Have been here! I miss it, too. It does surprise me how even though I thought his rituals/routines were a bit strict and even ridiculous at times, with age I’ve realized how special they made our Christmases. It’s a big part of why I am attempting to instill some (less strict) traditions into my own family. I want my girls to have similar memories of how it used to be.

For me, it extends into the very definition of family, and I’m pretty sure you’d agree.