I have several "mini-celebrations" with family....We always celebrate seperately with my mom's family, my stepfather's family, my dad's family, and Mr. Osuche's family. There was a time when I bought gifts for 42 people, but over the past 5 years several people have passed away...since my stepfather died and his parents died, this is the first year I will have to "eliminate" one Christmas off of the list. And my paternal grandmother died a couple of years ago, so the celebration at my dad's family is rather smaller also. This year I will be buying for @23 people, if that gives you a feel for the decimation of family members.

Christmas Eve was always reserved for my stepfather's parents, who were of old German roots and always opened presents on Christmas Eve. We always ate dinner, sat and talked, drank a shot of Peppermint Schnapps, and then opened gifts. Eveeryone would take turns opening gifts and my stepfather would walk around and take pictures. Oma would make these wonderful cookies, and Christmas morning we always ate sausages, potatoes, and cabbage for brunch...as a sign of good luck. Then Oma and Opa would give us kisses and let us be off to the next home for Christmas.......Geez, I am going to miss them all SOOO much this year!

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Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney