The holiday season has arrived! For many, it's the last couple months of the year, when there are multiple family and friend gatherings. The season that includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. I have always loved this time of year. So much time is spent with family & friends, beautiful decorations, delicious foods, and usually the magnificent view of freshly fallen snow.
Late Fall and Winter is synonymous for so many reasons! For many, it's the cooler to cold temperatures, snow, and the annual sleeping state for most of nature. The 3 main holidays, in my home, are Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. I know this is also a time for multiple other holidays in multiple different religions and beliefs. I won't go into those, since I do not understand or know enough about them.
Our home celebrates Thanksgiving, on the last Thursday of November. It's a time we gather with our loved ones, share delicious food, and count our blessings. It's a day that most people do not work. Someone from our family typically hosts the meal. Our meal consists of: turkey, dressing, oyster dressing, mashed potatoes, noodles, green bean casserole, rolls and pumpkin pie with lots of cool whip! We usually add a few appetizers as well, stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped water chestnuts and occasionally hot wings are our favorites. Once the food coma wears off some, in the past, we have plotted our shopping trips for Black Friday. Someone or a couple of people, usually grabs a local paper with all the print adds. We find the sales that fit what we are looking for, plan a path that allows for being at whatever store as they open, and then prepare for that day. For several years now, I have chosen not to go. I got it in my head that it was a waste of time, energy and the people working/shopping were not exactly into "kicking off the Christmas season." That was about the time stores began opening on Thanksgiving day. I strongly disagree with that decision, but I am only one person. While the stores that are open on a holiday, have sales...none will be from me. Holidays for me, are meant to be home with family. In my opinion, until everyone else changes their tune and spends each holiday at home, stores will continue to be open. One person will not make a difference. I know I am doing my part though.
Anyway, Once we recover from eating too much, and shopping in the midst of chaos, comes Thanksgiving weekend. In my home, this is the official start of the Christmas season. The weekend after Thanksgiving is when we put our Christmas tree, start decorating and my baking/candy making kicks into over drive! I bake and make candy(usually the kids help too), and make plates of goodies to give our neighbors. For about 2 weeks after Thanksgiving, I spend most of my time baking.
The second Saturday of December, usually kicks off our Christmas gatherings. For 2 years(although I missed last year), we have what I call a Christmas Open House. The kids and I bake and make candy and dips, and open our home to family, friends and neighbors. We enjoy a few hours of visiting, sweet treats, and great conversations. Our home is always decorated, Christmas music playing, and I love the time to just enjoy a social experience that seems to be one that is being lost in this technological age.
From the time of our open house, through Christmas eve, we enjoy baking, special outings, and counting down the days until St. Nick arrives. It's always so much fun to watch the excitement of my kids as this time of year rolls around! Even with the commercialism of Christmas, and all the wants on their Christmas lists, my kids are thrilled with whatever they get. For all the parents out there who struggle with the financial side of Christmas; many years ago, we implemented an idea in our home. The idea was this: Santa gives gifts to every child in the world. It's not fair to other children when these kids ask for the large, expensive gifts. When our oldest was about 5, we suggested that he only ask for 1 or 2 things from Santa, and make a list of wants that mom and dad could get. Since then, our kids get usually 2-3 things from Santa, usually things that are less than $50 total, and then we buy a few other gifts. We typically spend about $100 per kid. This includes the gifts from St. Nick. Each year, becomes more of a challenge as prices rise, but it becomes my challenge to get as much as possible for as little as possible. Fortunately, my kids have learned that the high dollar gifts(i.e. video games, technology, etc.) Are not going to be under our tree. If they want them, they have to work to earn them. Christmas in our home, is more about family, friends, and being grateful for everything we have.
Another idea we implemented several years back, was opening a gift on Christmas Eve. They both know what is in their Christmas Eve gifts: new PJ's, a special snack and we watch a Christmas movie. Then we read, "Twas the night before Christmas," then it's bedtime. We have made "gingerbread houses," wish list chains, and drove around looking at Christmas lights. We have a calendar of 25 special activities, for the 25 days of Christmas. Our activities include: special movies, reading extra books, game nights, looking at Christmas lights, making a donation to our local food pantry, and buying gloves/hats/socks to donate. If I can keep my own hands out of the sweet treats, there will be little treats for the kids each day this year too. Even though we have had some tight finances, we will be making donations again this year. I really encourage this with kids. My kids love picking out food, socks, gloves and hats to give to other children.
Christmas Day, is a day for our family. We try not to go anywhere on Christmas Day. I don't like to rip my kids from their new stuff to take them away for the day to go anywhere. We try to have easy/snack type foods to munch on for the day. I love when they get up early, open gifts, and play hard for a few hours...then they want to nap. :-)
Once Christmas day is over, we have family gatherings with other extended family members. Then we quiet down for week, have my birthday, and then we are at New Year's Eve.
New Year's Eve, is always a relatively quiet night in our home. We have several snack type foods, some games, puzzles, and of course, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Each year is a little different, but for the most part, I am the only one still awake at midnight. Each year, we watch the clock, and anxiously await the fresh new year. While most of my household is asleep, I pray for each member of my family, and our extended family and friends, the same thing every year..."I pray for health, happiness, peace and prosperity; for each of my kids, my husband and I, our parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends."
Several years back, I made the comment about each new year being a new chapter in our lives. Being born so close to Christmas and New Year's, really puts a different perspective in my eyes. I love my birthday's, even if I did cringe when I turned 30! I love that each birthday, is another year for me to learn, grow, and discover. Each new chapter of my own life, has expanded the previous chapter. Growing, learning and discovering more about myself and about how much people can change. Each new year, is a fresh start to achieve goals individually, and as a family. As my birthday this year will bring me to 41 years old, I am anxious, and excited to grow more. With the incredible journey I have found myself on the past several years, I am looking forward to leaving some of the weight behind. Growing and accepting all the good, bad and challenging aspects of who we are; can really be exhilarating. It's all in perspective. I choose to find the silver lining in all road blocks, or at least attempt to.
As our holiday season begins, I wish each of my readers the best. May you all find the warmth, love, compassion, and peace; this season is bringing me. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Salli
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