Old and new

As much as each Christmas holiday brings it’s own memories – though I’m still trying forget about those from last year – the best part for me is looking back on seasons past. 

Old:

• Decorating the tree.  This one is obvious, but one of my favourite things to do at Christmastime.  Especially at my mom’s.  We spend half the time unwrapping the ornaments and remembering when we got them, who gave them to us and why we love them.  Especially the scary Santa one.  I’d post a pic but I’m too frightened of him.
• The food.  Oh my, the food.  I eat for days and days and days and don’t regret it for one second.  That’s what the New Year is for.
• Eggnog.  You either love it or hate it.  I’m in the ‘love it’ group.  Especially with rum.  Lots of rum.
• Speaking of alcohol…A few years back my sister and I accidentally got wasted on Christmas Eve.  I think it was slightly embarrassing for my parents who had all their friends over, but it was a helluva lot of fun. We haven’t been able to do it every year since because we aren’t always together, but we try.  Perhaps we’ll pick this one up again this year…Liz?
• Cruises down Taffy Lane.
• My beloved angel that sits atop our beautifully green, though fake, Christmas tree.  This angel is the very one that was once the angel that sat on my Nanny and Pappy’s tree.  Every year my grandfather would tell me and all my cousins about how, on Christmas Eve, once all the kids were asleep, the angel would hop down onto the white dove (an ornament which I have also acquired) and the fly down to to the coffee table where she would tap dance. I guess he assumed that stories of Santa waiting until the kids were asleep would not be enough to convince them that they should hit the hay early… it sounds silly now, but to a kid, the angel was real magic.  My grandfather was the best storyteller I’ve ever known, and many of my favourite childhood Christmas memories include him in some way.

New:

• Making gingerbread houses.  Jaia loved every second.  So did Humphrey.  Will post pictures this weekend. 
• This.  I’ve been coveting this for a couple of years and I finally made the purchase.  It won’t come in handy this year, but I’m excited for it’s debut next December 1.

I hope to keep adding to this list as we spend more and more Christmases together and as parents.  I’ve heard it said that you experience the holidays in a whole different way once you are a parent.  It couldn’t be more true…

I can’t believe Christmas is already here.  In just a few days my mom and dave will arrive and a few after that Santa makes his appearance.  I feel like yesterday was December 1st.  Where did all the time go and can I seriously have more shopping to do?  See you at the mall!