Christmas Traditions

I LOVE the holidays, I love everything that comes with them--decorations, holiday music, pumpkin spiced drinks, Santa Claus and giving gifts, including the crowds (and why be so rude, that is what I don't understand, we are all miserable in the line) and the bills (I tend to hate even looking at my statements this time of year, its just depressing).  I have so many memories of things that center around the holidays.  Maybe because growing up in a small town things tend to be bigger in your mind but Christmas just always seemed to be something that stands out every year for me.  The holiday party at Nanny's is always one that I remember, with the pickin' and grinnin', endless amounts of food (oyster stew, prime rib, ham biscuits), Sara spiking the tea with Southern Comfort, the "yoddling" incident (don't ask, well ask Cara, she retells it well), garbage bag bicycles (my very first 10 speed) and the drum set (wow, our parents may have never forgiven Nanny for that one), and who could forget the endless table of cookies, that I am not joking, had probably 40 different types of cookies, fudge, and other treats that Nanny made.  (Crinkle cookies are still my favorite and the recipe was in my wedding favor booklet as my favorite recipe along with Red Velvet Cake, another good Christmas specialty.)  Cara, Sara and I used to always put on a show at this event for all who attended, specfically, we used our Michael Jackson microphone and liked to sing Whitney Houston (I think I am thankful for no video footage of that!).  I also randomly remember other things, like my cousin Dustin giving me a basketball when I was 5 and I loved it and kept it forever, until it basically cracked.  Uncle Steve gave all of us this really cool remote controlled 18-wheeler that I also loved.  Tanna used to always tell this story about me coming out to see everyone at Christmas (I must have been around 4?) and saying that I would have been out sooner but I was blowing out my hair and getting dressed while flipping my hair (my Mother used to put me in a VERY fancy dress for Christmas and I apparently loved that.  And well, if you know me, you know that I am obsessed with my hair, so I have no shame on this story.)  I also remember going to Jonesville UMC and going outside and lighting a candle and singing Silent Night.  I thought it was so fun to be outside in the street at night and everyone doing that.  There was also a gentleman who would call us on Christmas Eve and pretend to be Santa Claus and give us a prediction on his arrival time.  One of the best things I have ever witnessed was Lauren opening her gift and saying "that was just what me needed" as she took out a full set of plates, bowls and other kitchen items (I think she was 2 or 3 and totally adorable).   Roland and Nazrin were always a part of it too and Sandy always did neat things with us at Christmas.  All these wonderful memories that I need to share....

So, Adrian and I are starting some traditions of our own with Teddy.  We are doing a Santa breakfast at the Club with him, but honestly he HATED the picture part.  I mean it was pure torture.  He was cool with Santa until we tried to take his photo.  I guess we have to wait a little longer on that to come.  He LOVES this recordable book of the Night Before Christmas that has my Mother reading it to him.  He begs for it several times at night.  We also are going to take him to see the ICE show at Gaylord National Harbor, which is an incredible experience.  I have an annual cookie party to set the stage for holiday cheer that may grow into Santa making a visit, we shall see. 

Given that we alternate Christmas between my family and Adrian's, last night we went to play with the Azer cousins and had so much fun opening up toys and having matching outfits for all the cousins (I am sure at some point that they will hate us but I always buy the girls a dress and now I am buying all the boys a matching sweater, so they will just have to accept it a little while longer.  Blackmail photos in the making I think.)

Actually, what I love most about the holidays is not the gifts, even though I have definitely received some amazing gifts over the years.  What I love the most is spending time with family and making memories.  The gifts accentuate the memories from when I was younger but now that I am older I enjoy watching the young ones open things with anticipation, quickly throwing them aside for the next gift and then go crazy from the sugar and wrapping paper high of playing with this mountain of toys.  I always say that because we are so busy, time is our most precious gift, so when I can give the gift of time with loved ones, it is the least expensive but means the most coming from me. 

I look forward to many more traditions and creating new ones with our family and friends.  Now, the one peculiar stage we are in with Teddy is one where he is learning how to be selfish--as in, your toy is his toy and everything is his.  Yes, friends, we have officially entered the "MINE" stage.  I gave him an early gift on Saturday, which was a stick puppet of Gymbo the clown (from his Gymboree class).  When I was showing it to Adrian he ran up to Adrian and began shouting very loudly and very clearly "MINE, MINE, MINE" until Adrian relented and gave it to him.  I could not stop laughing so now Teddy thinks it funny, and along with calling everyone (seriously, everyone) Mama and constantly making the sign for "more" he just makes me laugh which encourages this bad behavior.  What can I say, he is his Momma's pride and joy (and his Daddy's but Daddy did say out loud the other day "Not on my cashmere" and ran away from Teddy's chocolate icing covered hands....). 

Happy Holidays to everyone from the Azer crew.