Meeeeeeewy almost Chriiiisssstmmmassss!!!

[spirituallygiving]

Only 13 more sleeps til Santa comes and leaves me a chunk of coal, hooray!!!

Are you going away for the holidays?
Does your work give good holiday time? In Canada, Boxing Day is a holiday and most people dont' work Christmas Eve either (or only 1/2 day).

I'm off starting Dec 21st and don't go back to work til January 7th...I took a few days off during the 'inbetween' times so I wouldn't have to go to work for 17 days LOL

Does your family have yearly traditions?
My parents normally have 'h'orderve' Christmas eve where we just ate a load of things. Stuffed mushrooms, quiches, oriental snacks, etc.

My husband's family has a nice big dinner and then we all fall asleep LOL

[Peace]

no going away here. all the family is coming here! lol..... woah! it'll be great though. it's been a long time since we were all able to get together, so, i look forward to it! turkey and ham and all trimmings, the night before christmas read before bed, hot cocoa and stringing cranberries......all that jazz. lol. a little old fashioned, i guess, but that's the way we like it. lol.

[Christine]

This year we get of 24 & 25. I am also taking 26 off. Most US companies are pretty stingy with the vacation time. Oh well.

We usually do Thanksgiving with my family and Christmas with Dan's family (they live in the Boston area).

I don't have a lot of special traditions, but one thing we like to do is go to Lasalette Shrine, about an hour from Boston. It at one time had the largest display of Christmas lights in North America: www.lasalette-shrine.org/Christmas/Festival_of_lights.html

It's very cool!

[saffy]

This is a point in my life where my traditions are changing. We are now starting our own.

We all used to gather at my sister's house, but now, me and mine are here together.

One tradition we have already started here is that my oldest daughter and I went out on Black Friday and started early. This was a tradition I shared with my mother, so I am thrilled she decided to continue it with me.

Other than that, I let you know about our new ones.

All of your traditions sound wonderful, especially stringing the cranberries. I love that. I love to take a carriage ride through downtown Columbus and see all the lights. That is so cool. Maybe I can start that one this year. Thanks for the idea guys

[♥Starlene]

Well I make myself take a few days off from work around Christmas,,, I usually do something for work most days, even if it is just email... But seeing as I dont work like a normal job, its ok,, I like it actually... But for a few days I will be just spending time with family... My mom cooks Christmas Dinner and I usually go there and help or at least help her taste everything hehehe...

We usually wake up and open some presents here with my dad and then we go to my mom and step dads house to open presents there,,,, my bother and sis in law are there and its just great fun, we always have fun giving to one another. Then we chill the rest of the afternoon until dinner and eat the bestest of food hehe... My mom is a great cook,,, I think I sometimes look forward to Christmas dinner more then I do the presents hehe

[yogagurl]

I get 24 and 25 off. We always go to Ronda's parents house for lunch on Christmas Eve. My sister and I sing at church on Christmas Eve night. Then we will do a knock and run to deliver our secret santa packages. We choose a family every year to sponsor for Christmas. We all work in service fields, so it is easy to find a family in need. We love to go and deliver the presents anonymously, and knock on the door and run. It is a blast, and usually something reminiscient of the "3 Stooges" happens. Sometimes, if there are small children, my Dad or brother-in-law will dress up as Santa Claus to deliver the presents. This year we are doing a mom and her 2 teenage daughters, so no Santa. On Christmas Day we have a big family meal. This year will be weird because my parents are going out of town for Christmas. It is the first time in my whole life that I will have Christmas without my Mom and Dad. My Dad has cancer, and he and my Mom are doing more things just the two of them while they still can. I am excited for them, but kinda sad about it, too. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews for Christmas, and sometimes go to one of my sister's houses early for the big Santa reveal. We often go to a movie in the afternoon on Christmas, but not sure if we will this year.
Happy Holidays!
Kristi

[Sloan]

Work for me usually works that you work either Christmas or New Years and swap the next year. Well, being low person on the list in the house this year I have to work Christmas for my 3rd year in a row. So my Christmas schedule really rots this year. I've got 12hr days shifts (8am-8pm) the 22 & 23, and then I go back in at midnight on the 24, and then I do 12hrs night shifts (8pm-8am) the 25, 26, 27, and then I have 7 days off before coming back to work.
Normally, it used to be that Jon and I would go home to Yarmouth (cause its both where we grew up) Christmas Eve, I would go to midnight mass (or at least the carol service) with my brother before sneaking out the back door and then go to Jon's dad place where he and his step-mom would ply us with drink and lobster! Then I'd drop Jon off at his parents place and I would go to my parents place for the night. Open gifts with my parents on Christmas morning and then go to his place for the rest of the day. Traditions change of course. My parents moved away for 3 years and 4 years ago was the first time I hadn't spent a Christmas with them which was really hard - so Kristi I completely understand your feelings!
This year because of the way my work pans out Jon is going to Yarmouth Christmas Eve and when I get off work Christmas morning I'll drive to my parents house and wait for him to drive back to spend the afternoon with him, my parents and my brother and fiancee. Nothing spectacular but it's always best to spend this time with family and friends! So being that I may be by myself some of this time, I may get lonely and make some phone calls! So that's your heads up ladies! teehee

[♥Starlene]

Kristi that sounds soooo cool to knock and run, I could totally see you doing that and just giggling all about it,, all the way home!

Sloan,, Im sorry your so busy on Christmas,,, we will all be with you in spirit you know? Feel free to call me anytime! I did that on Thanksgiving, I called most of my family and a few people here, it was early in the morning or I would have called some of you on the West coast but I thought,,, nah I dont want to wake anyone up,,, but I think I'll be calling people in the afternoon on Christmas myself,,, when we have some down time

[reikienergyheals]

Being a teacher, I get two weeks off. We have one week left of school, then vacation starts! And let me tell you, it is much needed! I'm tired...

[sincityreikigirl]

We alternate Christmas between our familys.. this year we get to go to my mom and dads house where I grew up, (the only time I like to go to snow) LOL

We just came back from Tx... we had a mini Christmas there with the kids on Monday night before we came home.

This time of year is slow for both of us, so we are pretty free to enjoy the couple weeks.

I'm so behind in my shopping, so my nephew and neice and I are going to hit the stores today. Yayyy!!!!

Happy Holidays and Many Blessings

Janet