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Dion · 12-12-2016, 07:10 PM

Growing up we always had a real Chritsmas tree and would make the annual trip to the tree lot to pick out a tree. Later we would spend hours as a family decorating it. We all had a favourite ornament and as kids would fight over who got to put theirs up first. After that was cookies and hot chocolate by the fire.

Everyone had a stocking with their name sewn on it that was hung from the fireplace mantle. On Christmas eve we got whatever was in our stockings. It was our parents attempt at trying to get us to sleep but that usually never worked as we were always too excited with me being the worst.

Then came Christmas morning where us 3 kids would jump on our parents bed at 4AM telling them it was time to get up and open presents! Our parents would grumble and complain telling us to go back to bed until at least 8AM. That of course never worked. Dad would be half asleep in his favourite chair drinking coffee and mother would dish out the presents to everyone. By 7AM a feast of bacon and pancakes would be over with us 3 kids cleaning up and doing the dishes. Every Christmas would be no different as us kids would grumble bitterly when our relatives or our grandparents would sent us clothes instead of toys.

Today it's much different than the past. There is no real tree and just a small version with some lights and decorations. On Christams eve I drive my mother and myself into Calgary to spend the evening with her sisters and my cousins and their kids. It starts with a feast of prime rib and later with the opening of presents. It's always the highlight of my Christmas to see the kids opening their presents and the glowing smiles on their faces.

On Christmas day my brother hops a mid morning flight from Minneapolis to Calgary to spend Christmas week with me and my mother. That same morning I get on the phone and call my nephew in Anchorage Alaska and niece in San Fransico to wish them both a Merry Christmas. After that it's my sister in Denver. Later that evening my my brother, my mother and me settle down to feast of turkey and grasshopper pie. Conversations carry on into the wee hours of the morning as bottles are opened and drinks are poured.

12-12-2016, 07:10 PM	#41
Dion Not a casual user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: A simple man leading a complicated life.... Exp:	Growing up we always had a real Chritsmas tree and would make the annual trip to the tree lot to pick out a tree. Later we would spend hours as a family decorating it. We all had a favourite ornament and as kids would fight over who got to put theirs up first. After that was cookies and hot chocolate by the fire. Everyone had a stocking with their name sewn on it that was hung from the fireplace mantle. On Christmas eve we got whatever was in our stockings. It was our parents attempt at trying to get us to sleep but that usually never worked as we were always too excited with me being the worst. Then came Christmas morning where us 3 kids would jump on our parents bed at 4AM telling them it was time to get up and open presents! Our parents would grumble and complain telling us to go back to bed until at least 8AM. That of course never worked. Dad would be half asleep in his favourite chair drinking coffee and mother would dish out the presents to everyone. By 7AM a feast of bacon and pancakes would be over with us 3 kids cleaning up and doing the dishes. Every Christmas would be no different as us kids would grumble bitterly when our relatives or our grandparents would sent us clothes instead of toys. Today it's much different than the past. There is no real tree and just a small version with some lights and decorations. On Christams eve I drive my mother and myself into Calgary to spend the evening with her sisters and my cousins and their kids. It starts with a feast of prime rib and later with the opening of presents. It's always the highlight of my Christmas to see the kids opening their presents and the glowing smiles on their faces. On Christmas day my brother hops a mid morning flight from Minneapolis to Calgary to spend Christmas week with me and my mother. That same morning I get on the phone and call my nephew in Anchorage Alaska and niece in San Fransico to wish them both a Merry Christmas. After that it's my sister in Denver. Later that evening my my brother, my mother and me settle down to feast of turkey and grasshopper pie. Conversations carry on into the wee hours of the morning as bottles are opened and drinks are poured. __________________ Last edited by Dion; 12-12-2016 at 07:13 PM.