A Merry Memory

Its Christmas morning, 2010. We’re still in our jammies, our presents have been opened, and our tummies are starting to rumble. We load the high chair into the Subaru and drive past City Park to the beautiful Hammil House. Dan and Amy Beck, also in jammies, greet us with great big Christmas hugs. The house smells like freshly brewed coffee and venison bacon. My heart is warm. Just as we finish setting our gifts under the tree, there is a knock at the door. “Merry Christmas! Its Uncle Godfather Brian!” With a smile stretched from ear to ear, in strolls our dear friend Brian. Wrapped in a bathrobe, with his coffee cup in hand, he has come bearing gifts. More hugs all around. We enjoy a delicious feast set around the grand dining table. Then we move on to the great gift opening. I feel just as much at home here, amidst the company of close friends, as I did blocks away at my own house. There is a certain wonderful love in this air- its called the magic of Christmas morning. This morning, indeed, is one of my merriest of memories.

a train for an uncle at christmas time

Apparently Matt’s Uncle Mark in Wausau has a pretty sweet Christmas train.

Look! It made the news! Read the whole article:

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20111223/WDH0101/112220600/Model-train-sets-put-memories-motion

Swedish-American Celebrations – by Megan Asph

One of the unexpected benefits of marrying a Swede has been several new Christmas traditions added to the season. While they are never perfectly Swedish – for example, we have yet to find a pretty Lucia procession in Chicago, they are ours and I love them.

Sankta Lucia – Celebrated December 13th with a beautiful procession, songs, and candles.

Saffron buns – called lussebullar or lussekatter are made. While we have yet to find a decent procession in Chicago, we do make lussebullar ever year.

This is the traditional shape…                …but we like to get creative too:

Christmas Gift Riddles- I’m not 100% sure if this is Swedish or just Herman, but it’s fun regardless. Each gift comes with it’s own riddle about what’s inside. Here is one of my favorites from our first Christmas together:

shake shake little
startled one
curve into a spiked
ball, till your eyes
are gone
feast for a fox
you could have been
but instead two spices
you hold within

Inside, were these little gems:

Socialist Christmas Cartoon – Actually called Christopher Jannsen’s Christmas. Whether you are a bleeding heart liberal or a libertarian, this cute cartoon is worth watching as it embraces the Christmas spirit of sharing. Traditionally watched on Christmas Eve…but we have ended a night of drunken revelry watching this with friends. Watch part one here (subsequent parts should pop up on Youtube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJr60IpZcyU&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLFDF86C203521B9BD

Pepparkakor - Ginger cookies….I used to eat Anna’s pepparkakor’s year round, but apparently they are really reserved for Christmas. Either way, they are yum!

SwedishSnaps – Eat too much julbord? Swedes take a shot of schnapps to make room for more. While I am more than willing to do the shot, I wouldn’t say it makes more room in my tummy. And while the flavor may be awful (stay away from the herbal spiced ones), it does add to the merriment.

Julmust – While American’s may associate Coca-Cola’s polar bear with Christmas, Swedes sip on Julmust during the Holidays – enough so that Julmust outsells Coca-Cola every year during this time. Usually Tomte (Sweden’s Christmas gnome) gifts a Julmust or 2 in Herman’s stocking. Syruppy sweet and a little spicey, the Christmas soda can be found in the States at World Market.

Next year I hope to have my first taste of actual Julbord – the Christmas smorgasbord, and glogg, a spiced, mulled wine….either in Sweden or at our favorite local Swedish Restaurant (Tre Kronor offers one with rave reviews). Someday when we have a family, I hope to have a visit from the spitfire little Tomte who is known to throw his presents at random and play pranks on some. We might also add the tradition of watching Donald Duck’s Christmas, viewed nationwide much like we watch It’s A Wonderful Life. Finally, many Swedes celebrate 20 days after Christmas, throwing out the tree, and having the kids fish for surprise gifts on the other side of a sheet.

Photoblog- Festive Firsts

You’d think by the time I celebrate my 27th Christmas, I might have done it all.

Fortunately, I haven’t.

This year especially, I’ve  been blessed to experience the Christmas season in so many new ways. As Christmas winds down to its finale, I’d like to share some of my life’s December highlights with you-

For the first time, Matt and I attended the Downtown Neenah Christmas event. There were live mannequins in every store window, holiday music pumping outdoors, carolers, and tons of hustle bustle. A special date indeed.

Turns out Maple is quite the Christmas crafter. She works mostly in glue and glitter and takes her art very seriously.

The introduction of the Advent Calendar tradition has added exciting surprises (and father/daughter accessories) to each day this month.

Riding a horse pulled sleigh through Green Bay’s botanical garden’s Festival of Lights was pretty magical for Maple, Reetz, and I. It would have been more magical under a blanket of snow, but hey…

I attended my first elementary school Christmas concert since I graduated the sixth grade. It was much cuter than I remember. Good job Isabel and Dominick!

With each passing year, I appreciate my family even more. Christmas weekend in the northwoods was wonderful.

We didn’t only get to visit with Santa this year- We met the Grinch too!

The only thing that would have made Christmas Lights Night more amazing would have been snow.

We Reetzs attended our first Ugly Christmas Sweater party. It was a fun time for all, thanks to our dear friends, The Becks!

My Oh My! Of all the fabulous Christmas firsts of 2011, my favorite is, of course, this little guy.

Ornaments from an Aunt by Erin “ee” Chisel

Dear Milanio, Ella Bella, O-dubs, Poo Poos, Bennett, Jay-Jay, Beanie, Ava Bug, Owie, Buddha Boo, Connor Bonnor, Ro Jo, Maple, Drew Drew Bee, Babienne, North, and New Baby:

When I was a little girl, one gift I knew I’d receive every Christmas was an ornament from my aunt. Some years, it was wrapped as a small package of its own; other years it was tied by a ribbon to the top of another gift. Either way, I always looked forward to seeing what kind of ornament I would get. She gave me ornaments ranging from sparkly stars to Santa-hat-wearing puppies, from fuzzy polar bears to friendship doves (I believe I acquired this particular ornament circa 1992; you’ll learn why someday…). After receiving one ornament every Christmas for many years, my aunt has helped me build quite the collection. Now, each year, my tree is adorned with these treasures. As I hang these gifts on branch after branch, I always think of my aunt. Without her, and my boxes full of ornaments, my tree would be quite bare. I love that she started this tradition, and, as an auntie myself now, I am committed to keeping it up. Over the past few years, many of you have gotten ornaments from me already, and as each Christmas approaches, I’m so glad my list of recipients continues to grow. Whether I’m your aunt by family or friendship, whether we live near or far, whether we see each other every day or not often enough, I love each of you with every ounce in me. So Merry Christmas my little dears….. now go check your mailboxes.

Love,
your ee