because it is tradition, now sit down and enjoy it!

I love Christmas traditions. They are comfortable and familiar. And likely much better in theory than in execution, but I still love them. My top three favorites and a possible new tradition....

The Night Before Christmas
My dad usually reads this to the grandkids on Christmas Eve. It is a particularly enjoyable tradition because Grandpa usually delivers the story in his best affected JEJ. He also gets so into it that he messes up parts of the story. So while the kids are listening to the story (or begging for another cookie) we are having a great time watching Grandpa perform. Can't beat it, I'll sell you a ticket for next year's show.

Fried Mush

"Fried what?!?!"
This is a Keith family tradition. My Grandpa Keith loved having it on Christmas morning. Now my Aunt Susan usually makes the fried mush at Grandma's house in Iowa. In California, we all make it at our own houses before our collective Christmas Day festivities.
Fried mush is cornmeal cooked, chilled and fried. You have to cook it the night before so that affords lots of opportunities to worry about "still having to make the fried mush" on Christmas Eve.
We have ours with butter, freezer strawberry jam, syrup and powdered sugar AND bacon on the side. Most of the family doesn't really care for it, but we all eat it and savor our memories of Iowa Christmases.

Christmas Dinner
Several years ago we collectively decided that we would have non-traditional Christmas dinners. It is kind of fun. After Thanksgiving and all, another serving of mashed potatoes isn't usually at the top of my list. In the past my mom has made Mexican food, grilled pizza and hamburgers. This year we are having an African Christmas dinner. I can't help but think about The Office and the Moroccan Christmas episode. But knowing that my mother doesn't watch The Office..... I'm saving room for Peanut Soup (seriously, I am looking forward to trying it even though I have been complaining. What is Christmas without a complaining child right?).

A New Tradition?
It is now Christmas Eve and I have yet to finish all my wrapping. Usually the tree room is bursting at the seams with gifts at least two weeks before Christmas. This year....
The kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve (luckily Uncle Mike and Auntie Gail came through with that!) and then I am thinking about how exciting would it be to wake up on Christmas morning to Santa gifts and presents under the previously empty tree. See how I turn my procrastination into an opportunity for excitement? I've been doing this for awhile (procrastinating that is).
The other good thing about this tradition? No nagging about opening presents early. Which means that I can't do this so I admit to being a bit torn.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.