I love, love, love Christmas time and there are a few things I look forward to the most. So, in random order, I present my Christmas Traditions (pa-rum-pump-pump-pum)!
1. Having the bulk of my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving. Therefore, after Thanksgiving all I have to do is pick up some last minute items and enjoy the season and the Reason for the Season.
2. Decorating my Charlie Brown tree early (think as soon as the leftover turkey is in the large Ziploc bag in the fridge) and ABSOLUTELY FILLING IT CHOCK FULL OF ORNAMENTS! I love my little tree (although as my ornament collection grows, so will the height of my tree) because the branches are sparse enough (and pliable enough) that the ornaments are nicely showcased. Bonus: some years, I get to decorate my mom's tree too!
3. Wrapping my gifts in gold paper with big, wired bows. I love this simple, classic look and I do them right away so I can enjoy staring at them for a month before they are opened (and they hide my hideous tree skirt- ugh).
4. Listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra (though not live, once was enough), Robert Earl Keen's Merry Christmas from the Family, and the occasional Jimmy Buffet/Josh Groban/Kenny Chesney carol. Also, oddly, I love Joni Mitchell's The River. My favorite carols are Carol of the Bells and Angels We Have Heard on High.
5. Watching Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas with my students. I normally do not like Christmas movies (it's just overkill) but I find this one to be the exception. Possibly because it is the definition of Christmas overkill.
6. Spending lots of time at my parents' house. I read. I cook. I bake. I watch TV. I go shopping. I go online shopping when Talbot's doesn't have something on sale in my size in the store. I do puzzles. We play games. We go out to eat. We drink all day (not EVERY day). We have happy hour. We have puppies. We do crafts (this year, Scrabble coasters). We have a fire (so jealous!). We are cozy. And they have Christmas lights on their house (again, jealous! My house isn't Christmas light friendly).
7. Going to the Seyffert family Christmas party. I'm the only family member to have never lived in/around Houston so I'm a bit of a family black sheep. I try to see the extended family more than once a year but this annual party is the only time I get to see everyone! This year, we are doing a pot-luck with German food (our heritage, spaetzle for me!) and exchanging date night baskets (mine is an International Casino theme!). More cozy fun.
8. Seeing Christmas lights. As I mentioned in #6, my house isn't really light-friendly. I don't have any easy shrubbery to shroud in lights. My front door, pillar and window are far from the street and hidden behind my only tree; my garage is what's most visible. Also, no outdoor plug. Some of these problems will, hopefully, be rectified in the future to allow for Christmas lights because I love them! I love seeing them as I drive home in the dark at 5pm. Smile.
9. Baking sweets and giving them away. My favorites are my Aunt Karen's holly cookies, molasses cookies rolled in sugar, Reese's peanut butter cup cookies, and my Grandmother's English toffee. Also, eating my Mom's Christmas cookies. They aren't sweet and are mostly nuts and weird candied fruits held together with a spiced brandy dough but they are oddly addictive over the years. One day, I will add them to my repertoire.
10. The Mathis family get-together on the day after Christmas. It used to be that we'd spend the holiday itself with my dad's family but now we get together on the day after and eat leftovers (or the occasional pot roast) and give the grandparents their gifts. By the way, Grandparents are the single most difficult people to buy for! There are only so many framed photos to give them! And what are you supposed to buy the people who only want your love and hugs? :) You buy them food. Pecan Praline Butter to be exact.
11. Giving to charity. I love Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and it's ringing bells and red buckets, the military video messages on TV, the donations to the food bank, the donations for winter coats and blankets and space heaters, and the overall sense of goodwill. So far, I've donated coats from Goodwill to my school for the kids who arrive without jackets. This weekend I plan on going to Wal-Mart and getting some Toys for Tots.
12. Church. I love the message and music at church during this time. I know we focus WAY TOO MUCH on the birth of Jesus when it is his death that saved us, but what can I say? I'm like Talladega Nights. I love my baby Jesus.
13. Wassail and spiced tea. Enough said.
14. Nativity scenes. I collect them and have three now, including the entire Willow Tree set which took years to complete. I also just purchased a new beautiful, yet simple, wire scene. Which leads to...
15. Boutique and antique shopping. I always hit up the best little local stores during this season. Whether it be Uvalde or Seguin or Fredericksburg or Gruene or even Richmond/Rosenberg, I find the cutest, most unique items for gifts and myself! Also, they have Vera Bradley, Sid Dickens and Brighton. Yeah!
16. The day itself. I'd tell you about it now but that'd ruin a future post!
17. Helping others with their shopping. I email my dad with ideas for my mom. I make lists of ideas for Russel and help him pick out things (like nail polish!) for his daughter. I talk over ideas with Kristin for our parents. Trade ideas with mom and Kristin about Seyffert family gifts. What can I say? I'm a helper.
Hmm.... I think I've run out of traditions. There is a possibility I will be adding more later though! And pictures!
