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Post by sunnyirish08 on Nov 6, 2011 4:41:35 GMT -5
my trip to the states for christmas. i've been very patient waiting on my brother, but at this stage my patience is running out, tried contacting him, no response. quite rude
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Post by scarlarose on Nov 6, 2011 18:57:34 GMT -5
I'm sorry your Christmas plans have been so frustrating. I hope everything works out for you soon. I have always cherished Christmas and my family's traditions. My extended family all gets together on Christmas Eve for dinner and celebration time afterwards. My Mom fixes Cincinnati Chili, salad, garlic bread, and huge plates of goodies all over the house. For us, Christmas is a time to celebrate the Lord's birth. We do this by reading the Christmas story in the Bible or in a children's book for the younger ones and then praying together as a family before we open any presents. Then the organized madness begins. My sister, who wasn't able to have any children, has always passed out the gifts. She loves all the kids like they are her own. We take turns opening gifts and thoroughly enjoying seeing all of our loved ones happy. Then we go around the room hugging everyone and thanking them for the gifts. I know it sounds kind of ritualistic in black and white, but it really isn't. The gratitude comes very naturally and really it's my favorite part. This whole time we're pigging out on all the goodies. I video tape everything and take pictures so that I can scrapbook it and journal about it. One of the reasons why this evening is so important to me is because of the love that I can share with my family. I don't know if any of you have ever heard of The Five Love Languages book, but it is one of the best self-help books you could ever read. It explains that there are 5 ways to give love and normally each person understands and feels that love when it's communicated in their specific language. The 5 ways are through physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, and quality time. Well, on Christmas Eve, I get to show each and everyone of my family members how much I love them in all 5 ways. So, I know no matter which way they understand love that I covered it. This makes my Christmas. Christmas morning is spent with just my hubby and kids. We wake up and eat cinnamon rolls and then open presents. Then my hubby's side of the family comes for dinner. I either make a turkey or Swiss steak. I have a menu made up for either dinner and I let his family pick a month in advance so I can plan ahead. After dinner, we have present time with that family. Then I want to go to bed and hibernate for a week while I soak it all up. I also love anything crafty. A couple years ago, there was only one family member out of everyone that had a job so we all made our gifts. Actually, they each took turns coming over to my house while I helped them, but it was a lot of fun. I enjoy scrapbooking (I know, big surprise), crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, needlepoint, sewing, painting, plastic canvas, flower arranging, paper crafting such as cards and boxes and different gifts, etc. I have to have my hands busy if they can be so I've tried to learn everything. It's been my therapy. However, I've hardly done any of it since April or May. Can anyone guess why?  I found all of you, and I'm even happier. Well, I know I typed another book, but I guess you know a little more about me besides all the sad stuff. BTW, I've really enjoyed reading about all of you and your traditions and plans for the holidays. Keep sharing please! |
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Post by Musicfreak on Nov 6, 2011 19:23:01 GMT -5
Wow Scarla! I'm not going to quote your book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Christmas is a very special holiday. One of my traditions is to bake with my grandmother. It sounds kind of cliche but I don't care. We make some delicious goodies! My favorite goody to make is sugar cookies. They're not like a lot of other sugar cookies I've seen (& then eaten  ) they're much thinner, but they're SO YUMMY! We also make chocolate chip cookies, and sometimes oatmeal raisin, & peanut butter, too. As I grew out of my kiddy stage, I've realized how much I enjoy giving gifts. It's funny, now I would rather give a gift, than receive one. I'm always grateful for gifts, but it's just so much nicer to pick something out for someone else, especially if you know they'll really like it. Christmas is already a busy holiday, but for me it's super busy! Actually, every holiday is busy. We have Christmas get-togethers all the way until New Year's Eve, and that's when my mom's, mom's side gets together. Both sets of my grandparents are divorced, so we always end up having A LOT of places to go. Which is fine by me, they always have good food haha Last New Year's Eve we opened a time capsule with my mom's side. Each family member wrote something on a piece of paper. It was crazy! Plus, there were newspapers, and confetti & silly string from the New Year's when we put everything in the time capsule. We refilled it, BTW. So we get to open in in another 10 