Which of your childhood holiday traditions have you continued into adulthood?
This was a good question. I don’t think that I had many family holiday traditions. But I guess we still make and eat blueberry muffins on christas day. THat w as something I did as a child that always felt special for the holiday—though we also did that for General Confernece Sundays and we usually still do that too.
We still usually set up a Christmas tree. The kids each have a set of personal ornaments that they chose each year—that they will be able to take with them to their own homes when they are ready to have their own trees some day. I usually decorate with Christmas decorations and play Christmas music.
We exchange gifts. I make treats that we only have at Christmas time. I suggest something to give our neighbors. All that was done as I was a child too.
I remember my mom trying to give away the alcoholic gifts that their vendors at work, or even customers who didn’t know they were not drinker would give them—usually to the garbage man or the used oil guy that picked up their discarded oil. I have tried to remember those that serve our family—like the mail man and the garbage collector—even though Genius Golfer thinks I am crazy to do it. I usually just given them a box of Christmas goodies that I made so something, rather than alcoholic gifts, but they always seem surprised that anyone would think of them and that they “are just doing their job”.
All of the traditions that I say we “usually” do, I say usually because as the kids have grown up and are away for college in other places, it is harder to do the traditional things because it is just us at home for most of the holiday season and sometimes it seems like too much work. Maybe when the kids bring grandkids home to see us that might change, but for now we are the ‘less is more’ kind of holiday keepers.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Monday, October 10, 2011
It is WHAT?!
Today is Monday.
Today is early out day for the kids.
Today was a PTA meeting at the High School.
Today I tried to get The Boy to take a test for his online Financial Lit class.
Today his Financial Lit test hadn't been reset yet, and their office to do that was closed.
Today the mail didn't come.
Today the bank was closed.
Today is Columbus Day.
Apparently, it is a holiday. Did you know that? I guess it is only a holiday for bankers, mailmen, and online test re-seters.
Today is early out day for the kids.
Today was a PTA meeting at the High School.
Today I tried to get The Boy to take a test for his online Financial Lit class.
Today his Financial Lit test hadn't been reset yet, and their office to do that was closed.
Today the mail didn't come.
Today the bank was closed.
Today is Columbus Day.
Apparently, it is a holiday. Did you know that? I guess it is only a holiday for bankers, mailmen, and online test re-seters.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
Living, as we do, near the city's cemetery gives me an up close and personal view of the manner in which people commemorate the holiday. I love to see the flags circling the cemetery borders and the smaller flags on the veterans' graves. But I also recognized this year that I surely take a lot of their sacrifices for granted. Even as mindful as I like to imagine myself, there are always going to be days when the hard work, the years of service, the determination, and the ultimate sacrifices of others slips to the far corners of my mind. And I take it all for granted.
For that reason, among others, I am grateful for the days set aside for remembering, and honoring those who have given their all for this blessed and beloved country of ours. Because even when i forget the details of the sacrifices of others, I do retain a deep gratitude for the blessings of living here, and being an American.
Friday, April 1, 2011
April What?!
Yes, you may have heard that today was April Fool's Day. A societal pseudo-holiday for those who like to lie, cheat and steal all in the name of fun. I don't like it. Not that you could tell, right?
Well, I don't "do" April Fool's Day. I avoid it. And I am such a mean mom that I don't play along with my kids over it either. This year, that was good, since neither of them did anything remotely funny or trick-like. Good thing. Or I'd have to ground them both for 27 years.
Sing along with me, if you want:
"Every party has a pooper, that's why we invited you....party pooper! Party Pooper!"
That doesn't even pretend to hurt my feelings. I'd still rather have people tell met he truth, play by the rules, and not take things that don't belong to them. I am just weird that way, I guess.
Well, I don't "do" April Fool's Day. I avoid it. And I am such a mean mom that I don't play along with my kids over it either. This year, that was good, since neither of them did anything remotely funny or trick-like. Good thing. Or I'd have to ground them both for 27 years.
Sing along with me, if you want:
"Every party has a pooper, that's why we invited you....party pooper! Party Pooper!"
That doesn't even pretend to hurt my feelings. I'd still rather have people tell met he truth, play by the rules, and not take things that don't belong to them. I am just weird that way, I guess.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Seventeenth
This morning I reminded The Boy to get a green shirt on. He looked at me with the thirteen year old questioning face he has more and more regularly.
"Why?" he asked.
"It's St. Patrick's Day today," I told him.
"Oh. OK," he responded. Then he ran upstairs and came back down wearing a bright green shirt that says "Smooth: Like Butta" across the chest.
A few minutes passed.
"Mom, what IS St. Patrick's Day anyway?"
So I told him that Patrick was a Irish Catholic who miraculously drove all the snake from Ireland.
