A Few Family Traditions Taken to the Next Level

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i hope everyone is having a fantastic day after christmas! it is snowing like craaaaazy here and started last night on christmas so my dream of a white christmas was fulfilled hooray! the hubs and i took an early walk before anyone got up this morning.

i forgot how peaceful it is when the snow falls. it’s this eery silence like nothing else and i love it.us outsidei have been very impressed with all of our families’ flexibility in our schedule (and spreadsheet) changing up and it’s mostly makes me feel a little nutty but worth it to see everyone! basically everything revolves around food for this holiday and our family looooves food.

we had a great christmas eve eve lunch with my dad, my newly married sister and her husband!

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then we went over to our family friend farah’s house (basically ravery’s second mother) and she cooked us delicious food in her beautiful new home.

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she’s from iran so she cooked some delicious traditional dishes and this is the best rice to ever enter my mouth. white rice on the bottom, saffron rice on top with currants.

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for christmas eve the next night we had a delicious dinner at my mom’s house where we could have really used a ‘selfie-stick’ for this number. thank goodness for my husband’s long arms.

roemer family christmasthis was followed by a fantastic christmas morning at my mom’s house, where we received one of the best gifts ever!

my nana painted us pictures! one photo ravery took of me in thailand and the other is on our wedding day! of course i was blurbbing because how meaningful is that?! she also painted two wedding photos for my sister and her husband!

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here’s the original photo from thailand:IMG_0202

one tradition we did at my mom’s growing up was all getting matching PJs and wearing them for a good part of the day. this year she upgraded us to super cute sweaters!

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there were 2 days a year where my mom was allowed to pick what we were wore for the day; one was on picture day and the other was for christmas cards. evidence:

christmas card photo old

ravery’s family was very patient and waited to open presents until we got there that afternoon! we do a not-so-secret-santa and each pick a name and i scored a new kindle from my father-in-law and some other great gifts so yay!

we also do a secret santa where i totally stole an excellent blanket and nice chocolate from my sister-in-law, sorry ash!

IMG_2902we had such a delicious meal last night that was out of this world. the flavors…YUM and i am pointing out that all the mashed potatoes are MINE. favorite dish always.

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food games

this was followed up with games of poker and ‘cards against humanity.’ ridiculous, inappropriate and hilarious.

christmas drinks averyit’s been interesting and fun to see how both of our families celebrate christmas in different ways! it makes you appreciate how you grew up and also fun things to add on or start making new traditions!

hope you are enjoying time with loved ones and good food!

questions:
1) favorite food to eat during your holiday meal?
2) does your family play any games or have traditions anything after you’re finished with holiday meals?
3) how do you feel about wearing matching clothing with family members?

14 Comments

  1. Natalie Brenner

    December 26, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    So many fun traditions!! Love all of your photos. Games sound fun. Our Christmas was different this year – family celebrations spread throughout the month! This looks like a fun week. Also…SNOW! So jealous.

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:46 am

      we really did have a great (and crazy) time natalie! glad you spread your celebrations out over the whole month! that sounds excellent! the snow was sooooo magical!
      chelsea recently posted…A Few Family Traditions Taken to the Next Level

  2. Rachel G

    December 26, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Whoa, lots of festivities! We have never, and I’m sure will never (because the world is big) see both of our families during the same holiday, but that sure makes for plenty of good food and fun! My family periodically decide we all like the same t-shirts–in the past we’ve all had Superman t-shirts, and we’ve all had “I (heart) MY” shirts (MY is the abbreviation for Malaysia, but it confuses people who don’t know that, haha!)
    Rachel G recently posted…Rat in the Restaurant

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:48 am

      it does sound like you are all spread out rachel but ya never know! some of our family was in russia/egypt for years and ended up back in colorado! yeeees i’m glad your family is into matching t-shirts at times! glad you clarified the ‘ i heart MY’ because i probably wouldn’t have guessed it was malaysia! hope you had a great holiday!

  3. Donna

    December 26, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    1. Fave food… stuffing. Or mashed potatoes. Or prime rib. Or cheesecake.
    2. After dinner it’s time to play with the kids’ toys.
    3. Matching outfits? Ain’t. Gonna. Happen. 😉

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:50 am

      haaaaaa excellent choices donna! awww kids and toys sounds like fun after dinner activities. no babies or kids yet in our family for the most part!

  4. Melzie at Ribbons and Rotor Blades

    December 26, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    I absolutely love those paintings! What an amazing gift! I wish I knew someone who could paint like that!!! Lol does she want to paint my husband’s helicopter for commission?? Lol I keep thinking it’d be an awesome birthday gift but local places want to charge me like $450!!
    I am all impressed by all the houses you visit!! We come in town and I’m always so stressed having to fit everyone in in such a short time…and we have nowhere near as many places to visit as you!!!
    But I’m glad you had such a great holiday!!! I love hearing others traditions. Thanks for sharing!!

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:51 am

      they are even more incredible in person melzie!! i will ask her about painting your husband’s helicopter (i’ll send you an email)! that’s crazy oil paintings are that expensive- i can see why because it’s such detail and effort but daaaang!

      yeah stress totally hit me a few times having to fit everything in but overall it was pretty grand!
      chelsea recently posted…A Few Family Traditions Taken to the Next Level

  5. Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties

    December 27, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    WOW you guys fit in so many activities- that’s impressive! And omg those pictures your nana painted– HOLY COW THOSE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!
    Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties recently posted…Happy Holidays!

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:52 am

      it was nuuuuts some days ashley!! just thankful no families ever made us feel guilty of spending time with the others so it was good. isn’t that nana of mine talented?! she tried teaching my sister and i watercolor and made it look so easy (which it is NOT!) hope you had a great christmas i can’t wait to catch up on blogs!

  6. Courtney!

    December 28, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    Wow! I can’t believe she painted those! What an incredible gift. I’ve also thought about getting a wedding photo of ours painted from someone on Etsy.
    Courtney! recently posted…Things I’m Loving Lately (Dec 2014)

    • chelsea

      December 29, 2014 at 6:53 am

      it is really such an incredible gift, courtney! something we will have forever and ever! that sounds like a good idea to get a wedding photo painted-it’s gorgeous!

  7. Amanda Wood

    December 29, 2014 at 8:45 am

    I love all of your traditions and admire you organization for all of your Holiday traveling! Those paintings though really take the cake! Amazing!
    Amanda Wood recently posted…Grateful Heart for the Holidays

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