Monday, November 16, 2009

Family Traditions Revived

One of the questions on our foster care in-take questionnaire is about traditions. What traditions did you grow up with? What traditions have you added? What ones have you gotten rid of? and of course, the always present "why?" Well today, an old tradition was revived. Eight years after my mother's death, her caroleers are set up for Christmas again. My father finally admitted that he wasn't going to set them up again and if I wanted them I could have them. I didn't even hesitate. I went up to the attic and had them packed in my car before he could even finish his sentence. My mother loved these Caroleers. She took exquisite care in setting them up and made elaborate landscapes for them. I had to take a slightly different approach and encourage my daughter to think a little outside the box. We did not have to do it exactly like Grandma. In fact, we couldn't do it exactly like her, but now they are out all around the house. I realize it is a little early for Christmas, but it was either lug the boxes to the attic in order to lug them all back out in three weeks or just set them up and carry empty boxes. I opted for the later and the extra three weeks will make up for some of the time they have spent in boxes over the past 8 years.


This is but a sampling of the little scenes now created all over my house. I will not need to add to this collection at all.
Two other fun Christmas traditions in our house are cutting a fresh tree and making a gingerbread house, both I'm sure will be featured in up-coming blogs. What holiday traditions do you have?

1 comment:

Andysbethy said...

We always make a gingerbread house too, though ours is often out of graham crackers. The decorating is the part we really get in to. Have been every since I was little.
Lots and lots of cookies too! Do you go Christmas caroling? We usually sing when we deliver the cookies to our neighbors, at least, we do when I am "home" for Christmas. Can't quite talk my hubby into it, but my sisters will join me!