|
|
Post by sunnyirish08 on Oct 29, 2011 5:46:45 GMT -5
i'm not sure what you guys call it nowadays, over here in ireland we're still calling it christmas. so what are ye doing for christmas this year? i'm heading states side for 2 weeks  got a flight for 579 euro aka 795 dollars, which is very good considering i'm going christmas week.  going to Virginia to my brother and my niece and nephew. whom i'm missing a lot to be honest. |
|
|
|
Post by Dannos Dani on Oct 29, 2011 11:06:31 GMT -5
We really are boring, we do nothing special. I'd love to take a trip somewhere, but there's no way hubby would consider leaving his mom, plus it's like sacred to him to stay at home.
Me, I would LOVE to spend one Christmas at Disney World. i think the atmosphere would be fantastic, plus.... warmth! I'td be like being back home and spending Christmas under the sun... palm trees wouldn't hurt either.... you can paint the coconuts, throw some glitter on them... instead Christmas trees!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by margarine on Oct 29, 2011 11:58:09 GMT -5
Dani, that sounds sooooo wonderful. Either way, Disney World or...I forgot where you're from...South America.
Christmas in Dallas can be anything. Usually not very cold, usually dry, the usual decorations everywhere, music in the malls, special pancakes at IHOP. I don't have much to do at actual Christmas, meeting my friends happens on varying schedules. But my real celebration is Yule, with my women's group, which we schedule as close to the solstice as possible. Heap 'o fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by runner on Oct 29, 2011 12:31:24 GMT -5
Although my kids are all grown up now, for some reason I am remembering then they were little. After Christmas dinner, for dessert, we would do a birthday cake and the kids would love to sing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus.
|
|
|
|
Post by azziria on Oct 29, 2011 12:53:44 GMT -5
Here at home for Christmas, with my mother-in-law and brother-in-law visiting. We have a buffet meal on Christmas Eve - smoked salmon, champagne, cheeses and French bread, salad, home made pizza and mince pies. Then on Xmas Day my partner and I go for a 5k run (usually one or both of the kids comes too) and come home to cranberry muffins and hazelnut coffee for breakfast. We open presents mid-morning with a glass of champagne, and then sit down to roast turkey and all the trimmings at 2pm, followed by Christmas pudding.
On Boxing Day we go for a long walk to work off all the food!
|
|
|
|
Post by margarine on Oct 29, 2011 13:44:11 GMT -5
...so, azziria - you're British, huh? Wow. You call to mind an occasion in my distant past. Nice.
|
|
|
|
Post by azziria on Oct 29, 2011 14:20:56 GMT -5
Yes. The Christmas pudding is home made (old family recipe), but the cranberry muffins and hazelnut coffee are the legacy of a couple of Cape Cod Christmases |
|
|
|
Post by Dannos Dani on Oct 29, 2011 14:40:14 GMT -5
Yep, marg, Chile is where I was born. Also spent one Christmas in Peru.
In Chile, my parents bought pine trees in big pots and we'd decorate the year's tree, and after Christmas, we would plant them. They must be so big now, unless the new owners chopped them down.... the owners are the daughter of a good friend of my dad's.... they changed my house so much... probably cut down those trees.
We used to eat inside then my dad and I would go for a walk, I'd take along some doggy treats to give to the strays in the area, and my dad would say "I hear bells", and I swear I would hear them. Then we'd go back, and there would be presents under that year's pine tree in our backyard. Next day we'd plant it in the garden.
All this in perfect balmy weather ...
|
|
|
|
Post by darksea on Oct 29, 2011 15:43:04 GMT -5
This will be my first Christmas without my Dad. He passed away in January, and he was kind of the last one that made christmas worth celebrating. When I was younger, the family would get together on Xmas Eve and have tamales, and posole, and wine and merriment, we'd sing carols, (in two languages) and then read the Christmas Prayer (novena) just before midnight. Then we would open one present each, with the youngest member playing Santa, and then go to bed.
On Christmas morning,we would open all the presents, have Christmas Breakfast, around, talk as a family, go outside, and generally sweep snow, or go have a little football challenge, then come back and fix the full on enchilada dinner, the men would watch football, the women would have their little Highlander or other show marathon in the other room, more alcohol merriment, then wait until dark so the designated driver could load the family into the Suburban and drive them around to see the different light displays (which we generally start putting up on thanksgiving, and its a major competition around here, and I generally used to win it for the town) and then the designated driver takes each of the relatives home.
