I’m a very traditional person. No surprise there considering how much I love routines and structure. I love my family’s traditions, specifically on holidays, and I also love learning about other people’s traditions. Even if small things differ throughout the years, our general actions and celebrations are the same. My family and I have moved multiple times but have kept our Christmases very consistent. Now, in the midst of going away to college and busy schedules it’s very calming to have something as stable as Christmas morning. If that makes any sense. For instance, every year since we were born, Santa’s gifts have been wrapped in the same exact paper and tulle bows. Purple for me and blue for my sister. We open each gift one-by-one so everyone gets to see what’s inside.
This year, we ended up “sleeping in” until 8:30 a.m. (I was still the first one awake) and had a very low-key morning in pajamas. But, most noteworthy, my super-organized dad didn’t try to clean up the garbage as we were unwrapping gifts. First time for everything.
No doubt Christmas morning will continue to change in the next few years, but it will always center around family and Jesus. Woah, a religious reference. I don’t do too many of those on the blog but know it’s a big part of my life.
Highlights from Christmas 2015
-Christmas Eve dinner and mass with cousins
-Christmas morning gift-chaos. Watching my dog open gifts may be the best thing ever.
-Matching pajamas
-Wearing said matching pajamas all day (and, if you’re me, most of the next day too)
-A special breakfast. This year we had acai bowls.
-A fancy-ish, home cooked dinner eaten off Christmas china. This year we had prime rib, cinnamon roasted carrots, sautéed green beans and mushrooms (not pictured) and salad. I like Christmas food way more than Thanksgiving food, and I think I ate more than I did on Thanksgiving.
-Playing games as a family, usually it’s Rummy or Catch Phrase
-Christmas movies in the morning (Elf), basketball in the evening
-Lots of couch time
Notice no exercise or active movement. My parents went for a run as normal, but my sister and I took full advantage of a lazy PJ day. I told my parents we were playing a game called “how little can we move today?” I dare you to challenge us. Normally I feel up for some sweat on Christmas but not this year. No big deal.
Christmas goes by in a blink every year but it’s never not magical. However, after we finished opening gifts I *might* have declared it my birthday. Every year I have five days to get excited for my birthday (it’s on the 30th) so I need to take advantage of every minute.
I hope you and your family had an equally marvelous day!
*Linking up to MIMM*
Sounds like such an awesome and relaxing day! I think I prefer the main meal from Thanksgiving more but definitely prefer the Christmas deserts more!
Kristin recently posted…Merry Christmas
Thanksgiving seems so limited to pie but you can really make anything and call it a Christmas dessert!
Your family sounds so great! I love how your parents are healthy and active too. We have pretty similar Christmases, but things have changed a little since my sister got married. She has to go to her husband’s side now and I hate being without her, but while they’re there it’s twice as fun because my brother-in-law is ridiculous. I’m glad you had a great Christmas!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…Soundtrack to My Weekend #4
I’m already sad for those future years when we have to be apart. But I know we will (somehow) make new and equally great traditions!
I love cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes which we have on Thanksgiving, so I think that wins for me :-) My favorite Christmas tradition is going to the movies that afternoon with my girlfriend Jill. She’s so sweet and funny and we have a great time!
Ellie recently posted…Weekend in Review [12/25-12/27]
I usually make sweet potatoes for every holiday but didn’t this year. Translation: I was too lazy. What movie did you see?! We used to go to the movies Christmas night when we were younger.
Looks like a lovely day spent with family doing what you all enjoy together, and that is the best kind of tradition to keep up. With me out of law school and working, and my brother about to graduate college, our family has kept up Thanksgiving traditions until this year, but Hanukkah has really fallen by the wayside which is a little sad. It makes me look forward to when I have my own family and can start them up again and include everyone :)
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Holiday Weekly Workouts and Updates 12/22-12/28
Completely agree! I’m grateful for all the traditions I do have (Christmas or otherwise) and I’m excited for the time when I’ll be able to start new ones with my own family.
I think I would have to choose Christmas food! I’m a much bigger fan of ham than turkey ( we have ham for Christmas) and we still have all my favorite sides plus better dessert..so Christmas it is :) Glad to hear you had a nice and relaxing Christmas with your family!
Gretchen recently posted…FAVORITES WEEK : GretchRuns Posts
We had ham and pineapple last year. And salmon I think? What we eat for our main meal is probably the least consistent thing haha.
Sounds like a lovely Christmas! Mine was similarly relaxed – we stay in sweats/pajamas all day, too. Christmas food wins, hands down. I prefer ham to turkey, and my grandma has been making the same amazing sides and casseroles since before I was born. I look forward to her brunch and dinner all year.
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…A Very Merry Christmas
I think it should be mandatory to wear sweats/pj’s all day on Christmas. I love that your grandma makes the same dishes every year! I would look forward to that too.
As I get older, and especially now that we have a kid of our own, it’s really interesting to see how our traditions and ideas of Christmas and holidays have changed. Sometimes I’m super nostalgic for XYZ from my childhood Christmas, but mostly i’m just really excited to see what the next one’s will have to offer! It looks like you had a great one this year, though!
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood recently posted…Best of the Weekend: Christmas!
My mom says the same thing about her childhood Christmases vs. ours now. I can imagine that having a child now makes it so exciting (and ever changing!).
