New Traditions

Traditions make family events enjoyable and memorable. Some may be more habits than traditions but it usually boils down to "this is what we have always done". And thats perfectly okay. Over the last several weeks we have been telling stories about what the kids used to do, what mom always does, what the kids did to each other and of course what Dad did, said, bought, told us, or even what he used to sing. Yes, it is the common understanding that Dad is a bit goofy at times, some times.....most of the time.

I have shared some of our traditions in the past blog posts so this year I am going to share a few more that we have recently started. The reason we started new ones? Well the kids are pretty much grown up now and we don't have them all upstairs waiting for Santa.  They come over later in the day or cannot come home for the holidays at all so we needed to adjust what we have always planned.  Basically a method for me to keep things lively and crazy in the house.

Some thing with the Tree:
You have probably already seen some of our posts about the tree experiments. Most certainly Dad must have gone crazy.  Yep pretty much.  This is only the second year we have done anything special with the tree but it most certainly has started something. After only one year, everyone was expecting me to do something. I guess they know me pretty well. It started out last year as a sort of confession that I was really bummed out.  One son and his wife couldn't come home for the second year in a row making it three out of four kids.  And then another son was in a foreign country and wasn't going to make it home either. Batting .500 wasn't acceptable.....but understandable. Our daughter had gone through a rough patch which we are so very blessed and thankful that all has gone well for her this year. Christmas 2011 was just turning out a bit topsy turvey......what better way than to reflect this in our tree. Our Christmas was going to be a bit upside down so therefore so was our tree. Nobody else knew my plan other than me. We have always gone out and cut our tree down and of course we need a large tree.  When my daughter was asking me about a certain tree while we were walking around the farm trying to pick one, I told her it didn't really matter this year.  Why? Because we are doing something different with the tree.  What are we doing with the tree? Don't worry you will see. Why doesn't it matter? What are you doing? What are your plans?  On and on the questions kept coming like a three year old persistent in getting answers to questions that she wouldn't understand even if I told her. She was three.....17. So finally to keep the blabbing from continuing I told her.  I am hanging the tree upside down! No you aren't! MOM! Dad says he is hanging the tree upside down! Oh goodness, you are so gullible was her mother's response. Boy were they ever surprised.

This year we decided to keep a theme and connect the tree, the star and the stocking pins all together. Although the plan was still for only 2 of the kids and their spouses (or soon to be spouses) would make it home for Christmas all of them were going to make it home the second week of January for our daughter's wedding.  We would just postpone Christmas.....well nobody is  patient in our family so it meant two Christmases. And since we were getting everyone home from all over the world (well sort of....Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Colorado Springs and Bolivia) it must mean the only way we could possibly achieve this is by teleporter......you know....like on Star Trek.  Beam me up Scotty!
We will have a portal in our living room that is sucking up the tree.....and another with the tree returning.  Therefore two trees....one in the ceiling (right side up this year) and another coming up out of the floor with a ring of blue lights and clouds (representing smoke...I guess.) Actually the top of the same tree (yes I cut it) is coming up next to where the bottom (yes I hung it) is disappearing into the ceiling. So there you have it.  Everyone is already guessing what next year will bring......we will just have to wait and see.  This will get challenging!

Christmas Eve Pajamas:
Last year the girls ran out and bought some PJs to wear for the night before and we watched the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". One of our favorites. This wasn't ever planned before just happened......they even had to run out and grab some flannel pajamas on the eve.  Oh and guess what? There were any left in the stores at 8PM on Christmas eve for DAD.....so what did he get to wear........here you go.  No telling what they will buy me this year. I even wore the same outfit in my Surf n Santa 10 Miler this year. A little more planning this year. Last year was spontaneous. Make cookies for Santa (me), Watch the movie, Wear the PJs and just be silly. Oh yeah, we will read the "Night Before Christmas" too.  I always tried to do that when the kids were little but it never quite kicked in. Maybe now I am just preparing for grandkids.....did I just say grandkids....ahhhhh.

Whatever your traditions are, just be sure to have fun and enjoy yourselves.  It isn't about the money, it isn't about the gifts, it isn't about the giant meal.  It is about family and friends and enjoying the time we have here together.  Merry Christmas my friends.  Have a great and fantastic holiday.

etthisibelieve