Traditions and Passing the Torch

School is officially out and I have 2 glorious weeks of celebrating, resting, and recooperating to do! I'm trying hard not to think about the HUGE folder of papers that have to be graded, the laundry that has been piling up and needs putting away, or the dust that has been accumulating around this house that I have subtly turned a blind eye to over the last month or so (yes, it's been a month since I've dusted...I'm busy, what I can I say?). This year is the first in a long time that actually feels Christmasy and festive. I have been enjoying Christmas music more and have really enjoyed the anticipation leading up to this time! I attribute this to this being my first year back in school after taking a 2-year break from teaching to run an after school program and daycare. This year I'm going to sleep in the day after Christmas instead of having to drag myself to work to watch a thousand sugared-up kids still hyped up from all the toys and excitement from the day before. Not that I don't love children. Or sugar and toys. I will just enjoy being off and free to do my own thing.

As the anticipation builds, I've really been reflecting on our Christmas traditions. My Christmases have changed dramatically over the last few years as I've graduated from college, moved out, and gotten married. As a person of staunch tradition, these changes have been hard, but I'm trying to talk myself through it by embracing the new and looking to create traditions of our own with my husband to make Christmastime something we look forward to together, while still enjoying the things we've always done with both of our families.

That being said, this is the first year that I will hosting our annual Christmas eve breakfast! I have taken this over from my grandma, who does such a fabulous job, but is just overwhelmed by doing breakfast and dinner for our family (she is quite the hostess!). I'm excited to take this long-standing Zimmerman family tradition and make it my own, keeping the best of what my grandma has always done, but also adding my own two cents worth. I'll post pictures and let you know how it goes. Our menu has varied over the years, but I'm planning to serve sausage-egg casserole, some sort of sticky buns, fruit, coffee, and juice. I'm also looking forward to breaking out our china (passed down from my great aunt, Osie). Hopefully this will be the start of a great old/new tradition in the Herndon family.