Merry Christmas 2010 {Traditions}

Welcome to Day 25 in WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd!! 
May the JOY that comes from Love and Family be yours this most Peaceful Day of Christmas!  Well the only Peace {which I truly love on Christmas Day} is that no one bugs us and we can relax and have fun!  For the first time ever the whole house slept in until almost 10 AM!!  Unfortunately with 2 young adults and a teenager, the word PEACEFUL doesn't quite describe our Traditional Christmas Day!  So here is my shortened version!

 So I am still up {from Christmas Eve} into the wee hours of this morning in the kitchen! 

Busy making two of our famous Christmas Jello salads {recipes shared next week}.

With no one to keep me company except for Mr. Snowman!  So I guess this morning did start peaceful with my perfect company {Mr. Snowman} and then with everyone {including me} sleeping in so late!

 Everyone is lured into the Music Room which is spilling over into the hallways with presents!  By the time this day finally comes nothing under the tree looks picture perfect anymore!  Then with Grand Master Mr. C behind the video camera, we tape the morning {something we always do} as it is so fun to go back and watch years down the road!

Their fun begins!

As messes are made!

And surprises are found!

And wishes come true!

And needs are met!

And secrets are revealed! {Chelsea made this for Claire at Grandmas's!}

As future shopping plans are made! {giftcard love}

As gift wrap choices are questioned!

And as shock sets in!

A quick changing of the guard at the camera.

So the old people can open their gifts!

I was treated to a fabulous blanket handmade by Chelsea and my own "Grinch"!

And because I have so many technical issues, a new super laptop is now in my future! {If I can figure out how to use it!}

Wow what a mess!

A mini disaster to clean!

And pictures to take!

And crazy poses to be made!

And still more cooking and munching {this secret recipe that I am famous for, will be revealed next week as well} to take place!

And then we walk down the street to Grandma's House {lucky huh} to be with cousins...

and Aunts and Grandma's!

And be surrounded by too many cute and happy kids!

And eat too much fabulous food!

So there you have a sneak peek at my Family Christmas Day Traditions!

So now I must share with you the most AMAZING gift of all time!  My fabulous, amazing, wonderful, perfect husband spent ALL last year {secretly without me knowing} making our own Cushing Family DVD Library!  Yes it is our family life on the big screen!  We have been taping every holiday and event since Christopher was born in 1988 so there were hundreds of tapes now on a hundred DVD's!  All labeled and placed in these leather binders!  How is that for INCREDIBLE?!?!  I was stunned!

Needless to say we spent the rest of the day and evening watching our lives unfold and making new memories by reliving the old ones!  Many of the old ones were originally on VHS so my children had never seen them!  Priceless!!
Memories and Traditions like mine today can never be bought.   Nothing else really matters besides the good times we share with those we love!  I hope that you at least had a moment to find some happiness {and maybe even PEACE} this year on Christmas and if not then I hope that you are busy making plans to do so next year!  Did you share a smile with someone this Christmas?