Round 11: Chicago Christmas

Permit me an indulgent Christmas dorky blog post about something that none of you get to experience but is one of THE highlights of the Christmas season for me.
Chicago Connolly Christmas.
This started...well...when my dad was little, I guess. He grew up in Chicago and his mom still lives there, so every year, around Christmas, the whole family comes in. Those that travel more than an hour to get there stay over at Grandma's house. Now some of you may be wondering how we do that, as it has to be a lot of people. Well, you would be right. It is. But long ago, Grandma and Grandpa were really smart and invested in air mattresses. And couches with fold out beds. And then actual beds. So never fear, there is room for us all....just don't expect to be able to move very much.
Okay, I'm going to pause here momentarily and introduce you all to the cast of Chicago Connolly Christmas.

Baga -- she gets top billing. It's her house that we invade, her fridge we raid, and she is the most wonderful woman on the planet!
Papa -- although he is no longer with us, he loved Christmas a LOT, so he too is a key player. We think about him a lot around this time. I'm convinced he comes to laugh at us all and give us a "Good O".
The Pennsylvania Gang -- Dad's older brother, his wife, and their three kids. They always drive in, which I have never understood as I am not a roadtrip kind of person, but more power to them! Almost as into swimming as we are. Almost. =)
The Lafayette Contingent -- Rather scattered at this point, but we're all still in the category. My dad, mom, brother+wife +daughter, me, sister 1 and sister 2. And the dog. We always have to bring the dog. Baga insists. We drive, too, but it's not bad.
The River Forest Posse -- Dad's younger brother, wife, and three kiddos. Chicago based. [I have to say River Forest to distinguish them from others]. My aunt is from New Orleans, and her food is TO DIE FOR! Love it. They have some of the best Chicago accents ever.
The Seattle Crew -- Dad's sister, husband, and two girls. INSANELY tall family. Not even kidding. And some years it is a miracle we even get them in. Remind me never to be in Seattle during an ice storm. ICK!
The Mokena Band -- Dad's youngest brother, wife, and three girls. Also Chicago based. [Again, the distinguishing of Chicago family] We see them the most, as it's oinly a 20 minute drive or so from their house to Baga's. Don't discuss Cubs baseball with them, they are Sox fans. Nuff said.
And last, but not least, Georgia -- Baga's black lab. Has the most powerful, vicious tail in the world. More than one innocent bystander has lost a kneecap to it. Sweetest animal in the world.

So, if you were counting, that's 28 people and 2 dogs. Are we insane? You betcha.
Don't worry, only 18ish sleep over at Baga's. She has three bedrooms besides hers, with two beds in each, so the rest of us sleep on those air mattresses and couch beds and actual beds in the basement. It's tradition, and nobody has died....yet... Actually, it's a ton of fun. We laugh a lot.
Anyway, so all 28 (ish....some years it's just not possible to get every person there) gather for one day where we enjoy lots of food, stockings, and gifts.
Let me say a word about the stockings briefly: They are hilarious. Papa and I used to hang them every year, it was our special job. Now it's just me, but I like to think that he's sitting there in his chair still, smiling as I figure out the best logistics. Anyway, each family buys one stocking present per other family persons, and for the adults, it's mostly gag gifts. There are nice things too, but mostly funny. And half of the presents don't fit in the stockings, so we have piles. We used to attach strings from the stocking to each pile, but untangling that mess kind of ruined the Christmas spirit, so we don't anymore. Just piles....everywhere....
Okay, so then after that, and more eating, (we're Connollys. We eat.) we go upstairs to the tree, where all of the big presents are. The cousins [the unmarried ones, at least. No idea how long that'll continue, I'm the oldest unmarried one, so I'm kinda the one who'll decide, I guess] draw names every year and get a present for their person, and we each get a present from Baga, too. The adults just get a present from Baga. And then there's Carly....the next generation....in a field all her own....she totally cleans house in the gift department.
Anyway, once that's over, we just hang out and eat [duh] and play games and eat [yes, again]. It's really awesome and I love my big, huge, crazy Connolly family.
Chicago Connolly Christmas is this weekend. I'll let you all know how it goes with an official recap post later, but I know a few things for certain already: there will be Aurelio's [best pizza EVER] and Pop's [best sandwich place EVER] and the Pennsylvania Gang will not be there. We'll miss them! [We have to go early this year due to Jen's crazy swimming schedule and our family is so wonderful to come in early, but those guys have their own swimming that weekend and could not miss. Sad day. =(]
Hope you all have some sort of special Christmas something that only your family does, too. It really makes the season even more exciting and magical and fun and bright. If not, I hope you'll enjoy hearing about [and imagining] mine, and maybe you can create one for yourself. It's a really good time.