Happy Holidays

I have been a bad blogger lately... but the holidays were crazy! Extra hours at work and preparing for Christmas kept me away from the computer. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Our little New York Christmas was very special. We had a lovely Christmas morning, just the two of us and our kitties. And then we had some friends over for Christmas dinner. Two of those friends happen to be in our wedding party AND they got engaged Christmas morning! Yay!

Personal Photo

Bridesmaid L and I showing off our rings on Christmas day!

Since I had prior knowledge of the proposal, I made sure to purchase a special Christmas gift for my newly engaged girlfriend. Her first wedding magazine!

Image via weddingplanning.onsugar.com

Someone gave me this magazine shortly after becoming engaged and I found it to be extremely helpful. It's almost like a book, it has so much information on planning a wedding. I still refer back to it. I couldn't wait to pass along this gem to an engaged friend!

We had a wonderful Christmas. I was sad not to be in California with our families, but it was nice having our own little Christmas for once. 

Personal Photo

Our little family in front of our first tree!

How was your holiday? Did you have to put the wedding plans on hold for a while?

California already!?

It feels like we were just in California, but at the same time it feels like it's been forever since we were last there. Either way we're heading back for a thanksgiving/birthday/wedding planning trip! We have to meet with our venue to have a planning meeting 5 months before the wedding and we will be at the 5 month mark on the 28th! Eek! And since Thanksgiving is right around that time we decided to use the meeting as an excuse to head home for the holiday! Since I moved to NY, 4 years ago, I have never been home for Thanksgiving, or my birthday which also occurs while we will be in Cali. I'm excited to eat good food and spend time with our families!

The only downside to our trip is since we are coming for Thanksgiving we will not be able to afford the trip out for Christmas. We chose Thanksgiving over Christmas because of the 5 month meeting. This will be Jeff's first Christmas away from home and my second. I'm bummed we won't be with our families, but I'm looking on the bright side and thinking how cool it will be to spend our last un-married Christmas just the two of us. It will be nice to relax and enjoy each other company on this holiday. Sort of a "calm before the wedding storm." When we go home we're usually running around trying to spend as much time with each of our families, driving from one location to the other. It will be nice to have a laid back Christmas for one year.

personal photos ahead

Jeff and I in Rockefeller Center weeks before becoming engaged

I'm sure after we get married and have kids holidays will become even more stressful. We usually spend Christmas Eve with my Mom and brothers. Christmas day we head over to  Jeff's families house for dinner, them move on to my Grandmother house to see my Dad and his family in the evening. I'm always worried about someone feeling they didn't get to spend enough time with us. (The last couple years I haven't gotten to spend much time with my Mother on Christmas day) Our system works pretty well and we will also be using it for thanksgiving, but I always feel guilty about someone not getting enough of our time. When we have kids someday I'm sure people will be letting us know more openly that they wish they had more time with us...

My Mom and I showing off our matching peace sign sweatshirts

Well we will have lots to do in California from our planning meeting, Thankagiving, visiting with family and friends, and my birthday (at Disneyland!) I'm a little nervous because we only have one more trip planned after this one before the wedding. So we've got to make this one count!

Do you split up your holidays with your fiancé/husband/ significant other? Do you feel like someone doesn't get enough of your time?