Why Yes Dear, We Are Going To Do That Again....

Ahhhh traditions...

The glue that holds a family together.  

Our Christmas's are so thick with the wonderful stuff, there really is no question of what will be doing...well ever.  After all these years our holiday reads like a well rehearsed play.

Act 1:

Wake up beyond elated on Christmas Eve to Johnny Mathis, James Taylor, Amy Grant and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir blaring carols throughout the house.  Check

Make  huge batch of pumpkin pancakes with homemade syrup...check, check

Head into San Francisco to "The 24th Cheese Shop" and get caught up with the owner Charles, and his daughter. Act like they are your family and that you can't believe it has been a whole year since you have seen them. Talk to them for what feels like days. 

Sample lots of cheese but buy Raclette for your dinner as well as maybe a delicious Roquefort or  

pate.  Ok the pate only happens if my dad is there bust still I add it because it sounds kinda festive but  really it is so gross.  (It has a 1/4 in of jiggle jelly on top...yuck!!)

The talking and the sampling and the deciding between the french and the swiss cheeses will take a ridiculously long time, as in half the afternoon. You will occupy yourself with picture taking and the kids will look at all the unique and wonderful food and tell each other stories and laugh. Check

You will finally leave and just aimlessly wander because nothing in the world is better than the Christmas hustle and bustle in San Francisco.

Someone will say lets go into this bookstore and there is no plan and so we do.

Take endless amount of pictures because everything is magic and you will want to remember every single detail.

Act 2:

Go home and all the while,

Sing off key Christmas carols at the top of your lungs.

Make eggnog cookies and sugar cookies and candy and rice pudding and wassail.

Get everything ready for the raclette feast.

Light a million candles,

build a fire

and bask in the glow with your family and friends.  

Get pathetic manger costumes like robes and outgrown lamb outfits and dress whoever is willing and reenact Luke 2.

And be sure to sing more carols off key and pretend like you know all the words. Check

Put out carrots and cookies for Santa and his reindeer and check on GPS to see where our jolly fellow is.

Go to bed cuddled up in Christmas magic at some ungodly hour that is neither night or morning.

Finally it is

Intermission:

Act 3

Wake up at some ungodly hour.  (even though this year was actually 8:30 it is never late enough because you feel like you have been hit by a bus.)

But then you remember in your sleeplessness haze that it is Christmas day and your 9 year old simply can't take it.  Not even for 1 more minute.

So we light the fire, play our carols and open gifts.

Everything... and I mean everything is right with your world.

 Act 4

Make a beautiful Christmas morning breakfast all the while thanking your Heavenly Father for every single blessing that you are a part of.

 Surround yourself with people that you love more than your next breath and remember that this day represents love in a way that your brain cannot comprehend.

Laugh and play games and whatever you do try not to get tired.

Because when you do... the play ends and just like that,

the heavy velvet curtain falls.

And everybody applause's and laughs and cries and thinks it was the best year yet.