Generally speaking, how are you feeling about Christmas this year?

[tazdev3225]

For the first time in 3 years I am actually looking forward to the holidays. Three years ago the brother of my DD's BFF was found dead 3 days before Christmas. There was no celebrating that year. Two years ago my baby moved out leaving just my DH and I at home. Last year wasn't our year to have any of our kids over. I just had my house redone and my kids are coming to my house this year. It is the first time in a long time I am really looking forward to the holidays.

 

[FireDancer]

Did you hear anything about a Christmas movie museum at Great northern Mall? I just wondered if it was worth heading over.

I haven't heard about that. I'll have to check it out. I'm pretty sure they house they used was bought and turned into a museum a little while back. I wonder if they are setting up some of the stuff from there in the mall for Christmas.

Do you remember when the windows of the Higbee's building used to be decorated for Christmas? I am just old enough to remember the last couple of years they did that. I think a better idea than setting up a display at Great Northern would have been set up Christmas Story displays in those windows overlooking Public Square.

I'll still probably go check it out at Great Northern though if it is there.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I am pretty excited about Christmas already. I have my list of holiday must see movies. I love thinking up presents to buy for people and am already halfway done. I got Transiberian Orchestra tickets for myself, my BF, my sister and her husband. Its a surprise present for those last two so I am excited about that.

I also plan on being at my goal weight (finally), so I can show off to all the relatives I only see once a year.

One of my favorite activities is driving around and 'critiquing' everyone else's lights. Always a fun time.

 

[minniecarousel]

I'm looking forward to WDW in Dec., from the 6th to the 15th! Never been at the Holidays - going with DH & older DS & DDIL.

Which means that I'll have to ship a box to my brother across the country before we leave. With my sibs, we pick a name on Thanksgiving and just buy for one adult. We still give to the under age 18 kids. We can give little stocking stuffers if we want. I usually buy little things throughout the year for those.

Back to the original question: This is an unusual Christmas for us this year, because of the going-to-WDW thing. We haven't "overdone" Christmas since our sons were little. So for gift-giving, we will do about the same as last year.

 

[4nana]

my family did a 12 days until christmas thing that I like to do (don't know if i can this year). she put little presents on the tree for each day. it norm was a small trinket, not worth too much. But was fun for us. The kids liked this just about more then anything. I also bought a sock advant calander where you put small things into it. We are going to be pretty broke this year for sure. Hubby will be leaving soon and for most of dec. after for overseas and we are just we are going to try and make it as good as possible. I am going to try to bake too.

What a cute tradition! Sounds like you’re going to make it a very special holiday for your family in spite of circumstances .

I'm feeling weird about Christmas this year. This will be the first Christmas without my Beana (Grandmother) who passed away in August.

I’m sorry about your Gma. I know this pain and trying to put your best foot forward through heartache. I hope time will help ease your pain.

Stressed and overwhelemed

Hope things look up for you!

We just spent 9 years digging a huge hole as my wife stayed home with our 2 kids. Now that they are both in school, she has gone back to the same work 6 months ago and has even gotten a promotion. It's not the greatest pay, but as a supplement to mine it means that we can actually spend some money for Christmas this year.

Kids get more and more expensive as the years go on. Now it's mp3 players and phones (no phone yet) and expensive dolls (American Girl), etc. The stuff kids want is far more expensive than it was when I was growing up. As such, the past 9 years it's been scrimping on Christmas presents because of bills. Since 2007, it got even worse and killed us with the cost of heating oil in the winter ($1000 / month is kind of hard to absorb when that and the house payment pretty much takes the entire month's pay.)


The past 6 months we've increased our income by 60-70%, spent Bush's "stimulous" check of 2008 on reinsulating the house, and dug ourselves out of the hole enough to contemplate taking our first vacation (combined first vacation for the kids and "honeymoon" actually, since we never went on a honeymoon yet after 12 years of marriage.)

So, needless to say, the kids are getting stocked up this Christmas. It won't be just 95% necessary clothes under the tree this year.

Love positive stories like this !! Enjoy reaping those rewards and splurging some on yourself and family for all your hardwork!

I feel terrible. My DH moved out on October 1st, needing to "think". Pretty unexpected. (I knew he wasn't happy, but never ever thought he'd leave)

So it will be a sad, awkward Christmas for us.

My daughters have no idea that this will most likely be our last Christmas in this house that we built.

