Christmas At My House

I was thinking about the holidays and what different people do to celebrate. My family celebrates Christmas, and in my house, we have an entire SCHEDULE for Christmas morning, along with a very specific breakfast, and method of opening gifts.

I love the way Christmas morning works out because it creates a tradition and we know what to expect, but still leaves an air of mystery.

So, Schedule.

7:59 : My sister and I wait outside my parents bedroom because we can't wake them up until 8:00.

8:00 : Pounce! We jump on the bed and wake up my parents, telling them "It's Christmas!" and "Get up, we need to open stockings!"

***Note: the rest of these times are approximate, we don't have set times after 8:00.***

8:15 : We all head down stairs together. (Nobody is allowed downstairs until everybody is ready) We all sit on the couches where our stockings were put the night before and look through our goodies.

8:30 : We go around and share what we got in our stockings, one at a time, youngest to oldest. That means me first, then my sister Fiona, then my mom, and lastly my dad.

9:00 : My mom and I head to the kitchen to finish breakfast. I say finish because we make as much as possible ahead of time and the night before. We usually have some sort of coffee cake, bacon, sometimes eggs or potatoes and our special fruit salad with cinnamon stars. (These are just pie crust cut into stars and sprinkled with lots of cinnamon sugar, but they are so tasty it's crazy!) 

9:30 : We eat our special breakfast and talk about how the year has gone for each of us. We have specific dishes that we only use on Christmas morning, including cups that Fiona and I have had since we were tiny. (Although, last year, Fiona's broke and it caused many tears and heartbreak. My mother and I are looking for a way to repurpose it, but that's for another post.)

10:15 : We clear and wash all the dishes. Nobody can open a single present until all the dishes are washed, dried and put away, and the kitchen is clean. (This has driven Fiona and I crazy for years, especially because the presents are just sitting there calling to us to open them.)

10:45 We all head to the living room for gift opening! My sister and I used to argue about who got to "play Santa" and pick which gifts people should open next, but now we share that job. When opening gifts, we go youngest to oldest again, which means me first, then Fiona, mom, and finally dad. One gift at a time, we share it with the rest of the family and move on to the next person. Once dad is done opening his gift, we cycle back to me. This can take up to an hour or two, depending on how many gifts are under the tree and how excited people are over them. (This can cause stopping and laughing or tackling hugs etc. It's great.)

12:00 : We pick up the wrapping paper, take all of our gifts to where they belong and usually everybody but my mom falls asleep.

Tada!

Our Christmas morning, every single year. Times change a little every year, depending on how long we sit at breakfast etc. But it's my favorite day of the year, no question. We usually have Christmas dinner with extended family, somewhere else. However we have been known to stay in all day and eat dinner at home.

What do you do for the holidays? What do you wear to family gatherings? Do you dress up during the holidays, or does your wardrobe stay casual? 

Comment and tell me! Happy Holidays!

<3

Goals, Dreams and Life - It's ALL Your Choice

Many thoughts have been swirling in my head lately. I've been thinking more "bigger picture" then I usually do, so I thought I'd share some of it.

It's all started because I've been feeling really lethargic lately, and I know I really need to start exercising again. I was in Karate for 6 and a half years and I earned my black belt in sixth grade. I did quit soon after for very silly reasons that I don't believe anymore. Anyways, my mom bought the P90X workout program last year for the family, so I think I'm going to start that up pretty soon. I really want to get back into daily exercising, because of the health benefits. I sleep so much better, I'm less crabby, and I have a happier disposition.

Right now the only way I exercise is dancing in my room to loud music. I can work up a sweat pretty fast, because I absolutely love to dance. If my family had the money, I would be in dance lessons. I don't know which kind, but probably either hip hop, break dancing, or some sort of dance team. Sadly, we don't have the money, so dancing around my room it is. 

When I exercise I really like the boot camp type of workout. I love that feeling you get once you've completed your 50th pushup in a row, no matter how much you're going to feel it the next day. Or the feeling after a workout when you feel charged and ready for anything, alert and happy. the happy is what really gets me, I like to feel happy. I don't know anybody who doesn't but I like this natural HEALTHY way to feel happy. I've been struggling with fitting in a work out, where to work out, it sounds boring, what to do for exercise, etc. 

However, I've come to this conclusion that you don't really need a fancy gym membership or a thousand workout DVD's. You can work out just fine with some music that gets you pumped and moving. Even if all you can handle is walking, try to find a route that has a slope, or even a big hill, because even if you don't get to the top the first time, you always have next time, and the time after that. If you don't make it up that hill the first try, or the second, just think about how much happier you are going to feel the minute you reach the top of that hill for the first time. It's all down hill from there and you are on your way to a healthy life style and healthy living.

And here's where the big thinking came in. It's taken me several days to mull this over, which is why I didn't post it right away. See, the secret to getting big things in life done or reaching large goals is baby steps. You can't become an olympic swimmer overnight, no matter what the movies tell you. It's just not possible. But with patience, endurance, willpower and positivity, you can succeed at anything you put your mind to. Whether that be losing 5 pounds or having a consistently clean house, or even just a clean car. Even if all you can do is put a trash can in your car and remind people to use it, that could make the world a different place for your passengers. Simply empty the garbage when you fill up the tank and your car is on it's way to being clutter-free. Little things like a messy car may seem small, but if you had a bad day, and you sit down in a car that's nice and tidy, you'd be surprised how much it can brighten your day.

Your life is what you choose to make it. I know I'm young, and I know I'm not an expert, but seriously. If something is making you really unhappy, maybe it's time to do some problem solving about it. You would be surprised at how much that one thing, or ten things, can drive you nuts, and you might not even be aware of it. Think about what's bothering you, and I'm guessing that there will be something you can do about it. The choice is always yours, to change your life, to change your mind about something, to change your attitude towards someone, whatever it might be. Even if all you can do is accept that there isn't much you can do, that is doing something, in itself. And those choices are what make you stronger. Those choices are what make you wiser. Those choices make your life yours and ultimately makes you you. 

You are the master of your own mind. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never forget that.

<3