Day 16 - It's Christmas Time

Christmas is and always has been one of my favorite times of the year.  Today's post is going to be centered around Christmas and the little traditions I have become accustomed to over the years.  Now mind you, this year and the years to follow are going to be different than any other year to date, as we have moved, however I am excited to find out what new traditions are going to arise.

So as a child, if you have been reading along, you will know that as a child my parent's always came together for Christmas in our house, despite the fact that they were divorced.  As I grew up my and my parent's started settling into their lives with new partners, things started to change.  I disliked being at home without my parents both being there, so I started to make my own Christmases.  

The first year I stayed away from home I was living at my dad's.  He is just not a person who cares overly about the holidays, so I chose to spend my Christmas with a family, Kristen and Sharon, that I had become very close to over the years.  Though it was hard to be away from home I thought it was better than spending the actual night with my dad who ended up going out for drinks anyway.  Christmas ends when children start to get older, it becomes less of a family holiday and more of a party time.

The next two years I spent with my surrogate (or as I call them at least,) family.  Lee-Ann, that means you ;) .  These two Christmases were among the best I remember, it was a quaint evening with great family and I will never forget those years!

Following that, I spent every year until 2010 with my boyfriend and his family.  This is where my tradition actually kicked in.  Every Christmas night, Josh and I would watch a movie and stay up late.  After being woken up and opening gifts we would all pile into our cars and drive to his grandparent's house where we ate the most amazing Christmas breakfast.  French toast, heaps of bacon, toast, eggs of all kinds, etc etc.  The food was always endless and you left that house feeling like you needed a nap!  So good.

After the family rested and spent time together for the day, the immediate family on both sides would flock to the Guilderson home for Christmas supper.  (All of these things are in and among me driving all over NS to see my own family.)  At this supper there was always two tables, one for the 'adults,' and one for the 'kids.'  Obviously I was at the kids table with Josh and his brothers and whomever else happened to be there with them, but being a part of that close-knit family is and always will be a favorite part of my teenaged years, as I never had that from my own.  Even when my family was intact, none of them were close.  

Another favorite part of Christmas is wrapping gifts!  I could care less about getting anything, though in the morning it does suck.  (Yes, I frequently don't receive anything for holiday's from my family.)  There is just something about disguising a gift and knowing what it is when others don't.  The look on people's faces are always priceless.

This year I have decided to send out Christmas cards.  I have 15 or so cards to be sent out, across Canada and a couple in the US.  Hopefully they will make it to their destination before the holidays are over!  Cross your fingers!

Well Thank You for reading and stay-tuned for tomorrow's post!

K.F.H

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