Christmas Nonsense

[n2ize]

Yep, it is what you make of it, which is why I choose to make it really simple and not make a big deal out of it like I used to. Just like how Thanksgiving last year was the most memorable one in my life; it was just me, my husband and my MIL and we had a scrambled egg breakfast together and turkey pot pies for dinner. My kids were with my ex, so we kept it simple and just enjoyed each other's company. It was much more enjoyable than the crazy "everything has to be perfect, stuff yourself to the gills, deal with family drama" bullshit I had to endure every year with the family I grew up with.

There ya go. You find what works best and stick with it. No pressure to buy this or do this and that. Just enjoy the time in whatever way suits you best.

[NQ6U]

I dread Christmas. We always have the XYL's whole clan here—15 or more people in a 1100 sq. ft. house—so I spend most of my free time in December preparing for guests, cooking and hosting, then cleaning up afterwards.

[n2ize]

I dread Christmas. We always have the XYL's whole clan here—15 or more people in a 1100 sq. ft. house—so I spend most of my free time in December preparing for guests, cooking and hosting, then cleaning up afterwards.

Hah, you should have seen Christmas at my Grandpa's house in the Bronx. 20+ people in one small kitchen !! Not to mention the cooking, and making the zeppoli's and the struffoli. And in the next room, me and 20+ cousins !! And my oldest cousin Joan trying to keep all the little ones behaved while I was driving her crazy riling them up, telling them that there were monsters hiding in the dark room in the back and that the "ghost of Christmas past" was going to appear in the darkened bedroom. Joan would be cursing me while yelling to the kids "THERE'S NO MONSTER/GHOST IN THERE".

Those were some great times.

[W3MIV]

This explains a lot. A whole lot.

Hah, you should have seen Christmas at my Grandpa's house in the Bronx. 20+ people in one small kitchen !! Not to mention the cooking, and making the zeppoli's and the struffoli. And in the next room, me and 20+ cousins !! And my oldest cousin Joan trying to keep all the little ones behaved while I was driving her crazy riling them up, telling them that there were monsters hiding in the dark room in the back and that the "ghost of Christmas past" was going to appear in the darkened bedroom. Joan would be cursing me while yelling to the kids "THERE'S NO MONSTER/GHOST IN THERE".

Those were some great times.

[HUGH]

Advent calendars, are they dated?

How to make an average pun into a dismal one:
I should have put: "Advent Calendars,Are their days numbered?"

[W2NAP]

I dont do holidays...

[KC2UGV]

I like the advent calendars. The kids enjoy the little "prizes" each day (This year was a lego advent calendar). I dislike most holidays, except for Halloween (It's pure fun), Thanksgiving (The whole of our family gets together, and doesn't argue, close to 100 people), and Christmas (Again, huge chunks of the family, all in one place).

Could we do it without the gifts? Sure. Our family likes to give. And we give a lot. We don't care what we get, just as long as we give gifts that matter.

[ab1ga]

Christman is like the ham bands. No matter how many lids you run into, if you twist the big knob enough, you'll find a nice place.

[n2ize]

I like the advent calendars. The kids enjoy the little "prizes" each day (This year was a lego advent calendar). I dislike most holidays, except for Halloween (It's pure fun), Thanksgiving (The whole of our family gets together, and doesn't argue, close to 100 people), and Christmas (Again, huge chunks of the family, all in one place).

Could we do it without the gifts? Sure. Our family likes to give. And we give a lot. We don't care what we get, just as long as we give gifts that matter.

I don;t mind the gifts as long as I get them.

[KC2UGV]

I don;t mind the gifts as long as I get them.

See, we don't really care what we get; as long as we can tell thought and care went into the selection... It could be a couple of shirts from Amvets; as long as we can tell care went into picking something out.