I’m so sorry and sending prayers everything works out for your family. Here's hoping all your tomorrows are better days for you and your DD's.

I too love Christmas however I don't think this will be the best holiday season for our family either. DH has been unemployed for 14 months now so all the extras are going to bills. He's depressed and barely talking to me. Not sure how much longer this can go on. DD's Christmas will definately be scaled back. I really don't feel like traveling 1.5 hours to my sister on Christmas; we've done this for years and she would be upset if I changed the routine. I'd prefer to stay home but don't want to see DH mowping around.

I do plan on spending as much time as I can with DD at plays, watching movies, baking and checking out the holiday lights. I will make the best of it as best I can.

Sending prayers things look up . Sounds like you're thinking positive and have some nice plans in spite of situation.

I am over the moon excited for Christmas (as always)!
We are a little bummed that we will not be able to spend it with my extended family as usual, but also kinda' looking forward to just hanging out with my little family!
We always go cut down a tree the day after Christmas. I bring along an air pot of hot chocolate and we listen to Christmas music on the drive to the tree farm. We string popcorn and cranberries for the tree while we watch Christmas movies, and this year I'm stealing an idea somebody mentioned on another thread and we are going to "camp" under our twinkling tree in the living room!
We do a doorbell ditch called the 12 days of Christmas, and have choosen the perfect family for this year. Their Dad is off to Afghanistan and Mom is young and far from home. We are already planning way's to drop silly little gifts and printed out Christmas stories and games on their doorstep with out getting caught.We are renting an itty bitty little cabin in the snow for a weekend of sledding and snowball fights.
Going to the National Tree (free! Hooray!), Sight and Sound Theater, and on the Polar Express train.
We are also hosting a Polar Express party where families are coming over for cookies and hot chocolate (in jammies of course!) and bringing their favorite Christmas story to read aloud (now that I type that I'm not so sure what's polar expressy about that, but I already bought silver jingle bells as favors so I'm stickin' with it!)
My neighbor is having a "Tacky Christmas Sweater" party! She is asking everyone to wear Christmas sweaters (tackier the better) and bring a "tacky" treat to share (ding dongs, twinkies...that sort of thing) She is going to take mug shots of all of us and the tackiest sweater wins a prize. Did I mention I'm pretty sure my neighbor is a genius??
OK I could go on forever, but I'll spare the poor person that made it this far into my post and stop here!!

Love your traditions! Your post brought tears to my eyes. As a proud Army Mom with son deployed to AGF, I hope you know how much little things like this mean to our military family tending the home fires. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and kindness!

For the first time in 3 years I am actually looking forward to the holidays. Three years ago the brother of my DD's BFF was found dead 3 days before Christmas. There was no celebrating that year.

Two years ago my baby moved out leaving just my DH and I at home. Last year wasn't our year to have any of our kids over. I just had my house redone and my kids are coming to my house this year. It is the first time in a long time I am really looking forward to the holidays.

How very heartbreaking for your friend and your family to go through.

So very wonderful your kids are able to make it home to share the holiday!

 

[klacey1]

I really love the holidays. No matter how rough things are (and things have been downright terrible in December sometimes), I try to think about all of the good things Christmas stands for-- spending time with family and friends and showing your appreciation for those who mean the most.
We always get a real tree, although not a huge one (usually between 5-6 feet). The house gets decorated with garland, Santa figurines, everything. Christmas Eve I still go to my uncle's house with my mom and brother, where we have a lovely dinner with my nana, aunt, uncle, and cousins. We exchange gifts with all of them, although not with any of my other aunts or uncles or cousins (I have an aunt who believes spending money on clothes for herself is more important than buying Christmas presents for her children, even when they were young!)
Then, I go to DBF's house, where we have a party with his family and friends. This is so fun-- casual, great food, dancing. Just a great time. I stay over there Christmas Eve and then go back to my house to open gifts with my family and then go over to my nana's.
These are the things I look forward to. The good dinners, the people. We live in WEstchester County, NY, so we always go to the city about a week before Christmas to do the kitchy, touristy things-- go see the tree, the windows at Macy's.
The experiences are what make the holidays. My roommate and I are making fancy cupcakes to bring back to our families (we're in RI, they're in MA and NY, respectively!). Even little things like that make this whole wonderful season for me.

 

[RadioNate]

I wish it were January already.

