[constanyiskancho]

Christmas is also more important to my family. Not because of religious reasons, but because that's just the time when everyone has time to get together. I think within my family, New Year's Eve is usually celebrated at home with one's immediate family, having some wine or whatever with the spouse and children. New Year's Day is usually spent taking down Christmas decorations and unwinding before you have to head back to work or school. This year, it really irritated me that my oldest son had to return to school Friday, January 2.

Anyway, since my parents are divorced and since my maternal grandparents are divorced, that means I have to go in all kinds of different directions for Christmas. For example, this year, my Christmas day began with the boys opening their presents early that morning, then I had to rush along and tear them away from their toys so we could make the trip to North Carolina(an hour or more drive away) to see my father, his wife, and all of my paternal relatives. After having Christmas breakfast there(where oysters are the main item on the menu), we then had to load everyone back up and head back home for my maternal grandfather's family gathering. Again, not very traditional food items on the menu. We usually have plenty of smoked salmon, oysters, and crabs that my great-aunt brings down from the Chesapeake Bay, to go along with the more traditional fare. Finally, we officially ended celebrating Christmas this year on December 27, when my maternal grandmother had her gathering. Of course, saving the best for last...