For every Christmas I can remember as a child, we traveled from house to house visiting family. Christmas Eve was at my Grandpa’s house with my parents, Aunt and Uncle, and siblings. On Christmas Day, we woke up in our own living room, but made our way to my Aunt’s for lunch and my Grandma’s for dinner. As we got older, the location of events changed, but we were always out and about visiting family. I loved every part of our Christmas traditions.
For every Christmas I can remember as a child, we traveled from house to house visiting family. Christmas Eve was at my Grandpa’s house with my parents, Aunt and Uncle, and siblings. On Christmas Day, we woke up in our own living room, but made our way to my Aunt’s for lunch and my Grandma’s for dinner. As we got older, the location of events changed, but we were always out and about visiting family. I loved every part of our Christmas traditions.
My husband’s childhood was a little different – he spent his holidays on the road between various states. I remember the first time he told me that Santa never came to his own house when he was little, but always found him at his Grandparent’s house in Ohio. He loved going North for Christmas because it was cold, there was always snow, and he was with his family. It really didn’t matter where Santa dropped off the goods as long as he got them.
At some point in our relationship, Brandon and I shared our family’s holiday traditions. It was probably around the time we started spending Thanksgiving/Christmas together and had to decide whose family we would go with. It was hard for me to be away from my parents and siblings, but I loved Brandon and his family. We knew when we had a child that things had to change since neither one of us wanted to spend Christmas Eve or Day at an airport or on the road.
When Annabelle was born on Friday, December 13, 2013, we told our families we would not be traveling for the holidays. Annabelle spent her first Christmas, and every Christmas since, right in our home. Santa comes to our house through our chimney and her grandparents have presents for her at their homes. We visit family in Tennessee the week before Christmas and visit family in Connecticut the week after Christmas.
We enjoy the traditions we’ve established since Annabelle was born. On Christmas Eve we bake cookies and then drive around looking at Christmas lights before coming home to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. On Christmas morning we open presents when it’s still dark by the fireplace. We stay in our pajamas all day and watch The Christmas Story. For dinner, I make a feast: ham, scalloped potatoes, stuffing, asparagus, and more. Even though our Christmas dinner is usually just us, we enjoy each other’s company.
Perhaps in the years to come we will venture to other’s homes during the Christmas holidays if we live close enough to make a quick drive. If not, we will continue to uphold our traditions. We will always open our home to friends and family and maybe someday I will host Christmas dinner for more than just us. Whatever happens, I’m happy we have something to build upon that we can call our own. I’m
How do you celebrate the holidays?
The post Why We Stay Home For The Holidays appeared first on Confessions of a Northern Belle.