My first proper family Christmas :)

In December 2009, I left F6.  As much as I was happily moving forward with my life, I still could not shake the fear of being at work.  I was no longer completely at ease there and knew that it was the one place my parents could still reach me and still affect my life.  I hated that...I still got worried about hearing that voice on the end of the phone and then resented the fact that when I did need to answer the phone I would still get a wave of anxiety.  I hated that from getting that anxiety, he was still controlling me and my emotions.  It was a difficult decsion to come to, we were like a little family on F6 and of course, I was worried about leaving and having to settle into a new job.  However, I had been thinking for quite a while about pursuing my interest and love in Cancer Care.  I didn't know then that leaving was to be a big mistake for various reasons...but hey, if I hadn't of tried something else, I wouldn't have known.

Anyway, I ended up getting two weeks off over Christmas and New Year since my notice was up by 18th December and I was due to start my new job in January.  How lovely!  I was so excitable.  I sat for hours and hand made 25 Christmas crackers for all our friends and family which included a personal present, jokes, hats, balloons...they were very well received!

The whole of the holiday was so fantastic....we threw our own Christmas party for about 20 people and had a great time with the karaoke...this photo is a classic example of me and a great friend enjoying our singing....although I cannot remember what we were belting out haha :)

The tree decoration I bought Kev for our first Christmas together!

I love this photo....a natural shot of kev serenading me! Aawwww :D








We had Zoe and Gareth over for a Christmas dinner at our house and went to theirs for another party....finally I was with people who liked to play games at Christmas!!  Brilliant night and of course, it was girls versus boys and the girls won!

For the actual Christmas period, we went to Kev's mum and dad's.  It was so nice not having to decide between famillies LOL.  Loads of people turned up over the hours....the Christmas tree was huge and presents spilt out all over the floor!  Almost as soon as we got there, the alcohol started flowing as did the laughter, neither dried up for the whole of the festive season :D  I certainly didnt feel like I had only been a part of this family for only 8 months....some members of the family I had met only once before but it was like we had known each other for years.


Christmas morning we all got up early....I was so excited I couldn't sleep anyway....not for presents, but for that Christmas feeling!  We all sat in our PJ's and exchanged presents and this is my beautiful necklace from my gorgeous Fiance!

Everything about Christmas was brilliant.  More games and I learnt how to play HeadBanz.....haha by now I had had quite a few Brandy and Cokes so playing a new game was erm interesting....very funny if I remember rightly LOL.  That was the best Christmas ever...I felt a firm part of the family and so unbelievably in love.  I just couldnt believe how my life had turned around in a short space of time.  Here I was enjoying a 'boozy' Christmas with my lovely Fiance and future in-laws!  If anyone had told me that would be the case I would have just laughed!


New Year was another first for me.  I had never once been out of the house for New Years.  So we decided to go to a party with Zoe, Gareth and another friend Beth.  It was so lovely to say goodbye to that challenging year and welcome in a brand new one...and the year we were to be married!  At midnight, we all had champagne and lots of hugs and kisses...the norm for midnight on New Years but all new to me...and what a lovely feeling it was!  Our feet hurt from all the dancing as we staggered home that night.  I love these pic snapped by Zoe of us dancing....... Aaawwww :D

 

Anyway, everything about that festive season was lovely.  More firsts for me and more feelings of love and happiness!  Christmas is all about spending time with those you love and that is what we did!  There were no arguments, no shouting and no tears....but love, laughter and family fun! :D xxx