Sunday, December 25, 2011

Traditions

I don't remember much from my childhood, bugs my family to no end!  But there are a few things I remember, especially our Christmas traditions.

Christmas always started for us on the Eve at Grandma's house.  I was too young to realize or understand everything that was going on, but I do know the kids, well me anyway, eagerly awaited present time.  You see, every Christmas Eve we were allowed to open one present only, and every Christmas Eve you could count on a new pair of pajamas!!!  Pajamas we looked forward too every year, pajamas we would try on and model and then get tucked into bed so Santa could come. 

Christmas morning would find mom and dad with their thermos of coffee and us kids ripping open first our stockings and then our presents while the homemade cinnamon rolls were baking in the oven for our breakfast.  The rest of the day we would play with our toys, eat cinnamon rolls and watch Christmas movies (White Christmas is still a favorite!) IN our new pajamas.

As we've grown older, moved into our own homes with our spouses, most of out traditions have disappeared or evolved.  For instance, Christmas Eve is now at my brother's house, I try to make it "home" every other year to be with my family, and I no longer get my pajamas.  I'm not a big fan of change, might be the little bit of OCD in me.  Some traditions I've tried to institute within my own family, but without much luck.  I'll be honest, it's made me a little sad over the years.  I know not all my family traditions could work with my new family, I mean, I married in and they already have their own traditions in place, but heck, you can't blame a girl for tryin', right? 

Merry Christmas!!!
So, instead of getting sad, I've realized this morning that I can start making my own traditions...for myself.  This morning, I went out for my first ever Christmas Day run.  Since I don't plan on stopping running, hopefully this is something that I can do for myself every year.  To come off of the holiday stress, to maintain sanity among the holiday hustle and bustle,  to ward off the Christmas cookie assault!  So, here I am, with a picture to prove it!

But between you and me, I still want my pajamas.

4 comments:

The Eaglemingo's Roost said...

Since our move this year, we've had to change some traditions. Cassie really has missed going to Aunt Thelma's for Christmas dinner. I think next year I will have to plan something larger in our own home and hope for the best. But we still have story & a chocolate a day until Christmas, and all 4 of my kids (Steve's girl, Dani, being #4) got their jammies!!!

Melanie said...

I hate when traditions change too Hope. this year seen me miss Christmas AGAIN with my family due to work commitments.its just not the same.I love all Christmas traditions..It what makes christmas..well Christmas. Some things are just worth fighting to hold on too. But it can also be fun to start new ones too.

Btw...My kids always get Pj's for Christmas too!!

robogranny said...

She didn't mention the xoxo gifts. If you had told me how important the jammies were, you wouldn't have gotten placemats, you would have gotten jammies. I'm good, Sweetie, but I don't read minds.

robogranny said...

She didn't mention the xoxo gifts. If you had told me how important the jammies were, you wouldn't have gotten placemats, you would have gotten jammies. I'm good, Sweetie, but I don't read minds.