Holiday Traditions!

Wow!  In a few days it will be November!  Therefore Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner!  I love both of these holidays and am so excited to have my husband's parents coming for Thanksgiving and my whole family (including my sister's new boyfriend who we LOVE!) for Christmas! 

Living away from family is hard in some ways, but one of the positives has been that my husband and I have been able to set up our own Thanksgiving and Christmas family traditions.  For me, I adore cooking Thanksgiving dinner!  I have a core set of recipes that I use every year and then try a couple of new things.  We always begin Thanksgiving day with a race.  Last year my sister and I ran a 10K - this year my husband and I are going to do a 5K.  The rest of the day is spent with friends/family (the more the merrier!) playing games, watching football, and of course...EATING! 

Christmas is also a blast!  The day before Christmas we usually go to an afternoon movie as a family, then come home and decorate Christmas cookies.  I do our big Christmas dinner on Christmas eve.  After opening presents on Christmas morning, we have a big family brunch and the munch on leftover ham, rolls, etc from the previous evening while enjoying our new presents. :)

I have my to-do list ready.  We will be hosting my husband's departmental party in December so I need to get in touch with his secretary to start planning.  Our Christmas cards have been ordered and are on the way.  Christmas shopping is underway - I already have things in mind for the kids and have contacted family as to their "wish list".  Love the holidays!  Just typing this blog entry makes me excited for the upcoming season!