It was right about then that I realized I really didn't remember why we had a St. Patrick's Day. But if the snakes story was true, that was enough reason in my book to make 'ole Paddy a saint. The green thing is just fun.
"Why?" he asked.
"It's St. Patrick's Day today," I told him.
"Oh. OK," he responded. Then he ran upstairs and came back down wearing a bright green shirt that says "Smooth: Like Butta" across the chest.
A few minutes passed.
"Mom, what IS St. Patrick's Day anyway?"
So I told him that Patrick was a Irish Catholic who miraculously drove all the snake from Ireland.
It was right about then that I realized I really didn't remember why we had a St. Patrick's Day. But if the snakes story was true, that was enough reason in my book to make 'ole Paddy a saint. The green thing is just fun.
Monday, February 21, 2011
President's Day Report
Well, it is a holiday for Genius Golfer and the kids. Funny how laundry still needs my attention, and dinner will still need to be made and all that. Oh well.
I had a dear friend call this morning to tell me something and in salutation had asked me "Doing anything fun today?"
The "fun" is relative, I suppose. I did get to sleep in until 9 AM with out anyone waking me up--as was the case on Saturday. So that was fun.
GG and I took the kids to Krispy Kreme donuts with their semester report cards where they got free donuts for each "A" they received, and where I bought two dozen un-needed and otherwise useless but delicious glazed donuts. So that is fun, at least until I have to get on a scale again.
The Boy and GG just got back form an previously undisclosed outing to Kohl's with a new suit for The Boy. He was looking like hand-me-down-Harry at church yesterday with his wrists sticking out beyond his suit jacket sleeve and the floods must be rising based on the hem of his pants. So a new suit will be much more satisfactory, and well, fun for me. Not sure if he cares that much. And I didn't have to buy it. That is fun.
And we did make plans to go to dinner on Friday for GG's birthday. Which means I don't have to make dinner that night. That will be fun.
Without a plan, I guess we still did have some fun today. Not bad for a sunny day with deceptively cold temperatures, all in all. It could always be worse. And that wouldn't be fun.
I had a dear friend call this morning to tell me something and in salutation had asked me "Doing anything fun today?"
The "fun" is relative, I suppose. I did get to sleep in until 9 AM with out anyone waking me up--as was the case on Saturday. So that was fun.
GG and I took the kids to Krispy Kreme donuts with their semester report cards where they got free donuts for each "A" they received, and where I bought two dozen un-needed and otherwise useless but delicious glazed donuts. So that is fun, at least until I have to get on a scale again.
The Boy and GG just got back form an previously undisclosed outing to Kohl's with a new suit for The Boy. He was looking like hand-me-down-Harry at church yesterday with his wrists sticking out beyond his suit jacket sleeve and the floods must be rising based on the hem of his pants. So a new suit will be much more satisfactory, and well, fun for me. Not sure if he cares that much. And I didn't have to buy it. That is fun.
And we did make plans to go to dinner on Friday for GG's birthday. Which means I don't have to make dinner that night. That will be fun.
Without a plan, I guess we still did have some fun today. Not bad for a sunny day with deceptively cold temperatures, all in all. It could always be worse. And that wouldn't be fun.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Mid-December's Holiday Funk
I don't know; it might just be me. But I am feeling some of the holiday blues today. Nothing is really going on to feel that. I have things meant for Christmas done and prepared, so it isn't the worry of procrastination.
The tree is up and the music is on and the baking is on-going and the kids are happy and it is the last week of school before the break. It just feel like a combination of disappointment and discouragement. A let-down of sorts.
As I think of what I'd like Christmas to be for my kids, for my family, I can see it will never be the big, built-up, magical event I wish it could be. Now, logically I know that it really doesn't matter--after all it is just another day on the calendar, but with layers of meaning and hopes of feelings attached.
Maybe that is the problem: there are expectations I hold in my heart that I don't see matched up with reality.
I hope it is just a passing wave of emotion. I'd feel guilty if I kept this little dark cloud overhead the next two weeks. I make a pretty good Negative-Nancy or Debbie-Downer when I feel like this.
But the calendar is thinning out and the option to do more as a family is coming into focus as Genius Golfer should have sometime off beginning this week sometime and going through the end of the year. (Vacation time, he was told this year, 'Use it or loose it'.) He has worked so much--a lot of long, long days-- the last several weeks we have hardly seen him and have had even less chance to talk with him. I am sure that is part of what I am feeling. I haven't even chatted with him about what the plan is for the holiday, or for the travel we are hoping to make, or even for the surprises he always comes up with for the kids.
I guess I need to get a move on and work myself out of the funk. I have already cleaned the stove top, the deep fryer, laundry is halfway done for today, and the car is loaded with recycling, DI donations, and stuff to return to friends just waiting to be taken where they need to go. I've even got a grocery list and plans to make that jaunt out today too. Not bad when it is early out day for the kids, and my work day is reduced one hour of "alone-time".
