Huckleberry Press 121516

December 15, 2016 Huckleberry Press Page 5
Christmas at Home
by Gladys Hanning
My heart is full of the excitement that Christmas is almost here!
It will be a full house at the Hanning's this Christmas! Soon our
home will be filled with the sounds of Christmas Music, laughter
and lots of little voices. We are so fortunate to have all three of
our children living in Spokane who will be gathering at our home
on the most Holy Night of the year. It's fair to say there will be
chaos with all six grandchildren coming for Christmas Eve and
spending the night.
My sister and I have made a tradition of joining our families
together since we were in our twenties. We have kept up the
tradition we experienced in our childhood of the big Italian dinner.
I make "the fish." In most Italian homes on Christmas Eve it
would not be Christmas unless there is the smell of fish and garlic
basked in olive oil wafting through the kitchen and out the door.
It is called Bacala`(Cod fish) made in a casserole style and in the
spaghetti sauce. For the meat lovers in our family, my sister brings
her famous meatballs and her much-anticipated biscotti. It is a
feast worth waiting for the entire year.
Each year the dynamics change a little bit. We often get to
enjoy having a friend or student join us who is far from home and
yearning for the comfort of a big family to make it easier for them
to forget about not being with their own family. With our
children growing up and marrying some years they go to the
in-laws and we will be missing a few. After dinner the fun begins
for the children, they look forward to a game of charades or
whatever game we come up with and we are always in the spirit of
caroling and opening "the one gift." Through it all, we will hear,
feel and see happiness and love.
On Christmas morning I look forward to sleeping bags and pillows
spread all over the floor and an assortment of toys, remote
controls and games, and I know at least one will be playing
princess dress up. I love having all of my children home, along
with their husbands and children.
This Christmas, I wish you days filled with snowy walks, nights
that sparkle with candlelight and conversation, and the very best
of all your traditions new and old. Merry Christmas to you, your
family and friends!!
Warm Christmas decorating touches at the Hanning's