Christmas Traditions

So, after my last post, I thought it might be fun for you to hear what some of the Kattman Family Christmas Traditions actually are. Last year was my first year away from my family for the Christmas holiday so I missed out on many of these for the first time...which makes me look forward to them this year even more!

Here we go...
*Every year I am Santa. That's right. My dad gives me my mom's list, my mom gives me my brother's list, and my mom gives me my dad's list and somehow I end up buy everyone's gifts (sometimes I've even bought my own). This works out great for a couple reasons: 1. I love to shop 2. My parents work and I'm on vacation so it's a perfect thing for me to do

*Corralling for the Christmas Eve Service. We always end up going but it's sort of the elephant in the room until someone gets nostalgic and we decide that we can't NOT go. And, of course, we're always happy once we're in the car and on our way listening to Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas.

*Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas. One of the best Christmas CD's of all time. It plays on repeat over surround sound throughout the house starting on December 1st and I never get sick of it.

*Christmas morning run. My friend Kelly and I have lived in the same neighborhood since the day I came home from the hospital (she was born five days before). Needless to say, we've spent many Christmas mornings together. Our first Christmas home from college we started a tradition of running together on Christmas morning. It's always the perfect way to start one of my favorite days of the year and it's such a sweet time with my friend.

*1:00 p.m. present opening. Obviously we don't have little kids in our house. We try to prolong the Christmas morning build up as long as we can. My brother sleeps in, I run with Kelly, mom makes brunch, and my dad just walks around the house drinking coffee and putting everything in in its place. Bryan will just sit and read the paper and wonder how it's possible to leave unopened gifts under the tree for six hours before even mentioning the fact that we have gifts to open over brunch.

*Maple Pecan Rolls. Thanks to our friend Jenifer Skinner, Maple Pecan Rolls entered our lives back in 2000. Accompanying Quiche Lorraine, fruit, OJ, and some type of yummy bread, Maple Pecan Rolls are the highlight of our Christmas morning brunch. Bryan asks me to make them periodically throughout the year and I always comply.

*Aspen cologne, golf balls, and a bottle of wine. Dads are always the hardest to shop for and thankfully I feel like I've gotten much better about shopping for my dad over the years, but with Aspen cologne, golf balls, and a bottle of wine, you can never go wrong. It's inevitable that he'll get at least one of these, if not all three, from one of us...and love it.

*Reused wrapping paper. My mom has the uncanny ability to save and reuse tissue and wrapping paper that has been circulating our house since 1995. She not only wraps every gift, but she makes a little note for each of them out of folded wrapping paper that says to: __________ and from: __________ and a little "Merry Christmas!" or "We love you!" Even if she's up until 2 a.m. by golly all those presents will be wrapped and will have an individualized note. It's pretty amazing.

*A visit to the Weavers. Ron Weaver is my dad's best friend and we rarely go a Christmas without popping over to visit on Christmas Day. The Weavers have six grandchildren and I think more than anything my dad loves going over to play with them and all their new toys. They call him "Big John"

*My dad's obsession with the choo-choo train. Speaking of kids...a while back my dad bought this crazy choo-choo train with a remote and he loves to annoy us by turning it on, pressing all the buttons, making the little men on the train sing, blowing the whistle, etc. We always sigh and groan when we see him pick up the remote, but I think deep down we all love his child-likeness.

I'll just add that the great thing about being a part of two families is that Bryan and I have been able to learn to love what's special to each other. One day I'm sure we'll develop traditions of our own, but we'll definitely hold on to and continue with many of the Kattman and Stanton Christmas Traditions.

I can't wait! What are some of your family favorites?