This past weekend the thunderstorms and freezing rain cancelled my client’s mini sessions but our family decided to brave the weather, getting together for breakfast and then searching for our own Christmas trees.
Growing up with a jewish father, we celebrated Hanukkah. There was a methodical way we lit the candles and said the blessings, exchanged one gift, and then we went our separate ways for the evening. There was no excitement or holiday cheer, no family activities or games. It always felt more of a chore then a celebration.
The decorations my father approved of were tacky, ugly, and so much of an eye sore that even living out in the middle of the woods on a dead on dirt road, my mother did everything she could do move them to more discreet locations in the house so the neighbors wouldn’t be able to see them, should they show up unannounced for afternoon coffee and cake. We tried to convince my father to allow us to have a “Hanukkah Bush,” which really was a Christmas tree, only 3 feet and shorter, decorated with Hanukkah decorations or natural decorations such as popcorn or cranberry strings, or paper snowflakes. Unfortunately, it was not approved by my father and we were stuck with the hideous Hanukkah decorations.
Needless to say, the holidays became a time of year we dreaded and struggled through, while watching our friends happily celebrating with their families and loved ones.
It wasn’t until I moved back to Michigan and met my now husband, Andy, and his family, that I began to enjoy the holidays again. We get together as a family as often as we can to make wreaths, cookies, go shopping, or even just to get together for dinners out and to see holiday movies in the theaters. We decorate our homes and trees together, look forward to the seafood feast on Christmas Eve, and we love the inside jokes of the presents that just keep giving, AKA, the endless cans of SPAM.
It has become a time of year I avoided, to the time of year I look forward to the most. This past weekend has been replaying in my mind and making me smile all week. We met for a noisy, laughter filled breakfast, and then drove through Church’s Christmas Tree Farm to find our perfect Christmas trees for each of our homes.
Winston had a blast snuffling around the trees, following the bunny trails, and taking off Papa Bear’s and Andy’s hats as they cut down the trees. He didn’t mind wandering around in circles looking for the perfect tree for Mama Bear, or chasing Papa Bear around all of the mud puddles. It’s been an honor not only to make new memories with the Klein Family, but to enjoy the little moments with Winston and his silly smile.
I hope the families that went out to cut their trees had as much fun as we had. Merry Christmas to all.
Thank you to Mama Bear and Holly for snapping a few photos of Andy and me! <3
