Christmasmight look a little different for everyone celebrating this year, butHoda Kotband her family are making the most of it — and focusing on giving back.
“Theholiday season, to me, it reminds me of family and being peaceful. It’s always the time we all get together — it’s the one time of the year, actually,” Kotb, 56, said on Friday’s episode of theTodayshow about how she and fiancéJoel Schiffmanusually ring in the holiday with their daughtersHope Catherine, 20 months, andHaley Joy, 3½, as well as Kotb’s mom and sister.
Another tradition everyone (mostly) willingly participates in? “Wearing theexact same Christmas jammies,” of which Kotb admits with a laugh, “I’m not sure Joel ever really liked, but he plays along.”
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Hoda Kotb and daughter Haley.TODAY/Twitter
Hoda Kotb’s daughters Hope (L) and Haley.TODAY/Twitter
Hoda Kotb’s daughters' Christmas ornaments.TODAY/Twitter
Hoda Kotb’s family stockings.TODAY/Twitter
Schiffman is a pro when it comes to holiday meals, though, even going so far as to go outside in the freezing weather to grill in flip-flops and shorts!
“I am amazed — even if it’s snowing, the guy will go out in his shorts, his flip-flops and a hoodie thing over him … he’ll go out in the downpouring rain,” Kotb says.
At Christmas, Schiffman"makes this big roast thingthat is so good," the mother of two praises her fiancé, giving him further props for his “delicious” spaghetti and meatballs specialty.
“He spends all day in the kitchen. Thank God, because otherwise we would not be eating,” Kotb says. “[The house] is filled with the smell of delicious cooking and Joel’s got a bottle of wine, we have Christmas music on, stuff is happening.”
She adds, “It justfeels warm and cozy and happy.”
Joel Schiffman.TODAY/Twitter
Hoda Kotb and family.TODAY/Twitter
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Like much of the U.S. population, “Christmas will be very intimate” this year for Kotb and her brood amid the ongoingcoronavirus pandemic, with just her immediate family. And while it makes her “so sad” that she won’t be able to see more of her loved ones, she is focusing on the positives.
“We’ll do a Christmas morning on Zoom,” she says. “I’m excited that we do get to sit with each other even though it’s virtually, and I just realized how fortunate we are to have that.”
“And it’ll be more special because Haley — she’s 3, so she’s like, ‘Santa’s coming?!’ She’s writing all these [letters]; she wants to know how to spell ‘Santa,’ " Kotb adds. “It’s fun because Haley now sees the chimney [as], ‘Is that where he’s coming down?’ So it makes it more exciting.”
She goes on to share that they will open one gift onChristmas Eve, and are focusing on “giving” rather than receiving during their “small” exchange that will involve “three presents from Santa.”
“I feel like this is a time we should be thinking more about giving,” Kotb explains. “Giving, giving, giving. And we’ve been trying to remind ourselves and our kids about that — that Christmas isn’t really about all that stuff. Itshould be more about givingand generosity and kindness.”
source: people.com
