Age certainly allows for a broader perspective on the emotionally charged Christmas family holiday!   I flash back to all the hoopla I was so pulled into as a young mom of two children in the 80’s, 90’s, and well into the new millennium!!!   Christmas was often way over the top …. a month of creating a festive atmosphere, functions, concerts, plays, gifts …. oh far far too many gifts!!   Memory takes me back to my own humble childhood …. Christmas Eve saunas for everyone, proceeded by the delicious Finnish  ”Kalakukko” … an oval loaf of rye bread with a pork and fish filling  … a delicious bread cocoon with pork, fish and pototoes simmering inside for several hours in a low temperature oven … this was a traditional Christmas Eve meal in Finland that my parents carried with them to Canada … thankfully!!  My sisters and I, to this day, remember how much we all savoured our mother’s Kalakukko!!  Strange and sad that not one of ‘Aili’s’ six daughters ever learned to bake it!   The gift opening that all  children relish, was endless hours (or so it seemed to young children) after the early evening meal and when the last family member finally emerged from the sauna!   Aaah … beautiful poignant memories.  Times have changed …. Nostalgic longings for more simplicity seem to always surface during the Christmas season  …. there is little doubt that my children and grandchildren are my joys today and undoubtedly will continue to be, always taking some form of centre stage in my heart … I am attempting to encourage a cabin Christmas somewhere once again for next year … will see … I remind myself  I make valiant attempts every year,  with little success 🙂   Many years ago, Brian and I organized and hosted our family (Brian’s side of the family chain actually) to three cabin Christmases in Fernie, spaced out over six years … I personally always thoroughly enjoyed them.   Will see if we can pull that off next year with my children and their families.  Posting some pictures of various Christmas functions from the Webb/Overmann/Hawkes/Cullen/McMechan potluck Christmas gift exchange at Sarah and Rob’s, to Christmas Eve festivities back at Sarah & Rob’s and onward to Christmas Day at my niece and nephew’s place … (Sandra and Bob) … The Webb/Overmann arm of our family had earlier enjoyed our traditional Finnish pancake breakfast on Christmas morning, courtesy of Brian’s talents (something I encouraged my mother to teach Brian to make so very long ago … I thought it wise at the time to bring in the male side of the family into the tradition 😗 … hopefully Brian has taught Tim well ?? )   All were beautiful warm family functions to close off 2016 … onward to a peaceful 2017 🙏