Our Holiday Traditions…..

When we moved out of Los Angeles 12 years ago, we thought we wouldn’t have to start any new traditions because we were planning to go back after just two years.

Guess what?  We are still here!  Ha!

Needless to say, we quickly created new and lasting “Colorado” traditions.  All these years later, the “new” traditions we created feel like they have always been. If we veer off course, the kids have a fit!

When the kids were little, I was buying gifts and wrapping them while they were at school and making SURE I had them locked up in Santa’s storage room. To this day, that room and the subject of Santa remains a willing “mystery”.  All through the years and until now, I have told them I still believe and that if THEY believe, they will receive.  We all keep it going and it’s hilarious!

So it all starts early in the morning of Christmas Eve….

Bing takes the kids down to Denver so they can get presents for each other and for us. Their first stop is at Syrup in Cherry Creek for a big, yummy plate of pancakes.  They then rush all over the Cherry Creek mall looking for gifts for one another.  I can always expect a call from each of them asking me if what they have chosen will work.  I always have my phone VERY handy on that day so I can be a helping hand. I wish I had recorded those calls all these years.

They race back to Boulder to go to Barnes & Noble where somehow twelve years ago they started playing a super competitive game of hide-and-go-seek. Now in their 20s – they still LOVE it just like they did when they were little munchkins!!!  They look so forward to that and always come back with some great stories about who won and how it happened – that’s always a highlight.

They are home by 2:45 so we can RACE to 4:00 mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Sometimes we get a seat and sometimes…..well….we stand.  One year we went to the spanish-speaking mass because we couldn’t get in the door for the early one. HAHAHAH.

While they were out all day, Mrs. Klaus was very busy putting together artichoke dip, cleaning shrimp for the roasted shrimp cocktail (Barefoot Contessa), chilling champagne, setting the table, and preparing dinner. My main meal comes from Barefoot Contessa’s “Parties” Cookbook – a beef tenderloin, roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted potatoes and a green salad (all from Barefoot Contessa).  Whew!  I’m also preparing some sort of chocolate dessert like a large cake or individual molten lava souffles which are always a big hit.

After church, it’s a real cocktail party.  Now that the kids are old enough, we are serving delicious champagne vs the “kiddie” champagne that we used to give them 🙂  We’re playing Christmas carols and having SO many laughs.  Someone always plays a joke on someone and last year, it was on ME.  There was a tik tok thing going around where you tell your parents that their favorite celebrity died and watch the reaction.  My reaction to Michael Buble dying was full of terrible swear words, so I can’t share it here with you 🙂 Let’s just say it went viral and boy did we have a laugh. See this great collection of glassware above? I think I want to upgrade mine to a full set of these.

The kids’ gift exchange during cocktail hour is my favorite part.  They LOVE to sit around the tree and give gifts to one another.  It’s sweet, funny and creative all wrapped up in one 😉  One year, Bo’s gift to me was to learn the song, “What the World Needs Now is Love” on his french horn.  That might be one of the best gifts I have ever received.

To the dining room we go!  I take out ALL of my Waterford Lismore Crystal , my Herend Blue Garland China paired with my FAV chargers by Raynaud! I have my newly polished sterling silver from Tiffany set on beautiful placemats and fancy napkins in Christmas-theme napkin rings. Weren’t old school wedding registries just the best!  If we didn’t have a registry, I wouldn’t have all the beautiful things that I use and cherish today.

Dinner lasts a LONG time. Bing’s family can sit at the dinner table for HOURS where the O’Donnell family (mine) eats in about 15 minutes and calls it a night.  Lol.  I love that we have taken up with HIS family’s tradition on this because we spend so much time and have so many laughs together.  It’s an amazing time to bond with one another. (Check out the O’Donnell family Christmas circa 1978 – yes that’s me pouting in the front!)

Loud music and a big kitchen clean come next.  It’s kind of a dance party/clean-up and it’s a family affair and everyone helps.  

What’s next is the quick change into matching pj sets (most years) and a night of “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  We all try our best to stay up until the end and we usually ALL make it 🙂

In the little kid years, people were up EARLY to open presents.  Now that everyone is an adult, they SLEEP.  Not as many butterflies in their stomach’s from all the anticipation like the old days:(.  The girls sleep on the same floor as the boys that night in the guest room so they can be there when Dad and Rover wake everyone up.  They love the slow creep up the steps and then a RACE to the tree to open gifts.

