Friday, December 22, 2017

Christmas Memories and Traditions

   We are joining our friends in Blogville to share our family Christmas traditions. I’ve been thinking back to the days when our kids were young. It really was the most wonderful time of the year. Grab a cup of coffee, tea or spirits and let me tell you about Christmas on the Bayou.
Our home decorated for Christmas
   When our children were young, we loved to have Christmas decorations both inside and out. Skipper decorated the house with over 5,000 lights. Our home was beautiful and drew quite a crowd of light lookers! 

Santa Tucker and Bentley the Ho Ho Ho Hound
This is Bentley with our beloved Tucker. They were besties.❤ 
   For years, our Christmas Eve has been the time we visit with family and friends. The children open their gifts from relatives and play while the adults talk and munch on delicious food. That night, as soon as the weather man shows Santa rapidly approaching the Ark-La-Tex, the kids scamper off to bed. Sleep is impossible when Santa is on his way. That is why we always hung a blanket over the doorway to the room where Santa put all the goodies.
   Christmas morning meant brown-n-serve rolls and coffee before our kids could go through the blanket curtain. This is really just a way to prolong the excitement and make your kids hate brown-n-serve rolls. (They are my very favorite!) It also put some solid food on their bellies before they discovered the candy in their stockings. Once they went through the curtain, it is so much fun to see them discover what Santa brought. Those were magical times and have become cherished memories.
The Bayou Boys wish you a very merry Christmas
   Now, we are the Grandparents and things are going to be different this year. We get to sit back and watch with absolute joy as our granddaughter sees what Santa brought her. Of course, she has all of the presents Gram and Paw couldn’t resist! This year, the magic of Christmas will be back as we see it through the eyes of a toddler. 
*All our Christmas celebrations have included our pets. They always have wrapped gifts and lots of goodies from Santa. Bentley and Pierre will be enjoying lots of Christmas cheer this year!
   We are also joining our friends McGuffy’s Reader and 15 and Meowing for Friendly Fill-Ins. This is a fun way to learn more about our blogging buddies. Join in at our co-hosts’ sites.
• I can’t wait to see our granddaughter open our gifts to her.
• I have had the same stocking for over 30 years.
• I would not mind if Santa were to bring me a new coffee mug. I broke my favorite one a few weeks ago.
• On Christmas Eve, I always watch "A Christmas Story." #You’llShootYourEyeOut
Have a safe and wonderful Christmas weekend.
We are excited to announce our official 

I have listed some of our favorite products for pets and people. This list will continue to grow as I discover more awesome products. These will be affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase. There will be no additional charge to you. Thanks!
It's the Pet Parade Blog Hop!  Join the Christmas fun with Rascal and RoccoBionic Basil’s Blog, and me. We are open all week so join the parade!

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25 comments :

  1. Skipper sure has the creative genes for things like photography and decorating, you have the for writing! Enjoy your Christmas! Mom misses the big Christmases of the past but things change over time. Merry Christmas to you all!

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  2. Although we didn't share them today, we love Christmas memories ... and gathered new ones with our grands (as you will!) ... though mine are now 18, 12 and 8! Time flies with them (even faster) and is so precious ... enjoy each and every moment!

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  3. We remember those days when the 4 siblings were growing up! Good times!

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  4. Melissa this is so beautiful!! I can just imagine the kids barreling through the "Christmas Blanket"! I love the photos of your beautiful home all lit up and Tucker & Bentley together. He looks exactly like the Tucker I imagine when reading your wonderful books, The Returns! Thank you for sharing some of your magical Christmas memories.
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  5. Christmas is always about little kids. Have a beautiful time with your family making all new and magical memories. P.S. Those home decorations are incredible! My pitiful snowflake string is making me rethink the light situation for next year.

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  6. I LOVE your holiday traditions! Beautiful as I knew they would be. I heard of someone else doing the blanket over the door and now I can't remember where I saw that. This year will be extra fun with your granddaughter! Oh and I love your lights! "A Christmas Story" is one of my all time faves, if we are home, I turn it on and let it play over and over and over again. All of the store scenes (outside the store, the square where the parade is, inside the store and some of the snow scenes) were ALL filmed in Cleveland. I used to catch the bus to work outside the store in the movie....they filmed at 2am so they didn't have to deal with commuters like me!
    DakotasDen

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  7. Thank you for sharing your precious holiday memories💜❄️🎅🏻☃️

    Nose nudges,
    CEO Olivia

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  8. Lovely traditions!

    Happy Christmas!

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  9. Enjoy your lovely traditions with your grandbabies

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  10. I heard it was 80 in Shreveport yesterday. Meanwhile, it’s 16 degrees in Boston....yuck!
    Merry Christmas!

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  11. What great traditions! Mom can't wait to see "Christmas Story" on Christmas Eve!

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  12. What wonderful traditions and I love the brown 'n serve rolls...that was too funny but wise especially so that the kiddos had something on their tummies.
    The first photo of your home was simply beautiful...love the roof writing
    Hugs madi and mom

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  13. Christmas through the eyes of a child you are very fortunate indeed. Sounds like great fun and great anticipation at your home.
    Happy Holidays
    Sweet William The Scot

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  14. Such lovely traditions of the past and wonderful future memories to be made!!

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  15. What a fun way you did Christmas for your kids! We always had brown-n-serve rolls for holiday dinners, but never for breakfast! LOL.
    Your decorated house was beautiful!!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  16. That brought back some good memories. I remembered that we use to also leave out a snack for Santa, usually cookies and cocoa. One year (I think it was after Dad had to assemble a doll house) he said "Santa might prefer a beer!".

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  17. Thank you for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. It sounds like your kids must have some nice Christmas memories. It is fun to see little ones enjoy their gifts. Have a wonderful Christmas! XO

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  18. What fun Christmas traditions! Skipper must have been the Clark Griswold of the neighborhood. ;)

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  19. Thank you for bringing some child hood memories back to me. We had a door that closed off the hallway to the bedrooms at our house. My dad always would to go to the living room and get the fire started before he would throw open the door and yell Merry Christmas!! I did something similar with my own two children!
    hugs
    Mabel & Hazel and Mom

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  20. Mom said traditions change as families change and people get older. BUTT at our house me and Stanley are always the center of the attention!

    Happy Merry Everything!

    Murphy & Stanley & Pawrents

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  21. What great traditions, nice you get to watch the grand daughter now. Merry Christmas!

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  22. Such wonderful traditions! That blanket one is really neat. :)

    Wishing you and your family the merriest of Christmases, Melissa. Big hugs!

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  23. Oh, my word. We always watch A Christmas Story! Yes, every Christmas Eve. Wishing you many blessings in the coming year. Hugs.

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