Too much holiday drama. We can't make both sides of our families happy and in trying to please them we make ourselves miserable.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I'm a little bummed about the holidays this year. We usually go to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with my DH's father and stepmom, stay here in Alabama to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family, and then fly out on Christmas morning to Connecticut to spend some time with the rest of my DH's family.

This year, however, we've decided to stay home. Our sweet dog is having some health problems due to getting older, and we don't want to leave him here with his sitter. We're thinking he probably won't make it through Christmas, and we would hate to be away from home if anything happened. (My worst fear is that he would start showing signs of pain while we were gone, and then he'd suffer until we could get home.) So, we're going to enjoy the time we have left with him.

 

[luvflorida]

This year will be rough. We lost my Mom 6 months ago,..

I am so sorry. I know the holidays will be rough for you.

I am going to be honest: usually I am so excited for the Christmas season (even when I had a job that stressed me beyond belief there) but this season.....I actually am dreading the season. I have been out of work for a year, my marriage is in the tank (has been for a long time it's just more trouble right now), my husband has made some very selfish unilateral decisions that will make for a very slim Christmas, forget frugal, this is the last Christmas my oldest will be home for sure (she's a senior in HS), and some other things. I have always wanted to give my girls all that they need and want and this year I am not even sure I can cover the needs.

Even the Christmas music I usually love is grating on my last nerve.

I'm feeling weird about Christmas this year. This will be the first Christmas without my Beana (Grandmother) who passed away in August.

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother.

I got tired of feeling obligated to get our loved ones "stuff" that they don't need. So we are getting all of our close family members the same thing this year. I ordered these really cute reusable grocery bags from etsy.com for everyone. We'll be stuffing them with gourmet groceries - pastas, olive oil, marinara, wine, whatever. And of course I'll make some homemade cookies to go inside! I think this is something that everyone will appreciate and actually use. I know that I would love to get something like that, as opposed to another object that will just sit around and collect dust.

I love this idea! Very thoughtful and useful!

I feel terrible. My DH moved out on October 1st, needing to "think". Pretty unexpected. (I knew he wasn't happy, but never ever thought he'd leave)

So it will be a sad, awkward Christmas for us.

My daughters have no idea that this will most likely be our last Christmas in this house that we built.

to you and your daughters. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.


to everyone dealing with the loss of a loved one and to everyone facing difficult situations. My heart goes out to you and I hope you find something during this holiday season that makes you smile and offers you some peace. I know it isn't always easy. I lost my mother a little more than a year ago, and last Chrsitmas was particularly difficult for me. I couldn't listen to Christmas music without breaking down and crying.

This year it is easier and memories of my mom bring more smiles and less tears. I've listened to a few Christmas CDs and am enjoying the music again. Although, I don't think I'll ever hear "I'll Be Home For Christmas" without crying.

To me, Christmas is not about the gifts, but about spending time with family. I enjoy the decorations, the holiday foods, and people coming and going. It's playing games, laughing and sharing memories. It's a time to sit back and reflect and be thankful for all that we have.

This is our second Christmas with our precious grandson, and experiencing the holidays through his eyes brings indescribable joy to everyone in our family. Along with our own three kids, he is the love of our life!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Not good. But mostly from the fact that I'm not working, and I don't have a ton of cash to spend like I used to. But, OTOH, not working means that I'll be at home for the whole holiday season, and that is very cool.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I love the holidays....Christmas especially. I'm thankful for each and every one. Some of my fondest memories are baking with my grandmother, so this tradition is always a must!

My most memorable gift was from my great-grandmother. We were at a large family gathering and it was more about the party and not about gifts. I never expected a gift from her, so I was quite surprised when she handed me one. She was beaming from ear to ear and wanted me to open it right away. It was a box of her homemade fudge.

Now, my grandmother was "poor" by most standards, but that fudge was one of the best gifts I've ever received. It's been 40 years and I still remember her joy and her smile.

 

[C.Ann]

Not good. But mostly from the fact that I'm not working, and I don't have a ton of cash to spend like I used to. But, OTOH, not working means that I'll be at home for the whole holiday season, and that is very cool.

That's one of the things that I was trying to point out though - the "cash" or lack of.. It has become the main focus of Christmas for many and that's not really how it should be.. People get stressed out; depressed; worried how they're going to buy gifts for 50 people, etc..

