Silkmas 2011

For a long time now, my family hasn't celebrated Christmas on Christmas day. I am not sure when it all started but it may have been when my brother Zach was living and traveling abroad and wasn't coming home until sometime in January. I think I was 15 years old or so at that time. It is now a full on tradition for us. In fact, we now regularly celebrate it on Martin Luther King Day weekend. It's perfect really: tickets are cheaper, sales are in full effect so gifts are cheaper, it extends the Christmas holiday and it helps reduce the stress of balancing family and travel during the holidays. Somehow, it seems to carry a bit of magic with it. May be it's because I am nostalgic and just miss my family or may be there is something else. At Silkmas 2009 it included my Bridal Shower/bachelorette hosted by my sisters-in-law and my Aunt Suzanne surprised me and came. In 2010, wackiness and delirium ensued as usual. And in 2011, it snowed. A lot. On Silkmas Eve and Silkmas Day. It didn't stick very long but made the day feel pretty festive. It was coincidentally 'the year of the hat' for gifts. Matt and I were able to spend a lot of time with our nieces and nephew. We also celebrated with Natasha's dad who was staying with them from the Ukraine. Hopefully the MLK Silkmas tradition can continue...

Silkmas 2011