The Citizen, 2015-12-24, Page 31THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015. PAGE 31.
Continued from page 29
Catan or Pictionary.”
Christmas morning, everyone gets
up early and opens gifts according to
Shawn.
“This takes all morning with seven
people,” he said. “After that we
spend the whole afternoon
socializing and getting ready for
dinner.”
Shawn’s grandmother and a friend
join the family for dinner. Typically,
there is more food than the family
can eat, including cookies and
sweets made by Shawn’s youngest
brother Matthew.
“On Boxing Day we will go to
Katie’s parents place and have a
second Christmas dinner with her
parents, sister and grandparents, this
year,” Shawn said. “This year, with
the Pringle side, we decided to only
buy small gifts for each other and we
are all going to buy tickets to a play
some time in the new year as our
Christmas gifts. It will be nice to
spend some quality time together
outside of all the hustle and bustle of
the holiday season.”
Shawn, Katie and Katie’s parents
will also be curling on Dec. 27 this
year in a family bonspiel in
Coldwater.
“It will be a good chance for some
family fun as well as some ice time,”
Shawn said. “We don’t go very long
without hitting the ice.”
That family time is important to
both Shawn and Katie who both
grew up with Christmas celebrations
including family.
“Growing up, Christmas was
always busy for our family,” Shawn
said. “We alternated every other year
on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
with my mom’s family and my dad’s
family.”
Shawn said that his paternal
grandmother had the whole family
for Christmas, approximately 25
members, in her kitchen.
“We drew names and bought a gift
for one other family member,” he
said. “After my Grandma Cottrill
passed away in 2009, however, we
quit getting together with my dad’s
family on Christmas.”
Christmas with his maternal
family, however, is continuing
strong.
“My mom’s side of the family
always had Christmas at my parents’
house and it was usually our
immediate family and my grandma
and grandpa and my mom’s brother
Dale and his wife Colleen,” Shawn
said. “We would always exchange
gifts with our immediate family on
Christmas morning either before we
went to the Cottrill family Christmas
in Tiverton, or mom’s family came
to Belgrave. We always went to
church on Christmas Eve and were
an active part of Christmas church
services leading up to the big day.”
For Katie, Christmas was also
about visiting family and having
quality time with them.
“On my mom’s side, we would
often have our extended family over
for Christmas dinner a couple weeks
before Christmas to make sure
everyone could be present,” she said.
“We would do a small gift exchange
with our cousins and have a large
turkey dinner.”
Katie said that her cousins would
bring video games and the four of
them would spend most their time
playing games even into their
teenage years.
Her immediate family would go to
church on Christmas Eve for the
carol sing there and on Christmas
morning they would get up and open
gifts and stockings.
“We would then have breakfast
together and try on any clothing we
received or try out any new
electronics or gadgets,” she said.
“Next we would usually travel to an
uncle or aunt’s place on my dad’s
side of the family [or sometimes we
would host] for Christmas dinner
with the extended family.”
That celebration was marked by
her grandmother having some fun
games planned such as a scavenger
hunt for games or prizes that
everyone would be involved in.
“We would also do a gift exchange
with our cousins and then head home
after indulging in some of my
Nana’s baking, especially the Yule
logs.”
Boxing Day for the Pringles would
be spent at home or away at a curling
event according to Katie.
“There used to be a junior bonspiel
in Toronto on Boxing Day every
year that my dad would take me to
so I could play with my fellow junior
curlers in the area.”
That tradition seems to have come
full circle with all the curling Shawn
and Katie do around the holidays.
BLYTH
519-523-9624
WALTON
519-887-6130
Our Saviour
We’d like to join all of you
in giving thanks for the
Miracle of Christmas and
the many blessings we
share including your
friendship.
Merry Christmas!
AT THE BIRTH OF
Scott McDonald
General Carpenter
For all your
construction needs
42475 Moncrieff Rd.,
R.R. #2 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
519.955.1215
Season’s Greetings
Scott McDonald
General Carpenter
42475 Moncrieff Rd.,
R.R. #2 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
519.955.1215
Clearview RenovationsClearview Renovations
Season’s Greetings
May your season be aglow with inspiration,
enlightenment and joy.
For your kind patronage we are sincerely thankful.
May your season be aglow with inspiration,
enlightenment and joy.
For your kind patronage we are sincerely thankful.
For all your
construction needs
Merry Christmas
from
Paul, Karen & family
PAUL COOK
ELECTRIC
519-357-1537
Let the Christmas spirit
light up your home this
Holiday season.
We value your business!
Have A Happy Holiday!
Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc.
Specializing in Septic Systems & Repairs
Now serving Brussels and surrounding area with sand, gravel and topsoil
Brussels 519-887-8855
Merry
Christmas
Have A Happy Holiday!
To our many customers and
friends, go our warmest wishes
for a happy holiday season.
Thanks to everyone in Brussels
and area for the work you’ve
given us over the past
twelve years.
Christmas a time for visits with family for Cottrills
See photos
from local Christmas
concerts on our
website at
www.northhuron.on.ca