HO HO HOOAH!!!

Eric and I had our first taste of a Military Holiday this year as a couple.  I, coming from a military family where no one lived in the same town as us, to a family now that one side lives in the same town and the other two hours away, have been used to having to travel on and around holidays. Eric, coming from a family where everyone lives in the same town, is not; so this year was a bit different for him and will be from now on..... 

In a span of 48 hours we attended 2 dinners each with a present session, one early morning Christmas with presents and breakfast, one 4 hour round trip for a quick 2 hour lunch, and one late night stocking present session. That equals FIVE Christmas' in TWO days!! WOOOO lets just say it was a long-fun-family filled two days with tons of laughs (and for me lots of mini naps).

Not only is our norm of traditions now changed forever when it comes to Christmas.. so is our families. A lot of people do not realize that when active in the military it changes/touches everyone lives who is your family and close friends, not just the couple who has joined. This year ran very smooth and since we are not married yet and still stay at our own families houses nothing dramatically changed. But once we are married and once both of my parents retire and move out of Hartselle things will most likely dramatically change at least on mine and Eric's end. I see in our future a late Christmas Eve in Hartselle and a long/early drive to wherever my parents retire to so we can be there on Christmas morning for presents with my family....  And we will love every minuet of it! 

Hopefully we will never have to do what my brother and sister-in-law, Lauren, are doing this holiday. The 20th of December movers came to move them out of Fort Bragg, NC and they then moved (most things went with the Army movers, some came with them) with two cars, two dogs, a U-Haul, and all the families Christmas presents in tote to Hartselle/Gadsden/B'ham/Arkansas for Christmas and report for move-in at Fort Polk, LA after the New Year! OH WHAT FUN!! 

With only 132 days until our wedding (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Things are coming full circle in the planning phase... We sent out our Save-the-dates just yesterday, a month late but they are finally out and in the mail!!!! This coming weekend most of the bridesmaids are coming into town to be fitted for their dresses and I am super excited to see them!!!!! As of right now I do believe the only things we have left to plan / schedule is the wedding invitations themselves, hotel rooms, and mother dresses... WOO HOO!!! Now if Pinterest could quit showing me cute wedding ideas we would be as good as gold!!!!