years, well 9 now, since it's been a year. I have all these memories from Christmases past, like this one Christmas morning we woke up to find all these bugs in our living room! Turns out there was a praying mantis nest on our tree! It was insane! And we found those little guys for quite awhile afterward. So on Christmas Eve my family and I go to the special service at our church. Which I really enjoy because there's mostly a lot of music. Choir singing & congregational singing as well. But then they have duets, instrumentals and things like that, too. Then we go to my grandmothers for dinner. Always yummy! I know I'm also writing a novel here, but I keep remember stuff I want to tell you! One of the best parts of the Christmas season (as I already stated) is giving. Now a while back my other grandmother came up with this idea to have all the grandkids (originally 4) each pick a container, and one of them would have money in it, and they next year you would have to tell everyone how you spent your money. Now there are 9 grandkids total, and the little ones don't have a particular concept of money yet, but we still do it. Anyways, that's a bit of my Christmas I love reading about how others spend their Christmases. It's my favorite time of year! |
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Post by scarlarose on Nov 6, 2011 19:45:48 GMT -5
Those are some awesome memories and ideas, Musicfreak. I think I'm going to share the time capsule idea with my family. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by Musicfreak on Nov 6, 2011 19:49:44 GMT -5
Those are some awesome memories and ideas, Musicfreak. I think I'm going to share the time capsule idea with my family. Thanks for sharing! Isn't the time capsule idea great? I think it's so fun. Thanks for reading my novel. |
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Post by goldberry on Nov 6, 2011 20:39:05 GMT -5
It was always just the immediate family--the grandparents and cousins lived far away. My mother used to make a lot of cookies; my father would decorate the tree. My mother and I used to go to church (Episcopal) at 5:00 on Christmas Eve, so she would make lasagne for the rest of the family, which we would have later. Sometime in the weeks before Christmas, we would listen to a recording of A Christmas Carol read by Dan O'Herlihy.
I now spend Christmas just with my brother. We're not particularly religious--we go to his Unitarian Church and hang out with his friends.
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Post by twassbrake on Nov 7, 2011 4:45:28 GMT -5
I absolutely love christmas time. I'll get downright cheesy.
For me it starts the week following Totensonntag (Dead's sunday?). All the house gets cleaned and decorated with candles and little figures and lighted stars are hanging in the windows. I'll make a advent wreath, start baking all kind of cookies and stollen for the next weeks.
From now on every weekend my hubby and me will celebrate the advent season with lighted candles and homemade bakings. Sometime between the second and third advent we will get an christmas tree and decorate it. I love that. All the house feels different with all the decorations and candles and lights. It's the time I cherish at most.
The actual christmas fest is different every year for us, as we are not living near any other family. In fact, all the family is spread around the country. We're not having the opportunity to make it home every christmas because of the work. This year we will make it home. We're going to celebrate with my PIL. On christmas eve we will keep it low. For dinner it's probably just potatoe salad and hot sausages. After that we will go to the christmas mess. Later in the evening we exchange gifts. Just a little something. Nothing big for everyone. We will sit together, laugh and share until late in the night. The next day the rest of the family will come together for a great festing lunch. We'll phone everyone who couldn't make it to share some good whishings. On second christmas day my hubby and me will drive home and share some hours beneath our christmas tree.
BTW Anyone who wants to share some cookie recipes can PM me. I'd love to try some recipes from other parts of the world.
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Post by davilarose on Nov 7, 2011 12:33:18 GMT -5
Where did this year go?  I cannot believe it is already November. I am so not ready for the whole holiday season....I'm thinking we will invite some of my husband's colleagues to our home for Thanksgiving...he teaches college and people aren't always able to get home for T-Day. I am working on my Christmas gift list and have done some shopping for my husband. But it feels like I'm waaaaay behind this year. Maybe if I stopped tweeting and commenting on the forum I would have more time for holidays!!! LOL...
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Post by sunnyirish08 on Nov 7, 2011 14:07:56 GMT -5
well christmas in ireland is on the cards for me. my brother rang earlier and told me straight up that he think it would be best for me to come over during the summer and i have to say, i agreed with him. so i'm gonna go over after my exams and the stress is over.