I've never gone overboard - except for the year I took my DD and her family to WDW for Christmas (and that was more a matter of honoring my late DH's final wishes), yet every direction you look, it's screaming "buy, buy, buy"..

We have made a decision to focus less on the materialism and more on the true meaning of Christmas and since it's a bit of a "shift" for us (although I have always been frugal about it), it does seem somewhat "odd"..

Of course still being at the lake certainly doesn't make me feel like Christmas is right around the corner - LOL.. I'm sure when I get back to my DD's the excitement will come.. DD told me yesterday that my DGD is already making CD's of all the Christmas songs we're going to play while we're doing our traditional grandma/DGD baking session..

And providing we have enough time, I have a ton of unpainted plastercraft Christmas items in the attic there - everything from ornaments to large pieces - so I'm hoping that DD, my DGD, and I can work on them together.. That would be a really fun activity!

 

[babytrees]

That's one of the things that I was trying to point out though - the "cash" or lack of.. It has become the main focus of Christmas for many and that's not really how it should be.. People get stressed out; depressed; worried how they're going to buy gifts for 50 people, etc..

I've never gone overboard - except for the year I took my DD and her family to WDW for Christmas (and that was more a matter of honoring my late DH's final wishes), yet every direction you look, it's screaming "buy, buy, buy"..

We have made a decision to focus less on the materialism and more on the true meaning of Christmas and since it's a bit of a "shift" for us (although I have always been frugal about it), it does seem somewhat "odd"..

Of course still being at the lake certainly doesn't make me feel like Christmas is right around the corner - LOL.. I'm sure when I get back to my DD's the excitement will come.. DD told me yesterday that my DGD is already making CD's of all the Christmas songs we're going to play while we're doing our traditional grandma/DGD baking session..

And providing we have enough time, I have a ton of unpainted plastercraft Christmas items in the attic there - everything from ornaments to large pieces - so I'm hoping that DD, my DGD, and I can work on them together.. That would be a really fun activity!

Thank you all for the hugs...and I am so sorry there are so many others like me out there.

I wanted to say that we have always focused on the traditions (Christmas Eve dinner out, movie at the first run movie theater, fudge making, Christmas DVD watching, oohing and aahing over Christmas lights) and the meaning of the season in our house. I have always been frugal (it amazes me when people say they spend thousands on presents and I spend less than $200 most years, for everybody)...my girls never needed for anything....they've even gotten some of their wants on the little more abundant years.


But that "Christmas" feeling just isn't there this season. Hopefully, it will come around as I don't like feeling the way I do.

 

[minkydog]

I'm a little bummed about the holidays this year. We usually go to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with my DH's father and stepmom, stay here in Alabama to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family, and then fly out on Christmas morning to Connecticut to spend some time with the rest of my DH's family.

This year, however, we've decided to stay home. Our sweet dog is having some health problems due to getting older, and we don't want to leave him here with his sitter. We're thinking he probably won't make it through Christmas, and we would hate to be away from home if anything happened. (My worst fear is that he would start showing signs of pain while we were gone, and then he'd suffer until we could get home.) So, we're going to enjoy the time we have left with him.

Aw, I'm sorry your pup isn't doing well. We have a 9-1/2yo Standard Poodle and he's starting to have a few things hear and there. I wouldn't want to leave him if he were having some kind of real crisis.

Perhaps this year you can start a new tradition? Put on some Christmas music and make a few crafts with the kids(if you have them.) Light your candles and put a fire in the fireplace (oops! I see you live in Alabama. You may not have a fire place. Have to have a bonfire in the backyard, I guess.) One of our best traditions is Disney related. We acquired a plastic ornament of Goofy as 'Marley's Ghost" (A Christmas Carol.) Christmas doesn't officially start at our house until Goofy is retrieved and ceremoniously placed on the Christmas tree. And my kids are 23, 16, & 14!

ETA: I'm from AL, too. Grew up in Mobile County & went to school at U.of West Alabama. My mother still lives there, across the street from U.of South Alabama. Christmas is always interesting in Mobile--shorts weather and air conditioning.

 

[MIGrandma]

Last year I was not especially looking forward to hosting Christmas here, since I had just lost my job a couple of months prior. But, when I heard that my 15-year-old granddaughter's favorite part of Christmas was coming here for the day, I rearranged my attitude.

