Here, at Three Wicked Writers Plus Two we love this time of year. The weather is cooler. People are smiling more. It's just a beautiful time and we wanted to find a way to celebrate that. We put our heads together and think we came up with something our readers are going to love!
ALL month long we're going to be Jingle Bell Rockin. Every weekday, each member of Three Wicked Writers Plus Two will share one of our favorite memories of this time of year. And since this is the time of giving, we're going to do just that! One prize will be given away Monday-Friday ALL MONTH LONG. Yep, five prizes a week! You can't beat that. Our lovely Natalie will post all the weeks winners on her blog post every Friday!
So, on to my first memory. I think I'm going to share about the first Christmas we spent in California. It was 2004 and I was twenty-three years old with a baby and my husband. We'd moved to Cali after the baby was born so we could be close to his family. Keep in mind, that ever since I had been ten years old it was only my mom and I. Once in a while a friend might join us for the holiday, but primarily it was just us. Was hubby and I were together, it was usually just us and his mom. There was a year or so we spent with another family, but they weren't near this size. This was my friend year with my husband's big, extended, Italian family!
I will admit to being a little overwhelmed at first. They do not only a turkey and ham, but also homemade Italian food. I had never, EVER seen that much food in one place. lol. And family? Wow, there were a bunch of us. Aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, the whole nine yards. Lots of laughing, hugs, and good, good food.
I loved it. I'd never experienced something like that before. Watching so many kids run around. So many ladies in the kitchen working together. Part of me wanted to just sit back in awe while the other was so excited to jump in and be a part of it! Add the fact that it was my first baby's Christmas and it was a year to remember.
Do you have a favorite holiday memory where you broke tradition and spent the day with new people or in a new way?
I'll randomly draw one winner from today's commenters who will win their choice of one of my ebooks. Click HERE for a list of my books!
31 comments:
We used to always have Christmas dinner with my dad's family, but after my cousin's messy divorce three years ago, and the fact money was tight for everyone, we decided to do something different. My aunt serves pasta; everyone brings a dessert, appetizer, or 'must have' dish, and the little ones get the presents. This way, instead of buying for everyone, or drawing names, the five great-grandchildren open the gifts and everyone is happy, instead of stressing out over what to get everyone.
Awww...such a sweet memory. And I can only imagine how all those laughing, hugging Italians made you feel. I don't have a big family like that and sometimes I think it would be really nice to be a part of one.
Ready to start giving away gifts!
Madison, that had to be quite an experience. Going from such a small celebration to a HUGE THING plus adding a new baby into the mix. What a memory! Our family celebrations are small because...well, we're a small family. I remember one year when my dad was still with us. I was newly married and my sister was still single (but serious about her soon to be husband). We decided to spend Christmas in a mountain cabin in New Mexico. Mom, Dad, my husband and I, and my sister. Soooo cozy and beautiful with the snow coming down and the scent of pinon pine in the air. Don't think I'll ever forget that cozy Christmas.
Excellent memory! Esp. considering it was your baby's first Christmas. :)
Our get togethers are big and rowdy like that too. At my mom's Thanksgiving this year Kati brought her boyfriend, Jon. It was his first time at my mom and dad's. On the way home he said, 'You're family is awesome!' LOL He said he loved the way everyone was laughing and carrying on and just having a good time.
I imagine that felt like culture shock, but in a good way. Sounds like my Christmas memories from my childhood. Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season this year.
Linda J.
Wow, looks like it's going to be a crazily, fantastic month!!! How generous of you all.
When I was a child we usually spent Christmas at home in London, England. On a couple of rare occasions, we made the journey down south to the Isle of Wight to spend Christmas with my Grandparents. It was wonderful. My Grandmother was an awesome cook and I remember the pink and white sugar mice on the tree and the happiness when she announced we were allowed to eat them!!!
Valerie
in Germany
Awww! Such a sweet memory. Brought tears to my eyes!
:o)
That sounds really fun, Madison! We tend to keep our Christmas celebrations pretty small--immediate family, and then a couple small gatherings with groups of friends or other family groupings. I don't think we've broken out of the mold yet, but maybe we'll try that soon--sounds like a great way to celebrate in a different way!
Molly, I like that! When it comes to gifts, we only give for the kiddos too!
Tess,
Thanks! Yes it is fun. I love it.
Reg,
I would LOVE to do that. Dom and I have talked about trying to get a cabin in Big Bear one year for Christmas!
Anne,
That's great that Jon said that. How fun. I like the rowdy, excitement.
Linda, Yep! A good way. Thanks so much!
Valerie, I am so jealous! Would love to be in London. One of my favorite singers, he's been unsigned until recently is from London. He used to play in little pubs there. I see him every time he comes to the US.
Aww, Thanks, Nat!
Flchen, Thanks!! Small is really nice too. I enjoy both.
That sounds amazing! I had a similar one when I visited my family in England. I was raised an only child by a single mother. I took my husband and 2 kids to England to meet some of our family there and there was my nanny, three aunts, five kids, plus my two! It was a small flat and it was so loud. I just sat on the couch marveling at the noise level and the happiness! It was pretty much the best moment of my life.
Christmas dinner used to always be at grandma's house. For years it has been this way. Then a couple of years ago, one of my aunts decided to do dinner at her place instead. Now, we rotate through most of the family located in the same area for Christmas dinner. It's a good way to keep Grandma from overworking and having to stress about the cleaning.
I have been spending time with my daughter and her family instead of with my parents. I go visit my parents on my way to my in-laws.
Aww. That was a great story. I can imagine you had a little culture shock there. LOL Christmas was always a fairly large family affair for me when I was young. Now, not so much. Just like you and your mom, just me and my son. But, it's still special.
We always did Christmas dinner at my aunt's house. Generally it was 20-30 people, mostly family. The first year that we didn't do that, because of her health problems, was sort of depressing. I really miss kind of get together. Now I try to make sure my son has a good time, at least the years I have him, otherwise we do a late holiday for the three of us in the house.
Anon, Sounds wonderful! Sounds like we were raised the same.
Ashley, I wonder when we're going to have to do that too. It's a lot for Grandma.
Lady,
Nice to spend with your daughter!
Reedsmom, Yes, I'm sure its wonderful! Family is the most important thing.
Connie,
Yeah, I bet its hard when you're used to one thing and suddenly do another. Any family is all that matters though.
We always open all our presents on Christmas Eve (I'm an only child so it was mostly just me opening but you get the idea). My mom alwasy double wrapped my gifts so I couldn't see through the paper and she used glue sticks to seal them (she REALLY didn't want me peeking)! So one year the presents were all under the tree and I was walking by them when a bx shifter and starting talking. I am a huge tigger fan and come to find out there was a talking Tigger in there. lol I didn't even have to open it to see what that one was! :)
Kelly
kittykelly28 @ hotmail.com
My favorite memory was going to grannie's and pop's up in Hayfork, Calif. Alot of family came it was one of the two times I'd see most of them. My grannie had a dish od ribbon candy and I would sit next to it very quietly until she noticed me and would tell me I could have a piece of her special candy.
Zina
Kelly,
That is so funny that she doubled wrapped and used glue. LOL.
zina,
I love that! Nice memory.
We actually did live the Chinese food scene in A Christmas Story in real life. One year the weather was bad enough that we lost power at our farm house. After two days the power was still off, so for Christmas Eve we went out to eat Chinese food instead of having our usual soup and finger foods Christmas Eve meal. I thought it was great and every other year we perform the same ritual.
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