The Ghost of Christmas Past

One of the things I like about Christmas is the traditions even if it isn't wholly traditional. The stuff you do every year because you always have. I'm sure I'll go into this in more details nearer the day but let's give an example. Mum always gets tins of chocolates from her clients so we open those each day to all pull faces at the exotic truffles and say we prefer Roses. Also, my mum goes (for her at least) a bit nuts on buying snack food like Pringles and nuts to have with their Christmas telly watching in the evenings, consequently every year my dad hoovers up and practically swallows peanuts by the handful and we all chorus 'Dad! There won't be any left for us!' and Mum tuts that he'll put on weight. Tradition, see?

It does mean I can ring the changes of any Christmas that deviates from this norm. Last year, for instance, was Toby's first Christmas so to avoid spending all day driving between families, we had both families at ours and I made dinner. There is a video of Toby being suprised by a camera flash off of the wrapping paper on Youtube which makes people laugh a lot. I just watched it again and thought - holy crap, where has my funny wiggly armed baby gone!??

The year before that we stayed at my auntie's fab house and had a great time there - there were loads of hysterically funny moments. We traditionally, play a very poor game of charades every year which has us all in stitches (I knew Paul was a keeper when he came to my place for Christmas the year we met and joined in the charades. His mime of 'stone' is one that will forever live in my memory), we tried out a chorus of penny whistles that came for crackers supposedly so 12 people can play carols together, I had my little baby bump and I was sick for the only time of my entire pregnancy right before Christmas dinner so I missed out on the best meal of the year. Toby will never be allowed to forget that fact, I can assure you. Actually, it was that night, in bed with a baby names book that we decided on Toby's name.

I haven't really had a *bad* Christmas although it's definitely true that a)my inlaws don't really celebrate Christmas in as big as way as my family b) even Christmas doesn't patch up a recently broken heart or depression c) hearing your mum hiss to your dad that if he doesn't stop drinking and start helping she'll divorce him as soon as the solicitors are back at work does take away a wee bit of the magic or d) you can't ever be a kid at Christmas again.

At Christmas time, I like the parties and being around family and friends but now that we have Toby we take the party with us. He's always centre of attention, loves the limelight and playing with everyone so I have real hopes that Christmas might be the most fun yet.

Comments

[Sillysocks]

The video of Toby is priceless...it certainly made my day. He is just so cute!

[Nicky]

Chas is my parent's fourth grandchild - that certainly dilutes the whole centre of attention thing when we're at their house. Especially as the competition can not only talk but put on shows, whereas our darling child can merely go "eep". However he is and may always be J's parent's first! Oh and lovely notebooks - I shall BUY BUY BUY as soon as I locate my card...