Christmas (literally) on the Road!
i happen to love christmas. a lot. i don’t allow myself the indulgence until december 1 because i don’t want to get sick of it. yes, it’s possible to tire of christmas songs and i found this out when i was working a very stressful job a few years back. i found a radio station that started playing the jolly songs in the beginning of november so i listened to it to calm my nerves and bring me joy. i can report that they lost their magic and i turned slightly “Grinch-esque” by the end of the season.
since we are on the road right up until christmas and then we will be packing up our lives to move back to portland, i have been a little bit of a debbie-downer feeling like it won’t really be the greatest christmas this year. thankfully the hotels where we are staying are so far all decked out (please start humming “deck the halls” after reading that like i did) but it’s still not the same.
as we headed out to get on the road, i glanced at what i thought was our car but saw a little santa window cling and thought “awww that’s super cute! i wish that was our car!” and then…IT WAS.
the sweetest husband in all the land went to a nearby store and brought christmas to me!! yes, i started crying as i was hugging him and he whispered “christmas will always be wherever we are together.” what a freakin’ sap…i love it and him immensely.
have you ever had a christmas tree waiting on the center console for you?! now i can say i have. he also got me a sweet holiday card, candy canes full of M&Ms, little chocolate santas, garland decorating the dashboard and a little snowman ornament to hang from the mirror!
i am honestly still in shock. this is a surprise i can totally get behind. what a kind and thoughtful person i’ve found myself to be in love with.
when we arrived at our current hotel, another guest said “oh well i have some reindeers up in my room if you need any” and i said “ha haaaa. this is my little christmas tree and it makes me happy.”
and oh boy does it make me happy.
the new wifestyle: appreciate when your significant other goes that extra mile to put a smile on your face. effort and affection go a long way in a relationship.
questions:
1) real tree or artificial? (i’m usually all about real but it’d be too tricky on the road)
2) favorite holiday song to hear or sing to?
3) when’s the last time you did something extra sweet to your sweetie?
 on the Road!){kind=link}
Victor
December 5, 2013 at 7:16 am
What a great guy! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this and best wishes for a safe journey. Happy travels!
chelsea
December 5, 2013 at 11:47 am
thanks Victor-he really is pretty outstanding 🙂 thanks for the safe and happy travel wishes!
Paula Howley
December 5, 2013 at 7:42 am
I feel like I’ve been neglecting your blog! Still reading- just having a bit less time to comment, but… I had to say something here. You really have a rare man Chelsea and it’s unfortunate that he is rare because there would be a whole lot more happy women on the planet if more men would follow Ryan’s lead.
This brought a tear to my eye. I’m so happy for you. You deserve to be loved this well.
1. Grew up with artificial and had no problem with it but I’ve done real since I’ve been with Lloyd!
2. Hmmm….that’s a TOUGH one. I have a few. I really LOVE Bob Seger’s Little Drummer Boy, and I have a thing for Elvis’ “blue Christmas” too. I really love Sarah Mclaughlin’s “The First Noel/Mary Mary”- it is hauntingly beautiful. sometimes makes me cry. As far as my favourite Carols to sing…i like Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and my favourite is “what Child is this?” That one makes me cry too.
I remember the 1st Christmas Meaghan was born- she was 5 months old on christmas eve and I went into her room in the dark, picked her up and just looked and looked at her. I started to sing Silent Night…..and just broke down sobbing. I couldn’t believe that she was mine and that we were together. I always associate Silent night with that moment from then on.
3. Hmmm….. does chopping wood for him count? Made me think- it’s been a while. Thanks for the reminder.
chelsea
December 5, 2013 at 11:53 am
oh paula-i have missed your comments but i know you are busy lady changing the world and all 😉 you totally brought a tear to my eye with “you deserve to be loved this well.” because i believe we all deserve that love and kindness that i experience from a spectacular and unfortunately rare man that i married. thank you. what a beautiful memory of you have Meaghan’s first christmas…powerful.
and YES chopping wood always counts-that’s a tough job! thanks for your thoughts and happy holidays to you and your family!
(i am currently playing the video you provided as responding the comments and doing work-thank you!)
