Christmas traditions are as varied as the families who keep them and can often change as families grow and change. “When my kids were young,” said Julie Murdock, “we always had a Christmas Eve dinner followed by a nativity play with the kids.” A movie earlier in the day on Christmas Eve would keep the kids occupied as Christmas excitement built. When Blake Murdock was called as a Mission President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the couple left most of their family to serve for a few years and all the remaining kids had to carry on with what traditions they wanted. Upon returning home, the Murdocks had to explore, “How do we fit in now?” 

With 45 grandchildren, purchasing a gift for each becomes next to impossible. Julie solves the difficulty by giving the same amount of money to each child’s family around the first of December. The parents then decide whether to use the money for a larger family gift or to purchase gifts for each child. One large family was able to purchase a ping pong table with the money while another chose to have the money go toward Lagoon passes for the family. Since Julie takes each grandchild out shopping and dining on their birthday, and she has 10 grandchildren with birthdays in December, she needs to keep Christmas shopping to a minimum. In fact, one of the daughters is given a budget and buys gifts for all 10 children and the parents to be shared after Christmas Day dinner. 

Julie provides the ham and potatoes for the Christmas Day dinner and then the rest of the attendees coordinate on “GroupMe” what they will bring. Often a certain child will bring the same dish each year, like the daughter that has perfected the rolls. Having her celebratory dinner not on Christmas Eve or morning, allows her whole family to get together. Afterward, the family usually just hangs out or plays some games like quarters or minute to win it. 

Another tradition that the family will not let go of is the decorated cookie tree that is assembled the weekend after Thanksgiving. This involves taking some floral wire and looping and twisting it through the cookie cutter sugar cookies before baking. The wire bakes right in. Afterward, the cookies are frosted and decorated before hanging them on the tree. Although a few kids have stolen a cookie or two off the tree, they are usually tossed at the end of the Christmas season as they are still pretty but not fresh.

On New Year’s Eve, the 65 family members get together again for food and fun. They watch the ball drop on TV followed by kissing. The kids bang pots and pans on the deck making as much noise as possible. Julie worries about the already sleeping neighbors who might be woken up, but curbing the excitement is not done. Since Julie had a brother who is anti-fireworks because of his work in the fire department, they honor his legacy and avoid using fireworks as part of their celebration. 

Blake and Julie met in Clearfield, Utah in the fourth grade and have lived in Bountiful since 1984. They have 10 children and 45 grandkids and counting. The oldest grandchild has just married and they are hoping to break 50 soon. Julie is often asked how she does it all, and she responds that she doesn’t. She only does what she chooses to do and practices “selectful neglect” for the rest. “Keep it simple,” said Julie. She believes no one has suffered because she thoughtfully let go of some traditions that she chose not to keep up with.