HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Let's talk Christmas!!

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/10/2010 10:11 AM (GMT 0)
Only two weeks to go for the big day. Hard to believe eh!!

Have you put up your tree yet? some decorations in the house? lights outside?

Are you ready? are you stressing? Please don't stress. That's not what Christmas is about.

Are you travelling to visit family? Or are you staying home? What are your plans?

How many are coming for dinner? Will it be just your immediate family?

Do you always have a turkey feast or other?

What are some of your traditions?

Tell me all about your Christmas day!

Let's deck the halls and have some happy and fun posts. We deserve it!!

Hugs

 

Posted 12/10/2010 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
The tree has been up since the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We actually bought a new tree this year. It is smaller than our old one and easier to deal with. Our 5 year old had a lot of fun hanging the ornaments.

The Christmas lights outside are still up from last year, so that was pretty easy to deal with. Just had to plug them back in. I am planning on taking them down this spring though and mounting them on some PVC poles and then placing some hooks along the roof for the poles to set in which will make setting up and taking down those lights very easy.

We will be finishing up our Christmas shopping this weekend. Would have had it done earlier but needed to wait for a bonus from my wife's employer.

Christmas eve we are just going to relax at home, munch on some summer sausage and cheese and chips and dips and watch Christmas shows of old we have on DVD. Then Christmas day it is off to the inlaws to visit and share Christmas dinner with them and then back home.
Posted 12/10/2010 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
BTW: My father in law does the cooking at Christmas and we are trying to get him to tone it down a bit. Every year he fixes a turkey breast and a 5lb ham along with mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, green beans, scalloped corn, rolls, noodles, deviled eggs, a pumpkin pie and an apple pie. It's good but that is more food than 8 people can eat in 4 meals....LOL. Plus he has been having heart problems of late and we are worried about him overdoing it.
Posted 12/10/2010 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have 3 kids whom are awfully excited about Christmas :) Heck I would be too if I were my kids lol I had not much growing up and my kids seem to be getting the world. We have our Christmas tree up (gold and red) and our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that saint Nick soon will be here :P

We are having a very quiet Christmas dinner. We are going to need some quiet time. My husband will have the lego death star (from starwars) to build. It is over 3000 pieces!

Happy holidays everyone
Posted 12/10/2010 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
 Suzane,

     I will answer your questions but you have to answer them too!

Have you put up your tree yet?

   Yes, of course! My decorations go up the week after Halloween. I do it that way because I want to enjoy the decorations as long as possible. Also, I am usually pressed for time all through November and the first week of December.

some decorations in the house?

     Oh yes. The girls make a "ginger bread christmas village" with little houses in the town and a ginger bread tree in the middle. Then Daddy goes in and makes the little LED lights peek out of the "cotton" "ground" and set up the little train to go around the tree. It is too cute. The tops of all the cabinets and book shelves have lighted garland. All of the windows have draped lights and garland. All the bedrooms and ... Humm. I think I will just take pictures and give you link to the album (you can access it even if you do not use Facebook)

 lights outside?

     Yes! My daughters are a big help. They pic the colors for the bushes and trees. Ill take pictures of that too.

Are you ready?

     You bet I am. Jewelry was made during the summer. The "project gifts (girls)" were all done over Fall. Family Christmas photos taken care of. All the candy is made.

are you stressing?

     Nope. I am all done. Now I get to enjoy myself for the rest of the month. Are you travelling to visit family? Or are you staying home?

     No and yes. Normally each year I have guests for about a month and half through Christmas. Since I started becoming very sick and progressing fast... David and the girls want "Christmas be just for us". So, we visited the relatives over the summer. This winter will be no guests.

What are your plans?

     Chorus performances. School Christmas parties. Delivering candy baskets and bags. 

 How many are coming for dinner?

     Just us this year. The girls want a Ham of course and corn bread stuffing.

Will it be just your immediate family?

     Yes.

Do you always have a turkey feast or other?

     The girls decide our "Holiday Dinners".

What are some of your traditions?

