“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear…”

That’s pretty much how I feel this holiday season. I am just here singing New Kids on the Block Christmas on the top of my lungs, looking for the radio station that’s playing Christmas songs and belting along with Britney when she sings “Santa can you hear me, I have been so good this year,” skipping through the mall shopping and loving every second of it.

It all started around Thanksgiving. I of course had to work which originally bummed me out. We feed the homeless that day though so Colt and his family get to come down and volunteer and it always turns into such a great day and is so humbling. Being able to give back to those who truly appreciate and need it is so fulfilling. The only reason I was even a little bummed is because thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday! I love it because everyone can just relax and enjoy themselves, no one is stressed about money or shopping or all of those other superficial things that consumes us around the holidays. It’s just family and food and I LOVE that. Since it was our first Thanksgiving married I wanted it to be special so I talked to Colt about hosting his family at our place (and believe it or not Colt had never cooked his own bird) so I thought this year would be just the year. I was so excited when he agreed and we invited his family over the Saturday before to celebrate. We woke up early that day and I went shopping. It was so fun to shop for all things that I wanted and I got a ton of stuff. When I got home I pulled out all of our Thanksgiving décor and decorated the house while Colt still tended to the Turkey. Around 11am the Vernon’s came over and we spent the afternoon cooking together, playing games, watching movies and feasting. It felt like a real thanksgiving even though it was five days early and not all our loved ones could be there. We made the most of it and it was a weekend to remember.

After thanksgiving I typically start to get into my Ms. Scrooge mood. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas (actually I really like Christmas) it’s just that I don’t like all the hoopla that comes with it. The shopping, the mad mobs, the stress, the hurt feelings (you can never make everyone happy) yet its coined as “the most wonderful time of the year.” It has got so sideways over the years and now that I was married I knew it would only get harder. We of course can’t be in all the places that we want to be at once and no choice is ever ideal for someone else. I sat and longed for the days of midnight mass, singing carols, all of the family being together in one spot, laughing and loving and not having a care in the world. But as I sat there reminiscing it hit me that just because things were different now that didn’t mean we couldn’t start our own traditions and create our own new memories. I mean it was the Stew’s first married Christmas after all and by golly it was going to be a great one!

So from that moment on it has been. We got our beautiful tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it’s added such a cozy and festive feel to our place. We decorated the window’s in our place with snow and Colt got a fireplace that he can pull up on the TV and it even crackles. It’s one of the first times that it really feels like Christmas in Hawaii (it’s hard when you grew up in a cold place). I got all of our Christmas shopping done early and I actually had a great time doing it, I got all of our Christmas cards and presents in the mail and got Colt his yearly ornament to hang on the tree. This year it was easy to pick because the “Mr. & Mrs. Stewart” choice was the only one that truly seemed appropriate and he of course loved it.

Anu and Joe had us over the other night for dinner and we had a Christmas photo shoot, a roast, drank wine and played games..here are some of the fun and festive photo’s that Anu snapped (thanks Anu)