Broken Traditions
Due to work conflicts, Steven and I were unable to make it home for Christmas this year... which means I spent my FIRST Christmas ever away from my family. Every year, from the time I was a baby - I've spent Christmas at my Grandma's (or wherever she happened to be living: my aunts/my moms)! It's a family tradition!! EVERYONE - from my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews...you name it - comes! We have a huge pot-luck style dinner where everyone brings something. The entire family meets for lunch, eats, and hangs out all afternoon. The men watch football, the kids play, and the women chat! Some people eventually go home or off to other places for 2nd lunch- but then everyone returns that evening to have leftovers for supper! For me - its one of the most looked-forward to days of the year!!
And this year... I wasn't there!!
Instead, Steven and I spent Christmas with our West Virginia Arkansas friends. We all (Me, Steven, Charlie, Sarah, Heaven, and Ian) went to Ira and Melanie's house on Christmas Eve... had some food, played some games, drank some coffee, and watched a movie! It was an all night event! We spent the night and crashed on the couch, the floor.. wherever we landed! The next morning (Christmas Day) we woke up and opened presents! Everyone brought all of their presents from home to open! Heaven (Charlie and Sarah's 1-year-old) was sooo cute opening her gifts!! She was pretty chill opening them all - until she opened Sock Monkey. She literally started squealing when she got it! She held it and danced with it... adorable!! After that was over, we cleaned up the trashed apartment and had breakfast! Steven and I departed for home... we had lots of cooking to do!!
Everyone came over to our place around 4 for dinner! Steven and I made the turkey and dressing - and a few other things - and everyone else (same people) brought yummy things! The dressing I made was a recipe my mom and i created last year! It's my family's secret recipe!! Up until last year, it only existed in the heads of a few women in my family! It was DELICIOUS!!! So, we ate, watched the Christmas Story, and hung out until late hours in the night!
It was a wonderful Christmas, but it just didn't feel like Christmas to me. Steven and I decided... that from now on - Christmas is to be spent with our families... no matter what!!
And this year... I wasn't there!!
Instead, Steven and I spent Christmas with our West Virginia Arkansas friends. We all (Me, Steven, Charlie, Sarah, Heaven, and Ian) went to Ira and Melanie's house on Christmas Eve... had some food, played some games, drank some coffee, and watched a movie! It was an all night event! We spent the night and crashed on the couch, the floor.. wherever we landed! The next morning (Christmas Day) we woke up and opened presents! Everyone brought all of their presents from home to open! Heaven (Charlie and Sarah's 1-year-old) was sooo cute opening her gifts!! She was pretty chill opening them all - until she opened Sock Monkey. She literally started squealing when she got it! She held it and danced with it... adorable!! After that was over, we cleaned up the trashed apartment and had breakfast! Steven and I departed for home... we had lots of cooking to do!!
Everyone came over to our place around 4 for dinner! Steven and I made the turkey and dressing - and a few other things - and everyone else (same people) brought yummy things! The dressing I made was a recipe my mom and i created last year! It's my family's secret recipe!! Up until last year, it only existed in the heads of a few women in my family! It was DELICIOUS!!! So, we ate, watched the Christmas Story, and hung out until late hours in the night!
It was a wonderful Christmas, but it just didn't feel like Christmas to me. Steven and I decided... that from now on - Christmas is to be spent with our families... no matter what!!
Steven and I on Christmas Day 09!
The good news is: I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY TOMORROW!!! We leave early early in the morning - headed to Forrest City, Arkansas!! We will be there tomorrow night through early Sunday morning! (We are leaving early Sunday to come back to Mo-town. Steven starts a new job on Monday... and I have to work!) I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone...especially my babies!!!
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