Happy New Year everyone. Isn’t it funny how we all get in the Christmas mood (whether we like it or not) during the weeks before Christmas, often followed by a week of craziness with families, visits, dinners, and Christmas parties. And then right after New Year’s, we’re right back to our normal lives as if nothing ever happened. All the magic disappears, no more drinking Gluehwein and eating cookies, no more Christmas music. At least that’s how it was for me. We took down the few decorations we had put up right after Christmas so we could start on our kitchen remodel, I went back to work after taking the week between Christmas and New Year’s off, and we were right back in our daily routine. It’s strange how that happens, but I guess that’s exactly what makes the holidays so special. So even though no one seems to be talking about Christmas anymore, I want to share one last post on our holiday traditions and maybe get into the magical Christmas mood one last time until I hear Last Christmas on the radio again.
There were quite a few moments this year where Tony and I had to decide what our – and therefore Noah’s – holiday traditions would look like. How to celebrate Christmas was an important decision but somehow it all just worked out and made sense. Growing up, we used to celebrate on Christmas Eve. We often got a tree very last minute, sometimes even that morning, so the day was often spent decorating the tree and putting some presents under it, always a family event and everyone was involved. In the afternoon we would all go for a walk through town which is when magically the rest of the presents appeared under the tree. To this day, none of us kids know how our parents did it, and I’m not sure I ever want to know. It was probably as simple as having the neighbors take care of it, but I like that there’s still this mystery around it. I don’t remember what exactly the story was that we were told to believe, probably that the Christkind that came with all the presents, but for some reason, I’m not sure. I had never really thought about it, but even if we were told a story, it’s maybe the fact that even after we discovered the Christkind wasn’t real, the magic was kept alive by keeping it a secret how presents got under the tree.
When we got back home from the walk, we could go look at the presents, but weren’t allowed to open them yet. And I think we were okay with that, at least for a while. Everything always just looked so beautiful and we enjoyed the anticipation. After a fancy dinner – typically Raclette or Fondue – we would open presents, one at a time. I don’t remember any rushing, or ripping open presents, it was just quiet, peaceful, and joyful family time (then again, I may have just blocked out any not so perfect memories. If you know of any, please keep them to yourself, I’d like to stay in this bubble, thanks.).
We incorporated some of this in our Christmas this year – we had a delicious family meal on Christmas Eve and Noah got to open one present after dinner (bubble bath, which I can’t believe we never got before, because he LOVES it. Amazing how easy it can be to make a 1 ½ year old happy). It was a simple and quiet evening, exactly what I needed.
Santa came over night and we opened presents the next morning in pajamas with hot chocolate and coffee. This was my first American Christmas morning experience and I loved it. It was just the three of us and it was so much fun watching Noah opening all of his presents (his Adventskalender had been great practice).
Santa brought me tickets to the Seahawks game the following Sunday which turned out to be an amazing game. I had thought about getting us tickets as well but had decided not to because we were just about to order all new appliances, kitchen cabinets, and hardwood flooring. It was an amazing surprise and Tony and I had a fun date at the game.
Noah got some really awesome presents for Christmas as well: Puzzles, books, animals, cars,...
...and even a teepee!
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas as well and you've had a great start into 2015. What's your favorite childhood Christmas memory? What awesome presents did you get this year?
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