Maggie - you and Coop and Pinot have one another. A fancy decorated tree is only an object. While it indeed is pretty, it doesn't make what your family is.

Many of my traditions have changed over the years. When my parents were still alive, we used to drive up to RI for the holidays. After they passed, my in laws would come here from MD. When they passed - it was just stay home. I always had a real tree - either cut or with a root ball to plant, then the artificial ones were so much easier and economical. I now have a pre-lit and I love the genius who thought that up.

It was always a big ham dinner at Christmas too - ALWAYS - but now that has changed too. With both the grandkids having 2 sets of parents, then of course they spend part of the day with each. So much hustle and bustle, and I got tired of spending most of my day in the kitchen, and not with the family. So we now have a new food tradition too - we do Italian. The lasagna and stuffed shells get made the night before, so all that has to be done is pop them in the oven on Christmas. Toss a salad and fix some garlic bread, and the cooking is done and I get to enjoy the day more.

Change can be good - it's all what you make it.