Christmas of Dreams Blog Party- Day 2

Posted on Nov 13 in Uncategorizedby TrishPrint

Well, day one was such a huge success, it’s now time for day 2. I tried to make it to as many blogs as I could yesterday, but I only made it to about 40. I’ll try for more tomorrow!

Todays question is sponsored by LaPlates and Lets Go Strolling and Natitys Design
“Traditions, what are some of your favorite family traditions? What are some traditions you want to begin?”

I am a huge fan of traditions. For Thanksgiving we always went to my Grandma’s house in San Diego. If felt so weird the first time after I was married and didn’t go to San Diego. And we always have turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, cranberry slices (the kind from a can), fruit salad, and crescent rolls. My first Thanksgiving felt weird with different food.

Then for Christmas we have lots of traditions. We always bake goodies such as fudge, toffee, caramel, cookies, and who knows what else. We like to make plates to take to our friends in the area. Oh, and we always pick out a tree and decorate it the first or second weekend in December. There’s no fancy decorations, mainly ones that we’ve made over the years- a mish mash of everything. And our tree is ALWAYS real. The first Christmas we didn’t visit my family and there was only a fake tree was so sad for me. I miss the smell of a real tree.

On Christmas Eve we would all bundle up in the car and drive around to look at Christmas lights. There used to be a street called Candy Cane lane where they would decorate all the trees to look like candy canes. They stopped doing it now, but that was on of my favorite places to go. Since then, a new street decorates to the max. It’s in their HOA that they have to go full out. And they do! Sayings on the roofs in lights, the whole yard filled with Christmas decor, banners spread across the entrance to the street, music playing, a Santa dressed up handing out candy canes. It’s a cul-de-sac, so everyone enters on one side of the street, and drives about 5 miles an hour down the one side, and up the other. If you don’t get there early enough, you can wait in line for an hour to get to see this street. (I grew up in the desert of CA, so there is never any snow) It’s fun to see the new things they add every year, but I can’t imagine their electricity bill!

When we get home we take turns hanging our stockings on the fireplace, with the youngest going first. They have to stand and say one thing they want for Christmas before taping it on. We do this with my whole family. Then we go and watch “White Christmas” on the TV.

Christmas morning growing up we would all wake up early, but the rule was we couldn’t wake up mom and dad until 6am. So we’d all gather in one room and take turns telling stories till it was 6. Then we’d go wake up mom and dad, and we’d have to wait while dad went and lit the fire and got the camera ready. My parents always pinned a sheet up in the hallway so we could never peak. Then when Dad was ready we’d walk out youngest first to see the gifts Santa had given us. These were all unwrapped, sitting in piles on the couch for each person, with their stocking in the front. We always got an orange in our stocking, and for breakfast we’d cut them into wheels and sprinkle powdered sugar on them. Then the adults would go back to bed, while the kids played with their toys.

We always had a fancy lunch, usually with ham and scalloped potatoes. After lunch we would sort the presents under the tree into piles for each person, and sit in a circle and take turns opening the gifts one at a time. This was nice, because it spread the gifts out over the whole day, and we had more time to appreciate what you got.

I don’t know many of my in-laws traditions, since all of their kids are older than 21 now, but they always get together on Thanksgiving for lunch, and they love to go to a Christmas concert that goes on early in December. Oh, and on Christmas Eve they get together with family and have a large party, with the kids (now grandkids) acting out the Christmas Story. They are a very musical family, so lots of singing goes on. Then when all the extended family has left, each grandkid gets to open one gift from their cousins.

We’re still making our traditions, and I really love all of them that both of our families have, so we’ll see what happens over the years.

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17 Comments

• Allison says:

  November 13, 2008 at 11:29 pm

  I love Christmas Lights! I live in Southern Cali and there is a fave spot of mine near Long Beach, Ca that have really pretty lights!

  Reply
• The Petersons says:

  November 13, 2008 at 9:06 pm

  Sounds like you have tons of fun. How cool is that to have an HOA where they require lights. I would love to see that street!

  Reply
• Rita @ My Precious Pennies says:

  November 13, 2008 at 8:45 pm

  I LOVE Candy Cane Lane…we did it two years ago. It was SO magical. Definitely going to do it this year with the baby.

  Reply
• Leah says:

  November 13, 2008 at 8:08 pm

  I love the traditions you have!!!

  Reply
• Tracye says:

  November 13, 2008 at 5:33 pm

  Sounds like a lot of fun!

  Reply
• Momstart says:

  November 13, 2008 at 4:25 pm

  sounds like fun I love Christmas

  Reply
• Michelle@lifeinawhirlwind says:

  November 13, 2008 at 3:11 pm

  You have lots of great traditions. I loved themed streets. It’s too bad the candy canes are gone but at least you have some decked out streets to visit. I can’t imagine waiting an hour. That’s crazy.

  Reply

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