Preparing for the Holidays

It's that time of year again.  Not only do we have Thanksgiving and Christmas to think about, we also have a birthday and Gotcha Day (Kate's adoption) in December and two birthdays in January.  Even though it is a little hectic and expensive, I love most every minute of it!

Since Cameron's family lives in Mississippi and mine in Southern Indiana, we alternate each year which holiday will be spent at which location.  So if we are going to be in Mississippi for Christmas, we will be at my parents for Thanksgiving.  This has worked great for 19 years.  The only year we didn't do it was the year we traveled to China.  Nothing like Christmas in China!  Strange, but wonderful.

Over the years I've heard a lot of other moms talk about how they insist on being at their own home for Christmas.  I sort of understand, but I have a whole lifetime of a different experience and point of view.  When I was growing up we never lived any closer than five hours to my grandparents.  Every year we had a special "Christmas" night at our home and then a few days later we would leave for Tennessee.  I have never, in 39 years, spent Christmas in my own home.  The memories of those Christmases are some of the best memories of my entire life!  I didn't care at which house I celebrated.  I was with my grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and that's all I cared about.  And the presents weren't bad either. :) 

Would I like to use my special tablecloths and dishes for Christmas?  Would I like to open presents together first thing on Christmas morning while still wearing our pajamas?  Sometimes I think I would, but those thoughts don't last long.  I know the memories that my girls are going to have with their extended family will be some of the best of their life.  They don't care whose house they are in and this way they get three celebrations.  There is no way I want to rob them of these times.