Many of us mark this time of year with specific traditions. We asked a few of our TowneLaker friends to share theirs with us. Whether you celebrate this time of year with family, friends or both, we hope you build and maintain fun and memorable traditions of your own!
Dee Locklin
TowneLaker community board member
Christmas Eve arrives, and my heart swells with love as my family gathers for a quiet, candlelit night. I alternate each year between a smoked ham and Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice. Our Christmas Eve dinner always includes a Waldorf salad, as well as some homemade deviled eggs. Our Christmas Day is most likely like yours. We wake groggy, having been up too late wrapping last-minute presents. With coffee mugs in hand and our time-honored CD of George Winston’s “December” playing softly in the background, we open presents. Over the years, I insisted we unveil our gifts one-by-one, so the joy of discovery and delight could last as long as possible. Soon, we’re on to breakfast – usually a frittata, fruit and bagels. Then, we relax while watching football and bask in the warmth of family. We reflect on the faith that makes this day special. And we give thanks for the friends in our lives.
Adams.
Chantel Adams
founder of ForeverWE Inc.
Since my husband Gavin is a pastor and often has to work on Christmas Eve, we never make plans to visit family or friends. Instead, once everyone is home, we toss up the pizza dough and begin assembling individual homemade pizzas. The personal creations are getting a little more adventurous every year, as everyone transforms their ingredients into abstract works of art!
Michael Caldwell
representative for District 20
Aside from our traditional celebrations of Jesus’ birth, one of our family’s favorite Christmas traditions comes just after Christmas day. Our son Oliver was born about a week after Christmas, so rather than put away the Christmas tree right away, we convert it to a birthday tree for Oliver. So, in the Caldwell house, the Christmas tree celebrates two birthdays every year!
Brittany Duncan
public information officer for Woodstock
Each Christmas Eve, I look forward to spending quality time with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and nieces while creating gingerbread houses and making cookies for Santa. This year, I will be married by Christmas to my wonderful fiancé, Justin, and I look forward to him joining in on the Christmas Eve tradition, as well as building our own traditions together. The memories we’ve made each Christmas Eve are priceless.
Joe Lemmo
teacher at E.T. Booth Middle
One of my favorite traditions is a more recent one. When I was growing up, my sisters and I used to devour our gifts so quickly that we never saw what the other one got. My wife’s family, however, opened their gifts one at a time, starting with the youngest. So, that is now what I do, and I love it! It’s quite a long process, but it’s so much fun seeing what everyone unwrapped, and it also builds the excitement for the opening of each new gift!
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