I love Christmas.
No seriously, I'm not saying "Oh em gee, I love Christmas". I am in a serious relationship with Christmas. I love everything about Christmas. I love the smell, the snow (though in AZ, you kinda have to drive out of town to see a White Christmas), I love the baked goods and treats, and DECORATIONS, and the music, dear god, I love it all. But mostly I love buying perfectly thought out presents. Trandon, my love and leveler, has instituted a rule that I can't start planning Christmas presents until August 1st... apparently he needs a window of Christmas freedom. In turn, I always abide by the rule that NO ONE is allowed to make personal purchases after Halloween. Nothing bites more than being beaten to the punch by the gift recipient. So yes, I love Christmas. I love the build up, the day, everything. I don't think there is a way to outline everything (or if there is even a point) because the truth is, if it is related to Christmas, I effing love it.
Among many things that I deemed in the "pro" column of having young children (insert implied "con" column ;D ), having claim to hosting a family Christmas celebration at home was top of the list. Judge if you have to. So once Princess Kady was born, I began lobbying with my parents to get on the Christmas rotation. I was now the person in the family with the youngest children (by two days Cousin Jakey) and this fact made me feel entitled to a chance to host the family Christmas festivities. So after some finagling, this year, Christmas 2010, I will be hosting my first ever family Christmas event!!!! My parents, my grandparents (hopefully! they tend to have a demanding social schedule), my sibs, my kids, my guy, and don't forget "8 pound, 6 ounce baby Jesus"! No, but really, this year is going to be great. I have been thinking about Christmas all year, which brings me to the creation of this blog....
I want this year to set the tone. I want to create new traditions that my children will look forward to every year. Things related to giving back, to community love and involvement, things that are just plain fun, certain foods they will look forward to eating, or places that they look forward to eating in. Special events, like "The Nutcracker," "A Christmas Carol," or Zoo Lights, that excite them. I don't know, I just want this year to be the jumping off point for my new little family to create memories that will live with us for a lifetime and outlast me when I'm gone. That my kids will remember me and the love they felt and the special memories we shared. Maybe that's what I love about Christmas, the culture. I want to reignite the culture of Christmas. Christmas is a perfect example of that saying that I'm about to butcher: its more than the sum of its parts.
So I am trying my second attempt at blogging (the first time got interrupted by being a full time mother, employee, and student). Please feel free to post things in response to my most pressing topics or about anything that you think a woman who is trying to kill it this Christmas would need to know.
One last thing: I walked into Super Walmart this morning, and to my surprise and delight, I was greeted by a giant Christmas tree shining brightly (right as you walked in, in between kids backpacks and produce). That was my first Christmas smile of the season. Many more to go.
Merry Christmas!
I love it! my extend family on my moms side has finally decided to split off in our little families for Christmas, so my mom and I are hosting our first family Christmas, so I am right there with you!
ReplyDeleteI too also went to Wal-Mart and was greeting by a massive well lit Christmas tree that just sent holiday chills up my arm. :)
and I too am obsessed with creating the perfect holiday traditions that will set the tone for the last quarter of the year. For me, looking back on my childhood, Christmas day was never the best part of Christmas, it was all the build up, the activities, the family get togethers, the music, the constant decor, and the joyful attitude everyone has during the last 3 months.
I am way excited you are hosting your family Christmas and just know it will be awesome. I will most certainly be giving you my 2 cents as you post here. :)
oh and I have my first tradition advice!
ReplyDeleteMy always puts the tree up like a month before Christmas, together, and its a lot of fun. But every time I see movies about Christmas, people never put it up until a few days before. You should wait to decorate the tree until all your family gets there, turn up some Xmas music and decorate it together. :)
That is a super cool idea. What about if I get more than one tree? I could decorate the more formal one (the one that can be seen from the front yard through my living room windows) and then the second one could be decorated when the fam arrives with the special ornaments that we have collected over the years as a more memory-based Christmas tree....?
ReplyDeleteDude,
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many ideas I have at this point will update you when I think of them. Christmas memories and such:-)
Thanks Sa!
ReplyDeleteI am in a jam with a certain gift.... balls. I'll blog on it in a bit.