Advent Calendar - Christmas Eve

How did you, your family or your ancestors spend Christmas Eve?
Since it's just my husband and myself now, we spend it pretty quiet.  We sometimes have my sister-in-law Judy with us so that's always a plus.

When our girls were little and they didn't know which day was actually Christmas, my husband and I would have our own "Christmas Day" at home just the four of us.  Then December 24th, we'd pack our bags for several days, and all the Christmas gifts into the car for the 50 mile trek to my mother's house to celebrate Christmas Eve with her, my sister, brother and his family.  We'd have a really nice dinner, open gifts, take video and lots of instant pictures with our cameras. 

After a few hours, we'd pack up the girls and all our "loot", and drive another 30 miles to my in-laws house for Christmas Eve again.  My in-laws would hold off gift opening until we got there.  It was a very long day for us.  Our girls were cranked up to the hilt and fell asleep exhausted.  Luckily, we'd stay over for several nights.

Exhausting, exhilarating, thrilling, surprising and fun.  Food, laughter, visiting, sharing and oh so many Kodak moments.  By the time Christmas Day had actually arrived, I was usually pooped! 

When I was a little girl, my parents always seem to have a friendly get together most Christmas Eves.  We saw friends of theirs pop in for awhile, have a drink, and little something to eat.

My ancestors, I'm not really sure how they spent their Christmas Eve, but I bet they had fun too.

Advent Calendar - Christmas Music

What songs did your family listen to during Christmas?
Oh, I think the usual, "Silent Night", "White Christmas", anything by Bing Crosby or Perry Como, loved their holiday specials.  When I was little, a "new Christmas" song just came out and I remember driving my mom insane by playing it over and over, "Christmas Don't Be Late" by Alvin and the Chipmunks.  I think we wore out a phonograph needle.

Today, I really can't listen to that song without thinking of mom holding her ears and walking away into another room.  I have favorite Christmas songs that I start playing the day after Thanksgiving.  "Merry Christmas Darling" by the Carpenters, "Once Upon A Christmas" CD by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.  A few years ago I actually had to buy a new cassette because I wore my first one out.

This year I bought The Christmas CD by the cast of Glee.  My sister got me hooked on the show each Tuesday night.  Since I love Christmas songs, I had to buy the album.  It's in my car so I can listen to it on the way home from work and I've ripped it to my iPod.  I don't usually buy Cd's during the year, but come Christmas time and I'm looking and listening when I'm in a mall.

Advent Calendar - Christmas Shopping

How did your family handle Christmas Shopping?
Mom did all the shopping and wrapping.  She must have done her shopping when we were in school.  The gifts magically appeared under the tree or there would be gifts in the car trunk when we went visiting grandma Jean.  When we were a little older, I remember our dad took all three of us out once to buy a gift for mom.  We had never done that before. My sister, brother and I were so excited on Christmas day for mom to open her gift from us.

Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?
My sister Sharon ALWAYS took the prize hands down, when it came time to be finished shopping.  She was usually done before Thanksgiving, so unfair!!  When I was finally making my own money, I remember thinking, "I haven't a clue what to get anyone," and this was usually well into December.  We are the same to this day.  She's usually done by Thanksgiving (or at least the end of November), me, I'm still working on this year's gifts.  Got any ideas?

Advent Calendar - Christmas Stockings

Did you have one?  Yes.
Where did you hang it?  On the short "pony wall" by our dining room.
What did you get in it?  Mom usually bought each of us a store-bought net stocking each year.  The stocking always had hard candy.
Do you have any Christmas stockings used by your ancestors?  No.

 

Jennifer & Lara, 1980





When our daughters were born, I purchased some fuzzy stockings to hang by our fireplace.  As I got more into quilting, I made stocking for the girls and they got various ones from relatives.  But I still have the original ones I made them (somewhere).  The girls always enjoyed opening the small presents I'd wrap up for them and hid in the toe of their stockings. 




 

Lara & Jennifer with our dog Sandy, 1991



Of course there was always the plastic candy cane filled with M&Ms.  Each year I still look at those candy canes in the store, although I no longer buy them, they still take me back to when my girls were little.

Advent Calendar - Holiday Travel

Did you or your ancestors travel anywhere for Christmas?  How did you travel and who traveled with you?  Do you remember any special trips?
We didn't travel for Christmas.  Most years, my parents would have a get-together on Christmas Eve.  My mother's father (grandpa Hank and his wife Bonita) lived in Waterloo, Wisconsin, so we didn't see them for the holidays.  Mom would take us to see her mother (grandma Jean) before the holidays to exchange gifts.  Grandma must have gone to my aunt's house for Christmas.  My dad's mother (grandma Angie) would either come over on Christmas Eve or maybe Christmas Day.  She would make the rounds to all the cousin's houses.

For several years we had to be up at 5:00 AM on December 26th to hit-the-road for our family ski trip.  We wanted to keep playing with our new toys on Christmas night, but come bedtime, it was early to bed.  I remember one such morning, we were in a diner having breakfast.  We were the only people there, really felt strange.  My mom saw me just staring into space and asked me what I was thinking of, I said, "it's only 365 days until Christmas."  She sat there with her mouth open and her eyes rolling back into her head.  My dad and the man behind the counter roared with laughter.