Oh I’m the exact same way with traditions. I look forward to the Christmas traditions and I like everything to stay the same. It sounds like you had a nice, relaxing holiday! I always get the post-Christmas blues on the night of Christmas after everything’s done because I don’t want it to end haha.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…Racing in 2015
I think I like Christmas food better, but it’s really hard to choose, because I like both. I actually have realized that I’m a very traditional person. I love doing the gingerbread houses and sugar cookie decorating even though I’m 22. O_O
Emily recently posted…No Christmas Blues & Link Love
It looks like you had a great Christmas! I love how you tried to be lazy all day. My family has traditions that were thrown a little off this year. Things have changed a bit since my brother got married! I still enjoyed a traditional breakfast of crepes before going out for a run! Both my families had spaghetti on Christmas, so I got to eat my favorite food twice in one day. It was amazing!
Sam @ See Sam Run recently posted…Training Log 12/21 – 12/27/15
I am a Christmas food girl all the way too. I ate so much on Christmas! I love seeing other traditions that families have too. I took all of Christmas day off of working out and it felt so good to relax and focus on my time with family, though the weather was oddly warm out on Christmas which *almost* made me want to workout haha. Glad you had a wonderful Christmas!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Christmas 2015
That sounds lovely! Lately the past few years I’ve been traveling over Christmas so a lot of the old traditions are different but it’s nice just to be with family. Love that you guys had acai bowls!! <3 Happy early birthday xoxo
Georgie recently posted…6 Green Smoothies Recipes That Actually Taste Amazing
I’m with you on the Christmas traditions. We tried to keep some things the same this year but pretty much everything was different. New house, less people, more relaxation, no running, no extended family, walking on the beach, going to the movies at night… nothing like previous years but in some ways it still felt right just because we were in RI. When you’re with family, that’s all that matters anyways.
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…Rhode Island Christmas 2015
I got up my normal time (4am), but everyone slept so late! Even though my brother always asks me when I’ll be up :P (He was the last one and my mom had to shake him awake at 9am) Hahahaha!
It was really laid back, but I LOVE Christmas morning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Black Eyed Pea Curry with Swiss Chard & Roasted Eggplant
Love that last picture of you with your pup! Also, it is refreshing to come to your blog and see how seriously you take your rest and recovery. Most balanced runner I follow!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Link Love: December 27th, 2015
Haha your family is so healthy! That acai bowl looks good. We had eggs and a decadent cinnamon roll casserole for Christmas breakfast with a few mimosas!
Lauren recently posted…lindsay.withlove Handmade Jewelry Instagram Giveaway
sounds like you had an amazing christmas! and I think I like Christmas food more because of all the Christmas cookies lol. Hope you enjoy the final days before your birthday too! :)
Naming my favourite Christmas traditions is pretty much knocking on wood as my family has been abandoning more and more of them. One that has happened every year without fail so far, though, is heading out for a walk on the 25th (we celebrate mainly on 24th).
It looks like you had a really nice and laid-back Christmas which is my favourite kind, too. Like you I don’t want to think about years to come when we might not all celebrate together anymore. The time we get to spend together has already been decreasing with everybody living in different parts of the country, being married or in a relationship.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Lessons learned from a traditionally untraditional Christmas
It looks like you had a lovely Christmas! Watching dogs open presents is too much fun – only, this year Chanel thought a few extra presents were hers! My dad had bought my cow obsessed sister a cow hand puppet as a joke, however, Chanel saw the fluffy cow and snuck up to it across the room, grabbed it and ran back to her bed to snuggle it – and then she kept stealing it all day long; peeking up over the coffee table to pull it down, stealing it from present piles and scurrying back to her bed – until we gave up and let her have it :P
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Easy Homemade Cheese Crackers (Gluten Free!)
Your dog opening presents made my day! How cute is he?! It looks like you had a great holiday! Happy early Birthday, Emily! <3
I am such a bigger fan of Christmas food…I love it and had so many good eats that day. I totally agree…Christmas seriously went by so so so fast, almost too fast. I was home for a week and could have easily stayed longer, but it feels good to get back into my routine. High-Fives to that awesome day of laziness. I like that game!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…What The Single Woman Buys At Costco Part V
My grandma has been doing a roast beef on Christmas for the past few years and this year she spiced it up with a California Mexican flare – delicious rice dish, sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, cornbread, and a steak! I like both Thanksgiving and Christmas but may have to choose this meal as the winner :) Glad you had a good holiday!
Kaitlin recently posted…A Very Cali-Christmas
I love Christmas. We always have ham for Christmas and I like ham more than I like turkey. Sounds like your Christmas was magical. I love watching Christmas movies throughout the season and we love to watch 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TV.
Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas (My family are Rummy addicts too and it has become our go-to card game on the balcony in the evening when we are on holiday abroad!). I traveled to my parents’ house after work on 22nd and we spent 23rd making our home-made Christmas pudding (which is our ‘newest’ tradition). Christmas Eve brunch is always smoked salmon and scrambled egg before church in the evening and Christmas morning is always in PJs around the tree before getting lunch in the oven and heading out for a run.
Because I am split between London and the Midlands this year though, my parents came back down with me after Christmas for a few days and we went to see Kinky Boots in the West End which was absolutely fantastic!
Some things were comfortingly the same and others were a bit different but we definitely made the most out of our time together and I can foresee our Christmases becoming more varied in the coming years. Hopefully this will be a positive rather than a negative but like you, I quite enjoy routine so I will be making an effort to see that some traditions are still upheld! xx
Charlotte recently posted…TOL…Take two minutes to remember