Does anyone have a special Christmas...

[CAM]

I have always loved to hear other families' special Christmas traditions. It is fun to start traditions with my kids or introduce to my kids, those traditions I shared with my parents growing up.

Ok, I'll start...

We have started a new tradition since we moved to Central Oregon. Every year, the first weekend in December, our family meets three other families in the parking lot of the kids' school and we caravan up into the mountains to a special place where we set up a camp of sorts. The men make a HUGE firepit and get a big fire going, the kids get sled rides pulled behind a quad, we play football and throw snowballs; the kids make snow forts. Then, it's time to eat! Every family brings a warm lunch in their crockpot, like chili, and cornbread and drinks to share with everyone. It is like a nice warm potluck. We bring chairs or pull up a stump and eat by this monstrous fire drinking hot toddys or simply, hot chocolate. After the food settles, the women go in search of the perfect tree. You know what I'm talking about. Only a woman can spot the perfect tree, right? Well, after we find our trees (this can get very serious you know

), we mark them with ribbon and head back sufficiently happy we have found the one. Then, the men set out to cut down the trees. It is always fun to see their reaction to what their wife has chosen. You can see it can't you? The men always have an opinion.

Well, we stay until late afternoon and head back, trees firmly fixed to the top of vehicles, inside truck beds, or inside an SUV. Then we caravan back down the mountain home to spend the remainder of the evening with our own families putting up and decorating, the tree. We have a fabulous time and the kids enjoy playing with their classmates from school. They look forward to it every year.

I guess that answers Marty's age old question..."Whatchadointhisweekend?" doesn't it?

Edited to say: Oops! Thought I posted on the back porch. I've PM'd Mary Lou to move it.

 

[sharon]

That sounds like a wonderful time!! Your kids will treasure the memories forever!!

 

[kaykay]

this is what my mom always did and myself and sister have kept it going

Christmas eve everyone gets to open 2 presents. The first one is brand new pajama's. The second is a small toy or whatever just to take the edge off of kids waiting for christmas.

my mom started the new pj's tradition because she wanted everyone to have on new pj's christmas morning so the pictures would look nice LAUGHS. Pretty smart thinking and the kids love putting their new jammies on christmas eve!

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]We are sort of like Kay....my mom gives all the med fleece vests and all the ladies slippers on christmas eve. When Katie and Sam got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2000, We were all together in 'NY. The guys all put their vests on and ran out into the snow barefooted! ( because we got the slippers)... Sam had to go too because he got the vest too that year.... he thought we were nuts![/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[lvponies]

I also grew up getting new PJ's from my grandmother on Christmas Eve. I tried that with my kids too and they just didn't appreciate them. They are allowed to open one small gift on Christmas Eve that I select for them. One year they got to open underwear!! They were not thrilled!!

For the last few years we've had friends over on Christmas Eve for dinner. We gorge on crab legs and steamed shrimp. Yummy!! It's alot of fun.

 

[Cronewolf]

Since I've been grown for over 4o years now we've always had a big sandwich supper at my mom's house. This year she's gone but my brothers and I plan on going on with the tradition. My baby brother, this will be his first year in a log time that he will be there. He's been livin away frpm home for several years.

 

[justanothercowgirl]

I take my dog, Elaine to the SPCA, where she came from, to visit the kennel manager, Jill. She kept my girl for five months hoping and praying that she would find a good home. She was just a year old when I got her and hyper since she had been there so long. We visit with Jill, pay for our doggie tags for the next year and bring gifts for the animals that are there. I usually take kitten and puppy formula, bag of dog food, bag of cat food and older blankets that I have picked up at thrift stores, anything else I can find that is on their wish list. This year we will also be taking my sheltie puppy, Teddy to meet Laney's fairy godmother.

 

[Relic]

We gave up christmas for ourselves and for the past few years adopt a down on their luck family and supply everything from gifts to the turkey dinner for them. This year we have a family of 4 that really deserves to get special attention for the constand hardships and saddness they've endured during the year. Christmas day my younger daughter and l help out with dinner at a shelter in the inner city where the very poor and street people can fill up.

 

[runamuk]

The kids and I make ornaments for our tree...started this when my oldest was 2 .....not sure what type we will do this year......and as children we always got to open 1 gift on xmas eve and I continued that with my kids...........

 

[Frankie]

Probably my favorite: my only daughter who is now 25, every Christmas Eve we wrap presents and watch Holiday Inn. (in black and white)

She is so funny, last year we were watching it and my daughter said, shhhh mom, I can't hear the movie.

We've seen it a hundred times, she knew the next line by heart!

She now lives in New York and it makes our Christmas Eve time even that much more special. I can't wait for Dec. 24th

 

[SunQuest]

I have one. My great aunt is legally blind. She has macular degeneration and can't see things except for things that are large and have great contrast. Well, she can't drive either, so misses the simple things in life. Well, 7 or 8 years ago I started a new tradition with her. Every Christmas we have a "light hunting" get together. I drive her around to look at the Christmas light displays. And the bigger the better. Last year she was ill and I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to go. I was able to get a special doctor's release to let her out of the care facility for the evening. It means so much to me to be able to give her something that doesn't cost me anything but my time yet means so darned much to her. I truelly treasure the event and really have learned that this is some of what the holidays are about. For me, the best Christmas presents that I get are the ones where I give. The happiness that I get from seeing others enjoying the holidays is priceless.

