Hey there!

I am sorry for disappearing for like...a week. I know that is terrible blogger etiquette and that some of you have probably already given up on my return, considering that a week of absence in internet-land in basically thirty years. To those of you who are still around, thank you. I will not apologize anymore, because I'm trying to get a head start on one of my resolutions - not apologizing for doing what I know is right. And, after about four meltdowns in a matter of days, I knew taking a little break was right.

As much as blogging is my life, there are other components of life that creep in and we suddenly find ourselves waking up at 5am to make breakfast for 22 strangers when we really just wanted to stay in our Christmas pajamas and cuddle with the Mr. Pedantic in our lives.

But, enough of that. Let's talk about Christmas!

I hope you got lots of socks. Socks are basically my favorite gift. Socks and glitter and lip balm. This year, I received all three. Mr. Pedantic tucked a gift box of three EOS Lip Balms in my stocking and I swear I have not stopped smelling/using them. Forget about the new Wusthof, or the gorgeous ruby ring, I'm just obsessed with my multiplicity of lip care options.

After spending all of Christmas Eve day with Mr. Pedantic's family, we ventured over to my parent's home for the evening and spent the night in my "old" room, so we would not miss out on the joy and delight of racing my siblings out to the tree the following morning.

Shiny paper was torn, tissue paper flew, and after an hour and a half of thrilling surprises and the happiest of tears, we were readying ourselves for church - all donning the same Christmas Day glow. When church was over and we were back by the tree once again, the family arrived.

Over the past few days, the board games have been incessant, the laughter boisterous, and the joy overabundant. My heart had felt nearly as tired as my body over the past few weeks, but family is a magical kind of tonic.

There were so many precious, meaningful, story-book-worthy moments this season. I watched Mr. Pedantic dance with our favorite 3-year-old as she hummed a simple tune that was more captivating than any the radio has offered. We finally surprised my father - the most notorious of guessers - with his Christmas gift. Mr. Pedantic read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to me on Christmas Eve, just before we closed our eyes.

But, one of my very favorite moments came the day after Christmas, when my uncle sat down at the piano and freely played renditions of our favorite Christmas songs, which we would hum for him if he could not quite remember the tune. He does not read music, not a note, but he can match any tune you can hum. The familiar melodies flowed easily from his fingertips and I sat there on my parent's sofa, completely content and truly thankful for all that lay around me.

It is always hard for me to let go of the holidays, and this year is no different. However, I hope that with each Christmas that passes, my joy is learning to be planted less in the temporal, and more so in thankfulness. Thankfulness for the lasting treasures that I constantly see around me. Thankfulness for my family and my husband. Those joys are not lost when the Christmas tree is packed away.

Now, I know you want New Year's recipes so I'll be back soon! xoxo

Sincerely,

Pedantic Foodie