WAW w/Exit Affair or WW? - 1.5 Year Divorced (8)

[BL42]

Christmas with the kids was wonderful!

Everything worked out perfectly, despite the stress and anxiousness of preparing for it as a single parent of two young believers, and we all had a blast...especially S7 and D4!

My sister had baby#2! So I now have a baby nephew and the kids a baby cousin! She was due right around Christmas, which was part of my stress because my parents have helped Santa prep in the past, but this year were on grandparent duty to drive out of town to help with my niece if my sister and BIL were in the hospital. Fortunately the baby arrived a week early so mom and dad were there helping there for a full week, then I traveled with S7 & D4 to meet the baby on the 23rd and into Christmas Eve visited. Everyone enjoyed the time together, the three cousins always have fun and they made Christmas cookies (which we took back to leave out for Santa) and D4 held her baby cousin (though S7 was more tentative!).

So we all traveled back on Christmas Eve, went to church, drove around to see Christmas lights, did "Twas the Night Before Christmas", left out cookies...etc. Santa had a lot prepped (with the help of some family elves) and got to bed before midnight and the kids slept in until 7:20am for the win!

Both S7 and D4 had a wonderful morning of opening presents. S7 got some video games and an air hockey table and D4 had some especially priceless reactions to some princess dresses and Encanto house, and surprisingly a Dumbo stuffy Santa never expected to be her favorite.

Anyway, mid-next day I took them over to ExW's. And fortunately because I have a fixed holiday week and ExW had to work I had them again all day Wed & Thurs (ExW suggested they just stay over night) and then saw them again Saturday morning for S7's game. So I really had at most a day or two away from them. Not unusual, but nice considering the Holidays. And I used the "off" days to rest up and meet with up friends a few evenings.

Thought I might be alone for New Years. Last year a buddy through a big party with a dozen couples friends, but this year people were scattered. Fortunately at the last minute a buddy who lives in my neighborhood invited me other with his family and there 4 couples I know. So although I'd rather have a date or SO for once to kiss at midnight, at least I was with friends who care.

And then the kids came back on Monday the 2nd because the three of us had off from work / school for New Years observed and watched the Rose Bowl together.

So all in all a very nice Holiday season :-) And now we're back in to the work / school grind...

Hope everyone here had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Years. Wishing all the best in 2023!