New Traditions

Now that we own our own home, there are now a few new traditions we have adopted for Christmas. In years past, we've started our own little things that make our holiday special to us, just us. This year is no different.

On Saturday, the 13th, much to my dismay, I hung lights on the house for all the world to see. I fear that this will be one of those things that I will grumble about, year after year, for years to come. I've never liked hanging Christmas lights, partly because I always helped hang them when I lived at home(my parents home). I always helped hang lights that would make Walt Disney green with envy, there were so many of them. And it always seemed to be the coldest, wettest, windiest day of the year when my dad would decide that we would climb on the house, scale the trees, and crawl in the bushes to hang each light in it's own special place. Yeah, good memories, but some I'd be happy without as well.I know that our home now is no match to "Duttonland" but with this being the first year, I'd say we're certainly not far behind. There were a few times that I nearly rolled off of the roof, due to my underestimation of the steepness, and my belly-o-jelly, but I managed to regain my balance and live to type today. I must admit that with it being our home now, I am a bit proud to drive down the road and see all the "other" homes decked out in their best, only "shining a light" on our home, glowing in the not too far distance, besides the fact that I did it myself... all by myself... no help. Not one person. Anyway, this is the first of traditions begun this year.

Second, Kim informed me that with us having a fireplace now, we must have stockings... and with stockings come more gifts.... with more gifts, more shopping... more shopping, more trips to the mall for Lynn to find that ever so perfect gift that's large enough to make an "impact" yet small enough to fit in a 2 ft. x 6 in. stocking, AND a gift certain to withstand the heat our blower puts off from the fireplace. We wouldn't want the gifts to melt and ruin our stockings, now would we?! That would mean another trip to a store to spend more money... money that could be spent on another gift... money, I'd just assume keep.
We never filled stockings when I lived at home. We had them for simple reason of "That's what you're supposed to do! Hang Stockings at Christmas time." My parents never put anything in them for us, that is, not until grandkids came along. Now, they're filled to the top every year! What's up with that? Why do parents do that? What's so special about grandkids, HUH???

Needless to say, I have not a clue what to put in a stocking, so I roamed aimlessly around the mall today, looking. I was looking for that perfect gift and I think I accomplished my goal. My gift for Kim may not be like "all the other" stocking gifts out there, but I think she'll like it... or them in this case.

We've decided that, since we have adopted the tradition of opening a Christmas Eve gift on Christmas Eve (only makes sense to open it then), that we will make the stocking gifts our Christmas Eve gifts for one another. Thus, saving money... bet you can't guess who's idea that was!

So we'll see how it goes! I'm sure I'll like this new tradition, just one more to add to the list. And who knows, maybe next year there'll be a third stocking hanging over the fire at Christmas. I must say that that would make the holiday a bit brighter! And my parents would have another stocking to fill at their house too, so see, we'd all be winners!

Well, that's all for tonight. I feel like I'm starting to ramble, and though that's when I give my best blogs, I must quit and go to bed. Merry Christmas Adam everyone!

-approved by Farley Wells, CMDI who is scratching his head. He doesn't get the whole "Christmas Adam" thing. Can someone please explain this to Farley?