My top ten favorites of the Christmas season:
1. Christmas Eve with my aunt, who is 92. Every year since I was born (except one year I spent with DH before we were married), the family has gathered in my aunt's tiny apartment for Christmas Eve (or Christmas Eve Eve, or the day after - we have had to switch it around with so many additions to the family). When my parents were first married, there was a total of 5 people who gathered. Last year, we had 15. The menu never changes: cold cuts, potato salad, pickles, cookies, and fudge. My aunt gives us each a lottery ticket, although we never win much.

2. Making new memories, even in keeping with old traditions. This year, for the first time, we are meeting at my cousin's house instead of my aunt's. It got too be too much for her to host. But, the people remain the same, the menu will probably be the same, and I know we'll celebrate in the same manner!

3. Decorating Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve. This was DH's tradition growing up. We were able to do this with his mother last year and will do it again this year. Thus, a tradition is born!

4. Book bags - another tradition of DH's that we have adopted. His mother made cloth book-sized bags that we...er, Santa...fills with books each year for the kids.

5. Cookie exchanges (this year we are combining it with a Bunco party)

6. Cousin's Christmas - usually the day after CHristmas, but this year it will be the Saturday after, most of DH's cousins (about 12-14) gather at my SIL's house will all the aunts and uncles. It's a day of food and fun. We do a gift exchange where you draw numbers. Number #1 will pick a present, then #2 can pick a new present or steal #1's present. It's a riot and it usually takes the better part of an hour with all the stealing

7. Turkey dinner at 1pm and turkey sandwiches that night.

8. Hidden stockings. Somewhere along the line as kids we came up with the idea that we should look for our stockings, much like you would look for Easter eggs! Our parents, er...Santa, obliged, and we would get up Christmas morning and have to search for our stockings. The hiding places got harder each year. We finally abandoned this tradition when we got a little old for our parents, er Santa, to be leaving us stockings...but it might be revived when my boys are a little bigger.

9. Working out an arrangement that we get to see both sides of the family, with no hurt feelings. Both DH's and my parents have never, never given us a guilt trip about not spending a holiday with them. The arrangement might very from year to year, but we always get to see everyone. This year it is 12/23 with my aunt, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my MIL (at our house), and Christmas dinner and evening with my family.

10. All of the additions to our family. My aunt used to joke that she thought our family line would die with my father, a bachelor until age 39. Then he met my mother, had three kids, who are all now married. They have three grandchildren with many more to come. One of our best presents was our son, born 12/23 two years ago. Just another reason to celebrate this wonderful time of year!

Enjoy the season!