Another Howenstein tradition is to open every gift person by person, SLOWLY.  The O’Donnells’ tear through gifts in about 20 minutes 🙂   We have such fun with this.  

Sometimes, we take a break for a HUGE brunch of eggs benedict, AMAZING FRENCH TOAST BAKE (email me for the recipe!!), hot chocolate, and mimosas. It’s the best! I use my Spode Christmas china, including gold charger plates….from Target!

Some people wind DOWN on Christmas night – not us! We have another FULL meal with our BFF family. We used to do the traditional turkey dinner, but in the last few years, we have switched it up and done different dinner – Mexican fiesta or an Italian feast. I’m on board for that this year, so any ideas – I’m open! This night turns CRAZY because we play a game – family vs family and it gets VERY competitive. The prize is a Gurgling Fish on a stand that we engrave year after year with the winning family’s name – this is VERY serious – ha!

By the way……..our Elf on the Shelf CONTINUES to this day even though not ONE of our children lives in the house – LOL.  Bing hides that damn Ernie every day and sends a picture to the family group chat.  Whoever finds it first, wins.  In fact, as we speak, Paige texted saying, “No Ernie hiding today?”   Guess they’ll just have to wait and see 😉

The holidays remain “the most wonderful time of the year” and I can’t wait till my gang is all home and ready to do it all again!

219 Responses

  24. indian pharmacy online shopping [url=https://medicinefromindia.com/#]MedicineFromIndia[/url] Medicine From India

    Reply

  26. canadian pharmacies compare [url=https://expressrxcanada.shop/#]Express Rx Canada[/url] canadian online pharmacy

    Reply

  29. canadian king pharmacy [url=https://expressrxcanada.shop/#]Express Rx Canada[/url] best rated canadian pharmacy

    Reply

  39. Your ability to blend thought-provoking ideas with evocative language is truly remarkable. Every sentence seems to unlock a new door to understanding, leading the reader to a richer, fuller interpretation of the world around them. It’s rare to come across writing that does more than just tell a story — your words create entire worlds, and I found myself lost in them, not wanting to leave.

    Reply

  60. 350fairfax nordvpn cashback

    Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to come back once again since I bookmarked it.
    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.

    Reply

  95. Buy medicine online Australia [url=https://pharmau24.com/#]Pharm Au24[/url] Buy medicine online Australia

    Reply

  100. Licensed online pharmacy AU [url=https://pharmau24.shop/#]pharmacy online australia[/url] Medications online Australia

    Reply

  104. Medications online Australia [url=https://pharmau24.shop/#]PharmAu24[/url] Buy medicine online Australia

    Reply

  105. Caesars Palace Online Casino has an exclusive VIP program — Caesars Rewards — which allows you to earn points on the site every time you bet real money. You can accumulate these points even quicker by linking your online account with your spending at Caesars brick-and-mortar resorts. Rewards can be used in a variety of ways, including meal vouchers and discounted hotel stays.  However, when using the Caesars deposit bonus on online slots, there is a 15x wagering requirement. And for video poker games like Five-Play Draw Poker and Ultimate X Poker Five Play, expect to play and wager no less than 30x the Caesars bonus funds. For new Caesars Palace Online Casino PA members using the deposit funds on other games like online keno, the wagering requirements shoot up to 75x. To create a free account, please fill out the form below.
    https://newsteadqa.co.uk/2025/05/27/best-aviator-game-site-according-to-indian-high-rollers_1748349262/
    Players like casinos that support a wide range of deposit option so that they can easily find a method to use for topping up their account no matter where they are resident. When playing through a bonus, the maximum amount per spin bet that can be placed is 5.00. Placing a single bet above that amount will lead to any winnings being voided. Deposit bonuses are often used by casinos as a way of motivating new or existing players to create an account and start playing. However, our database currently doesn’t contain any Slots Village Casino deposit bonuses. There’s a unicorn bonus in the industry – a wager-free casino bonus. Imagine a casino bonus without wagering requirements; it can come in the form of a no wagering welcome bonus or even no wagering free spins. Once you have made a first deposit into your Mr Vegas online casino account, you will be entitled to receive 11 wager-free spins. 

