I can remember going to this party back when Beautiful Wife's Youngest Sister started having them. Her Husband's mother always had them on Christmas Eve and he took over the tradition the year after she died.
At first, everyone showed up from both sides of the family and you got to meet all the elderly aunts and uncles and have their great Italian cooking. Over the years, less of them are healthy enough to make the trip and for the first time, none of them made it to this party.
It used to be Christmas Eve and they lived south of Boston at the time. We'd get done the party by 10-11pm and then have to face the two hour drive home with tired kids in the back of the car. Once we got home and got them settled into bed we'd have to get out all of the presents and set up things for Christmas morning. I hated it.
Now, it happens a week or so before Christmas and we don't have to deal with tired toddlers. Some of the older nieces and nephews on his side of the family are married and have started to have children of their own. I get to sit on a comfortable couch and watch football while they all take turns taking care of the babies. LOL
This year we left the party around 7pm (after the Yankee swap) and I went to my Brother-in-Law's home for a little poker cash game. I sat down with $10 and left with $27 so it was a good night for me.
Posted by bbarton at December 20, 2005 09:29 AM