by Marcy Buzzelli

Created on: December 11, 2009

When people mention a first Christmas together, they usually think about newlyweds celebrating the holiday season for the first time as a married couple.  To my husband and me, who have been married for decades, the first Christmas together with all of our children and grandchildren under one roof was almost a sacred occasion. Once all of our children were married, we discovered a new phenomenon called sharing holidays with two sets of in-laws.  Although this is a fair division of visiting time, it also makes it difficult for siblings and cousins to all gather in one place at the same time.  That is why the very first holiday that all of our married children returned home, we felt like a never-to-be-forgotten miracle happened.

Once everyone committed to being at our house for December 24 and 25, the massive preparations began. Crystal that had long been in the back of the cabinet was washed.  Silver that was brown with tarnish was polished to its original shine.  After years of setting just two places for dinner, we put the extension leaves in the dining room table.  Finally, I had the opportunity to search through the recipe box for each child’s favorite food from years ago.  Trying to please the carnivores and the vegetarians was a major challenge that I plunged into with fury.

In order to make this first Christmas together extra special, my husband had the task of allocating bedroom space to our children, their spouses, and the grandchildren.  It quickly becomes apparent to us that a house that was large enough for three children when they were growing up was no longer sufficient for their spouses and offspring!  Since this was the first Christmas with everyone back home, we decided that each of our children would have her childhood bedroom decorated as it was years ago with a miniature tree.  The five grandchildren had a slumber party in the newly spruced up basement with a frig filled with soft drinks, air mattresses on the floor, popcorn for the microwave, and chocolate chip cookies compliments of Grandma! Trying to impress his grandchildren with how “hip” he was, Grandpa even purchased a flat screen TV and a Wii for the basement!  His plans were a huge success!

When everyone started arriving on Christmas Eve, there were a few glitches that had to be worked out, but siblings who fought as kids, seemed able to work out their problems amicably as adults.  Cousins who rarely saw each other were delighted to explore the entertainment possibilities that the newly renovated basement had to offer. My husband and I were just beaming to have our usually quiet house bursting with people and the sounds of grandchildren arguing over a remote control!

Although a squabble or two broke out between siblings who still harbor a few contentious memories, the 48 hours of this first Christmas together was the best present ever!  No gifts under the tree will ever match the memory of having all of our children and their spouses and our grandchildren under one roof.  Santa even smiled when he saw all of those stockings hung by the chimney with care!

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