We have a bribe tradition (that sounds much nicer) we do each year before Christmas. I invite our children and grandchildren over for dinner, and all of them help decorate the two trees in our family room.
The tradition also includes custard, hot chocolate and desserts served in the study, around my retro Christmas tree.
First, the custard. I haven’t decided whether our grandchildren like custard or whether they drink it because they like getting it in a Christmas wine stem to clink with each other. (Another tradition is the lecture about clinking lightly.)
After drinking the custard (with a lot of toasts and clinking by the grandchildren) in front of the lit trees with all of the rest of the lights out, we go back to the study and make our way to the hot chocolate.
Amid the retro ornament boxes and Christmas decorations, there are plates by Rainbow Mountain, depicting each of Santa’s reindeer. It takes awhile for each grandchild to select which reindeer plate they are going to use.
Ooops! I just realized that I have taken Cupid’s picture twice. I have three sets of these plates. So…there is a reindeer missing, but I don’t have time to figure out which one. Let me know if you figure it out.
We wind our way past the retro Christmas village, and
past a couple of Santas in sleds being pulled by reindeer.
Until we find the candy canes in the vintage Santa mug.
We might stop to see more vintage ornaments in the box before we find the bowl of kisses, because after decorating our trees, we all deserve a kiss or two.
After we get a piece of cake (which I forgot to photograph), we end up at the “castle” cookies. My grandchildren think these Walgreen’s cookies are the best, so I have to provide the “best” for my grands.
This table is set on a vintage Nutcracker tablecloth that I bought at a flea market some time ago.
Thank you so much for coming to visit. laurie
I’m partying at Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters, and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.
24 comments:
Spectacular Laurie!
Your grands have the best life thanks to their ultra cool and creative Grandma!
Your table and tree just sparkle with retro beauty.
Hugs friend,
Cindy
Love the Retro, you have the best collections!
Oh Laurie, what a great tradition and I'm sure the grands love helping decorate and eating all that custard, hot chocolate, kisses and cake. Everything looks so special.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
Have a great week.
Mary
Laurie, how wonderful! They must love that tradition! You are an awesome grandma, I just know it.
Oh, Laurie! I love your home at Christmas! Love the green tree, Shiny Brites and the stained glass church....and traditions!
Oh, gosh, it is so festive and Christmas-y!
Laurie~ your home is where wonderful memories are created. Retro Christmas is everything from my childhood. I guess it's why I gravitate to the ornaments and decorations that carry the older (classic) flair.
We share many of the same patterns for dishes and stemware. It makes me happy to think my Grandson will grow up with the traditions Grandma has celebrated for many years.
I would imagine your family enjoy eating or drinking the custard you've prepared because they know it was made with love.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
Very sweet! What a lovely and happy time for your family. They will remember this time always. Love your cute plates. Children love picking things out. Thanks for sharing!
Laurie, your grandchildren are so blessed to have you nearby! I know they LOVE all the wonderful traditions and amazing decorations at your house! I enjoyed seeing all your vintage decorations!
Hi Laurie,
You make Christmas so special and your grands will remember these precious memories forever. Love your table, tree and all the treasures around. You have such a gorgeous collection of vintage pretties.
Love the tree and the light green color. Your tablecloth is beautiful too.
Always inspired when I visit.
Christmas hugs, Celestina Marie
Laurie,
This sounds like so much fun! Your Santa and sleigh made me smile. I have one just like that and move him around each Christmas without finding any place to really display him. LOL Yours looks great. I love the way you have displayed all of your retro Christmas deco...Maybe next year mine can all come out of their storage...:-) Thanks for the inspiration..
Love, Mona
I enjoyed this post so much, Laurie! Your little tree is absolutely unbelievable, and what a yummy collection of vintagey goodies!
The castle cookies made me laugh. Kids DO appreciate simple!
Hugs and Happy Christmas to you!~april
So many retro treasures to see and enjoy here. I think I'm going to have to start bribing someone to come help me decorate the tree. I didn't even unwrap half of the ornaments this year and I'm d-u-n done!!
Your house is so much fun. Your grandchildren will have the best memories forever.
Can I come to your house and enjoy all the traditions. Your a great grandmother and them must love all your fun times. The retro decor is perfect and I think I will go back and view each photo again! Have a Merry time with your family!
Pam
That looks so amazing and so much fun, what a cool tradition! Wow the amazing things you have!
You know I'm a big kid at heart and this table makes me want to be there sucking on a candy cane wandering around with big eyes to look at everything! First that tablecloth is the BEST! I love the details like the ballerinas, and ribbons. The tree in the center is fabulous and all the vintage decorations really make it! I wish I would have kept boxes my ornaments came in but I do remember them as a child with my parents! I love the tradition you have with the family....The cookies look super good to me!! Loving all your dishes, glassware and candy dishes!
Laurie, you are just an amazing grandmother! I wish our grandchildren lived closer to us, and as always, I love seeing your wonderful collections.
Oh what fun! If I was younger, I want to be your grandchild. You sure do the best for for them...Christine
Oh my gosh so much inspiration here!! I'm having 30 ladies for Christmas tea Sunday and thought I had my tablescapes planned...I may just have to change my mind after reading this post!
Wow, your retro Christmas is fabulous, Laurie...brings back wonderful memories of when I was a little girl...love those Shiny Brights and that beautiful vintage tablecloth.
Wow, phenomenal, you got lots of Christmas decorations and figurines. Advanced Merry Christmas!
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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the retro feel throughout!!!!!!! I have been in a very nostalgic mood this season, and this just marches right along to the beat of my drum!
You do such wonderful things that involve your family. You're a good Grandma! On the flip side of that, just wondering how much your children and their spouses want to run you out of town on a rail for fillin' the kids up with all that sugar and sending them back home with them!!! :-) :-) :-) I say, "Right on, sister!"
LOVE those reindeer plates!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Laurie. Oh...and I just saw the prayer list on the sidebar. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I haven't been on the computer a lot since Daddy first took sick in the Spring, so to see that really makes my heart swell. Thank you!
What a wonderful tradition! Love all your retro decos, those little mugs are darling! Hope you are well and enjoying this beautiful season. And the baby?
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