Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 3:15PM 
I absolutely love Christmas. I adore every aspect of the holiday and each joy filled day leading up to it. The myriad of traditional and goofy carols that we look forward to hearing for the 300th time. The sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas as they fill the cold brisk air. And most of all the family traditions passed down generation to generation.
The beloved Christmas traditions of my youth are too many to number...but here are a few. Watching and singing along with White Christmas and Its a Wonderful Life while drinking eggnog. Enjoying our "custom" felt advent calendar hanging at the foot of the stairs, complete with three birthdays! And of course, smoked oysters and cream cheese on Townhouse crackers.
One of my favorite traditions dating back as far as I can recall, is carefully selecting and cutting down a fresh christmas tree, with my family. It was always a great adventure to find "the one." We were in search of the perfect tree to fill every vertical inch of our 10' 8" living room.
Now that I have a family of my own, I am carrying on the tradition! My boys help as we comb over row after row of white pines, douglas firs, and of course scotch pines, in search of our perfect tree. We typically gravitate toward the tall, skinny Charlie Brown varieties. Then we strap that sucker on the roof of the van and head home. That evening is usually wrapped up with one of my least favorite past times: attempting to set the tree in the stand. Thankfully, for my kids, I forget the trauma by the following year.
All in all a great time is had by all. For me, there is nothing like bundling up and heading out on a conquest that will invariably end with a piney smelling bundle of Christmas cheer!
Reader Comments (1)
You bring me great joy, dear Andrew. What a picture and post! I can hardly wait for our Christmas party.