IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS
Celebrating Christmas Traditions
Christmas lights are up and holiday shopping is underway — it’s the most wonderful time of the year! As Christmas morning gets closer, I can’t help but be excited for a holiday with my family, carrying out our yearly traditions and relishing the time spent together. Aside from our usual Christmas decorations and the “Elf on the Shelf,” which my daughter still adores (thankfully my sons help out with finding new creative spots and scenes), we have two traditions that are specific to our family. When my wife was growing up, she and her family would open up one present at a time while everyone else watched. This way, they’d all share in the excitement of gift giving and nothing went unnoticed or unappreciated. On my side when I was growing up, we would all tear through the presents as quickly as possible, cheering and creating massive chaos along the way. We now try to carry out my wife’s tradition, and we start out opening one gift at a time. Of course, the kids get a bit antsy and we tend to break away from the organization a bit. Another tradition we still carry out is one my stepdad started. The home is a two-story house, and each year, he made it a point to film everyone walking down the stairs on Christmas morning in their holiday pajamas while waving good morning. As a kid, I thought it
was cheesy, but I participated. Now, when we celebrate Christmas there, he still films us. As I have a large extended family, each family has matching pairs of pajamas and we march down the stairs together, waving and enjoying the moment. No matter how silly or cheesy a tradition may be, I’ve learned to appreciate the uniqueness of it, for without traditions, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same! What special holiday traditions do you have?
INSPIRATION
TODAY’S SIP
Promise Wine’s Cabernet Sauvignon
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
My wife and I recently had the opportunity to visit Napa Valley to explore different vineyards and wines. Hands down, one of our favorites was Promise Wine’s Cabernet Sauvignon — a beautiful balance of well-layered aromatics. With hints of tobacco leaf, boysenberry, blackberry, oak, and mocha, the flavor is rich with perfect acidity. The story behind Promise Wine is beautiful and enchanting. With aspirations to make it in Hollywood in the entertainment industry, Stephen McPherson moved to Los Angeles, but his love of wine made him a frequent visitor in Napa Valley. On his wedding day, he made a promise to his wife, Jennifer, that he would open up a vineyard — and he did! From there, Promise Wine was born. It’s nestled in a gorgeous part of Napa Valley on a hilltop overlooking a farm. Promise Wine’s cabernet sauvignon is a bit pricey but worth every penny for celebrations during the holiday season! Enjoy!
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