Paula Howley
December 5, 2013 at 7:49 am
For you Chelea..you’ll love this. The video’s no good- just listen.
chelsea
December 5, 2013 at 11:53 am
ohhh this is haunting and then it picks up and makes you feel all intense and then beautiful! thanks for sharing Paula!
jennifermckennasays
December 5, 2013 at 9:56 am
I just got a little teary for you on “I wish that was our car, and it WAS” Nothing like immediate wish fulfillment.. Ryan does kind of look like a genie.. 🙂
questions:
1) real tree or artificial? (i’m usually all about real but it’d be too tricky on the road) Like the real but have gotten used to the artificial since my sister is allergic and then I had cats.. 🙂
2) favorite holiday song to hear or sing to? My favourite.. Baby, Its Cold Outside- (I live in Texas where its not cold very often)
Little youtube treat here.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009kRJKf9rg
3) when’s the last time you did something extra sweet to your sweetie? The last time I did something very sweet for my sweetie I can’t reveal because its part of his Christmas present and I never know if he reads things like this.. 🙂
chelsea
December 5, 2013 at 1:08 pm
aw thanks Jennifer! i got teary while it was happening and people were staring and i didn’t care 🙂 immediate wish fulfillment is rare and an amazing thing! my in-laws have to do an artificial tree too due to allergies and i’ve heard cats do loooove to find the highest branch they can sit on in the christmas tree! thanks for the “baby it’s cold outside” LOVE that one!!
i’m excited to hear more about what you did for your sweetie after christmas!! i need to get better at creative surprises and gifts…i have some steep competition!
happiness321
December 5, 2013 at 12:07 pm
We bought a small (live) Christmas tree one year when we were going to be on the road for Christmas. It rode on the console of the mini-van. It made the whole trip more enjoyable!
chelsea
December 10, 2013 at 7:58 am
awww that’s so excellent ‘Happiness321’! love that you even pulled off a real one on the road-how magical!!
marcgabris
December 7, 2013 at 2:22 pm
wow that’s awesome! what a big score for ravery! i think its great how happy these things make you. that type of appreciation definitely helps to keep a guy motivated! your adventures together are admirable. thank you for sharing with us.
1) i’m all about the artificial tree. its always perfect and ready to be popped up in a moments notice when you are ready to get into the christmas spirit.
2) i think the sugar plum fairy is a mysteriously beautiful piece of music and carol of the bells
3) last night i was hanging out with one of my guy friends so afterwards I tried to surprise her outside her apartment at 11:30pm to give her a good night kiss. unfortunately she was passed out asleep! this morning she told me she appreciated the attempt.
chelsea
December 10, 2013 at 8:00 am
yes biiiig score for Ravery for sure, Marc! anytime someone goes slightly out their way to listen to my needs/wants-i am very happy- particularly when it’s the man i love!
i can see the handiness of an artificial tree-when that christmas spirit hits you better be ready! great song choices as well 🙂 haha and aww that’s a very sweet attempted surprise for your girlfriend-i too would have been passed out-ha!
Vivien
December 10, 2013 at 1:02 am
Apologies…very slowly catching up on your blog.
1) Artificial, just cause my family has always done it that way (no needles to vacuum up). There is some nostalgia for me when I pull out the same Christmas tree from the storage room and realize how small it’s become (or how big I’ve grown).
2) I love listening to Michael Buble’s christmas album. Especially his song “Cold December Night”. Something about it keeps me hoping 🙂
Slightly Christmas related, when I was a baby I was absolutely terrified of lightening and thunderstorms (some things never change). My mom told me nothing would calm me down, except when she sang Silent Night. It’s still one of my favourite songs.
Vivien
December 10, 2013 at 1:03 am
P.S. Way to go Ryan!
chelsea
December 10, 2013 at 8:04 am
i’m a lucky lady 🙂
chelsea
December 10, 2013 at 8:04 am
no apologies needed Vivien 😉 the needles can get a littttttle crazy if you have your tree too long. i distinctly remember long trails of needles throughout our entire house! loooove how the christmas tree was a point of nostalgia for you with growing-that’s super neat. and oh man…michael b….he’s so christmas-y! sweet memory of your mom singing silent night to calm you-that’d probably be my favorite too with that memory!
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