Oh, this looks like fun. First, thanks to Chelsea for sharing her holiday traditions and introducing me to this little adventure.
Here are the topics:
Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions
Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks
Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season
Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special
Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)
Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays
Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe
Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles
Day 11: New Year Resolutions
Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)
Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe
Day 14: Oprah's Favorite Things: What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?
Yesterday was Day 1, so I'm a little behind already. Oops! Better get started.
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Our Christmas Traditions
Bowen holidays are best summed up by one word: family.
I do not have a single memory of a Christmas or any other holiday, for that matter, that does not revolve 100% around my family: immediate, extended and honorary.
A great example - our Easter celebrations every year. I wrote about it here.
At Christmas, Mom and I always bake hundreds of cookies. We started this tradition when I was in college; we would have a "cookie drop-in" on a Sunday afternoon with my friends, mom's friends, and Mimi's friends. As Mimi has aged and become unable to continue this tradition, we have kept baking cookies, but deliver them on pretty trays or platters as gifts instead of having people over. I hope that one day we can resume our holiday get-together.
Sometimes we have helpers when we're decorating
Gracie, Christmas 2007
Will, Christmas 2008
As for Christmas morning, Mom and I are always up early baking (homemade cinnamon rolls - yum!!) getting a jumpstart on our ridiculously large meal and sharing mimosas. Dad is always in charge of herding the dogs (yep, I said herding. With Sooie thrown into the mix of their 5, it truly is herding, especially when meat prep starts happening in the kitchen. He is a pro, though ...)
When Wade wakes up, he will pour a cup of coffee and (1) comment on the 9:30 mimosas and (2) ask us what time dinner will be. This is when we feign defensiveness that he would question our cooking methods, rush us, etc, but we all love it! It is tradition, after all!
When we've all had enough caffeine, the present opening begins. Now that we're older, it is not so much about opening our own presents as it is about spending time together laughing and talking. It is always a lot of fun to see what little surprises Santa brought, and also to see everyone's reactions as they open their presents.
After the presents, Dad and Wade clean up while Mom and I hit the kitchen. We never rush it, just cook and enjoy each other's company until the food is ready. Always the same menu, plus (never minus) a few pies.
Some years there are additional family members or friends, some years it is just the four of us and Mimi. Either way, it is perfect. Always.
At the end of the day, we are always way, way too full, and have shared so, so many memories.
It's funny; reading back over this I think about all of the things that we do every year, like the Carols and Candlelight service at church, the Snow Village, decorating the tree ... I could go on and on ... that I did not write about! Hopefully I will be able to write about those as they happen this year!
Wow, writing this has made me so excited for Thursday!! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!
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