     Making Christmas sugar cookies for Santa. opening a gift on Christmas eve. That was when I got my engagement ring all those years ago, now it is tradition to search inside the Christmas tree for our hidden "small Christmas eve gift". Hot chocolate & popcorn with a new movie. Daddy reads "You are my miracle" and tells the girls before he reads that the "secret about Santa is in the book". 

Tell me all about your Christmas day!

Only if you tell me about yours!

 

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 12/10/2010 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.amazon.com/You-Miracle-Maryann-Cusimano-Love/dp/0399240373
Posted 12/10/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Sent out my Christmas cards today, got the outside decorated, have my train up
from last year and do not look forward to getting the christmas tree up, kinda bummed out
got more baking to do, orange fudge and maybe more cookies and daughter wants to make cookies
too and she doesn't have a clue as to how much work is involved with cookies....
too much to do and not enough time....
Posted 12/10/2010 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
hello my friends

-tree has been up for two weeks

-i love it, the lights are all blue and the decorations are white and blue

-i stll want to wrap garland and lights around the stair bannister and put

a couple decorations out (it's been a tough week with the usual pain but

also had gum grafting done and my mouth is killing me too)

-hubby said he will put some lights outside tonight

-no shopping done for the kids but hubby will get it done if i am unwell to go

-no stress, just rest

-no travelling, except hubby will drive one hour to go get my mom who

will stay with us, we can't wait for her visit

-we will be staying home for dinner

-our two boys will be here with their girlfriends and one girlfriend

has a two year old daughter

-that will be so much fun to have a little one here

-hubby will cook his turkey feast and make pies and he cleans up too

-after dinner then we will do the presents for the kids and each will have a stocking

Looking forward to our day together.

Hopefully I will be well enough to go to church as well.

Posted 12/10/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Our tree is up thanks to my two lovely boys and is covered in all their many school and church made ornaments! It has been up since the weekend right after Thanksgiving.

There is a little more we could do outside, but we tapered things down this year and made it simpler.

Our shopping is almost done, I need to get to the store to get a surprise for my fiance....He is always with me which makes this hard.

I am not stressing by choice since we took off so many things on the list to be done so I am not so busy this year.

NO travelling this year at all. Just Christmas Eve service at our church which is blessedly close, 3 miles from our house.

Just the 4 of us for dinner, my sons, my fiance and myself.

We always do cookies the week before Christmas and have time at home that week. We also are starting a new tradition of our home only on Christmas day and will not be going to his family and mine as we did for 2 years. It is just too much for me. So a simple dinner at home.

Our dinner is always different. I let the boys choose. This year I had to rein them in. One wanted duck and the other goose, and since I do not hunt any longer there is no way I am payiing someone else close to 30$ for each of those! They picked shrimp and ham, scalloped potatoes (homemade of course) green beans and corn with cornbread. We also are very blessed to have good kids. The money they both found recently is being used tonight on our family shopping to buy toys for a family in need at our church and some of their Christmas dinner. I have good kids!

 

Posted 12/10/2010 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Our tree will go up this weekend. Most all the gifts have been purchased and I am wrapping today. I have several friends that I hook up with every year and we make candy and that is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon so hopefully we will be almost done by tomorrow evening.

