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?
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| 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.
