What Are Your Plans For the Holidays?

I was just curious, as I always am, how people spend time. I am goint to spend the holidays at home with my hubby and 4 sons. Picking the older boys up from college and then we are going to spend Christmas around the fireplace, opening presents, playing games and there's me taking all the pictures. There may be no peace on earth, but I am hoping we will have peace in our little corner of it.

Christmas in Wales, with the extended family - I'm really looking forward to it.

Christmas eve with Inlaws, Christmas Morning with my hubby and kids at our house. In the afternoon, to my dad's. Then to Sister Inlaws house for dinner. Hope to see my mom sometime Christmas day too... it's always crazy for us. lol.

Nothing. -_-


Just gonna be here with the family...that's it. I already know the thing I'm getting, so no fun there. It'll be fine..it's just too bad it's not special like it used to be.

Me and the family are flying to Florida to visit my Mom in St. Augustine. It'll be the first time in 25 years that my brother and I will be in the same room on Christmas day...

We all grow up sometime...

I love christmas for the family stuff really, getting together, fellowship, eating and drinking. I'm hoping to get snowed in too.

Presents are for small kids really, I buy my own toys these days....have to, no one else will! But I usually get to play with the stuff the little ones get, I never lost my taste for good toys. and the boxes are great!

Christmas actually starts on Christmas Eve.. My aunt has a huge party every year usually two tables full of snacks and goodies and hours spent visiting everybody dresses up in their christmas outfits and all of the baby girls put on their poofy dresses..

One of my uncle's dresses up like Santa while the other one drives him around to about half a dozen families where they hand out candy canes and get photos taken with kids. it's pretty laid back somebody is usually sneaking a cigarette on the side of the house and two years ago Amy and I had snuck a bottle of peppermint schnapps in my room and were mixing hot chocolate and schnapps for cousins as long as they promised not to tell (those that shouldn't be told).

At about midnight somebody will have to take my aunts van across town to my uncle's basement to get all of the christmas presents to go under the tree (we don't put anything under the tree until christmas eve).. and then it's up by six and everybody takes turns it actually takes awhile especially with the kids and stems from my mom and aunts childhood where they all got maybe two gifts each..

After that cinamon rolls and orange juice, turkey in the oven and while everyone with spouses heads off to in-laws my aunt, second cousin Brenda and I usually sneak off to an afternoon movie (or two).. and then home for turkey and the works I usually end up baking pies for christmas my only culinary talent I make a good coconut cream ... and then turkey sandwiches late at night watching a Bing Crosby movie..

sari

Sari, sounds like a page from Norman Rockwell. Your family sounds very wonderful.

I'm thinking of getting tickets to see "Dream Girls" during the week. I saw it on Broadway 22 years ago. I can't believe it's finally coming out into theaters. It's probably one of the best performance shows I've ever seen.

SuzyView wrote in post #2364473
Sari, sounds like a page from Norman Rockwell. Your family sounds very wonderful.

I'm thinking of getting tickets to see "Dream Girls" during the week. I saw it on Broadway 22 years ago. I can't believe it's finally coming out into theaters. It's probably one of the best performance shows I've ever seen.

Dream Girls was on the list but this Christmas I think it's going to be The Nativiity and then the Pursuit of Happiness (Wil Smith).. Unless ofcourse Brenda wants to see something else.. she usually lets my aunt and I pick the movies since she's in Seattle and we don't get to talk with her too much...

sari

Christmas with family, hopefully I can learn something from my Uncle who has a real talent for photography http://www.peterbeddek​.com/

Then working, sort of, only if needed, which should mean lots of time to work on the house. Oh yay is the wonders of property ownership.

Nice gallery on the link, Moppie. My Dad was a great photographer with his 1/2 frame camera. I don't have a single copy of anything he has. They disappeared.

What I wouldn't give to have Christmas with your family. Everything you mentioned reminds me a bits and pieces of years gone by and gives me a nice warm feeling of a family that loves each other. This year I get to battle the ex in court again over visitation rights to my 10 yr old son. In the meantime I don't get to see him. She has a habit of picking the right time of year for her moments of vengence. I look forward to seeing pics of you and your family's get together.

saravrose wrote in post #2364442
Christmas actually starts on Christmas Eve.. My aunt has a huge party every year usually two tables full of snacks and goodies and hours spent visiting everybody dresses up in their christmas outfits and all of the baby girls put on their poofy dresses..

One of my uncle's dresses up like Santa while the other one drives him around to about half a dozen families where they hand out candy canes and get photos taken with kids. it's pretty laid back somebody is usually sneaking a cigarette on the side of the house and two years ago Amy and I had snuck a bottle of peppermint schnapps in my room and were mixing hot chocolate and schnapps for cousins as long as they promised not to tell (those that shouldn't be told).

At about midnight somebody will have to take my aunts van across town to my uncle's basement to get all of the christmas presents to go under the tree (we don't put anything under the tree until christmas eve).. and then it's up by six and everybody takes turns it actually takes awhile especially with the kids and stems from my mom and aunts childhood where they all got maybe two gifts each..

After that cinamon rolls and orange juice, turkey in the oven and while everyone with spouses heads off to in-laws my aunt, second cousin Brenda and I usually sneak off to an afternoon movie (or two).. and then home for turkey and the works I usually end up baking pies for christmas my only culinary talent I make a good coconut cream ... and then turkey sandwiches late at night watching a Bing Crosby movie..

sari

Keiffer wrote in post #2365922
What I wouldn't give to have Christmas with your family. Everything you mentioned reminds me a bits and pieces of years gone by and gives me a nice warm feeling of a family that loves each other. This year I get to battle the ex in court again over visitation rights to my 10 yr old son. In the meantime I don't get to see him. She has a habit of picking the right time of year for her moments of vengence. I look forward to seeing pics of you and your family's get together.

there will be photos of the babies (if only to annoy Dave) but, sadly once again no photos of me... .. and the warm fuzzies are nice.. But, in all fairness I don't mention the aspects that I don't want to discuss the beauty of the net. and if you'll notice neither one of my parents were in any of my holiday plans... .. so, as much as I like to paint the Norman Rockwell the reality isn't quite as pleasant but I work hard to keep the unwanted elements out of my life.. difficult sometimes but I manage...

sari

Warm and fuzzies on my end, as always. Sari knows about my family. We spend all day opening presents and eating until our cholesterol counts hit the roof.

But really, we have a very religious Christmas Eve and the boys all take part. We've had wonderful times, all caught on film or digital and tapes.

But if you want a good holiday anyway, have a good attitude. Do what is abolutely best for your child(ren) no matter what. The giving part of the holidays is what is important. I hope everything works out for you, Keiffer.

Thank you Suzie. I was just touched by her story and I know not all is perfect in an imperfect world, But Sari seems to have made a wonderful balance in a very unbalanced world. Yeah I guess I was also on the pity pot while writing it LOL I didn't mean to sound so pathetic LOL It just reminded me of a better time in my life. But I will work though this hurdle and next year will be an awesome Christmas
Thanks Sari for sharing your story. And you too Suzie