Thursday, December 11, 2008

Christmas Traditions

Sparkling Santa Claus beside a Christmas tree with a glitter saying Pictures, Images and Photos

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fing Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white axx down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of a-holes this side of the nuthouse. Chevy Chase National Lampoon Christmas Vacation

Our Christmas traditions are many. Some are very conservative and some are just not right. We attend church on Christmas eve, enjoy numerous dinners with family and friends. The highlight of our holiday is a family night of movies. At the top of our list is National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. We pop pop-corn, get something to drink and laugh until we cry. The quote above is the best. Let me set the scene, the Christmas tree is toast, the dog has pulled the table cloth off the table and pure chaos has made it way to the Griswall house hold. Everyone is prepared to leave when Clark (Chevy Chase) delivers this speech. I love it. Family Christmas's are a totally fun and hilarious time.

Let me also explain that I have a large family. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother on my Mothers side and 4 brothers on my Fathers side. I will let you figure all of that out. We get together with my Father's family every Christmas morning for brunch. This gathering also includes my Aunt and Uncle, my 2 cousins, wives and an assortment of nieces and nephews and now a new lab puppy and two boxer puppies. Picture fun loving total chaos. Recognize the quote above? My Mom's side gets together every other Christmas for a week of Christmas celebration. Sisters, Brother with husbands, wives,kids and two border collies come from near and far. You will find bodies sleeping in ever corner of my Mother's house. My own children will spend the night there adding more chaos to the mix. We only live 6 miles away.

The saying "making memories" is what comes from all the mess and disorder. I always look back with joy and laughter in my heart. What are your family traditions? What memories will you hope to make this Christmas? Whatever they may be remember the joy and laughter that will be stamped in your heart forever.

3 comments:

Judyann said...

Sounds like loads of fun Chere. We don't have too many traditions in our family, especially lately. But we try as hard as we can to all be together. As a kid we would all go to my aunt's house, all 21 cousins, and 8 aunts and uncles. We would play Pinochole until really late at night after opening Christmas presents. It was a blast.

Deb said...

You know, it's not Christmas unless we watch Christma Vacation at least 3 times. I think it is a cult for all our ages.
Mom didn't go to Costo, but someplace close to where my sister lives.
And when I cough, I pee a little. It is getting to be quite annoying! But, you will be the first to know when I lift a box and well....you know!
Miss you! Perhaps we can get together after the holidays...meet somewhere in between...that would be fun.

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

I started a new tradition this year. 4-year-old Ayden slept at Mimi's house last Friday night. We snuggled under the covers and watched Jim Carrey's How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Ayden loved it...and watched it again the following morning. Christmas Eve is always celbrated at our house. Christmas morning is spent at the Payne house for brunch. Chaos? A little. But mostly it is fun watching the kids rip into their gifts. What is Christmas without children? ........quiet. Very quiet.