Christmas at Home!

Ok, so I’ve been home a little more than a week now.  I finished my re-integration training and am on leave for the holidays.  It feels really good to be home, although my wife is a little annoyed that I seem to spontaneously fall asleep around 8pm and wake up around 5am.  Its been pretty busy too.  Had to prepare for Santa, get work orders in for all the things falling apart in this lovely post house, get vehicles road worthy, and basically get used to new routines and habits. 

Anyway, the holiday started officially with Candlelight service at the chapel on the 24th.  It was a nice service, there was a good message to be had, and a handbell choir.  We took our daughter into the service, which is always a gamble with a two year old, but she did very well.  In fact, when they darkened the light of the chapel, she held out the candle so it could be lit.  She held the candle, in my arms, and sang Silent Night.  It really surprised me that she knew it and it was a wonderful moment.  When we got home, she went immediately to bed and fell alseep.  My wife and I enjoyed some hot chocolate and fudge as we put together all of Santa’s gifts, finally getting to bed a little after midnight.

Christmas morning was just as good.  We got out of bed around 7am and my daughter’s first question was “Where is Santa?”  She thought he would stick around after he dropped off the gifts.  Unfortunately, he had to leave to deliver other presents, but his reindeer left tracks around where they had eaten their food, and Santa left a note for her.  She tore into her presents, and wanted to play with each one as she opened it.  I think her favorite was the tricycle, although the living room looked like a hurricane had passed through for most of the day.

My wife and I had decided to have our Christmas a few days earlier.  We were having a wonderful night out with a good meal, and when we got home it just seemed to be the right time.  I got a new watch, which I badly needed and wanted, and she got a sapphire necklace that she had no clue I knew she wanted.  Her friend had emailed me about it back in November, and I loved the look on her face when she saw what it was. 

So my first week at home has been busy, wonderful, overstimulating, and happy.  I have not had any flashbacks or tried to beat anyone up in my sleep.  My wife hasn’t even needed to get out the broomstick to wake me up! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New year everyone!