Did anybody else actually have a "good" Christmas?

[TheGoofster]

Wow, I think there must be at least a dozen negative Christmas threads on the first page alone. Don't get me wrong, I understand family drama and problems (my wife's family produces enough drama to provide good material for at least 3 soap operas and a talk show or two), but I have to wonder if anybody else besides us actually had a "good" Christmas?

We had a fantastic, wonderful Christmas. It was a great time leading up to Christmas, a fantastic Christmas eve, and a very special Christmas day. This was probably the best Christmas we've ever had. It wasn't because of the presents (we couldn't afford all that much this year, but the one's we did give were well thought out, and very much appreciated), but more a real sense of being together as a family, and enjoying everything together that makes Christmas what it is.

So, who else had a good Christmas this year? Sound out! Let us know why your Christmas was special this year.

 

[ukstitch]

We had a really good christmas here as well.

I think this is similar to the general fact (borrowed from retail, but very applicable here as well) that people who have a bad experience will tell far more people about it than people who have a good experience.

 

[Mermaid02]

We did!

No extravagent gifts..... just little things....... but we had a great day! Actually a great 3 days, 24, 25 and 26! Dinner was fabulous!! I had to leave the inlaws early on Christmas Day because I am recovering from surgery- but I got some great sleep and was ready for the after Christmas party yesterday!

 

[ma2jr]

Had a great Christmas hope everyone did as well

 

[wdwfan16]

We had a great Christmas. No family drama, I don't get involved in the family drama peoples lives. Great food, Great Friends, Great Family time. We spent 8 hours with friends on Christmas EVE and 13 hours with family on Christmas Day. I can't imagine only spending 2.5 hours with friends and family, like many said they do.

We were exhausted after all the visiting but a great time was had by all. We did need Saturday to recover. I wanted to go shopping but did not have the energy to do it.

 

[turkeymama]

I don't know if I'd say this was the best Christmas we ever had, but it was a good Christmas. For the first time in 12 years, my husband spent less than $100 total on 4 gifts for me and I absolutely adore every one of them more than I would a diamond ring or any fancy gadget. My kids were truly happy with what they got and we had a great time with extended family. We are worn out, but its a good kind of tired. We couldn't afford as much this year so we focused on the kids. Not as much extended family at my in-laws this year either so that made Christmas feel much more cozy over there. It was nice.

 

[mom2boys77]

We did!! My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer this summer and a month ago, my house burned down...I think these things really opened our eyes to what was really important..just being with each other. It was a really nice day..no fighting just lots of laughing! The Coach wallet my husband got me sure didn't hurt either lol

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Me!!! I always have a fantastic Christmas. My family is amazing and I love being with them. I have as much fun buying presents as I do receiving them and I think I could get a bag of plastic grocery bags and I'd be happy. The only thing I wish for was that more of my family could have been there, but we talked to all of them and I can't wait until next year

 

[ashleybea]

My family and I had an amazing christmas. It was probably our best christmas since we got our dog. Everyone loved their gifts. no one complained. It was such a nice day.

 

[phorsenuf]

I was beginning to wonder the same thing. So much complaining!!
We had a fantastic Christmas. We were together, got some nice gifts, good food, good company.

I hate seeing all the negative Christmas posts. Talk about Debbie Downers.

 

[MizTink]

i had a good christmas!! i was sick, but no family drama! my family is all very close and we never have bad drama. plus it was our first christmas with 2 new members, ds's gf and their 4 month old daughter can't wait for the next several christmas' as dgd gets a little older!!!

 

[Disneylover79]

We had a GREAT Christmas.....we spent the morning with my parents and opended presents there (not many as my folks got us all giftcards)....then we had breakfast with them and enjoyed the time with them....then we drove 2.5 hours to get to DBF parents house....we have been here since then and are going home today (back to work tomorrow)....we had a great time opening presents... I felt like one of the family here (even though we are not married)...I am so glad to have such a wonderful family and a wonderful DBF....

 

[a1tinkfans]

WONDERFUL night of music, laughter, WAY TOO much food, TOO many presents, and most of all LOTS and LOTS of love.................

just thought I'd tell ya what I did and it was SO FUNNY!

I had purchased one of those musical keyboards a while back...it basically can play by itself as one of its "modes"
well the ds and I decided that we'd set up the family to "think" I'd been practicing long and hard and would perform for them.........(my ds is WAY talented at guitar...so music in the home is not unusual!)

So, Xmas Eve, we get ALL the family in the great room, gathered around the tree (candy themed, LOL) and I set the keyboard facing away from them in the doorway to the next room. I get my "music sheets" set it up, appear "nervous" to perform and the stage is set..............


