Why I Love It All

The holidays are here!!! I love the holidays!!!

Little known facts about me and my favorite time of year:

I always watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my girls. Well, really, to be honest, we don’t “watch” the whole thing. We have it on while we prepare dinner and stop to watch when something cool comes on.

Pumpkin Pie is my favorite, especially with homemade vanilla ice cream. Apple pie is a close second. I will cut you if you touch my pumpkin pie, especially if my Mom made it!

I put up my Christmas tree and all the decorations the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a family tradition.

I WILL NOT shop on Black Friday. Because, if I did, too many people would get hurt. And I would get arrested. Generally, I hate to shop, but I love to give gifts and I put a lot of thought into each one.

I love Christmas music. O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song and even though I despise Celine Dion, she does one of the best versions. Luciano Pavarotti’s version is also a fav. It’s kind of funny that this is my favorite song, being that I’m agnostic and all. Well, come to think of it, the whole love of Christmas is kind of ironic, isn’t it? I can’t help myself.

One of the best things about living back in the SL,UT, is being able to attend the Dutch breakfast at my Mom’s house for our family Christmas party and then again on Christmas morning. Beschuit, hagel, smoked gouda, havarti, speculaas, marzipan, boiled eggs, black rye bread, ham, roast beef and on and on. I’m drooling now.

Can’t leave out the Danish traditions of having Ris Ala Mande, a creamy almond flavored rice pudding with a raspberry or cherry glaze topping. It is to die for!! And Æbleskiver, which are cooked in a special pan, that everyone in my family owns. In fact I own two.

Celebrating Lula’s birthday on the 30th. She’ll be 12 this year. Not the best time for a birthday, smack in the middle of Christmas and New Years. She was three weeks early, so it’s not my fault. Actually, she’s lucky I held her in as long as I did, since I started having contractions on Christmas day that year.

On New Years Eve I’ll be cooking up a big old pot of gumbo and hot wings. Then black eyed peas and cabbage on New Years Day for good luck in the new year. And of course lots of leftover gumbo, that’s when it’s the best. These are traditions we stole from my Louisiana in-laws. Too bad we can’t have the big bonfire and fireworks too.

Then all the decorations come down on New Years Day. The party is over. A fresh new year begins.

Why do I love it all so much? Tradition. Family. Friends. Love.