Re-establishing Old and Establishing New Traditions

So, it's the first time since 2004 that all of the "Youngs" have been together at Christmas. What I've found is that everyone is eagerly re-establishing some of our old traditions, yet we are also establishing new ones. Last weekend, Jenn & Kevin took over the house so that they could spend some time with Owen and Ethan's birth family. We cleared out to give them their privacy. It's so wonderful that they have a great relationship. Our 2 little guys are very fortunate and have alot of people that really love them.

Saturday evening, James and Jason and Alyson arrived. Jenn & Kevin went home that night, but everyone else stayed through the weekend. Alyson and I baked all day Sunday (a "new" tradition I think), and the guys spend the day shopping and playing cards. We had our turkey dinner that day as well.

Jason and Alyson went home on Monday and James has stayed through. On Tuesday, James, Bruce and I went out for lunch at a great restaurant on the waterfront. Last night, we did the old "Young" tradition and watched "A Chrsitmas Carol" with a plate full of goodies. It is now 2:00 PM on Christmas day. We had a relaxing big breakfast, have just finished opening our gifts and will be leaving for Jenn & Kevin's shortly. We are all meeting up there to spend the night together and head off to the Sears Boxing Day tomorrow.

As per David's challenge, I've been snapping some pictures. Here's round 1. More when we get home in a couple of days.

Keeping the driveway clear

I've discovered Alyson is an amazing baker!

Lunch at Aqua Terra

Christmas Day

The gold and silver music tree

The family tree

Merry Christmas Everyone!

OK, So I'm A Bit Behind Everyone Else

So here's my list:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? OK, so although I'm very much an environmentalist, I do love the wrapping paper thing. I love to do it up fancy with bows and sparkly ribbon.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. We did real trees for a bit as the kids were growing up, but we found the boys always had trouble with their asthma, so we went with an artificial one about 15 years ago. I now like the idea of having it up longer.
3. When do you put up the tree? The last weekend in November. This year we bought a new big tree for the front living room window the 3rd week of November. Of course we just had to put it up to see if the lights worked.
4. When do you take the tree down? First weekend in January.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I distinctly remember receiving a Barbie case with some Barbie clothes inside. I was thrilled. It wasn't until years later that I discovered they had been second hand, but I didn't care, I had extra clothes for my Barbie. I also remember a sense of 'excitment' when I opened a certain "Donny Osmand" record album.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Definately Dad! Mind you, these days James is getting harder to buy for as he is unmaterialistic and always says he doesn't "need" anything.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jason. Anything fishing, fishing, fishing will do.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. It is one of my "prized" Christmas 'decorations'.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Kind of hit and miss. When I'm not too busy, we send cards via snail mail. This year.........well it's been busy..........
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A plastic kangaroo with its right ear chewed off. It still brings on giggles from our kids when we talk about it. One of those things where you have to say "It's the thought that counts".
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol with Alistar Sims. The family tradition is to watch it every Chrsitmas Eve with a plate of goodies in front of us.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Normally in October. This year it was a little later, so it was "panic city" for me as I was so behind.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? There's so much..........turkey, stuffing, mulled apple cider, "goodies", chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates............
16. Lights on the tree? Most definately. And they have to be kept lit whenever we're in the house.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night........especially when I hear Jason play it on his trumpet.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Used to be we didn't leave the house on Christmas so that the kids could have time together and be able to play with their new toys. Things have started to change for us now that the kids are adults. It will be us travelling more now so that the kids can be home with their families.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? On Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen. Of course, we can't forget Rudloph.
20. An angel on top or a star? An angel on the top of the "family" tree and a very large bow on top of the tree in the front window.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who insist it is not "politically correct" to call it the "Christmas Holidays", but that we should call it the "Winter Holiday" so some such other thing. For pitty sake, Christmas is a Christian holiday, let's get that straight!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I must admit, I do love our gold and silver music tree, it really is beautiful. I must also say however that my favorite tree and theme is our family tree that is eclectic and loaded with ornamanets we have collected over the years and with ornaments the kids made us when they were little.
24. Favorite dessert for Christmas dinner? Nana Schephens' Christmas pudding with lots of whip cream. I miss Nana and her pudding.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Scrapbooking stuff. Now that I've got some balance back in my life, I want to start scrapbooking more.
26. Any special Christmas traditions? Where do I start, there's so many. I love how we take our time watching each other open 1 gift at a time and enjoy each other's excitment, there's the traditional Christmas baking, and the family time, especially the traditional Sears Christmas on Boxing day.