The reason this began, was that in 2012, my youngest was planning to be on another continent during Christmas. He was going to Australia for winter break during his freshman year of university. B's fiance, Z was able to join in on all the traditions as well.
Here are some of postings from FB...
We had a great Thanksgiving! Hope all of you did also We crammed everything we could into Z's first ... Macy's Parade, National Dog Show, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and football... we had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, fresh made cranberry sauce, corn-on-the-cob, onion casserole, and black olives. After a nap I made whipped cream and we enjoyed Cindie's pumpkin pie - Thank you Cindie!! it was yummy! We stayed up long enough to eat leftovers as sandwiches too! I had told her it was about tv and food - and we made good on that threat ... oh, and the Pilgrims of course ... lol
Same kids, same weekend, different holiday... Merry Christmas to All !!! Yesterday they chopped down a tree, we put up outside lights, watched some cartoons: The Grinch, Shrek the Halls, and Disney's Prep and Landing... all new to Z and decorated the tree, along with baking some cookies. Tonight we had ham, candied yams with marshmallows, green bean casserole, King's Hawaiian Rolls and black olives. Now we've read the Christmas story from the Bible while setting up our nativity set, and opened up special Christmas Eve presents. The boys are racing each other around the kitchen with their remote control bumper cars! What fun!
Same kids, same weekend, different holiday... Merry Christmas to All !!! Yesterday they chopped down a tree, we put up outside lights, watched some cartoons: The Grinch, Shrek the Halls, and Disney's Prep and Landing... all new to Z and decorated the tree, along with baking some cookies. Tonight we had ham, candied yams with marshmallows, green bean casserole, King's Hawaiian Rolls and black olives. Now we've read the Christmas story from the Bible while setting up our nativity set, and opened up special Christmas Eve presents. The boys are racing each other around the kitchen with their remote control bumper cars! What fun!
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In 2013, my oldest was planning to move to Sweden just a week and half before Christmas Day, so it seemed a good idea, to put it all together again.
Best time with the boys! Just fun for us to be together Enjoyed the Cowboys win in football, had a great dinner, enjoyed highlights from the Macy's Parade, took naps, played video games, ate pecan pie, and watched a hit movie. It's been a great Thanksgiving!
It's been a fun filled Christmas Eve for us! Ham, marshmallowed yams, and green bean casserole, salad and rolls. Simple. Tree decorating, some gift giving, holiday crafting, baking, and now we are watching Mickey's Christmas Soon the Christmas story and setting up the Nativity scene.
What sounds like complete craziness, has actually turned out to be fairly wrinkle-free. It takes some planning, but we get all the fun stuff in, two great meals and lots of family face time. When it is all over with, I am done for the season :) Which makes me smile as all my friends participate in the Christmas crunch while I don't have to.
On pondering this event further, it actually frees up the Christmas season for my sons to be with their girlfriends or their own families in the future, along with the opportunity to spend some holiday time with their dad who lives farther away, without having to worry about getting time squished in for me, trying to be in two places at once. I like it a lot really, so I hope it is something we will continue.
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Which brings me now to 2014, and the Holiday Extravaganza Condensed. B. is living in Sweden now, and G. has some plans over his winter break to take a mini vacation to British Columbia with his girlfriend's family but I think it's planned for the week after Christmas. I offered to trade days with my 20yo co-worker to work Christmas Eve and Day so she could have the days to visit with her brother who is getting to come home from the military. Not having to worry about me, G. can make plans to visit his dad and be with that side of his family if he'd like. So we will continue the Extravaganza tradition.
Only it will be a Condensed version... as I posted in FB...
Because G. is attending this year's OSU vs UofO Civil War, our Holiday Extravaganza... which is of itself, a whirlwind... will be "Condensed". Yes, Thanksgiving on Thursday, and Christmas on Friday! Woo-hoo! Including 2 completely different holiday dinners, parade and football game watching, board games, tree decorating, crafts, movies, and maybe a couple of presents. Feeling a bit crazy at present, but when Sunday arrives... I know I am done! for the year!!
Actually nothing is getting condensed... we are just cramming it into 2 1/3 days instead of 4 1/2! The menu is being cut back a bit since it will only be the two of us, which seems only reasonable. Thanksgiving will be fairly traditional, and Christmas dinner will have a bit of a twist to it. Otherwise, all the fun just packed into a shorter amount of time!
I'll let you know if we survive!!
:)
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