    Reply

  106. Por esta razón, en este artículo, profundizaremos en cómo funciona Lucky Jet y qué lo hace tan atractivo para los jugadores. Desde su mecánica hasta las oportunidades de ganar y los bonos que ofrece esta casa de apuestas, te proporcionaremos toda la información necesaria si estás pensando en comenzar a apostar en 1win Lucky Jet. Además del bono de primer depósito para tus apuestas en Lucky Jet, 1win también ofrece a sus clientes habituales una amplia gama de bonos y promociones, que también pueden variar en función de la próxima temporada. Bonos exclusivos y Códigos de Bono para recargas sin depósito solo para suscriptores del canal de Telegram de 1win. Hablando de bonos regulares, que también se pueden utilizar para el juego Lucky Jet Crash, la lista se representa a continuación:
    https://elitedispatch.us/review-explosion-de-diversion-con-balloon-boom-de-smartsoft-en-casinos-online-en-peru/
    We introduced the Loss Forgiveness system when Ranked first arrived, and we’re pleased to report that it is working as intended. Players are not getting penalized RP for when their teammates drop from the game, or some other technical problem hits that is out of their control. We’ll continue to keep an eye on how players are unintentionally moving down the ladder and make changes as needed. Ranked Leagues has produced some of the most intense late game scenarios to date. We were very pleased to see some new high level strategies emerge from the high RP players throughout the season. To try and increase the intensity, and encourage more aggressive play – we’re introducing some new changes to the scoring system in Series 2. Let’s get into the details. Other Games Function Normally: Before heading to the game, view Chase Stadium’s matchday parking information HERE! We encourage Fans to buy parking passes in advance of arrival to Chase Stadium. Buy your gameday parking pass HERE!

    Reply

  107. Descubre la nueva extensión Chrome de Minijuegos By using penaltyshootout.cl you agree to the use of cookies. Con un RTP del 96%, tienes buenas posibilidades de lograr marcar desde tu primer disparo un gol en Penalty Shoot Out Casino. Tan pronto como las redes han temblado por primera vez, puedes hacer clic en el botón “Cobrar” para recuperar tus ganancias. Obviamente, el jackpot del juego del Penalti está reservado para los más audaces, que intentan marcar 5 goles seguidos. ¡Cuidado con ser demasiado ambicioso! Juego de fútbol de tanda de penaltis con 12 ligas y 384 equipos. ¡Hazte con el trofeo! ¿No te gustaría probar con otra búsqueda? Staying calm is key to winning the game, especially when the theme soundtrack comes to serve. The authentic samba soundtrack takes you to the lively streets in Brazil, giving you a cozy feeling during the game.
    https://alandalusgroup.org/balloon-game-impacto-del-sonido-y-graficos-en-la-experiencia-de-juego/
    Las bonificaciones para casino y apuestas deportivas que ofrece casino 1win play son una variedad amplia donde los jugadores pueden conseguir ofertas como, giros gratis, cashback hasta un 30% bonificaciones por tabla de clasificación, torneos, programa de fidelidad y hasta dinero gratis en 1win casino, esto ofrece a los jugadores más posibilidades de ganar y conseguir un dinero extra. Jugar 1win Lucky Jet demo es la alternativa más confiable a la hora de conocer mejor tanto las dinámicas como las funciones que incluye el juego. La versión gratuita ofrece la oportunidad de implementar todo tipo de estrategias sin riesgo financiero y lo mejor de todo es que incluye todas las funciones del juego original. Cash Vault Hold Link Además de la movilidad y la versatilidad que te da jugar desde donde quiera que estés, al descargar la aplicación de 1win en tu teléfono, tendrás la oportunidad de acceder a bonificaciones especiales.

