Celebrating with my family is a wonderful affair with lots of yummy food and time to savor each person and gift. We start on the 23rd with a dinner at my Granny's house. She bakes the ham, scalloped potatoes and an amazing four-layer chocolate dessert. My mom and I add the traditional ham side dishes. It is heavenly.
After dinner, we retreat to my house where my mom and step-dad spend the night with us. We give the kids their Christmas jammies, take about 300 pictures of them being silly, and write a note to Santa with his cookies. Then everyone gets tucked into bed.
One of the challenges we have had to overcome with two Christmases is the Santa issue. Neither side of the family wants to miss that magical moment when the kids discover their presents from Santa. Thankfully, Santa Claus is very accommodating! We write him a note each year asking if he could please divide our gifts over two days. Santa is just cool like that!
We wake up the next morning to the smell of coffee and the excitement of three kids. Santa gifts take first priority. The kids play with their gifts and watch a new movie while my mom and I make breakfast; monkey bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, juice and coffee. During this time, my brother and Granny arrive. I love sharing a meal and a full house with people I love the most.
After breakfast, we start opening presents. My brother plays the part of Santa and hand-delivers each gift. We take time to watch each other and play with toys. We build up to the grand finale, saving grandparent gifts for the end.
The thing I love most about Christmas #1 is the relaxed feeling of savoring meals, presents and movies. I love the jammy presentation and the crazy wrestling that always follows. I love that the dishes we use to serve the food are steeped in tradition. I love the smells associated with this special morning. I love that my kids each have a grandparent that sleeps with them and they get to wake up in the morning and giggle with them.
I love it all.
5 comments:
Your first Christmas sounds wonderfully relaxing. Your kids will remember and love all of those traditions.
Our "normal" traditions were changed a bit this year (long story) and my kids were so sad. I don't think I realized how much they look forward to the things we do each year.
Merry Christmas!
WOW, I wish I was in your family! You are the coolest.
My mom makes monkey bread too! It's hard trying to figure out yours, mine, and ours in the Christmas tradition category. Tony and I are still at it. This is only our 3rd married Christmas- they've all been good- but I feel a little tension!! :) There's hope that they will smooth out completely in time!! Merry Christmas!! :)
Beautiful Janelle, just beatiful. We're still working out the "kinks" in my family, but we're getting there. We're acutally pretty close to your plan! Maybe I just need to copy you...
So fun to read about how your family does Christmas!
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