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Vicki White-Lawrence Member 
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I thought this might be interesting since we likely all have specific things we do every year.... For instance, my family (at least some of us!) like to go out at least a couple of times each season looking at how folks have decorated their homes/yards. We love getting tips from other people about where to go, so the list of lights this year has been great for us. My parents/siblings live in Randolph County, so last Sunday my younger son and I took a detour thru Trinity and High Point to see lights on the way home. Another family tradition is that my dad's siblings (there were orignially 12 of them, but now we're down to 9) get together every Christmas Eve for a potluck dinner. I think in my whole life I might've missed one. (I stupidly took off to the beach with a boyfriend for Christmas when I was in my early 20's -- What was I thinking????) Now it's the aunts and uncles, their kids and their kids' kids. We probably have around 100 people, good food, time to catch up, usually a brief visit from Santa for the younger ones. Some of us only see each other 2 - 3 times a year -- At Christmas, the White family reunion in September and at my Dad's house on July 4. A relatively new tradition that I've been a part of for the past few years is an ornament exchange party hosted by a friend of mine, her sister and one of their friends. Everyone brings a nice ornament, we draw numbers and take turns choosing one and opening it up. But you can take an ornament that has already been opened or open a new one. (We have a different version of this at Northwest Observer parties -- We bring tacky gifts -- well, some people bring nice things, but mostly they are funny/tacky things.) At the ornament exchange party we usually put a limit on how many times an ornament can be taken before it is "retired" and the owner gets to keep it, but this time we lifted that limit and we thought we were going to be having breakfast together! This year there were nearly 30 people at this party. I knew 5 of them, and most of them I only see at this party. I almost didn't go this year b/c it has just been such a hectic time, but I went and had a great time. It's a good time to catch up with friends, get to know some others a little better and have some laughs -- and some good food and beverages! |
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macca Member 
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We always watch as many of those Christmas specials on TV as we can! Some of 'em twice! Am watching "It Happened One Christmas" with Marlo Thomas now.... a re-make of "It's A Wonderful Life." ♥♥♥ |
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Cracker Jax Member 
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Basically we eat. Then when we're done, we go to the next family member's house and we eat some more. We all bring a covered dish to my aunt's house and it's funny, but every year, every Thanksgiving and Christmas, everybody has "their dish" that they bring. It's like the perfect feast and no one is allowed to change it. It's an unspoken law or something. You are not allowed to deviate from your dish, so when you get married and start bringing a dish, you gotta pick one that you don't mind making for the next 100 years. (and you can't choose dinner rolls because they are always reserved for the newlyweds!) If you deviate, someone is gonna be sure to raise a big LOUD stink because there are no sweet potatoes or deviled eggs or whatever. (Stink and deviled eggs really shouldn't be in the same sentence...) Of course, it is always acceptable to bring a dish or two in addition to your chosen dish. |
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Cracker Jax Member
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Oh! One more! Maybe everybody does this, I don't know.... My mama started it back when I was just a baby and it's something we've continued with our kids. Each year, each kid gets a special ornament for the tree so when they get homes of their own, they already have a collection of ornaments to start them off. I am an ornament junkie and love collecting new ones. My branches are loaded down with them but the (now tattered and torn) ones I got when I was little always get a special spot on my tree! |
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S. Smith Moderator
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macca wrote: We always watch as many of those Christmas specials on TV as we can! Some of 'em twice! Am watching "It Happened One Christmas" with Marlo Thomas now.... a re-make of "It's A Wonderful Life." ♥♥♥ I love seeing "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" every year. It also would not be Christmas if I didn't watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the "real" one -- the cartoon version) and "Charlie Brown Christmas." But one of my very favorite holiday specials is "The Muppet's Christmas Carol." Michael Caine plays Scrooge, but all the other parts are played by muppets. My kids got this on video when they were small, and now it's a tradition to watch it -- usually a couple of times and usually when I'm wrapping gifts (at this point, the kids are usually too busy with school and work and friends, so I generally watch it alone). I don't know what I'll do when the old VCR kicks the bucket and I don't get to watch it. I guess I'll have to order it on DVD. |
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Vicki White-Lawrence Member
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One tradition I forgot to mention before ended last night. In a very bittersweet recreation of the manger scene, our friends the Berrys celebrated what is likely their final live nativity at their home on Eversfield Road in Stokesdale. (They are moving to Rockingham County and will likely -- we hope -- continue it there.)They have been doing this for nearly 20 years. Our family has participated for about half that, I think. They invite lots of people, and around 70 or so usually show up. Last night many people who had been there for several years came to celebrate. After the live nativity (this time with a real baby and her parents), which includes reading from the scripture and music performed by a local family, folks go to the family home to warm up and partake of goodies brought by guests. The family also provides hot cider and hot cocoa. Even when our lives are so hectic this has been a welcome break for our family. After the celebration last night, my family and I drove to downtown Stokesdale to see the arboretum luminaries. Good job, Jim! |
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