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It’s the eve of Christmas Eve. The couple of days before Christmas are weird. Like, we’re family, we’re hanging out, no one’s working, but what are we supposed to do with each other? The Christmas traditions haven’t started yet. We’re together, but we’re not sure how to entertain one another. We’re not used to being together and we all have our own way of doing things now. Because my brother and I are no longer children–we’re adults and it’s super strange.
A lot of our time is spent in separate rooms watching different things on four different TVs. Technology has really put a damper on togetherness. (There is a little bit of, “We’re going to watch The Grinch/Rudolph/Frosty as a family and you’re going to enjoy it whether you like it or not!)
Instead of sitting around and staring at each other, my dad, brother and I went to dinner last night. At Outback, where there are approximately 2 things I can eat. Our waiter got into a stand up routine about his cold. And his cough. And his congestion. We ate and discussed the movies we want to see on Christmas Eve, a long standing tradition. When we arrived back at my parents’ house, my mom had some friends over, one of whom has a new baby. I wasn’t allowed to hold her because I’m sick. Boo. I even offered to wash my hands. Holding a smiling baby would’ve been the highlight of my evening.
So here we are, with the whole day before Christmas Eve stretched before us. I brought entirely too much yarn. I don’t know what I was thinking. We have no big plans for the day, just “together” time. I will be knitting and crocheting and sleeping and complaining about being sick. I’m planning on going back to the city to get my camera (I can’t believe I forgot it!).
What do you and your family do together in the days before Christmas?
10 comments
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December 23, 2010 at 10:05 am
Nikke Brown
It’s great that you get to be with your family.
I always have to celebrate Christmas later because I always work Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
So I’ll be working my butt off!
Merry Christmas =]
December 23, 2010 at 10:08 am
Windsor Grace
Oh, I’m so sorry! That is terrible. I usually have to work Christmas Eve, but I really lucked out this year and don’t have a regular job. So, I was able to come home earlier than normal. Hang in there! Merry Christmas :)
December 23, 2010 at 12:45 pm
LittleBig
This Christmas is kind of weird. I mean, as you noticed, I didn’t even decorate.
There will probably be some family xboxing and much time in jammies.
December 23, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Windsor Grace
I didn’t decorate either. It has been a weird season.
December 23, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
I am never around my family in the days leading up to the holidays, unfortunately… My parents get here on Christmas Eve and I think they are leaving the afternoon of Christmas Day so I won’t even see that much of them!!
That is gross that your waiter joked about his cough/cold/congestion. icky.
December 23, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Sizzle
We all live in the same town now and I’m still at work so I guess we don’t have much in the way of tradition in the days leading up to Christmas. In the past when we didn’t all live together I guess we did stuff like bake together, go see a movie, drive around and see holiday lights, wrap gifts, take naps, play board games.
Happy holidays to you and yours!
December 23, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Allison
We usually do a gift exchange and dinner either Christmas Eve or Day. I started a Christmas breakfast last year.
This year we have dinner and gift exchange on Christmas Eve with Jay’s family. On Christmas day we’ll have breakfast with everyone (both families),then dinner and gift exchange with my side of the family.
Jay and I usually work up until Christmas. I’ll be working tomorrow for a few hours. This is the first year that both of my parents have both been retired.
I guess the only “pre-Christmas” events we have are shopping together!
December 25, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Windsor Grace
That sounds great!
December 27, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Ceci
We play board games usually. Only one TV in our house, and it’s in the basement. We have our computers and books though, if we need apart-time. And then we play some more board games :). (Yay Bananagrams! Also, I played Catch Phrase with my roommates on our last day in town together, which was really fun.)
January 6, 2011 at 11:17 pm
jim
i like it