By the end of November I could hardly wait for Christmas season to get here. And then the excitement faded very quickly. I had big plans of baking German cookies, filling Ben's boot on St. Nicholas, decorating the house, doing all kinds of Christmassy things (like watching Love Actually over and over). And it's sad to say that none of these happened. Ben doesn't really get Christmas yet and is too young to enjoy crafts or baking. And I am not good at crafts or baking.
I get a little homesick each year because I miss the Christmas I grew up with. There are lots of great things about celebrating Christmas the American way, but somehow they don't mean much to me. After all, Christmas is all about traditions. We'll be doing our best at a blended approach that I am sure will evolve over the years. Ben will get presents from the Christkind (=baby Jesus) on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus on Christmas. Mommy will drink Gluehwein (mulled wine) and eat Lebkuchen (ginger bread). Daddy can get up early on Christmas morning while mommy sleeps in (hahaha).
We finally picked a tree last Sunday, and even though I hadn't originally planned on doing so, we will keep with the German tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve. Hopefully next year we'll manage that a little sooner.
If you have excess Christmas spirit, please send it my way!
I'm sending you some Christmas spirit!!! I can't imagine being away from my family but try to use this time to teach Ben about your German traditions...even if he is young! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI will send you a virtual toast with my Gluewein on Christmas Eve as we do a German Christmas that night with lots of yummy German foods. I love having a mixture of both American and German for Colin as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it's part tough, part fun to grow up, have a family of your own, and forge your own traditions. I've definitely found myself mourning the loss of traditions of my youth. But once I've grieved those (often for not very long), I find myself even more excited about creating new traditions that we can sustain as a little family :)
ReplyDeleteHoping you find some xmas cheer!
Trust me as Ben get older and you make your own family traditions, your christmas spirit will come back. I also 'didnt get' the Norwegian Christmas until Xander arrived:) We have blended English and Norsk traditions and for our boys and me they mean Christmas!! Its quite cool to take the bits you like best from each:) Just enjoy your 1st Christmas with Ben and look forward to many more. 'Merry Christmas' or 'God Jul' as I now say;)
ReplyDeleteSending you some holiday vibes! I think once you get into the groove and ben really "gets" it you and your Dh will create a blend of traditions that ben looks back fondly on.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Please post German Cookie recipes, maybe that will get you in the mood! Parker did not put out his shoe for St. Nick this year, too young. It has got to be tough to celebrate in a different culture. It is difficult enough merging family traditions! Happy Holiday, at least Ben's darling face will bring cheer!
ReplyDeletemerry christmas, my friend! how do you say that in german? and yes, i agree with jackie, please post recipes!
ReplyDeleteso good seeing you on monday!
i always find holidays a little bittersweet as well, as they make me miss days gone by.
ReplyDeleteI find the best thing for me to do is focus not on holidays from the past, but on making new traditions and memories w/my husband and children.
hoping you find some holiday cheer!
I have to say it took a few years of doing things with our kids before it felt like tradition to us, now we love the way we do things. I still miss our Christmas traditions - especially in years like this where we won't see my family until after Christmas but I do love our new traditions as well.
ReplyDeleteHoliday vibes your way! I remember when jack was bens age, there was not a lot of craft and baking going on. I think I might have made a gingerbread house from a kit with him. As he gets older, those things will get more fun! I am sure it is hard being away from your family. Merry Christmas, you sure do have a cute little Christmas gift this year!!!
ReplyDeleteBEN IS SO SO SO CUTE! Thanks for coming on monday to share the special moment together :D It was wonderful to meet you and your little guy that I've heard so much about in person! I love reading your story, thanks for sharing! Can't wait until Ben and Carson are BFF ;)
ReplyDeleteI also had grand plans but failed:-( We never put up our Christmas lights and I ended up opening a lot of Kyle's gift because he became overwhelmed (our family went a little crazy!), but it was wonderful spending our first Christmas together:-) I hope you had a wonderful first Christmas with Ben!
ReplyDeleteI hope you found some holiday cheer! I will say that this year was much, much better than last year in terms of spirit and enjoyment (for all of us). We blend the German holidays as well, but differently. Stollen on Christmas morning, and no cookies until the New Years cookies are made. That gives us something to do the week between Christmas and New Year's and takes a task off the already too long list leading up to Christmas. (I'm all about efficiency!) I also dropped the boot for now... maybe we'll pick it up, maybe not... Just remember... you have several years to figure it out before it starts meaning as much to him as it does to you! ;-)
ReplyDelete