By Georgia Osten
You might call it tradition, but I just call it “This is the way we roll.” We didn’t know Elfie when our kids were growing up. I’m thinking that’s a blessing. We had enough to deal with. Just trying to wrap presents with three kids running around was enough of a challenge. If my bedroom door was closed, that meant No Trespassing.

My kids who live in Israel just went on a cruise down the Nile to Egypt. Believe it or not, Elfie went on their vacation with them. He was on his best behavior, thank goodness, none of his regular stunts.

I can’t remember how many years the gifts under the tree had suspicious names on them. Each year was a different theme like Star Wars, The Little Mermaid, baseball players, Santa’s Reindeer, the list goes on. Now, that’s a tradition that has stuck with us. A couple of years, PawPaw and I were the only ones to have the list. We were expected to bring it with us wherever the “opening ceremony” was to take place.

You guessed it, we would lose or misplace the list! Subsequent years, the list got laminated and we had at least two, if not more. Plus, we would email the list just to be safe. As we moved around and weren’t necessarily together, the list would be universal. This year, for instance, the list coincides with families not living near us, we all have the same goofy names. Some years, the name will stay the same. We have one member of the family who has been, and will always be, The Grinch!

Here’s another one: The Jam Strip Cheesers. I just happened to get another oven this year, I’ve always thought I needed two. My Granddaughter, Emma, said, “well Grandma, I guess that means more Jelly Cookies.” Well, by golly, you’re right Sweetie! The recipe is from a Pillsbury cookbook, the kind you get at the register in the grocery store. It became so old and crumbly, it had to be laminated. I’ve got Blackberry, Raspberry, and Apricot jams and preserves, couldn’t find Plum Jam at all anywhere!

Christmas Day will be spent with The Olders, these are the kids home from college. They probably won’t be waking up early, so PawPaw and I will get to League City early enough to make the Blueberry Muffins, another norm from way back. Christmas dinner is Standing Rib Roast, we’ll change that up from the norm. Which reminds me of the Christmas we decided to have steaks and baked potatoes. On Christmas morning, my daughter and I discovered neither of us had bought steaks. Nothing open except for Walgreens. I can’t remember how we improvised, but we did.

Last, but not least, is our craving of Mexican Food at this time of year. So, Saturday night we had our date night to Jose’s for Mexican Food. We got there just in the Nick of time. This time of year, almost all the employees of Jose’s take off for Mexico, so I guess that means all the great Mexican Food chefs. They have a separate menu which DOES NOT contain all the Mexican Food dishes. We just slipped in under the wire thank goodness, and I had Cheese Enchiladas w/onions, and PawPaw had the Jose’s Platter. Tums for Dessert.

Until next week, Here’s wishing y’all a Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad.

Be safe, be happy.

[Dec-21-2020]