On Traditions and Other Things

There's been some talk between some of us recently of making family memories at Christmas time and the importance of establishing traditions. We thought we'd share ours. :)

We always start out our special Christmas family day with the "string game." This is a game from yesteryear that we've adapted to today! When the we (the children) go downstairs, the basement is covered with a spider web of string. We each have a cardboard tube with our names on it and we get started rolling and following our strings all over the basement, in cupboards, around doors, under... over... up.... through... whatever it takes- and at the end of the string, each will have a brand new book!

After a short breakfast, we get our stockings from Dad. (He gets a little carried away :) )

Next we read the Christmas story - the story of the best Gift ever and the true Reason for all of this: Baby Jesus coming to earth to be God with us. Afterwards, we sing carols together.

Then we open our gifts. But its not as easy as you think. Each year, they are labeled with some sort of "code" that we have to figure out so we know which gift is ours. This year we had to figure out that the rainbows on each gift had a thicker stripe of one color- and we had to guess which was our color to get our gift! Mom and Dad called it our "rainbow of love."

Now its time to relax and play- except for Dad. He makes us a special Christmas dinner! We're spoiled, we know- and we sure do love him  :) We each get a year to pick what we want. This year was Faith's year  - it was delicious, as always when Mr. Good Looking is cooking!

Faith picked Chicken Alfredo which had never been served in our home before. Dad decided to make homemade noodles which was also new for us! Dad has memories of making lots of noodles as a child, and Mom remembers making noddles with her Grandma many times. It was fun for all! (we did this another Saturday)

Nevermind the toes in the noodles :) We have a certified cook in the kitchen after all!



We thought you didn't need any helpers, Dad!



YUM

fine dining meets three year old

The rest of the afternoon (if we get to have the whole day- doesn't always work out that way) is spend relaxing and playing and overall just enjoying the time together without an agenda!

the cardboard box served up almost as much fun and functionality as the present! (well, any place is a good place to suck your thumb, right?)

 This year we finished up the day with a light supper of appetizers and then a cozy slumber party in the living room. (well, most of us lasted all night anyway...)

So, this is the way it goes for us- with many more such years to come, Lord willing. Warm, happy, wonderful family memories fill us up when the everydays contain some moments that aren't always quite as warm and cozy. And like was mentioned in the discussion of traditions referenced above, its not really what you do but that you are doing something - together.

Happy New Year, everyone! A peaceful reminder is that with Emmanual - God with us- everyday of the year is Christmas.

from all of us