Christmas traditions

can't believe Christmas is a week from today. doesnt seem real. i dont know if its cause i'm older or what, but the excitement level and anticipation definatly diminishes as the years go by. when you are younger and see the tree all decorated with presents underneath and usually lots of family gather together you can't help but look forward to the big day.

this year for Christmas it will be just Chris and I at home. i suspect we'll carry on as usual with the side entertainment of opening some gifts. but otherwise its just another same ole day. we don't have any particular Christmas traditions for just the 2 of us.

but it brings me back to when i was a kid and how my family celebrated. some years we would travel to see the grandparents in Oklahoma. my great aunt sarah always had all the family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.there were alot!) over to her house Christmas eve. we'd gather around and someone would be chosen to read aloud the Christmas story from the Bible. then we'd just hang out, eat yummy food and enjoy the evening.

whenever we stayed at home our family tradition was this: Christmas eve we'd go to the candlelight service at churh. there was just something special about being in the church, singing oldtyme hymns and carols and then darkening the room as we passed around the candles which light everything up. in the morning we'd gather in the living room and open stockings. then mom would prepare a light breakfast and we'd have that. once that was finished we'd sit down to open the rest of the gifts. someone would hand out the presents one by one. for example if it was my turn then mom,dad, and brothers would open the gifts from me in this round. each person had their turn to open the present before the next person could go..this way we could all see what everybody got instead of one mad rush to open all the gifts. sure it may take a little longer but we had all day! in the late afternoon/early evening mom would make a wonderful meal and we'd gather around the dining room table (one of the few times of the year we'd all eat together in the dining room...that and Thanksgiving!). it was such a wonderful time. i really miss that. i don't know the last time my immediate family all got together for Christmas...been a very long time.

when we lived in Florida Chris' family had a tradition of going to the beach on Christmas and taking a dip in the ocean!

so now that we're on the brink of starting our own family, next year will be the beginnig of new family traditions. i should cherish this year because its the last one for just me and Chris. so even if it feels like any ole day at least i know things will be different in the years to come.

what are some of your favorite family traditions? i'd love to hear!