Don't worry about this. I am sure it will pass. At least the sun is shining and the roads are dry and the little car is waiting for me in the garage, and the Jason, the body shop guy, called Friday and said they were prepping the Durango for final paint, so I should have it Wednesday or so. All these are good things. I can put off my internal struggle a little longer, and work it out of my system. Things will feel merry and bright again soon.
The tree is up and the music is on and the baking is on-going and the kids are happy and it is the last week of school before the break. It just feel like a combination of disappointment and discouragement. A let-down of sorts.
As I think of what I'd like Christmas to be for my kids, for my family, I can see it will never be the big, built-up, magical event I wish it could be. Now, logically I know that it really doesn't matter--after all it is just another day on the calendar, but with layers of meaning and hopes of feelings attached.
Maybe that is the problem: there are expectations I hold in my heart that I don't see matched up with reality.
I hope it is just a passing wave of emotion. I'd feel guilty if I kept this little dark cloud overhead the next two weeks. I make a pretty good Negative-Nancy or Debbie-Downer when I feel like this.
But the calendar is thinning out and the option to do more as a family is coming into focus as Genius Golfer should have sometime off beginning this week sometime and going through the end of the year. (Vacation time, he was told this year, 'Use it or loose it'.) He has worked so much--a lot of long, long days-- the last several weeks we have hardly seen him and have had even less chance to talk with him. I am sure that is part of what I am feeling. I haven't even chatted with him about what the plan is for the holiday, or for the travel we are hoping to make, or even for the surprises he always comes up with for the kids.
I guess I need to get a move on and work myself out of the funk. I have already cleaned the stove top, the deep fryer, laundry is halfway done for today, and the car is loaded with recycling, DI donations, and stuff to return to friends just waiting to be taken where they need to go. I've even got a grocery list and plans to make that jaunt out today too. Not bad when it is early out day for the kids, and my work day is reduced one hour of "alone-time".
Don't worry about this. I am sure it will pass. At least the sun is shining and the roads are dry and the little car is waiting for me in the garage, and the Jason, the body shop guy, called Friday and said they were prepping the Durango for final paint, so I should have it Wednesday or so. All these are good things. I can put off my internal struggle a little longer, and work it out of my system. Things will feel merry and bright again soon.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
And For Our Jewish Friends...
At least, for those with a sense of humor...tonight is the first night of Chanukah. What better way to commenorat eit then with a Neil Diamond "video" covering an Adam Sandler tune. Oi vey.
Friday, July 23, 2010
It's a First
Today is the legal holiday for Pioneer Day, the state holiday in Utah that rivals Independance Day in it's scope and explosivity. It is traditionally celebrated with a parade, fireworks, bar-be-que, and lots of family stuff.
For the first time since we have been married--and perhaps before that--Genius Golfer has the day off. (Which is why I am writing this at 6:35 PM.) He has never worked for a company that takes the day off before. Even now, this current "magic JUS" company is an international company, but reserved the right to take the Pioneer Day holiday off.
Nice.
As we speak, GG is texturing and painting the bathroom wall where the old mirror used to be, and just finished putting in the new baseboards. The sink/vanity top is scheduled to be in tomorrow and that will all but finish the project. We even picked up new towels and a rug at Costco tonight.
I guess I never really appreciated the holidays GG got before--because it was usually Christmas, and the 4th of July. Everything else, and sometimes even those, he was still "on-call" if emergencies came up. But today he even left his phone at home while we ran (again) to Home Depot.
I think I could get used to this.
For the first time since we have been married--and perhaps before that--Genius Golfer has the day off. (Which is why I am writing this at 6:35 PM.) He has never worked for a company that takes the day off before. Even now, this current "magic JUS" company is an international company, but reserved the right to take the Pioneer Day holiday off.
Nice.
As we speak, GG is texturing and painting the bathroom wall where the old mirror used to be, and just finished putting in the new baseboards. The sink/vanity top is scheduled to be in tomorrow and that will all but finish the project. We even picked up new towels and a rug at Costco tonight.
I guess I never really appreciated the holidays GG got before--because it was usually Christmas, and the 4th of July. Everything else, and sometimes even those, he was still "on-call" if emergencies came up. But today he even left his phone at home while we ran (again) to Home Depot.
I think I could get used to this.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
17th
17) Today I am grateful that we are scaling down Christmas this year. By mutual consent, Genius Golfer and I decided on and budgeted for a much lower key Christmas. I have been working on things for a while, and upon checking my list today I have only two more items to pick up. I goal was to be done by Thanksgiving so I could enjoy the season without giving in the the "last minute" and "in case you forgot" purchasing. If we hadn't scaled back this year I'd not be anywhere close to being done. My holiday stress offers thanks in advance.
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