I'm looking forward to it this year. I don't do a lot of baking, mainly just pumpkin rolls, 3-4 kinds of cookies, peanut brittle and fudge. And we don't have a lot of people to buy for, just the kids/grandkids and our parents. I do go a "wee bit overboard" for the grandkids but not a lot. I fill stockings for them too, and always enjoy doing them.

Christmas Day is very casual here, no big traditional dinner. We prefer a buffet of ham/turkey sandwiches, then tons of munchies and side items. I get almost everything done the day before. After dinner we open gifts, one by one slowly so everyone gets to see. And we have a "white elephant" gift exchange and everyone loves doing that so we do it yearly.

Christmas Eve my Mom stays overnight with us, since my Dad is no longer with us and I'm an only child so I can't imagine leaving her at home alone. It's nice to have her here, and we always go for a ride around town and a couple other towns to look at the lights. Love having her here on Christmas morning too.

And it goes without saying that we remember what Christmas really is for. Jesus is the Reason for the Season. That helps put it all into the proper perspective, at least for me anyway.

 

[jsmith]

any gifts i will purchase are done and shipped-hubby is deployed-kids will have finals up to mid christmas week-and im going to be working a night shift at another installation til the 19th-and the covering 1/3 of the shifts at work for two weeks since all but three of us are being furloughed for the holidays. Im simply not going to bother=will go to wyoming for three days of the holiday weekend and have dinner with family-other than that it will just be a few weeks like anyother.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Unexcited due to some circumstances beyond our control.

Plus I am hating facebook--my kids in their moment of cuteness went and gathered and cleaned up toys for gifts (as at the moment, pennies are tight and we cannot buy any for cousins). I posted it on FB and my friends thought it was cute. A SIL thought it was in poor taste that I announced we were giving used gifts. I found how she stated it to be offensive and then how she explained herself to be even worse. It's not like I went thrift shopping deliberately.

My kids did something nice in the spirit of Christmas without me saying a word and I'm not allowed to be proud of their resourcefulness? How screwed up is that?

So I'm in a bit of a bah humbug mode at the moment.

Thankfully DH got a job offer today--WOOT! Christmas won't necessarily have to be so tight. But I still wouldn't stomp on my kids heart in the name of "socially correct" and they will distribute their "gifts' and they have my permission to be proud of it.

They can learn later about how some people like my SIL get think that used gifts are tacky.

 

[C.Ann]

Unexcited due to some circumstances beyond our control.

Plus I am hating facebook--my kids in their moment of cuteness went and gathered and cleaned up toys for gifts (as at the moment, pennies are tight and we cannot buy any for cousins). I posted it on FB and my friends thought it was cute. A SIL thought it was in poor taste that I announced we were giving used gifts. I found how she stated it to be offensive and then how she explained herself to be even worse. It's not like I went thrift shopping deliberately.

My kids did something nice in the spirit of Christmas without me saying a word and I'm not allowed to be proud of their resourcefulness? How screwed up is that?

So I'm in a bit of a bah humbug mode at the moment.

Thankfully DH got a job offer today--WOOT! Christmas won't necessarily have to be so tight. But I still wouldn't stomp on my kids heart in the name of "socially correct" and they will distribute their "gifts' and they have my permission to be proud of it.

They can learn later about how some people like my SIL get think that used gifts are tacky.

Sounds like a good reason to ditch FB - how mean!! I hope you're still going to follow through with your plans - it's a great lesson for your children..

Great news that your DH got a job offer - I know you were stressed about that.. Just the job alone is the best gift ever!

 

[Planogirl]

I'm not thrilled.

Family members are scattered about and it looks like we'll see few if any of them. Our budget is leaner that usual too plus DH works most of the time. Here's to New Year's though - this year can't end soon enough!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sounds like a good reason to ditch FB - how mean!! I hope you're still going to follow through with your plans - it's a great lesson for your children..

Great news that your DH got a job offer - I know you were stressed about that.. Just the job alone is the best gift ever!

Considering it it, yes.

For the kids--I wouldn't ruin it for them. They couldn't do Christmas without gifts and it isn't worth making little kids cry just b/c someone is a grinch and "sees" their generosity and thinks I should keep private what they did. (I mean--seriously, the parents of the recipients will very much know that the gifts didn't come from a display at Toys R Us! So if they are going to be 'insulted' by 'tackiness'--that's their character flaw!)