I think Christmas eve I will have our ex son in law over for dinner and gifts and then Christmas Day we'll have the rest of the crowd over. We stopped with the big dinner thing years ago. We smoke a brisket and turkey, have cheese balls, dips, veggies, and just keep it simple and pick all day. Humm how healthy does sound? Last year our daughter did it and I believe this year I get the honors. I truely enjoy it but hate the getting ready time cuz I move like a friggin snail and what used to take me a couple hours now take a day it seems.
Posted 12/11/2010 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Tree's up
wreath on the door
snowmen family on the porch
indoor decoration-stockings, garland, bows, navitivity scene, assorted Christmas knick-nacks
Still need the lights, garland, and bows outside.
One gift bought, 24 more to go! (big family)
Posted 12/12/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I am the bah humbug this year, no decorating so far which is totally out of character for me. I am just not sure I have the energy as I have no help with this feat. I have enough decorations to decorate at least 6-8 homes inside & out. I have at least started the shopping and will finish it next week. I plan to wrap up everything and take it to my son's and put it under their tree so we do not have to mess with this Christmas morning. Several years ago I insisted the two kids start their holiday traditions as they were always at Mom's and I said it is your all's turn. Now, I just show up where I am suppose to with what I am suppose to and I enjoy it so much more this way. When my children were young we were constantly uprooting them to go see this one and that one and it just wore everyone out, not to mention stressing everyone out, so I vowed when I had grandchildren this would not happen to them. We all gather at my son's Christmas Day and have a terrific time, no stress at all and no little ones being stressed from being shuffled around.
Posted 12/12/2010 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
We haven't put up our tree or ornaments yet because when we moved last July the movers shoved every extra box into a tight storage area and my husband (who also suffers from a degree of CP) has not felt well enough to locate the Christmas stuff.

Yesterday at Costco we bought more ornaments and today hubby is going to buy an inexpensive pre-lit tree. Better late than never! smilewinkgrin
Posted 12/12/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I too have enough trees and decorations in the attic to cover a village, but I broke down and bought a slimline tree that was pre-lit from the thrift store. It is so pretty. Anyway, we also bought gallon zip-loc bags of toys and decorated the tree only with the toys in the bags. It has to be the prettiest tree we have ever done, so I can't complain a bit. No lugging things for my husband (he's way to busy) and no real major expense (Less than $30.00 for the tree and all decorations, including a large Angel topper we put beside the fireplace).

I'm doing something strange and special this year for Christmas for my daughter (11). She has a bond with this particular doll (Julie, made in 1987) and we now have three of them. She plays with them, sleeps with them, and loves them to no end. She's so mature in so many areas, but the Julies are so special to her. She also loves her Chocolate Lab and loved our Golden Retriever/Yellow Lab mix (until she died a few years ago). Anyway, I had my husband pull this great old curio cabinet out of the storage building and I am making a "Friends" display for her. I found a "brand new" Julie in the original box with the Meet Julie book, the special Julie clothes and everything on ebay and got it for a great price. I also got a black lab (that I painted chocolate today.....just have to add the little white mark under the neck) and a perfect image of her now deceased, but still loved retriever. I bought a very nice sign in script that says friends and three matching photo frames that I will use to frame pictures of her with her three "friends". All will be put into the lighted curio in her room and will be a big surprise for her Christmas. It is going to be amazing to see her when she sees this. I honestly think she will take it with her when she grows up an moves to her own home. I just hope it turns out as nice as I plan it to be.

As far a Christmas celebrations, we've decided to go to my mother's for a very simple "hot-dog" type Christmas Eve lunch. The kids don't care for serious food this time of year, so we're doing it for them. Each adult sibling (3) will bring a basket of dollar items and the kids can choose 3-4 each from each basket. Then Christmas day is for my immediate family alone and for my step-daughter to come down and have lunch with us. Pray this one goes well. There are major changes in play there and I REALLY want a peaceful and quite Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!
Posted 12/13/2010 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
wow you are all so busy!!!


My house is decorated as much as anyone could stomach. The new kitten has not tipped the tree over (but I suppose there is a lot of time left)

we have an annual gathering. This year funds are low. we asked everyone to bring a dessert as its a desserts only party. I swear that I am only buying paper plates, cups and utensils and non alcoholic beverages. Thats it. I have all kinds of desserts to make.

I figured if I started the gathering at 7pm, people would have eaten dinner already. I made it clear it was dessert only and byob. I also like to do an ornament swap. Every gurst brings a wrapped ornament and we draw numbers. Everyone picks an ornament and they get to bring it home. I LOVE this part!
we were not going to have a prty due to finances but the kids were disapointed. SO was I! So I think this is a great tradition.

Christmas eve I will wrap all the gifts while the kids go to a family members house. Then we will have chinese food and watch christmass movies like "It's a wonderful life"
etc. I wish I didnt have to wrap all the gifts at once but I never have alone time and I have to wait till the last minute to pick up a layaway. Sooo Christmas eve will be busy.