 

[CAM]

I love to hear these traditions. I have a friend whose family get new PJs every Christmas Eve too. It is a great tradition for them and she enjoys picking out new, fun pajamas every year for her grown kids and husband.

Relic...we are going to help a family this year as well. We used to do that for Helping Hands in the Portland, Oregon area but haven't started it out here since we moved to Central Oregon. It is such a great feeling to be able to help someone in such need and it is wonderful for the kids to see the importance of it as well. One time we helped a family with a single mom and two young kids and the kids made handmade ornaments for us as a thank you gift. That was such a meaningful gift and my kids put them on the tree every year.

 

[Leeana]

We just go to some family's house and stay there from noon-9pm. 8 hours of fun and more fun.

I made my own tradition though ...

I watch christmas movies on christmas eve night untill mom or dad put out the gifts and then i wait untill they go to sleep (this is where the movies come in) and put there gifts under the tree. I usually take that -10degree run out to the garage and wake up with the flu the next morning ...

. Thats where the movies come in, they keep me up untill mom and dad are done with there stuff. Its been a tradition the past 3 years sort of for me. This year im going carroling with my southern aunts because they will be up here and were going on a sleigh ride with some friends.

Nothing to interesting here really

, at least not yet ..lol

Leeana

 

[runamuk]

I watch christmas movies on christmas eve night untill mom or dad put out the gifts and then i wait untill they go to sleep
Leeana

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what the HECK did you boycott or BAN Santa? ok that is it I am not listening to anymore of this LA LA LA FINGERS IN MY EARS

at our house SANTA delivers the gifts

 

[sfmini]

I drive to Ann Arbor, Michigan to my Aunt's every Christmas eve. I stop at Cabela's outdoor store for last minute panic gifts on the way, then we have dinner and happy hours. In the morning we exchange gifts then go to my cousin's for more gifts and kids gifts. Start right in on the mimosas and switch to wine when we determine the hour is right, or, maybe when we are out of champagne!

Pig out, back home to bed, then the drive back to Ohio the next day.

 

[backwoodsnanny]

Well lets see Christmas traditions; Reindeer in the dining room over 40 of them, and growing every year. Santas in the living room again over 30 and growing, Christmas in every room of the house but not all at once, the grandkids love coming once a week to see what room is done and what has been added. Christmas jammies used to be tradition and they were handmade but since the kids have grown the tradition has lost its appeal I guess. Christmas Eve is our Christmas with all kids grandkids friends etc. Sometimes its breakfast and sometimes evening buffet, Probably brunch this year we'll see. Then its off to bed so Santa can fill our stockings and yes at 50+ we still have stockings, Two years ago we started a new tradition we draw a family members name and in addition to our regular gift we are responsible for making something for that person. It can be knitted crocheted sewed wood work painted ornament a song whatever ,but you must think of that person and give of your talents. Its amazing what the kids will come up with ages 10 - 18. And last year we started another, we have two trees one in the den that has all home made ornaments and one in the living room with our regular ornaments on it. So last year we drew one persons name and it is that persons responsibility to make the ornaments for the home made tree. My 12 year old grandson is doing the first one ever this year. He is a gear head so we have spark plugs and car parts and the tree topper is a carbeaurator filter. I may try to get a picture when its done I understand the tree stand is going to be a tire rim but we wont be putting it up until next week sometime as we have real trees and a woodstove I also have heard that the garlands are a red hose of somekind and a bike chain. Anyway before they leave this year that grandson will draw the name of the person responsible for next years home made tree. It has been loads of fun watching him come up with his very unique ornaments.

 

[shane]

We gave up christmas for ourselves and for the past few years adopt a down on their luck family and supply everything from gifts to the turkey dinner for them. This year we have a family of 4 that really deserves to get special attention for the constand hardships and saddness they've endured during the year. Christmas day my younger daughter and l help out with dinner at a shelter in the inner city where the very poor and street people can fill up.

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wow relic thats unreal you humbled me, icant believe the kindness in people, when ever i went threw a bad time ill never forget it we had a £10 voucher for a foodhall ,we had no money, and on christmas eve we got a knock at the door and stood in front of me was the salvation army with two gifts for me and my husband and a hamper of food to make christmas dinner.i got a pair of tights and i tell you i cried for hours thinking about how low i felt at that moment my husband swore we would never sit like that again and he has worked his but off for the last16 years ,and we are pretty okay now for money but i will never forget the kindness of the people and the salvation army, so thank you relic on behalf of us all

 

[nootka]

Well, a very good friend of mine and I were talking recently, and he and I pretty much agreed that there is no gift we could purchase that would make us love each other any more than we already do, nor think about each other more often, and so we both agreed we would "give" to those less fortunate than us.

We have each then donated money in the others' name for charitable organizations.

Gave us both a warm feeling we'll not soon forget.

I can see it becoming a tradition.

Liz M.