    Reply

  108. From March 1st to May 31st, players can spin their way to fortune with a share of a staggering ?31 lakh prize pool. To participate, players must launch the JetX game, where they will see the promotion and have the chance to activate it for an opportunity to win big. JetX 1WIN Pakistan: A New Perspective on Gambling For JetX to be played for real money, deposits and withdrawals are required. You will be able to immediately top off your account and withdraw significant wins from JetX thanks to the available payment methods and transaction limitations. Another option is to play in a volatile manner. The aim of this approach is to wager greater than you normally would and withdraw on low multipliers. The lowest multiplier available on JetX is x1.35, for your information. It’s all about recurring gains here, and withdrawing your profits as soon as you’ve made enough money.
    https://wartaindependen.com/balloon-game-by-smartsoft-best-apk-with-hindi-interface-for-indian-players/
    Existing customers: Customers on an Unlimited Ultimate plan, Unlimited Plus plan, or Unlimited Welcome plan (min. $65 mo w Auto Pay (+taxes fees) for 36 mos) receive: $1000 credit (based upon the model and condition of your trade-in smartphone) with purchase of an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max; $930 credit (based upon the model and condition of your trade-in smartphone) with purchase of an iPhone 16 Plus; or $830 credit (based upon the model and condition of your trade-in smartphone) with purchase of an iPhone 16. Must be an existing Verizon customer. MEMORIAL DAY SALE: Save on select products to kick off the summer with sound. Shop Midnight Sonata Bharat Club is Real colour trading game get 100% Withdraw for our user. Big thanks to showing your interest in SEAIR Exim Solutions. We’ve currently received your request for data information. We will return on the same query in a short span of time.

    Reply

  109. Eles são mais fáceis de usar, permitindo que os usuários joguem em casa. Uma pessoa pode escolher qualquer cassino de jogo em todo o mundo para desfrutar de suas sessões de jogo, graças à abundância de descontos, cupons e ofertas de reembolso. No setor de jogos online, existem muitas ofertas que atraem os usuários a iniciar suas experiências de jogo com eficiência. Aqui você pode jogar com segurança com dinheiro real. Todas as avaliações do Lucky Jet apontam para as seguintes vantagens do projeto: As pessoas da geração de hoje preferem jogar em seus gadgets em vez de ficar offline para jogar porque não têm tempo. O impacto da pandemia levou a um certo fechamento na indústria de jogos de azar offline. Ainda assim, muitos cassinos abriram suas portas cumprindo as leis e diretrizes de distanciamento social. E lucky jet 1 win proporciona uma boa experiência.
    https://bptdmakers.eus/review-do-jogo-do-tigrinho-da-pg-soft-no-brasil/
    Sim, vale a pena fazer apostas no JetX. Afinal, esse é um jogo simples, sem regras complicadas que exigem vasto conhecimento nas apostas, e que permite ganhos rápidos. Ao abrir o jogo, você verá dois botões: apostar e coletar. No apostar, você deverá incluir o valor que deseja apostar para aquela rodada. Quando desejar sair do jogo, aperte para coletar e você fará um cash out. Vamos supor que você deseje apostar apenas R$ 5. Esse é o valor que deverá digitar no campo “apostar”. Aguarde até o foguetinho começar a subir. Quando ele ultrapassar os 2x, por exemplo, você retira sua aposta clicando em “coletar”. Ao abrir o jogo, você verá dois botões: apostar e coletar. No apostar, você deverá incluir o valor que deseja apostar para aquela rodada. Quando desejar sair do jogo, aperte para coletar e você fará um cash out.

    Reply

  113. prednisone 10 [url=https://prednipharm.com/#]Predni Pharm[/url] where to buy prednisone in australia

    Reply

  118. Rybelsus 3mg 7mg 14mg [url=https://semaglupharm.shop/#]SemagluPharm[/url] Semaglutide tablets without prescription

    Reply

  122. SemagluPharm [url=https://semaglupharm.shop/#]No prescription diabetes meds online[/url] Semaglu Pharm

    Reply

  130. PredniPharm [url=http://prednipharm.com/#]prednisone brand name in usa[/url] how can i get prednisone

    Reply

  134. rosuvastatin 20 mg picture [url=http://crestorpharm.com/#]Crestor home delivery USA[/url] Crestor Pharm

    Reply

  138. prednisone prescription for sale [url=https://prednipharm.shop/#]PredniPharm[/url] prednisone 10mg online

    Reply

  150. is atorvastatin for blood pressure [url=http://lipipharm.com/#]is lipitor bad for kidneys[/url] ?»?Buy Lipitor without prescription USA

