Quote of the Day: opening lyrics to Dynamite Taio Cruz
I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying AYO
Gotta let go
I wanna celebrate and live my life
Saying AYO
Baby, let’s go
So, we found time to play this holiday season. My boys like to pick out things for each other that they like, and that they would like to play/share with them.
(I especially liked the gift in the middle *grin*)
Traditions, what can I say? There’s some to keep and some to tweak. Every year is different. Maybe you’ve added a family member, maybe you’ve lost one. Maybe there’s a difficult separation or illness. Maybe you’ve moved and you can no longer get back home for the holidays. Whatever the reason, you may find yourself in need of a new picture.
This holiday season, I determined to let go of the Norman Rockwell – everyone sitting around the tree, cozy and happy on “the day” – picture, and thought of how I could paint my own picture. We started doing the “pickle game” a few years ago. I hide an ornament in the tree that looks like a pickle, so it’s hard to spot. The boy who finds it gets to open a present the day before Christmas Eve (our celebration day). I called it our “Pre-Christmas Day.” It was great. Eric was the first and opened a movie. After I got the bread started and the soup on, we watched it together. Then, Bobby opened a book (Breakthrough by Stephen Tremp) that I discovered from reading blogs. I hope he likes it. Next, Zach opened the game Guesstures, and Charlie opened the movie Despicable Me – a funny movie – that we watched until late. I had to stay up anyway and bake the bread. I started the dough a bit late in the day. It was my first time baking bread from scratch. Mom’s recipe. It turned out okay. Not as good as Mom’s – naturally.
We also played Guesstures which was so great. We were running and laughing and grabbing for easy clues and shouting answers. I LOVE Guesstures and I LOVE playing with my boys. Then, Bobby came alive like he did when he was young. He’d play a game with me, then see how it could be improved, or add something to it. So, he invented a bonus round based on time, the faster you get the others to guess the better, and subtracting points for answering correctly, so that you gain something by guessing. It was so fun. I jumped and clapped and acted, and at one time, Zach said, “You’re fun!” – my best gift of the season.
I had this thought lately, that we’re wrong to cling to the sameness of life. That change is always happening. Kids grow up. We meet people. We end bad relationships. We move, and we move on. It is the idea that things will always be the same that makes us feel hopeless.
Journaling Prompt: What holiday traditions have you kept from childhood, and which ones have you tweaked or made on your own?
There’s a fun Hanukkah parody (or tune stealing) of the Dynamite song that’s quite catchy. One of my Jewish friends had posted the YouTube video on Facebook. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PuPcWaw8us
Our change this year was to be more consistent in celebrating advent this year. My daughter is reading better now and able to follow along in the nightly candle lighting and readings and prayers.
We’ve been playing Apples to Apples junior a lot. Fun!
My kiddo is almost three, so I’ve been really thinking about the whole tradition thing lately and what we would like to do year to year!
Those special things that you’ll always remember, the moments that can never be replaced. We definitely don’t have it all figured out yet, but I think spending time is the BEST way to get the most from the season.
Looks like your holiday was fantastic and that you all had a blast! I love the photos! 😉
Just had to let you know I enjoy your blogs. Our customs are pretty much unchanged, however this year, we opened gifts ==before washing the dishes== and you know what, the dishes were there waiting for us later. (One grandchild had to leave for work shortly after we ate and she got in on the gift opening.)Merry Christmas Mary.
Mary, I love that I got a preview of this blog post about an hour ago just after we finished up eating at one of your/our favorite eateries in Baxter. So happy to have made it safely to your place and looking forward to the next 24-plus hours. Thanks for always being so hospitable.
You’re so right…that we shouldn’t hold too tightly to anything in this world, in order to be more open to what adventures might be possible, and be prepared for more journeying in the future.
Here’s to adventure, and to traditions, some that are meant to hang around a while, and others that need to be chucked when the right time comes along. 🙂