Thursday, December 2, 2010

The One Where I Talk About Christmas

I read this Christmas list off a few blogs recently. Apparently the people who did it were competing for a prize. I'm a little late on that aspect...but I still liked the idea so, in the spirit of being completely un-original, I'm using it.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?
That the jobs and school taking them away from Utah and away from living close to me will become unnecessary and we'll all live near each other. (This doesn't have to be realistic, right?)

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?
Forlornly listen to the children outside playing with their new toys while we're banished to our bedrooms to wait for Dad to get home from working at the hospital. Then, when we finally get up, go into my parent's inhumanely cold room, patiently suffer through Mom's ubsurdly long prayer and finally (around noon) get to go into the living room to see what Santa brought. Then, about half-way through, get re-banished to our rooms while Dad goes back to the hospital to deliver a baby and we wonder if there will ever be a Christmas that Dad doesn't have to work.* I highly resent any child that was ever born on Christmas.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?
Is it weird that I don't know? Can Santa bring a boyfriend? I guess that would be decadent.

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?
Spend my parents money.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?
Any games you can play with Rook cards. Oh Heck, Hearts, Golf, Rummy, Speed etc. Or, we'd play The Glob: one person throws a blanket over their head and tried to catch and smother someone else to make them The Glob. Wonder why I'm claustrophobic?

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?
Well, I still insist that my parents do Christmas Eve jammies. And I still try and force everyone into the same car (which is clearly impossible at this point) to see lights. And did I mention the whole waiting-for-Dad on Christmas morning thing? Guess who's working Christmas Day this year?

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?
Nowhere---I love being home. Instead, I'd want all my family to be here, too. I guess if I had to go somewhere, I'd head up to Cokeville, Wyoming.

What about the rest of you? How would you answer these questions?

Also, it's the beginning of a new month which means a new edition of The Barrel. And I still don't know how to post the picture link. It features all kinds of Christmas ideas (lots of saving money ones so you don't have to spend your parents money either), great recipes to make you gain holiday weight and fun stories. Plus, stories from other bloggers outside of the U.S. with different cultural traditions. So go check it out.

*Don't let my dramatics fool you---Christmas morning was actually always wonderful. Yes, there were interruptions, but it didn't matter. It prolonged the time we sat around the tree opening presents and being together.

25 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Did I ever mention that my dad once bought me a Boyfriend in a Box?

Oh, and my plan on Monday is to post about where to find a good man, so you might want to tune in.

sara said...

"Mom's ubsurdly long prayer" made me snort my diet coke.
And the parents money comment. That's hilarious! Nice list.

PS. Kind of along the lines of Kristina. My dad bought me a stud finder one year. You know, the little machine used to help you find the studs in a wall? He thought he'd be hilarious and give me one. Ironically, I've used that baby quite a number of times to hang shelves. I never tried it on my hubby... I'm worried the little lights wouldn't light up.

Kara said...

I love your little bio in "The Barrel"

Alyson | New England Living said...

Yeah, #2 had me cracking up too!

I'm with you, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on Christmas but home. Maybe I could go for a cabin in the Vermont woods, but I wouldn't miss a Christmas in my little region of the world for anything. Vacations are for other times of the year! Christmas means home.

Aubrey Anne Boyer said...

I'm not due until March, so I think I can safely say it won't be my fault if your dad has to go to the hospital on Christmas.

Connie said...

So waiting until noon to open presents would totally prolong Christmas, right?
I carry on traditions that my grandparents had and now my kids are doing the same, because they participate in the traditions with me! Christmas is family...and lights! And of course celebration of our Savior's birth. What more can we want...except maybe a boyfriend!

Deb said...

It sounds like you had great Christmases. The more you can complain about your family traditions, the more special they were.

Lara Neves said...

My parents always made us eat breakfast, have family prayer, sing some hymns and go around saying things we love about each other before gifts could be opened. I suppose I am thankful now, but it was pretty annoying as a child!

Loved this post. Your family sounds very fun, dad off delivering babies and all. I will try hard never to have one on Christmas.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

I giggled the whole way through your story of christmas morning! You are too cute. Santa will for SURE bring you a bf!