    Reply

  155. Lipi Pharm [url=http://lipipharm.com/#]can you take magnesium with atorvastatin[/url] Lipi Pharm

    Reply

  159. Crestor home delivery USA [url=http://crestorpharm.com/#]Crestor Pharm[/url] Buy cholesterol medicine online cheap

    Reply

  163. reputable indian pharmacies [url=https://indiapharmglobal.com/#]India Pharm Global[/url] online shopping pharmacy india

    Reply

  167. India Pharm Global [url=https://indiapharmglobal.shop/#]online shopping pharmacy india[/url] indian pharmacies safe

    Reply

  171. mexico drug stores pharmacies [url=http://medsfrommexico.com/#]reputable mexican pharmacies online[/url] Meds From Mexico

    Reply

  176. Meds From Mexico [url=https://medsfrommexico.com/#]buying from online mexican pharmacy[/url] buying from online mexican pharmacy

    Reply

  181. mexican pharmaceuticals online [url=https://medsfrommexico.shop/#]Meds From Mexico[/url] mexican drugstore online

    Reply

  182. Tak wi?c, je?li na pocz?tku wydaje si?, ?e Aviator – gra dla ryzykownych hazardzistów, zak?adaj?c pochopne decyzje, to nie jest w ogóle. Mostbet istifad?çil?r? sayt?n mobil versiyas?n? t?klif edir ki, bu da ist?nil?n cihazda v? ist?nil?n yerd? oyunlardan h?zz alma?a imkan verir. Co wi?cej, skuteczne zarz?dzanie loginem Aviator pomaga zachowa? bezpiecze?stwo danych osobowych i finansowych. Wa?ne jest, aby u?ywa? silnych, unikalnych hase? i regularnie je aktualizowa?, aby chroni? swoje konto przed nieautoryzowanym dost?pem. Ponadto korzystanie z wszelkich funkcji uwierzytelniania dwusk?adnikowego oferowanych przez platform? mo?e doda? dodatkow? warstw? bezpiecze?stwa, zapewniaj?c ci spokój ducha podczas korzystania ze spo?eczno?ciowych i konkurencyjnych aspektów Aviator.
    https://myworldgo.com/profile/jest
    Istot? gry Aviator jest ekscytuj?ce po??czenie ryzyka i nagrody. Gracz obserwuje wznosz?cy si? samolot, a wraz z nim mno?nik stawki. Cel jest równie prosty, co atrakcyjny: wyp?aci? pieni?dze, zanim samolot zniknie z pola widzenia. Dzi?ki mno?nikom si?gaj?cym nawet 100x i wysokiemu wspó?czynnikowi zwrotu dla gracza (RTP) wynosz?cemu 97%, strategiczne wyj?cie z gry mo?e prowadzi? do znacznych zysków. W kasynie online 1win zapewniamy naszym u?ytkownikom ró?norodne opcje zak?adów, pozwalaj?c im dostosowa? swoje strategie obstawiania i zwi?kszy? potencja? wy?szych wygranych. Oto rodzaje dost?pnych zak?adów: Zalecamy rozpocz?cie od niewielkiej kwoty, na przyk?ad kilku dolarów, aby przyzwyczai? si? do gry Aviator 1win. Gdy ju? zrozumiesz, jak gra? w Aviator i zalety kasyna 1win, mo?esz dokona? kolejnej wp?aty.

    Reply

  186. India Pharm Global [url=https://indiapharmglobal.com/#]top 10 pharmacies in india[/url] top 10 online pharmacy in india

    Reply

  190. medication from mexico pharmacy [url=https://medsfrommexico.com/#]?»?best mexican online pharmacies[/url] mexican mail order pharmacies

    Reply

  193. ??????, ????? ??? ????????? ????????? ????????? ??????. ?? https://mfo-zaim.com/zaim-bez-dohoda/ ?? ?????? ???????? ???, ? ??? ? ?????????? ????????????. ?????? ?????? — ???????! ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ? ??????????, ????? ??????? ????????????, ??? ????? ?????. ???? ??? ??????????? — ??????? ???? ?? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????.

    Reply

  195. the canadian drugstore [url=https://canadapharmglobal.shop/#]canadian pharmacy ltd[/url] my canadian pharmacy reviews

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share the Post:

More Posts