I also like to have everyone open a gift on Christmas eve. Its always the same thing but its tradition now. We all get new P.j.s and slippers!

I wish I had 2 more weeks to get ready and get everything done. Christmas day we open gifts and go upstairs to my parents house and open more gifts. We have a nice breakfast. Tehn hubby takes the kids off to his sisters house. I relax. Then we usually have a quiet dinner. I try not to eat meat on Christmas (I am not a big meat eater)
so sometimes we have stuffed shells etc. mmmm... maybe I will make that this year. then the day after Christmas we do more presents and have a second christmas at the inlaws. thats mayhem! we have prime rib and everything you can think of.

I was able to put a few lights outside. Not as many as I would like but hubby has been at work and no one else (grown ups) wanted to help. so did what I could.

If you all could pick one wish for Christmas what would it be??

I would wish that 2011 is a happy healthy year for my family and friends!

Merry Christmas!!
Posted 12/13/2010 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone

Have you put up your tree yet?
christmas tree and decorations went up on the 1st of december :) whole house is decorated with little christmas tree ornaments next to everyones bed and tinsel around the windows :) we have light up tinsel around the stair rails, and our stairs spiral up so the christmas tree is in the middle of the spiral looks pretty cute. outside we have lights galore and alot of people come and look at our house at night with all the lights and light up santa and reindeers.

Are you ready?
no where near! have only bought a few things for mum, still have dad, grandparents (impossible to buy for, would love ideas) brother sister and cousins and aunts and uncles... and friends!!
are you stressing?
not really, its meant to be a fun holidays, ill get it all done eventually

Are you travelling to visit family? Or are you staying home? What are you plans?
We always have chrissy day at my house all the family come over, its tradition... sit by the pool for christmas lunch, play backyard cricket on the tennis court - even the grandparents join in!! then sit inside unwrapping presents and just talking :) so much fun.


How many are coming for dinner?
Me, Brother, Sister, Grandma and Grandpa, Mum, maybe dad but he might be away with his mum :( my aunt and normally we would have my great aunt and 4 second cousins come too but they are all away, and one cousin just moved to london

Do you always have a turkey feast or other?
We have everything you could imagine, turkey, ham, salads, fruit, dips, vegies, crackers, muffins, croissants, bagels, pudding, pies, cakes,




HOPE EVERYONE HAS AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS, will be thinking of you all


xx
Posted 12/14/2010 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby put the tree up a few weeks ago, its beautiful when I can't sleep I come out and the lights relax me. The star gives me hope, hope for all people, hope for our ill economy,

We will be having xms dinner with my side of the family at old country buffet, there will be 23, Mom is just too old and unfortunately I can't do it anymore either, We used to, just mom and myself made everything for everybody, mom and i are coming to terms with our limitations.

Hope all has a blessed Christmas, Lisa
Posted 12/14/2010 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby put the tree up a few weeks ago, its beautiful when I can't sleep I come out and the lights relax me. The star gives me hope, hope for all people, hope for our ill economy,

We will be having xms dinner with my side of the family at old country buffet, there will be 23, Mom is just too old and unfortunately I can't do it anymore either, We used to, just mom and myself made everything for everybody, mom and i are coming to terms with our limitations.

Hope all has a blessed Christmas, Lisa
Posted 12/21/2010 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All

 

Tree up yet? we finally got the tree up on Saturday, but we did not decorate it until last night. Hubby did the outside lights and I've slowly done the house. It has been the worst pain this year. The cold weather did not seem to bother me as bad last year. Now my hands and feet and back hurt all the time. My pain patch (50 mgs) doesn't seem to be doing to much I'm thinking, is there another Fentayl patch stronger? Feels like my boyd gets good for a while, then gets use to the pain meds. How sad. But its's almost Christmas. Nap afterwork, still need to go out but not until tomorrow, I'm so beat today at work, I need to go home and go to sleep, guess it will be grilled cheese and soup for din-din at my house I"m beat!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply