The Christmas Cow & Year In Review

Last week, Isla and I went to pick out our Christmas tree and sat in the car while my Dad played Clark Griswold and he and Anne fought over knots tying their tree and our tree to the roof.

Over this one, over here, clap your hands, make a wish.

Apparently, it is a military exercise, and it does have to be that complicated.

I insisted on a fat tree, which I got. But it might be too big for the living room. 

That’s OK. I don’t have to sit on my couch.

Last weekend, we took Isla to see Santa and had a much more pleasant experience than that time Santa called me the Grinch.

There was excellent people watching in line, and even dancing penguins and Elf playing on a big screen while we waited. Although, unpopular Christmas movie opinion here, Elf is not the greatest Christmas movie there ever was.

We got in to see Santa, and Isla might have said, ‘Santa’s my Campah. I don’t know you, though.’

How we all laughed.

She still got a Santa gift and we actually wrapped up in fluffy blankets and drank hot chocolate while Neil brought the car around. There were blankets in the cafe bit. I don’t bring my own blankets.

So, Santa and a Christmas tree, but I’m still not feeling festive. I’m trying, though.

And I have to tell you, when we were going through the Christmas ornaments and found the talking Maxine from Hallmark from years ago, Isla switched her on and said ‘Nana’s here!’

And I laughed. Because Mom sent me Maxine and approves of the comparison.

Some of you may remember our Christmas road trip last year, complete with my Mom.

Mom isn’t coming over this year, which has become a bit of a tradition, so I feel not so festive. Yet. 

I’m working on it, and Isla is working on me. She even had a line in this year’s Christmas play.  She was a cow, but she was a cow with a line. And the best cow ever.

I need to get better at my linking sentences, but I thought this year’s Christmas episode was a good time to look back on my blogging year.

I’ve written 86 posts so far in 2018. This is 87.

At 47,037 words that’s almost a whole NaNo draft.

And 8 out of my top 10 posts this year were actually written this year. That’s kinda neat.

Gin & Lemonade’s Top 10 Posts of 2018

10.  Please Don’t Tell Me To Enjoy My Kid is a parenting rant. Because I do enjoy my kid.

9.  That’s Just How I Roll: Thoughts on Inspiration is an um, discussion on the death of Stephen Hawking, media representation of disability, and my normal disabled life.

 8.  8 Years of Gin & Lemonade: It’s Not About The Gin is a look back at 8 years of blogging.

7. The One With The Award Nomination is the one where I mentioned I was up for Best Overall Blogger at The Bloggers Bash Awards in 2018. I managed second place. Onwards and upwards.

6.  More No Bullshit Blogging Advice was the second in a kind of series where I shared blogging tips and then referred you to bloggers less sarcastic than me.

5. Anxiety & Us is a true and honest account of my dance with post-natal anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder.

4.  Finding Zen on An Ordinary Day was written as a list of stress-busters in 2017, that still ranks today. Thanks, Pinterest.

3.  A Day In My Life As A Disabled Mother is a kind of behind the blog look at my every day, no complaints, but always interesting life as a disabled mother.

2.  My Flat Ass: What Disability Means To Me is a post about my definition of disability and how the world needs to be a more accessible, inclusive place.

1. 10 Things I Learned In 7 Years of Blogging was written for my 7th blogging anniversary.  Not this year.  Thanks again, Pinterest.

So, did your favorite make the list?

Last year’s year in review is over here.

I’ve had more traffic and visitors this year than any other blogging year so far, and 25% more traffic than last year.

It can only get better. 

This year was my first full year self-hosted with Lyrical Host,and the the first year I attempted to make an income from the blog itself.

Any money I’ve made this year I’ve invested back into the blog.  

Thank you, my groovy readers, for the support.

Next year I hope to connect with more parents and disabled people and maybe even more disabled parents. Also, shout out to my fellow third-culture weirdos, writers, and recovering procrastinators.

Next week, I plan to share my favorite books of the year, and any other Christmas week posts might happen on the road.

How was your blogging year and what are your plans for next year?