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Post by scarlarose on Nov 7, 2011 20:45:13 GMT -5
I'm sorry that it worked out that way, Sunnyirish. I hope you still have a great Christmas.
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Post by sunnyirish08 on Nov 8, 2011 2:27:29 GMT -5
you know what i'm grand. it suits me better to go in the summer time. i had time to think about it over the last week. plus i'll be finished my assignments and exams. so i'll be less stressed.
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Post by sweetlikemeli on Nov 8, 2011 4:21:58 GMT -5
I absolutely love christmas time. I'll get downright cheesy. For me it starts the week following Totensonntag (Dead's sunday?). All the house gets cleaned and decorated with candles and little figures and lighted stars are hanging in the windows. I'll make a advent wreath, start baking all kind of cookies and stollen for the next weeks. From now on every weekend my hubby and me will celebrate the advent season with lighted candles and homemade bakings. Sometime between the second and third advent we will get an christmas tree and decorate it. I love that. All the house feels different with all the decorations and candles and lights. It's the time I cherish at most. The actual christmas fest is different every year for us, as we are not living near any other family. In fact, all the family is spread around the country. We're not having the opportunity to make it home every christmas because of the work. This year we will make it home. We're going to celebrate with my PIL. On christmas eve we will keep it low. For dinner it's probably just potatoe salad and hot sausages. After that we will go to the christmas mess. Later in the evening we exchange gifts. Just a little something. Nothing big for everyone. We will sit together, laugh and share until late in the night. The next day the rest of the family will come together for a great festing lunch. We'll phone everyone who couldn't make it to share some good whishings. On second christmas day my hubby and me will drive home and share some hours beneath our christmas tree. BTW Anyone who wants to share some cookie recipes can PM me. I'd love to try some recipes from other parts of the world. |
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Post by mandyblue on Nov 18, 2011 8:56:53 GMT -5
Hi guys today I have made my mums christmas cake I do it every year. Every christmas everybody turns up at my mum and dads house they have just turn 80 but very active and want to cook the christmas dinner. This year mum and dad have got dads brother and wife, my dads sister and daughter staying all over christmas, plus I have 3 brothers but 2 wont be there but the other has a wife and 2 16 year old sons so it is going to be busy but nice and I will be running around helping my mum.
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Post by lissy on Nov 18, 2011 9:20:11 GMT -5
We usually spend Christmas with my family here in England, but this year we're going to be with my husband's family in South Africa. I'm so looking forward to it (although not the 12-hour flight with two preschoolers). It's very different from here - we open presents after lunch on Christmas Day and try to spend most of the day in a mildly alcoholic/chocoholic haze. They open presents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be church in the morning, which I won't understand a word of because it's in Afrikaans, and then the rest of the day is more or less dedicated to eating. Everyone gathers and my in-laws' house and brings several dishse with them, eats slowly but steadily for about four hours, and then leaves with enough leftovers to guarantee that they won't need to cook for a week. It will be weird being somewhere hot for Christmas though. I've only done than about four times in my life before and it never quite feels like Christmas.
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Post by lissy on Nov 18, 2011 9:25:25 GMT -5
As I grew out of my kiddy stage, I've realized how much I enjoy giving gifts. It's funny, now I would rather give a gift, than receive one. I'm always grateful for gifts, but it's just so much nicer to pick something out for someone else, especially if you know they'll really like it. You have to watch this then, it makes me cry: |
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I found all of you, and I'm even happier. Well, I know I typed another book, but I guess you know a little more about me besides all the sad stuff. BTW, I've really enjoyed reading about all of you and your traditions and plans for the holidays. Keep sharing please!
) they're much thinner, but they're SO YUMMY! We also make chocolate chip cookies, and sometimes oatmeal raisin, & peanut butter, too. 
I cannot believe it is already November. I am so not ready for the whole holiday season....I'm thinking we will invite some of my husband's colleagues to our home for Thanksgiving...he teaches college and people aren't always able to get home for T-Day. I am working on my Christmas gift list and have done some shopping for my husband. But it feels like I'm waaaaay behind this year. Maybe if I stopped tweeting and commenting on the forum I would have more time for holidays!!! LOL... 
Sept 22, 2013 7:25:03 GMT -5
Sept 22, 2013 7:25:03 GMT -5
