Over the last decade or so that Phil and I have spent Christmas together, even as we’ve moved around the country and added kids to the mix, we still think fondly of our Christmas traditions with family in Minnesota. As the years have passed, we’ve spent less Christmases in Minnesota then we wish but that has meant making new traditions of our own.
This year we stayed put in Virginia and mom and Duane were our first round of holiday visitors. Oh, and Annie the Orphan dog. It was great spending some time relaxing and laughing with them. We still had our traditional lobster bisque and fondue on Christmas Eve and rounded out the evening with gift opening and a bedtime story of the Christmas classic, The Wonkey Donkey.
Unfortunately, duty called and Dad was off to work on Christmas morning. Mom and Duane also ventured north to PN Dutchland (no that’s not a typo). Instead of spending Christmas in a now quiet house, I decided the kids and I should head to the movies to see the newest version of The Grinch. It appeared a lot of other Americans thought a day at the movies was a good idea as well. I couldn’t believe how busy the movie theater was when we left that afternoon!
By the time we returned from the movies we only had to wait a few hours before our next visitor arrived – Mumsie! She came with more gifts and loads of entertainment for the kids and I. It has been a cherished tradition spending our Virginia Christmases with her.