How can I choose?
So much is great! The music, the countdown, giving gifts and receiving gifts,
the food, the movies and specials!
But, most importantly, the best part is taking the time to spend moments with friends and family, reminding ourselves what and who is important in life.
This was a fun challenge!
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, or whatever,
and I wish you all a great 2011!
Always a bit blue when it is all said and done.
So much fun stuff to do, as a family and with friends. That is why we celebrate from Thanksgiving to New Year's, so it isn't all just about "one day".
This year, things got a bit rushed towards the end and a few traditions and things got pushed to the very last minute or lost in the shuffle.
I hate when that happens and hope to do better next year.
And hey, the countdown begins all over again!
I believe in the spirit of kindness and giving that Santa represents.
We should all keep a bit of that - of him - alive inside ourselves, all year long.
Well, this year we didn't leave anything for the reindeer.
Yeah, we dropped the ball. Was a very busy couple of weeks before Christmas.
Hopefully next year we will be better with getting everything accomplished!
My son used the mug and plate that are especially made for Santa to put out a drink of Hood Egg Nog and four cookies - two peanut butter with chocolate chip, 2 sugar.
I am sure Santa enjoyed it, as the Egg Nog was gone
and there was only one small piece of cookies left behind.
(online pic - not our set)
Wow, well we gave a lot of stuff to a lot of people!
From Santa, our daughter got a leather coat and our son a laptop.
Our older son got a Wii.
My wife got some stocking stuff, including a Red Sox sign.
And much more.
We love giving gifts!
Wow, this is going back!
I guess the best thing was in Kindergarten back in the mid-70s.
The school had a holiday play and our class recited
'Twas the Night Before Christmas while we were on stage in our pajamas.
We have a few here - chalkboard, tiles, digital, chocolate -
but the kids are the ones who do those.
I have my laptop desktop as a countdown calendar,
and I x'off each day as it goes by!
To clarify, this means do you like
the anticipation of the holiday or do you like the actual day itself.
For me, it is sort of a mix.
I love the lead up to it, so much so that we have dubbed it our own Christmastime - from Thanksgiving to New Year's - when we try and celebrate all the time, in different ways, so we enjoy it all. Waiting for just one day can be a let down, if you expect it to somehow last longer than any other day.
But it is also good to enjoy that day, to watch people be happy,
enjoying being together and the festivities.
So, that is my answer, if it is one. :)
My three kids on Christmas morning 6 years ago.
Usually, about a half hour or so after the kids have gone to bed.
And that is only once the last of the guests have left.
Anywhere between 10:00 PM and midnight!
One year, we hadn't found any time to wrap some gifts,
so my wife and I, with help from my mom, were up until wee morning hours,
wrapping gifts and getting things settled.
That was a long night & a short sleep!
Usually, pretty early!
We used to wake when we heard the kids moving about,
but the past couple of years, I think we woke before the kids!
We wait for them to come in and show us what Santa put in their stockings,
then we go down, light the tree, get the camera and get settled.
Then the kids come down and the fun kicks into high gear!
Without a doubt,
my favorite part of Christmas Day
is when the kids come down and open their gifts.
Love seeing the mixture of joy, happiness and surprise!
Makes all the chaos well worthwhile!
Once all the family is gone and the kids are in bed and Santa has come and gone,
my wife and I exchange our gifts to one another.
Usually, this is just the stuff we put into our stockings,
but it is still a nice, quiet moment for just the two of us to celebrate together,
and that is the best part.
A moment of peace amidst all the Christmastime fun!
Wow - Lots to choose from!
My brother and I used to "practice" Christmas Morning.
That is a favorite memory, something silly and simple we shared together.
Love candy.
Love M&M's, Kisses, Peanut Butter Cups -
- especially in holiday colors!
But for Christmas, I love these the most:
Andes Creme de Menthe Thins!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Wow. Tough to remember so many gifts given over so many years!
The only one that I can remember that especially stands out
is the "custom" action figure of our son that my wife and I gave him one year.
He had been big into playing with his action figures of different characters
from his favorite movies and TV shows, and asked Santa
for an action figure of himself so he could join in those adventures.
At first, we were stumped. Then we came across this:
It is an Elliot action figure from the movie E.T.
We took the figure out of the package and placed it in our son's stocking,
and Santa was able to deliver a custom figure of him that year!
Woops! Thought I was ahead of the game, and I forgot to write today's post!
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My favorite gift has to be my daughter.
She was born just a few days before Christmas, while it was snowing outside!
We had quite a special holiday that year.
Of course, she slept through most of it, and we were exhausted,
but it was an amazing Christmas!