I "PLAY" and at the VERY very end (while some are taking pictures and some are oohing and ahh'ng and saying really nice things about my "performance") I turn my back and the MUSIC is STILL playing.......I wish I HAD A CAMERA to take THEIR picture. My ds and I burst into laughter.........and then they all start to laugh too..they could not believe what I did....
it was so freaking funny.....they all THOUGHT I was actually playing.....I really hammed it up good.........well, that is my crazy family...............and boy did we all laugh Xmas eve.........what FUN!!!!!

Oh, and just another mention....my niece is just 3 1/2 and as my son was playing a Christmas song on the acoustic guitar, a beautiful hymm piece....my niece goes into the music room, picks up castinets and comes back in "dancing and playing" in her tiara.............everyone was smiling and clapping and she says aloud, I have practiced too, as I "took ed" dance lessons ......OMG, such a cutie.........she is SO ADORABLE and our only "little One" such a memorable night.................
Wishing all a JOYOUS season filled with love laughter and Happiness!

 

[Kae]

We had a good Christmas, not to crazy busy for the last 3 days. Everyone seems happy. So far the only trip-ups have been Me wearing Clogs last nite & it snowing all day so when I went to the car I got wet socks-but they are my favortie shoes darn it

Kae

 

[SaraJayne]

We had a good Christmas,too! It's exhausting to have 30 people over for dinner, but everyone had a good time.

 

[Jennasis]

My parents tell me they did. 30-some-odd people over, tons of food, music, presents, and laughter. I can't remember ever having a bad Christmas with them. Miss being with them, but luckily they are coming to visit us for New Year's! DH and I are calling it our Christmas do-over!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We had a good Christmas but it was overshadowed by some sadness -

My ILs (who live about 3 hrs away) weren't here for Christmas for the first time since DD was born (she's 12). My FIL is battling lung cancer and went into the hospital on Dec 18 with fluid build-up in his lung. He was able to go home on Christmas Day which is good. But, he's on oxygen now and I honestly don't think he'll have another Christmas.

 

[luvsJack]

We had a wonderful Christmas. Enjoying every minute with dd. ds and future dil and our dgd (her first Christmas). It would have been perfect if oldest ds and his wife had been here, but still wonderful.

 

[mvazul]

We had a fantastic Christmas!

I wasn't sure it was going to be, because our Christmas Eve tradition was changed. My mom is the second oldest of six kids (now the oldest, since my uncle passed away 17 years ago). We have a very large family, so we have always gotten together at my grandparents' on Christmas Eve. That way, those who are married can either spend Christmas day at home or with in-laws. This year, Mom's two sisters decided to have Christmas Eve the weekend before to make it easier on my grandmother. Well, it was still held at my grandmothers', so it was just as stressful on her. She was upset we didn't have our traditional get-together. My mom and her husband and my sister didn't come, because the live three hours away in opposite directions. My son wasn't there, because he had a basketaball game. But, that's a vent, and I came to post about the positive!

Christmas turned out to be awesome. Even with me having a hysterectomy on the 21st. My mom, her husband, my sister, my husband and kids all got together at my grandparents' for a steak dinner. It was nice. Instead of over 40 people being there, it was just the 9 of us. Maybe we will make that a new tradition!! Christmas morning, my mother and her husband and my sister came to our house. Since I had had surgery, I couldn't do very much. My husband made mandarin orange pancakes with sausage, homemade maple syrup and hazelnut coffee. It was delicious!! He also made dinner- baked chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and corn. Everything was sooooo good!

I was a little nervous about gifts this year. Last year my husband gave me soap. Just soap. LOTS of soap! Oh, he did give me burner covers for the stove and a couple DVD's that I never asked for or even had an interest in. Not sure what he was thinking. At least the soap was from Bath & Body works and was the scents I had asked for. This year, he actually paid attention to what I really wanted.

I said I needed a watch and would really like an iPod. I have recently returned to college and need the watch for when I am on campus and not near a clock and I wanted an iPod for between classes. Well, he bought me a watch, alright. It's 14 K yellow gold with blue topaz around the outside of the face and mother of pearl with 4 diamonds on the face. It's beautiful! I would have preferred white gold since my rings are platinum, but I'm not complaining! I didn't get an iPod, but he did buy me an MP4 player, equivalent to an iPod Touch. It's really nice and very easy to use. He also gave me a very nice Crock Pot that I had been looking at and a few other odds and ends I had asked for.

It really was a great Christmas, but more for being together and having family to spend it with more than anything else. The gifts were just the icing on the cake!

Michelle

 

[Minnesota!]

We had a wonderful Christmas. One of the best ever. No drama. Kids loved everything they received. My DH really thought "outside the box" for gifts for me and actually spoiled me! He was thrilled with his gifts, too. Food was great, company was great.

All around terrific Christmas!