A Christmas Story

If you grew up at my house, you grew up watching A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve at least three times every year. My sister and I used to fall asleep to it at night under a tent that we built every year for Christmas Eve. It is one of the many traditions I am going to have to pass on one day. I could probably quote every line of this movie. When I met Jay he had never seen A Christmas Story. I wanted to cry for him. I couldn't imagine Christmas without it. But, it took me a couple of Christmases to figure this out. My parents always had the leg lamp from the movie in our front window. Looking back, Jay probably thought we were nuts for putting a leg lamp in the front window during Christmas. He couldn't figure out why the neighbor kids were so excited the day put it out. Ha...it makes me laugh just thinking about it. I finally got him to watch the movie, and then he started to figure out the lamp in the window.

This year my parents are living in a new house that can't be seen from the road. They thought it would be such a shame putting it up and no one getting to see it when they drove by. This is where my great idea comes in. Jay and I have a huge front window that everyone can see down the street at our house. After a little debate, we decided on joint custody of the lamp. YAY! Let's just say this isn't Jay's favorite Christmas decoration, but he's appeasing me with it. He kind of rolls his eyes every time I rush upstairs when it starts to get dark to turn it on!

The best part of the lamp is how it was shipped. It was sent in the same crate from the movie and has Fra-gile (if you have seen it you know the proper pronunciation...I mean it must be French!) written down the side. The same fluffy packing material was in there keeping the lamp safe.

I know this sounds somewhat ridiculous, but Christmas traditions mean so much to me. We grew up moving all over the country, and things like a Christmas story and building a tent with my sister are things that stayed the same no matter where we were. They are things I will never forget, and will probably cry about as I spend my first Christmas with my husband away from home! I couldn't ask for a better family to spend Christmas with though, and can't wait for the new traditions I am going to learn about!