Christmas has always been the most magical holiday for our family.
My mom always made an effort to create tradition, which creates unforgettable memories.
Christmas Eve was our special celebration.
I remember the smell of fresh cut pine boughs,
crystal glasses filled with sparkling grape juice,
delicate china set neatly on the dining room table,
and the beautiful,
and I mean stunning,
Christmas trees.
Mom always had an assortment of hors d’oeuvres displayed to rival any fine restaurant.
We would sip cranberry wassail and sit by the fire.
Each of my sisters had a special Christmas dress to wear
and we’d spend forever in the bathroom,
styling our hair because dad was sure to have his video camera in record mode all night!
(me & my sisters, Beth & Christianne)
The menu would often be peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin,
or orange glazed Cornish hens,
and more recently chicken alouette.
Dinner was always divine!
(I think my mom taught Martha Stewart everything she knows.)
After dinner we would gather in the family room.
My mom had made a manger and all figures out of toilet paper rolls and paper mache.
Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, and wise men filled hours of playtime for my sisters and I.
Dad would read the Christmas story from the Bible
and my sisters and I would play the reenactment with the dolls.
We would pause to sing carols.
Each of us girls were to present something to the family,
whether it be singing a duet, reciting a reading, or performing a song on the piano.
The house was filled with family and friends.
The house was filled with laughter.
But most importantly,
the house was filled with love.
We knew the reason for the season.
Dad isn’t around this Christmas,
so our festivities will be bittersweet.
so our festivities will be bittersweet.
But the traditions will continue.
My sisters and I will gather with our families and mom,
and we’ll sip wassail and sing carols,
and watch our children act out the Christmas story and open gifts
with eyes full of wonder and amazement of the season.
May God bless you and your family this holiday!
Merry Christmas!
Love, Kim
Your traditions are wonderful and you have a beautiful family!
Merry Christmas!
XO,
Jane
What a fabulous heritage you have Kim! I know you and Beth and your entire family will have such a sweet time. It’s hard and different when loved ones are no longer with us. Y’all will be in my thoughts.
xo
Kim what sweet memories from your Christmas of past years. I love that! Great traditions to keep a family near and dear. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this year, even though your Dad is not there this time. What a beautiful family you have.
Love to you & Beth!
Such wonderful memories and traditions in your family! I am sure you Dad will be watching over you all with pride and a smile. Blessings.
I’m sorry you don’t have your dad this year. But you have him in spirit and in cherished memories. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Brenda
How blessed you are to have so many amazing memories with your family. We are working to create these wonderful memories with our children, as hubby and I don’t have them from our own childhoods.
I am curious, do you have any instructions or maybe just more pictures of the toilet paper roll nativity scene?
Thanks,
Leslie
Hi Leslie, No, I don’t have any pic or instructions on how to make them. Mom made them when I was a toddler and she hasn’t displayed them in several yrs. I know she used the rolls for bodies, did tissue paper balls for heads then paper mached the whole thing, adding fabric and details. They really are works of art. I’ll need to dig them out of a box and photograph them some day.
Without exaggerating
(me & my sisters, Beth & Christianne) > Charlie’s angels!?
And you have an adorable family. Thank you for introducing yourself to us!