Thursday, March 17, 2011

Memory of Christmas

My holiday this year was more relaxing than last year because I didn’t have to prepare and host large family dinners.  Every year before, I had to cook dinner for 20 people and clean up before and after Christmas and New Year parties.
 Three days before Christmas, the house was always spotless and organized before my family members arrived.  All guest bedrooms were clean and ready to use.  The Christmas tree was put up in the family room, and decorated with lights and ornaments.  All Christmas gifts were wrapped and placed under the tree. Christmas lights were hung around the house.  Games were set on the table and computer. New movies were rented ahead of time.   The oven was on half of the day and warm, fresh bread, cakes and cookies were put on plates and in jars.  Foods were stocked in the freezer, refrigerator and on shelves.       My sisters, brothers and nephews arrived the day before Christmas.  The house was crowed, noisey, and filled with laughs and screams by children and their parents.  My uncle was always laughing and saying, “Let children have some fun; after all it’s the holiday” and my sisters replied, “Ok uncle.”  After the dinner we went to church and got home around 11PM so the children could go to bed before midnight.
On Christmas day, I got up earlier than the rest of my family’s members, prepared breakfast and set the table.  My uncle usually came down the stairs around six o’clock and opened the front door to pick up the newspaper.  Then he poured himself a small cup of hot coffee and sat at the head of the dining table to read the news. The smell of coffee and food woke the rest of my family up.  Children ran down stairs and my uncle said “Good morning everyone and how was your sleep?  Everyone please sit down for breakfast.”  After breakfast the whole family sat in front of the Christmas tree, ate cookies, drank tea and opened gifts.  My nephews were happy when they got the gifts, which were on their lists.  My sisters and brothers exchanged gifts as well.  I always surprised my family with the gifts that they wanted.  I was happy to see their smiley faces and eyes lighting up, and it was like music to my ears when they said, “How did you know I needed this” after they opened their gift.  I usually replied, “A little bird told me, and it was on the Santa Claus list.”   We laughed because my youngest nephew thought that his gifts were sent to him by Santa Claus.   My uncle was always the last person to open his gifts.  My nephews, and youngest brother and sister took turns to bring gifts to their great uncle.  I waited until everyone opened and put their gifts away before I let them vote for the best family’s holiday plan.   My uncle only voted when there was a tie .  As a result, the family’s holiday plan was different for each year. 
The family’s holiday plan for last year was: we would spend the rest of Christmas day at home.  For the next two days, my uncle, brothers and oldest nephew would be skiing on Loveland Pass.  My nephew had never skied before therefore, he needed to learn it.  My two nephews, sisters and I would go after Christmas shopping.  We needed to burn some fat after we ate all the sweet foods, and also needed buy some extra, beverages and foods for the New Year celebration.   My sister and I would work on the dinner menu for the New Year party. My whole family would visit the Denver Zoo, and Museum of Nature and Science on the 28th and 29Th.  We watched movies, played games and shared some family’s memory stories at home on the 31th and New Year’s Day. The 30th would be the family’s floating day.   Everybody was happy with this plan; the tough part of my holiday was done. 
I had to cook Christmas dinner for the whole family and guests. , My uncle and sisters were invited to join us around 3:30.  Both my sisters had to help me in the kitchen, so I divided cooking tasks into three parts.  My youngest sister was responsible for cleaning breakfast dishes, washing vegetable and fruits, and cutting them.   My younger sister was responsible for all side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, potato salad, and egg nog.  I was responsible for ham, roast chickens, and soup.  Meanwhile, my brothers helped set the dinner table, arranged the flowers, candles, wines, and chairs.   My uncle babysat my three nephews, so he usually told them stories to keep them quiet and motivated until their nap time.    
When our guests arrived, my brothers always opened the front door and greeted them, and then showed them to the dining table. My uncle usually shook hands and welcomed our guests in the dining room.  I was always the last one to meet my family’s guests because I had to make sure all the foods were properly brought to the dining table before I joined my family for dinner.   My uncle and sisters shared with our guests the memories about their last year’s holidays while we ate deserts.   Some guests stayed behind to play games with my uncle and brothers until midnight.  My nephews showed their Christmas gifts to our guests’ children.   My sisters and I cleaned up and washed dishes until eight that evening.  We were exhausted and tired; however, the smile on my uncle and family member’s face warmed our hearts and we enjoyed it.   
This year, my sisters and brother came home on the day after Christmas: we went out to a Chinese restaurant for dinner, we exchanged and opened gifts, and we talked for a few hours and then went home. Surely, there was no cooking and cleaning up after dinner, and also there was no laughing and cheering at my home either.    My Christmas this year was relaxing but also short.  I hope your Christmas day is more enjoyable than mine.

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