LisAway said...

Oh! We had Rook and played lots of games too. Especially Rook. :)

I'm so glad my dad wasn't an obstetrician. And I won't allow any of my sons to become one, either.

I think 2011 will be your year for a boyfriend. Yes, I do. (the earlier part of the year, I mean)

Emily said...

Good times during the holidays. I think a lot of my memories revolve around food, because my kitchen is suddenly stocked with ingredients to make every Christmas treat I ever had as a kid! Oh, and this year I'm trying the G's peppermint bark for the first time, since I know it's one of your favorites.

I do hate the Christmas has to change when families grow up. This will be my first Christmas with no family at all. There will be tears. But there will be sweets!

TisforTonya said...

I'm so glad I wasn't born on Christmas... here's to hoping your Dad's work schedule didn't also make you hate kids born on Groundhog's Day :)

The card games - I grew up playing all of those... and now my own kids (and the ManOfTheHouse) just roll their eyes when I want to play a game.

Kazzy said...

Even though it sounded choppy and interrupted, the way you stuck it out as a family is incredibly heart-warming and sweet.

Playing games together is my favorite part of the holidays.

Boy Mom said...

The Golb is a totally awesome game!

Smart Helm said...

I have to say Christmas is my most favorite time of the year because its when we get together as family and play games together! Our favorite is Solitaire Frenzy (everyone has a different name for it). Every year we had to wait until my parents got up and showered and then we all had to eat some breakfast (a cinnimun roll and hot chocolate). It drives my inlaws crazy how long we sit around in the morning eating, waiting for the shower, and/or just talking before ever going into the front room. I LOVE it now, although when I was young... not so much :-).

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

OK you made me giggle.
I love the "spending my parents money"
I think you must have talked with my kids.

I'm going to have to start shopping for a boyfriend for you.
Hope you'll like it.

Shelley said...

I remember you talking about your dad working, crappy. At least you got to have a very unique Easter egg hunt! I love reading your posts....it always makes me think of my childhood.

Camille said...

I love Cokeville WY. My favorite is their Pioneer Day parade, where it goes down the street and then back up.

wendy said...

Those were good Barb.
Christmas and traditions and family IN MY MIND are the core of it all.
It is fun to hear about others tradiditons and the memories they hold so dear.
This will be my first FIRST Christmas ever where I won't be with my children........
It will however be my first Christmas with my new hubby.
It is torn emotions there.
We need to start our own new traditions.
It will be a NEW Christmas for me in many many ways.
The loss of my son will make it very difficult...different ....hard...
this year.
But he LOVED Christmas...and so I need to continue to as well

Sara Waldron said...

Oh Barb you make me laugh. I remember feeling bad for you on Christmas morning when we were younger. But it made our afternoon fun to come see what you all got! And I love memories of playing games at your house. (I'm surprised you didn't add The Minister's Cat). :)

Sandra said...

You don't want a boyfriend. They fart. Get a puppy instead.

Cynthia said...

Ugh! That would have KILLED me on Christmas to have to wait like that! We never made it past 5-6 am and my kids are the same way.

As for #3, we just have to suck you into the politics vacuum- I've met tons of nice, smart, ambitious single guys. Not that I have a need for any of that. Then again- I've met some SUPER WEIRD guys in local politics too. Maybe not such a good plan...

charrette said...

LOVE Rook and all family games during the holidays, LOVE Christmas Eve Jammies, LOVE staying home for Christmas, and I'm sure if my parents had any money I would love spending it!

How could Santa NOT bring you a boyfriend for Christmas? You're too adorable for words!

Plus, your word verification is: finesse

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

HAHAHAHAHA, I loooooooooved this!!! I hope Santa does bring you a decadent boyfriend (sounds like he should be smothered in chocolate or at least carrying it!) and you can spend lots of your parents' money, lol!

Liz Mays said...

If you are piling all those people in a car to see lights, can you actually see anything?

Is it just my town or are less people putting lights up this year?