12 Random Things About Christmas

I am so sorry! I haven't had the time or the energy to post anything since THANKSGIVING!!! Things have been a bit wild! We've endured the countless hours of shopping and then the 24-hour-kneeling-before-the-porcelain-god flu (all 4 of us got it...Baby girl got it twice!)Needless to say... my posts wouldn't have been much fun to read. So, although it's the day after Christmas... I'm finally feeling like writing. I was tagged by my friend Sherry, to do a 12 random things about Christmas post... so here I go!

1. I love to decorate for Christmas! The sooner the better... I mean seriously, we bought all that stuff and it takes forever to get up, so I want it there so that we can enjoy it for at least a solid month! We used to wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but for the past two years, Thanksgiving has been at our house! So, to get everyone all geared up for the holiday season (and to show off the awesomeness of our decorations!) we had everything up and ready a week and a half before Turkey day! I love it!

2. We are all about themes! From our first year married, we've had a themed tree. This year, we bought new lights, ornaments, and stockings! Our theme is black, grey, creme and silver! Very classy! Being married to an artist has it's advantages! He has an eye for decorating! Our stockings are matched: daddy and the boy have grey stockings and mama and the girl have creme ones! The running theme through the ribbon, stockings, and ornaments is that victorian line work stuff!! I LOVE IT!!!

3. I can't wait to rock Christmas music! I love it all! From Sinatra to Transiberian Orchestra!

4. For the past 4 years we've had a tradition of going to see Transiberian Orchestra live!!! AMAZING!!! I'll try and post my video from my phone! It doesn't give them the full justice that they deserve, but you'll get a little taste!! If you ever have a chance... Don't miss them!!

5. Growing up, we always had a live tree, well, we had one when we could afford one. I really wanted to keep that tradition alive, but after buying a fake one...I'm not sure that I'll go back to the live tradition. We spent a hefty amount on ours, but it's absolutley paid for itself! And I really do love it! It looks real enough... and no watering necessary! Not to mention the peace of knowing that no matter the financial situation of that Christmas... we will always have a tree. ;)

6. For as long as I can remember... we decorated the tree as a family! It's a big deal! We listen to Christmas music! We have cheese and crackers and chili and shrimp cocktail and sasuage and sparkling grape juice (or my families version of non-alcoholic Hooch!) Then after the trees up and decorated... we sit with all the lights off and enjoy the beauty of the tree! I look forward to this every year!!! And we CAN'T decorate the tree without the food! It's our own early Christmas party!

7. One of my best Christmas memories was when I was little. We were really quite poor... Always on the church's list of families in need. (And bless them for it! I'm sure that unbeknownest to my brother and I there may have not been any Christmas if it weren't for our chruch family...)Anyhow, one Christmas, my parents explained to us that because things were so tight, we wouldn't be able to have a Christmas tree. That included the previously mentioned tradition of the yummy food while we decorated. We were pretty upset. Mom and dad really tried hard to make it special even without the tree. And amazingly, us kids, seemed to understand. (I think this was my first realization of how poor we were.) On Christmas Eve... it was snowing, I think... Daddy left to run to errands. When he came back... it was like a Christmas miracle!! He had a tree with him!!!!! It was the most beautiful tree in the World!!(You know... it may have looked like a Charlie Brown tree... but in my memory... it rivaled the one in Time Square!!) And he had all the food to accompany the decorating tradition! My brother and I both cherish that Christmas. Our presents were second hand and most of the things we "wanted" weren't there the next morning... but it didn't matter! That was the year my dad sober... and that was the best Christmas present of all! We were whole! And I think mom and dad really taught us the meaning of Christmas! I love you mama! I miss you, daddy!

8. We've always opened our presents on Christmas day! None of this Christmas Eve stuff... Although, we would get to open one small present on Christmas Eve... We sort of forgot about that this year. The babies were so tired by the time we got home, that we just headed them straight to bed! (We still had some Santa stuff to take care of!)

9. We've always gotten to open our stockings first! And they are usually full of chocolate and candy. And socks and underwear! (There's nothing like putting on a fresh pair of socks and brand new underwear on Christmas Day!!!) We also usually got a toothbrush and other small toys! We carried on most of these traditions in our home now. I got a sweet new pro health toothbrush! (for that just from the dentist clean!)

10. I believed in Santa! With all my heart! We always opened our Santa presents last. And they were in special paper! They usually sat close to our stockings... so we knew they weren't from mom and dad! They were also usually our "big" presents! I loved it! With our kids... we started the tradition of not wrapping their Santa presents. Mostly because they've been HUGE!!! Daddy gets them all put together on Christmas Eve! (He's the best Santa!) This year we got the babies a wagon for both of them to ride in! And we sat their stockings inside the wagon!! The boy was soooo pumped! He jumped right in and stayed there through opening his while stocking! And then on and off throughout the rest of Christmas morning! (I think it's a hit!)

11. I remember that we used to have to wait for my dad to take a shower before we could open presents!! This was KILLER!!! I have taken a solemn vow to never make my kids wait to me to be ready (showered, hair and make-up done) before we open presents! Besides that Rob would go CRAZY!! And we used to have to wait until daylight before we could get out of bed!!! This year... me and the babies were sleeping soundly, when all of the sudden at precisely 7am, daddy rushed into our rooms and promplty woke all of us up! The boy even protested..."I'm just sweepin, daddy...I'm just sweepin." But to no avail! So, off we went! With the babies still rubbing their eyes!!! I guess there are just some things that boys never outgrow! :)

12. We open presents one at a time, from youngest to oldest! And we all watch each other open them! It makes the suspense last! And I love it! This year in our house, we kinda broke that tradition cause of the babies! But next year... we're going back! It just went too fast! :)


Today is my brother's 26th Birthday!!! Bummer, I know... the day after Christmas! They're all going to Biaggi's for dinner tonight... I have to work! Oh, well! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRO!!! I love you!

I'll try and post some pictures later this week! Hope you all had a very, merry Christmas!