Most of the family is gone now, it's down to just me and my mom here in New Mexico, so now, it just turns into me buying my own presents, wrapping them pathetically next to hers, we open them on Christmas morning, and then go in separate directions. You will probably find me on here both days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dannos Dani on Oct 29, 2011 16:13:05 GMT -5
Ds that is so sad... both my parents passed away very close to Christmas, my mom especially, but I guess it's not so bad for me because by then I had my kids, so I still kept Christmas magical for them. It's getting harder as they grow up (have NO idea what to get anyone this year, and I'm the gift getter in this group, if I fail, there'll be nada under the tree - hell, there won't be a tree!).
I'll probably be here on the 24th, we'll just have dinner at my dad's with my stepmother. The 25th is harder since we go to my SIL's for the day.
But I'll be thinking of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by davilarose on Oct 29, 2011 16:48:47 GMT -5
Go to see my parents and sister....go to the children's service at my parent's church at 3pm on Christmas eve day and then have a nice dinner. Open gifts Christmas morning and then have a huge dinner----Will be on the computer as much as I can----but it will be hit and miss because there is always stuff to do and people to see and it's my parent's 60th wedding anniversary the day after Christmas.
|
|
|
|
Post by runner on Oct 29, 2011 17:15:19 GMT -5
This will be my first Christmas without my Dad. He passed away in January, and he was kind of the last one that made christmas worth celebrating. When I was younger, the family would get together on Xmas Eve and have tamales, and posole, and wine and merriment, we'd sing carols, (in two languages) and then read the Christmas Prayer (novena) just before midnight. Then we would open one present each, with the youngest member playing Santa, and then go to bed. On Christmas morning,we would open all the presents, have Christmas Breakfast, around, talk as a family, go outside, and generally sweep snow, or go have a little football challenge, then come back and fix the full on enchilada dinner, the men would watch football, the women would have their little Highlander or other show marathon in the other room, more alcohol merriment, then wait until dark so the designated driver could load the family into the Suburban and drive them around to see the different light displays (which we generally start putting up on thanksgiving, and its a major competition around here, and I generally used to win it for the town) and then the designated driver takes each of the relatives home. Most of the family is gone now, it's down to just me and my mom here in New Mexico, so now, it just turns into me buying my own presents, wrapping them pathetically next to hers, we open them on Christmas morning, and then go in separate directions. You will probably find me on here both days. Darksea, my belated condolences on the loss of your father. Holidays and other events can be very difficult after losing a loved one. I lost my mother a few years ago, so when my hubby asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I just looked at him like he'd lost his mind. Eventually, I told him I wanted a Christmas party. That was it, just a chance to be with our friends. But I'm not ready to think about Christmas yet, so in regards to Thanksgiving.... it has turned into a 3-day event for our family. The usual on Thursday, then Turkey Enchiladas on Friday, then we host a 'Be Creative With Turkey' potluck on Saturday. Our friends love it and it gives everyone a chance to get rid of all their leftovers. |
|
|
|
Post by Dannos Dani on Oct 29, 2011 17:38:51 GMT -5
[ it's my parent's 60th wedding anniversary the day after Christmas. |
|
|
|
Post by sunnyirish08 on Oct 29, 2011 19:06:55 GMT -5
well normally don't think about christmas and what i'm going to be doing until the week before, but my mum surprised me with this the day after i got back from spain. i spend christmas with my folks every year, but this opportunity i couldn't pass up. just now have to find 6 christmas presents instead of 2 on a budget. i maybe living at home. but i'm a poor student
|
|
|
|
Post by Dannos Dani on Oct 29, 2011 19:17:29 GMT -5
Sunny, can you make some presents? I started doing that, for family. I do cross stitch and recently started doing patchwork so now I make a lot of gifts. If you bake, you can make batches of cookies and freeze them and give them in nice containers. Or flavored oils and vinegars.
|
|
going to Virginia to my brother and my niece and nephew. whom i'm missing a lot to be honest. 
