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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?