Wednesday is the new Monday
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| Christmas 2014 |
Now on to the Must Have's!
When I was younger, we had a lot of Christmas traditions that I sadly no longer do but really loved. We always drove out to the boonies to a tree farm to pick and cut our own tree. We would get dessert at the same local spot and then get to play video games at this crazy arcade. I always spent my $5 on the crane/claw machines and had to wait patiently for my brother to go through his which took forever. We would read from the bible, ever year a different gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and light the advent wreathe. We also took the ubiquitous holiday family photo in front of the tree, although the year we had the chicken Betsy and the dogs was rather memorable.
So while I no longer have those traditions, there are still a bunch that are going strong and are what Christmas means to me. I have added a few others the older I get so read and enjoy!
Christmas Crime Scene Tape: When we were little and always wanted to peek at the tree, my Dad came up with the idea that the Elves would block off the tree and if we crossed it, we wouldn't get the gifts. That wasn't really the point, it was really how funny the signs were and still are to this day. There is usually a theme and now with FB my Dad has all year to collect photos and embarrass us. The youngest person gets to cut the tape, or ribbon if we can't find any. Then we race to the stockings and Christmas can begin!
The Santa Claus: This is my favorite Christmas movie, I actually love all three in the series. They are funny and silly and sweet and I love Tim Allen. When JoeyWaffles and I were first hanging out and it was Christmas and I mentioned how much I loved them, he downloaded all three and watched the first one with me one night all cuddled up. The fact that I had mentioned it in passing and he remembered and surprised me was one of the million reasons I fell in love with him. There is nothing better then watching this while cuddling with him and all the animals, the soft lights of the Christmas tree, and a soft blanket on us. This is probably our first Christmas tradition so I really cherish it.
MiMi's Peanut Butter Balls and Grandma Fern's Brownies: When my great Grandmothers were alive, they each made a signature amazing desert and my Aunt has kept the tradition alive. Mimi's PB balls are the best frozen and there is s special gold tin they have to come in. They are the perfect size and go so fast. You have to make sure to hide some so they don't run out! Grandma Fern's brownies are probably my favorite desert ever and I look forward to these all year. Paleo be damned, these are worth a few days at the gym.
Traveling: Christmas has always been huge in my family, much like many people. I have so much family that it had to be precisely scheduled when I was younger. My older brother and I celebrated Christmas Eve morning with my two Dads, then headed over to my Mom to open gifts with her and my stepdad and then we headed over to my Italian grandparents to celebrate with cousins, aunts, uncles, and more. We would go home around 11 or 12, sleep for a few hours and then drive to the airport, get on an early morning flight to Kansas City, MO for my paternal grandparents, aunt, and other family. We did this until one day in my mid 20's I had enough of the missing or delayed flights and being stuck in airports and now we go to Missouri the weekend before Christmas. Plus without going to Kansas City, I would miss out on the one meal a year my Grandma cooks, a delicious roast with mushrooms and bacon, patrician potatoes, Rhodes rolls, green beans and corn casserole.
Pop Christmas Albums/All Christmas music: Mariah. N'Sync. BSB, 98 degrees, Hanson. I love em all and need my fix of their holiday albums. Taylor Swift and Josh Groban too. Plus 93.9FM in Chicago plays all holiday music from November 'til Christmas and I don't change my radio. You can't leave out Bing, Frank, and all the originals. Favorite Christmas song? "Baby it's cold outside"
Italian Christmas Eve: My Mom's family is Catholic so we don't eat meat on Christmas Eve and instead have pasta, homemade cheese pizza, and seafood. Food is a big part of our culture, the making, eating, the family recipes, the warmth it is to be in a kitchen. Some years we've had eel, calamari salad, mussels, and more. The stuffed artichokes my Aunt Laurie makes are out of this world and what's being Italian without some wine?We eat my Aunt Diane's special chocolate chip cookies. Our Christmas's are loud, full of laughter, smiles, the most wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen, and of love. It's cheesy but I've always been so proud to be Italian and of my heritage and of the strong people who came before me.
What are your favorite holiday traditions? What is your favorite holiday movie or song?
Check out Kristen's post on balance and the traditions she and her husband keep!
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| Bella and Dante in their holiday wear |
It really is the small things, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteFirst... Ish!
ReplyDeleteDude I can't believe you left out your favorite holiday yummy...pumpkin bread!!!! Oh the horror of you forgetting your most prized bread.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on the Christmas barrier signs this week. You forgot to mention a more recent tradition where I amass tchotchke from street fairs and Pride parades for our Christmas stockings. So my 82 year old mother ends up getting key chains in her stocking with slogans admonishing her to practice safe sex.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this post. The Christmas Crime Scene Tape is such a unique idea. It really is about the small things, tradition and family!
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