It's the most wonderful time of the year

[Epoh99]

So anyone have any fun plans for Christmas (or if you plan ahead, New Years)? Any plans you're dreading? Any traditions your family has?

This is my favorite time of the year!

 

[snoochface]

The only thing I know we are doing is going to the in-laws the 23rd for the family thing. I'm kind of hoping we can spend Christmas alone with each other, but I'm thinking there probably won't be a lot of lights, trees, or decorations this year. It actually makes me kind of sad, because I used to hate this time of year but ever since I got married it is my very favorite holiday.

 

[HeyHomie]

Nothing in particular. I've got a small role in the church Christmas play this year. Other than that, I'm working the Sunday before and the Saturday after so I can take Christmas Day and Christmas Eve off work (we don't have paid holidays where I work), and we'll be going to my wife's side of the family in another state.

No lights or tree this year. Our tree fell apart last year, and we were going to buy a pre-lit LED tree this year, but we blew our whole budget on our Christmas gift to ourselves: a new sofa!

 

[cherryblossom03]

I'm going home for about 3 weeks to be with my family, that's about it.

 

[bluebug83]

Christmas used to be my favorite holiday, but in recent years I've gotten a little disenchanted with it due to 1) Christmas stuff in stores the day after Halloween, which is way too early, 2) the fight going on about "Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays" which I find really dumb, 3) it's hard to think about Christmas as being about Jesus when you have Santa Claus, and 4) the mass consumerism surrounding the holiday. But don't get me wrong, I still love Christmas, I'm just almost becoming a little more a fan of Thanksgiving because it's very similar to Christmas sans the excessive hype and need to buy everyone a gift. And the remembrance of Jesus, but we can thank God and remember Jesus at any holiday.

Our get-togethers this year will involve Christmas Eve with my parents and in-laws, and sometime around then a get-together with my whole extended family. My husband's extended family isn't getting together for the first time this year, due to the death of his grandfather earlier this month and the fact that his cousin is having a baby, which makes me think we may have seen the end of having that group all get together.

What I'm really excited about this Christmas is I decided back in September to make homemade quilts for my parents, in-laws, and sister-in-law as Christmas gifts. I love making things, but I've never made quilts before and they're all turning out really well.

 

[Rebekka]

Christmas used to be my favorite holiday, but in recent years I've gotten a little disenchanted with it due to 1) Christmas stuff in stores the day after Halloween, which is way too early, 2) the fight going on about "Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays" which I find really dumb, 3) it's hard to think about Christmas as being about Jesus when you have Santa Claus,

Hehehe, we don't have any of that in the Netherlands! So Christmas is still my favourite. I'm glad that we don't have a tradition of presents at Christmas here.

We're going to our own church for Christmas Mass, then drive to my inlaws, then drive home before dinner (because my inlaws are elderly and can't handle the stress of having many people in the house; even if we take all the work out of their hands, they still get way too stressed; I don't mind being there only a few hours - my MIL doesn't like me and is unfriendly incessantly ever since the stroke). It's a 2 hour drive. Then I'll make a nice Christmas dinner for the two of us. Then the next day (still called Christmas over here) we'll go to my parents, where I'll cook dinner for the whole family. I hope it will be nice - which to me mostly means: not about the children ALL the time (and about nobody else). I hate it when people act as if children are the only important people in the world, and don't listen to you when you have something non-kid related to say. Or when kids constantly interrupt you, and no one corrects them.

 

[HeyHomie]

Then I'll make a nice Christmas dinner for the two of us. Then the next day (still called Christmas over here) we'll go to my parents, where I'll cook dinner for the whole family.

What will you be cooking?

 

[Rebekka]

What will you be cooking?

At my parents, it will be:
1. warm salad of sautéed wild mushrooms with parsley, garlic and shallots on rocket, with walnuts and parmigiano reggiano
2. a soup that my dad will make as he is the best soup maker I know
3. cod in parma ham
gratin dauphinois
bell peppers stewed in white wine, with herbes de provence
tomato and cucumber salad
4. Grand Marnier parfait with warm prunes in spicy port

At our home it will be quicker and simpler since we will not be home until 6 PM.
1. melon with ham, or a salad of smoked eel, watercress, japanese soy sauce and cilantro (i haven't decided yet)
2. grilled entrecôte (steak)
roast potatoes with rosemary, with aïoli
some sort of green salad, I haven't decided yet
3. french and italian cheeses (I'm thinking of gorgonzola, comté, very ripe camembert, fourme d'ambert) with figs, pears and dates

 

[snoochface]

At my parents, it will be:
1. warm salad of sautéed wild mushrooms with parsley, garlic and shallots on rocket, with walnuts and parmigiano reggiano
2. a soup that my dad will make as he is the best soup maker I know
3. cod in parma ham
gratin dauphinois
bell peppers stewed in white wine, with herbes de provence
tomato and cucumber salad
4. Grand Marnier parfait with warm prunes in spicy port

At our home it will be quicker and simpler since we will not be home until 6 PM.
1. melon with ham, or a salad of smoked eel, watercress, japanese soy sauce and cilantro (i haven't decided yet)
2. grilled entrecôte (steak)
roast potatoes with rosemary, with aïoli
some sort of green salad, I haven't decided yet
3. french and italian cheeses (I'm thinking of gorgonzola, comté, very ripe camembert, fourme d'ambert) with figs, pears and dates

I don't know what half that stuff is, but it sounds incredible!

 

[HeyHomie]

I don't know what half that stuff is, but it sounds incredible!

Ditto.

 

[Oblivious]

I'm not really big on Christmas at all. My husband is the opposite unfortunately. The good news is we're heading to Vegas; the bad news is we're driving to the in-laws after that to spend Christmas, which I'm not looking too forward to.

 

[fuzzymel]

I'm not really big on Christmas at all. My husband is the opposite unfortunately. The good news is we're heading to Vegas; the bad news is we're driving to the in-laws after that to spend Christmas, which I'm not looking too forward to.

I am so jealous. Christmas in Vegas! How fantastic.

We are spending it with the in-laws. I am not really a big fan of Christmas but my hubbie is. Its too commercial in my opinion.

 

[Epoh99]

True, lots of society make Christmas commercial but you don't have to get into all the commercial stuff. As a Christian Christmas is so exciting as I remember the birth of my Savior. But I also love the cooler weather, decorating, and buying gifts for people I love. I pretty much love from the end of October until January. It's my absolute favorite time of the year!

That being said, tonight is the Hanging of the Greens at a church down the street from us and my sister is going to be playing for it.

Next Saturday is my husband's family Christmas party. I need LOTS of prayer for this event. Even thinking of it seriously makes me sick to my stomach. I hate going.

Then the Saturday after that we're going to a Christmas play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Christmas Eve we go to the service at our church and after that celebrate with my immediate family.

Christmas Day we spend with my husband's immediate family (also need prayer for that one).

My husband's company party is towards the end of the month and I don't know if my extended family is having a party yet.