1) Every year as children we knew that we had to listen to Paw-Paw read the story of Jesus' birth before we could open even one gift. Oh it was so hard to sit still while looking at all of those presents just inches away! Paw-Paw is gone now but we have continued that tradition with someone new reading it each year. Now it is my children who find it so hard to sit still!
2) When I was very young...no older than 5...I made an ornament that my mom kept. Over the years it started to fade and it wasn't quite as stunning as the day I had made it, but it became a joke in our house that I always wanted that ornament front and center on the Christmas tree. Each year I would proudly display it in the front only to find the next day that it had been moved to the back of the tree! This was an ongoing joke between my mom and I. After I married Larry he received a Christmas gift from my mom and inside was that ornament so that he could have it front and center on his Christmas tree! Now Larry and my kids are part of the joke and know that each year my ornament has to go front and center! Here it is since I know you are wondering what such a beautiful ornament would look like!
3) Shrimp....yes I said shrimp. My family is from New Orleans so we have always had shrimp on Christmas. My cousin Khara and I look forward to seeing each other each year at Christmas and always say "I'll meet you by the shrimp!" Our family does a buffet type table but it isn't uncommon for me and Khara to have chairs up to the table so we can just stay by the shrimp and eat! OOOHHH and I can't forget my Aunt Jan's stuffed artichokes. YUM!
4) Each year I spent Christmas Eve with my mom, step dad, and my mom's family and then I would hop on a plane Christmas morning to see my dad. Those are bittersweet memories because it was so great to see my dad but reminds me how hard it was to live between two parents who lived in different states.
5) As a child I always had my own little Christmas tree in my room with my own ornaments. Many of them show something I was interested in...a tennis player, a guitar, the characters from Sesame Street, etc. When Larry and I got married we kept the ornament tradition. We have an ornament from our first Christmas together in 1991when we were 16 years old, one from our first apartment together, and a pregnant lady the year that I was pregnant with Clayton. Now the boys have their own little tree in their room with a cub scout, M&M's, spiderman, etc. That tree also has ornaments that they have made which will no doubt be front and center on their trees when they are adults!
What is amazing about that list is that 33 years later those traditions are still a part of my life and now a part of Clayton and Evan's lives. Even the travel is now a part of my life again! One week from today we are headed back to see family and looking very forward to it. Save me a spot by the shrimp!
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