Manion Mansion Christmas

It is Christmas morning year 2010 and it is the first time that I am not with my family to celebrate. Let me tell you what that means:
It means that yesterday, being Christmas Eve was the first time that I wasn't elbow deep in a mixture of egg, bread and celery with my mom making dressing. Yesterday we would have also begun to feel guilty that we didn't put up any outside decorations. So, at the demand of my sister, my dad would have climbed up to get one or two strands of Christmas lights (hoping they still work) from the top of the garage and would have strung them around a few bushes in the front yard. Normally a pathetic sight...but with great intent. The evening of Christmas Eve, my mom would insist that we all open one gift and my dad would read us "The Night Before Christmas". Even at age 22, hearing him read that story still makes me feel like a little kid getting ready to go to bed to dream of sugar plums while Santa climbs down the chimney.
Today Im also missing my older sister waking me up around 6:45 am. I think one of my favorite parts though is the hot chocolate and cozying up next to the fireplace while we open gifts and I blare Billy Gilman Classic Christmas (normally for the 67th time in a week). After gifts we all are slow to get started showering and prepping for our drive over to my uncle's house carrying all of the food and about 16 pies. My dad will always make a big breakfast..and last year my mom and I added the tradition of drinking early in the morning but making it look classy by at least drinking mimosas. We save the egg nog for later :) All the while we laugh at the pets who think it is the best day in the world because they get to trump through mounds of wrapping paper, tape and ribbon.

Of course that is not all of the Minatrea Family Christmas but that is what I got to finish before Nikki called me this morning. I guess the good thing about being so far away is that I am an hour ahead so by the time she wakes me up Ive gotten an extra hour of sleep!

What I've realized though, is that there is no place quite like home for the holidays. Even if home seems like its the same thing every year. Its the little things that you miss once you dont have them around. For example, I am positive that if my dad were able to make me my hot chocolate this morning I know without asking he would have made the perfect mixture of chocolate and hot water knowing that I like it really chocolatey.

Today, my plan is to venture into the city and see what the rest of the world does on Christmas day.

Merry Christmas everyone :)