Christmas - I have kept as many traditions surrounding the holiday as possible for my family. The first year without Chuck was difficult but I was so touched by my children. It was also Ashley's first year not believing in Santa. Her brother helped her through that and got her assistance in playing Santa to me. Our family has always hung stockings (Chuck and I filled each others). That year I didn't hang mine. I knew it would be too heartbreaking. But in the morning - there it hung. And it was fuller than theirs. They had shopped together and chosen special treats for me.
My heart still swells when I remember that first year of a new tradition that has continued annually.
We do the pickle in the tree too. Ours is actually a glass pickle ornament. And I always buy the kids a new ornament every year too - so they'll have a complete set when they leave home. I also bought them new jammies and left them in front of the fireplace on the morning of the 24th so they could wear them that night. I always took their photo in the new matching jammies in front of the tv! I LOVED doing that.
When they get older they don't wear cute stuff to bed. mostly just boxers and ts, though Ash does have some silk pjs that she loves. It is definitely more fun when the kids are little.
I guess the only tradition we had together that I did for myself after he left was going to watch fireworks on Halloween. That night I buy the first Gingerbread Latte because generally they will sell me one regardless of the release date. Anyhow, I then walk over to the park and watch the fireworks.
Christmas, birthday and other traditions are very hard for me because they always got messy with his craziness from being raised a JW. The only thing, I did was buy a dated ornament every year. So I still do that.
This past Christmas, I had Christmas for FA and his kids in January after he got back from his deployment. I cannot describe how it felt to see his kids open their gifts. You really see it differently from their eyes and see why parents work as hard as they do to make it all special for their kids. Seeing them happy makes it all worth it.
