The plight of being the oldest (child AND grandchild) and watching it all change...

Things have changed, and will never be the same.
Christmas morning this year was pretty anti-climactic. My dad had to work, my brother went to his girlfriend's house and both of my cousins were elsewhere. We puttered around until my Aunt and Mike arrived after noon. Then we (big surprise) played cards until dinner was ready.

Nathan and Amanda came back to eat with us, dad was still at work. After stuffing our faces, we (shocker) played more games. Once dad got off work we 'exchanged gifts'. My immediate family didn't buy presents this year because of the cruise, so it was really just the extended family.

Mom and I were discussing why Christmas has never been a big deal in our family, especially the past few years when we started removing gifts and going on cruises. (Honestly, there wasn't a tree at our house or my grandparent's this year.) Dad has always worked shift work, meaning he had no control over whether he would have the day off or not... I mean, we all need electricity on Christmas, so someone has to do it! Therefore, we would always do Christmas when we could... Christmas Eve, the day after, morning, night... whatever. There is not much tradition or consistency involved. We do usually have more family, but now that Josh is in the Marines and I live in DC, it's been next to impossible to coordinate schedules and all end up at the same place at the same time. I am sure this is just the beginning, it will only get more convoluted as more leave the nest and the family spreads out. It really makes me wonder... what will Christmas look like next year? Or, the next?

It carries it's own twisted sense of excitement. Who knows what Christmas in 2009 will look like... and as long as it involves ginger cookies and cranberry casserole, I will be happy.