The Three Days of Christmas
Christmas fell weird this year since it was on a Friday. My family has traditionally always had “Christmas at Grandma’s” the Saturday between Christmas and New Years – this year that meant the day after Christmas; hence the three days of Christmas.
I have never really been a big fan of Christmas – too stressful and meaningless anymore for my blood. This year was rather different though, I actually looked forward to it.
About two years ago I lost everything when my house flooded, and that included all of my holiday decorations. All of my children’s “my first Christmas” ornaments and some of the ornaments from my childhood too – all gone. Last year’s Christmas was chaotic and emotional as my son Bailey kept repeating, “All I want for Christmas is for Santa to bring my daddy back”. He was only three and of course didn’t understand – to him, Santa is almighty and powerful and grants the wishes of all good girls and boys. If all Christmas wishes always came true … my daughter would have four little sisters instead of four brothers!
This year was different – it was more about family and being together, and doing things as a family had my holiday excitement in full gear. This year, I could feel the true spirit of the holiday season weeks before its arrival. Even though I shelled out a pretty penny for one of those pre-lit artificial trees last year — this year, in honor of our new house, we opted for a big beautiful live Christmas tree. We picked out the ornaments together as a family, and then we picked out the most stunning tree on the lot. I had my eye on that tree from the moment we pulled up. I will skip the part about how they only took cash and my dumb ass was so excited about the tree that I forgot my debit card in the ATM across the street; okay, I will tell you about it. I’m blonde, what did you expect? I was lucky enough though that the bank I left my Debit card at doesn’t destroy them — apparently every other bank in the Pittsburgh area does, and three weeks before Christmas . . . that would have sucked.
We decorated the tree together in spurts — and then the rest of the house as well. It was the first time in all of my adult years that I have sat back and truly soaked in the moment. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows and gazed upon our weekend long effort with eyes filled with joy. We were all happy with the way that everything worked out, and I think that is what made this Christmas so special for me . . . it was at that very moment that I realized that everything had worked out — perfectly.
The gifts were wrapped as they were purchased, which again made this year much different from any other year before. There was no stay up all night and wrap until you drop session. Christmas eve I was able to just sit back, put my feet up, and enjoy a Christmas movie snuggled on the sofa with the kids.
Christmas Eve
His son spends Christmas day with his mom, so the morning of Christmas eve we did a mock Christmas with all of the kids so that they could experience their first Christmas together. It was really nice to see their faces glowing with excitement as they each opened their one special gift. After breakfast was made and things settled down — he left with his son to do his Christmas Eve ritual with his family. I started our new Christmas Eve ritual which included a dinner of their favorite meal (pasta wheels — nice and easy!) and then we made pop-corn and settled in for the first viewing of the 24 hour-long marathon of A Christmas Story. My four-year old laughed his bones off.
Off to bed they went with dreams of expensive gifts dancing in their heads. He and I snuggled on the sofa before playing Santa and retiring for the night.
Christmas Day
They slept in! How on earth do my children manage to wake up at 6:30 am every day including weekends and then sleep in on Christmas day? Not that I am complaining in the least — it was nice to sleep in.
They tore through he wrapping paper anxious to see what treasures were beneath, and for the most part I can comfortably say that they were more than happy with every present that they received. We ate a yummy breakfast together (thanks babe) and then the kids and I headed off to the grandparents.
I cannot summarize just how happy I am that he stayed home for this. Nothing makes me more irritated than cramming into my parent’s living room with 8 adults and 9 children because the vicious dog has the roam of the rest of the house and cannot be trusted near the precious angels. My three-year old was getting crabby beyond belief as we approached the nap time hour and we were all hot and testy and tripping over one another. I cannot remember a time when I was ever so eager to run out the door with barely a good-bye.
My two older kids were picked up by their dad shortly after, a Christmas day routine that hasn’t changed in nine years. He and I prepared Christmas dinner with a little help from the lil’ sister La-La on the yummy ham — the little boys napped soundly for hours. Ahhh, peaceful bliss!
My bestest friend Darby and her husband and daughter came over to exchange Christmas gifts with the kids. This has been a Christmas day ritual of mine for over 20 years now — only it used to be between just Darby and I. Us grown-ups retired to laughing at old memories and new funny happenings while we killed the night with a few drinks before saying our good-byes. Darby and I only get to see each other two or three times during the fall through spring because the driving conditions are insane where she lives, so I always cherish every moment of our visits when we get to have them.
Christmas at Grandma’s
Christmas at Grandma’s house took on a whole new meaning a few years back when the gift exchange was axed (thank God for small miracles) and it was changed to Christmas dinner only. Grandma (or Gram, or Nunny, or Big Nunny – depending on whose child you are and whether you are a grandchild or a great-grandchild) lives just a few doors down from our favorite watering hole. Christmas at Grandma’s mean sneaking out and saying you are smoking while you run down to bar to sneak in a shot of cheers with rest of us deviants and our friends from the neighborhood. Christmas at Grandma’s is always held the Saturday between Christmas and New Years — which this year meant that it happened the day after Christmas. By this point in time — my liver is aching and I’m sick of ham . . . and I am not alone! Ohhh, but the wide variety of homemade Polish cookies makes it all the worth while.
As I sit here at my new Christmas present and type away about the memories of Christmas, I feel it most important to mention that I am forever grateful that I have the most wonderful family in the world to drive me insane during holidays such as this. I didn’t go broke over trying to outdo myself — I don’t have the money or the means to do that anyway; I did however have the most memorable three days spent surrounded by the most incredible sense of love and happiness and that is what made these three days of Christmas so special to me.
Stay tuned for the juicy details about the after-hours Christmas special!