alabama christmas

Thought I'd go ahead and share our Kirkpatrick-family traditions/plans for tonight (the 23rd), Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!

Tonight, we'll have cousin Kristy & her husband, Parker back to Demopolis for the remainder of the holidays. We had borrowed the projector from their church, and connected it to Lydia's Mac for the viewing of White Christmas the other night. When made complete by a 6x8 foot screen, which we set up in the front entryway of the house, this made the open living room area into a veritable theater! It was truly incredible. Grandpa & Grandma were so impressed and it was such a wonder to them- really a fun night:) Tonight, we're going to try The Polar Express. should be a blast!

Tomorrow (CHRISTMAS EVE) We'll have breakfast together in the mid-morning, then off to take the usual family photographs at Foscue Park. . . a BEAUTIFUL state park brimming with evergreens & bordered on three sides by the Tom Bigbee River.  Tomorrow, by late afternoon, all of the presents will underneath the tree at G&G's house (where the magic happens). For the Christmas Eve dinner, we'll have Grandma's signature Oyster Stew, shrimp cocktail, cheese, crackers, chili, cookies, cake, fudge . . .and bubbly. We'll pack into 2 vehicles and drive around town to see all the Christmas lights we can stand- while listening to Christmas music of course! Then back to grandma & grandpa's to snuggle before the fire with coffee, cocoa, and hear Grandpa's ceremonial reading of The Night Before Christmas, and then the biblical Christmas story.

Saturday (CHRISTMAS), we all are to be at G&G's, ready to open gifts, by 7:30am. We'll open presents- as we ALWAYS have- in this way: youngest to oldest, one gift at a time, around and around, until all are unwrapped. It takes hours:) We'll open until 9am, and then have our traditional Christmas-morning breakfast of cinnamon rolls, orange-glaze rolls, and a variety of breakfast casseroles. (we eat WAY too much over this holiday time here, its rather gluttonous!)  After breakfast, we'll head off for the Christmas-morning service at First Presbyterian. . . at 10:30am. Then, back home to finish gifts. Pastor Tommy, his wife Miss Elaine & his family come over every year for Christmas supper at Grandma & Grandpa's. That will be a mid-afternoon feast of Roast Beef, potatoes, vegetables, casseroles, rolls, pies, cake, and other most-delicious offerings!  The rest of that day will wind down with naps, reading, resting, sharing, walking, and just reveling in each other!

As with all good things, this holiday will come to an end; we will leave for home on Sunday before the sun rises.