My family has always been pretty laid back about the holidays.. we used to eat Chinese food every Thanksgiving because it was the only restaurant open.. and because it was just the three of us (me, mom & dad) rather than a large family gathering. We never actually got together with either side of my family.. I guess because we were the ‘black sheep’. All I know is that huge family gatherings at holidays were something I heard about from friends and boyfriends or saw on television.. they just weren’t a reality to me.
My husband’s family however.. being large (in number) and Southern.. do up the holidays bigger than I ever thought possible. It was important to me when our son was born that he have this experience of huge Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas packed with so many family members that you can’t fit everyone and their presents into one room, and birthdays with all of the relatives gathered around with cameras. Thanksgiving is one of the holidays that I really enjoy.. because its just the family.. gathered together.. and being together. My favorite thing this year was to sit with the family and watch television after dinner and knit on my HP scarf.. while everyone just sat and enjoyed themselves.
Christmas (with all of its monetary output for such a large gift list) really stresses me out.. and I usually start feeling that just as soon as my Thanksgiving turkey begins to digest. This year I feel like I have things a little more under control with the gift list (mostly because we agreed to not to exchange presents for the adults.. only the children) and I refuse to give into holiday stress. I’m hoping to go over to the inlaws tonight and pull out some Christmas decorations from the attic to start decorating my home.. and get together all of my holiday scented candles. I saw today that the live Christmas trees have arrived at the grocery store (mmmm.. Douglas Fir….) but husband HATES the idea of a live tree since he grew up with one of those fake ones.