2011-12-24, 12:59 AM
My extended family is so huge I had to make an excel spreadsheet just to make sure we didn't leave anyone out. We bought a lot of gifts for the kids in our family (nieces, nephews, cousins, second cousins, etc.) but for a lot of my first cousins I've been making teddy bears out of my grandma's old clothes. I made a bunch of them for my immediate family and my aunties and uncles last year and though I wasn't sure if it would be creepy or not (you know, having something made out of a deceased person's clothes) everyone loved them and it made me so happy to be able to give something really meaningful for Christmas. So I'm making more. I miss my grandma a lot and I know everyone else does too. I think I miss her laugh the most; she had a wonderfully honest old-lady cackle kinda laugh, it was the best. I can still hear it in my head if I think about it.
Christmas Eve is when my side of the family celebrates. The whole extended family gathers at one person's house, and everyone brings their presents and puts them in a huuuuuge pile around the Christmas tree. We eat and drink and sing and hang out until around 10-11pm, then Santa comes and starts handing out presents one by one. The kids literally have to have multiple trash bags because they get a gazillion gifts (one of the benefits of having a huge extended family) and it's a blast to see their faces light up every time their name gets called. At this point our family has gotten so huge that it takes well over an hour to hand out presents to everyone (I think last year might have taken more than two hours even, but I can't remember for sure.) After presents are done being handed out, the kids are allowed to open their gifts and the house is filled with the sounds of ripping paper, squealing, laughing, and general merriment. It is pineappleing awesome. Then the party continues on until everyone is too tired or too drunk to keep partying, which usually is around 4-6am, sometimes longer depending on who is hosting and how much stuff there is to do (bingo, karaoke, beer pong, Rock Band, Wii, drunken caroling, etc.) It is a freaking blast.
The next day we head off to party with my husband's side of the family, where the gatherings are generally less... hectic and crazy? His side of the family doesn't always have one huge family gathering, which means we often travel from one auntie and uncle's house to another, giving and receiving gifts and eating whatever the family has prepared. Then when we have visited all his aunties and uncles, we head to his parents' house and party some more with his family, which usually involves doing shots with his mom. Again, pretty awesome.
I love Christmas. I love our crazy parties and spending time together with the whole family and having good times. I love the feeling of togetherness and experiencing Christmas with the kids and the warm fuzzy feelings of LOVE that fill the house. Can't wait for tomorrow night!
Christmas Eve is when my side of the family celebrates. The whole extended family gathers at one person's house, and everyone brings their presents and puts them in a huuuuuge pile around the Christmas tree. We eat and drink and sing and hang out until around 10-11pm, then Santa comes and starts handing out presents one by one. The kids literally have to have multiple trash bags because they get a gazillion gifts (one of the benefits of having a huge extended family) and it's a blast to see their faces light up every time their name gets called. At this point our family has gotten so huge that it takes well over an hour to hand out presents to everyone (I think last year might have taken more than two hours even, but I can't remember for sure.) After presents are done being handed out, the kids are allowed to open their gifts and the house is filled with the sounds of ripping paper, squealing, laughing, and general merriment. It is pineappleing awesome. Then the party continues on until everyone is too tired or too drunk to keep partying, which usually is around 4-6am, sometimes longer depending on who is hosting and how much stuff there is to do (bingo, karaoke, beer pong, Rock Band, Wii, drunken caroling, etc.) It is a freaking blast.
The next day we head off to party with my husband's side of the family, where the gatherings are generally less... hectic and crazy? His side of the family doesn't always have one huge family gathering, which means we often travel from one auntie and uncle's house to another, giving and receiving gifts and eating whatever the family has prepared. Then when we have visited all his aunties and uncles, we head to his parents' house and party some more with his family, which usually involves doing shots with his mom. Again, pretty awesome.
I love Christmas. I love our crazy parties and spending time together with the whole family and having good times. I love the feeling of togetherness and experiencing Christmas with the kids and the warm fuzzy feelings of LOVE that fill the house. Can't wait for tomorrow night!