never posted it. Tony and I will be celebrating Christmas this weekend (since we'll be in Cambodia for the actual holiday!), so I thought I might as well share these thoughts/highlights from last year!

***

Christmas can feel weird when you're not home, especially when you're in a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas. Still though, last year and this year, I managed to find some Christmas cheer. And this year felt extra special because it was Tony's first time celebrating Christmas!

Some things I want to remember:

Watching Christmas movies together. Tony had never seen a Christmas movie! (I know it was Tony's first time celebrating, but I was surprised because he has "western" friends and works at the same Canadian International school I do.)

We watched Elf, Love Actually, Home Alone 1 & 2, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Frosty the Snowman, and The Santa Clause.

Elf was the first movie we watched and when he saw Santa going down a chimney, he said, "Oh! A bad guy?" At one point he also asked me, "How do reindeer fly?!" and of course I told him, "Magic."

He laughed SO much while we were watching Christmas Vacation so I thought for sure it was his favourite but when I asked him, he told me Elf.

Mom's Christmas package. My mom sent Tony a Christmas package this year, just like she does for me, and when he got it, he sent me a message saying, "Your mom sent me a package. I think it must be for you." Even when I asked him, "Well, whose name is on it?" he told me it had to be a mistake. When he finally realized it was for him, he said, "Oh God! So nice of her!"


Putting up and decorating a Christmas tree.

- Dumplings.

It was so fun to share a bunch of "firsts" with him and it makes me excited for future Christmases that will include a real tree, snow, and family.

P.S. We have a real (fake) Christmas tree this year!