Hi Sjogren angels,
With the holidays coming near which is usually a very busy time, preparing meals, Christmas shopping, setting up the three and a lot more.
I was wondering how everyone 'prepares' theirselves for the holidays?
I stayed home last year because I was very unwell.
But I really want to be able to celebrate this year and enjoy it.
It's not easy at all because of getting tired easily and getting sick if you eat too much.
Or a lot of noise causing headaches, because it can be get quite loud when the uncles had too many drinks. :D
Hugs and love. :-*
Hi Shani,
Well, I am going to enjoy as much as I can. My shopping is done. I've always been one of those people who starts early and has everything wrapped several weeks before Christmas. I enjoy the season more if I plan things in intervals. Today, I made fudge and baked cookies for my family. My daughters help with much of the meal preparation. It is so nice to see my daughters carry on with the traditions they grew up with. On Christmas Eve we are going out to dinner and then to Christmas Eve service at church. This is the second year we've gone out on Christmas Eve. In years past, I did it all. But, we decided we didn't need to cook both days and this helps so much. On Christmas day we will open gifts, have dinner and play games. I can only eat a sampling of things because of gastroparesis but I'm trying to enjoy Christmas goodies in small bites.
I try to go with the flow. For example, I was going to bake yesterday but was too exhausted. Today, I felt better and did it today.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Anna
Dear Shani,
For years I thought I had to do what my mother did.
So when baking at 2 am (working with a kid and a husband!) one Christmas, I realized that I could make my own traditions. Plus I always ATE most of the cookies....;-)
When there were kids at home, we had a tree trimming party, every night read a part of the Christmas story (Mary and Joseph) that went with an Advent Calendar reused year after year, going out for Chinese food on Christmas eve, the early candle light service at our church, and then stopping by our friends' houses on the way home with small gifts.
The friends all loved sharing Christmas eve with us, for a half an hour or so.
We often went to visit family for Christmas day and a few days there after.
Now, our children have the tree trimming party, and we will go with them for Chinese food. And spend Christmas day at their house, with our daughter in law's parents also in attendance.
I put up a few decorations, and we have a tree. Everything is meaningful to me because we've had it forever, and most things were gifts. The one nutcracker is a gift from our oldest grandson here. The Santa teapot came from the same sister who made the burlap and gingham tree skirt by hand. I treasure gifts and hand made things. The older and tackier the better.
But I don't bake at all. Tho' back in the days of the tree party, we actually baked and decorated gingerbread men for the tree one year! The kids at the party all helped.
And of COURSE everyone had to string cranberries and popcorn for garlands for the tree. This year I started that cranberry and popcorn tradition for my son's tree. All the little girls loved it. And NEXT year they'll be more than ready to do it again.
The key for me is not to rush or feel pressured. To do what i really enjoy, to start really EARLY on shopping and the annual Christmas letter. Addressing envelopes (I have a merged envelope file I can print from my printer), and starting on the letter early, using last year's as a template.
and to let go if need be.
All of the joy and closeness is in my heart. I know i have a great deal of 'pain' associated with Christmas and my father's death, but as years go by I am recognizing it and letting it be part of my Christmas.
I'm lucky.
I'll take the traditional 'baked beans' to the dinner at my Daughter in Law's house, and also my husband's traditional dressing. So that will be a familiar part of Christmas for us and for our son.
Kisses
Elaine
Thank you for your response Anna.
We usually always started early on the Christmas shopping and so on too.
But we had reschedule it a few times because I wanted to go with mom.
It's a bit hectic currently and we still have a lot to do, with all the things that have been going like having appointments, tests.
We just didn't really have had time to finish it, so we are trying our best to get everything done in the days we have left.
We also love traditions and have a few that we always repeat every year.
For example one of my uncless dresses up as Santa claus for the little ones for to give an extra little present+ those that are laying under the tree.
Of course they know it's our uncle, but it's just for fun that we do it. :)
I like the idea of going out for dinner, that could be a nice suggestion for New year.
My aunts always come help with preparing the meals and whole buffet, makes the house quite busy.
I will need to keep that tip in mind: 'Just go with the flow.'
It's just a lot different somehow because else you wouldn't need to worry about staying up late, get tired or anything.
But now you kind of have to keep things in mind if you eat too much or certain things that you will need to deal with the consequences later.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and will enjoy yourself and being around your family/loved ones. ;D
Thank you for responding Elaine.
Baking at 2 am, that must be really exhausting.
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to resist and steal the cookies too!
We made our own traditions aswell, and kept some.
That all sounds so lovely, it's really making me get in the Christmas mood!
Christmas is always a big party by us, can get really exhausting.
The little ones usually go to bed earlier in one of the guestrooms or bedrooms.
A tradtion of us is that people may always sleep over untill the next day, mostly aunts do it to help out and clean.
I used to be responsible one for the decorating, we would get together wih all the cousins and make Christmas decorations. :)
We've decided to skip that this year, although I must say I just love it.
It's nice to have hand made things in the tree that you made yourself or received from people.
Thank you for sharing how you 'prepare' and prevent from overdoing yourself.
It's sometimes not that easy, because I want to help out where I can but I know I'll overdo myself.
But now I have read your post it made me think that the really most important things about Christmas is: Being with the peope you love. :)
So I guess I will just need to accept that I can't do everything I used to be able to do and take it easy, so I hopefully will feel well when the holidays are there and enjoy it.
I hope you will have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. :-*
Well, each year it seems I give more things to my daughters to do, thankfully they are great about it.
On Christmas Eve we always celebrated at the in-laws, but when my MIL passed, I felt I had to carry on the family doings. I was more than thrilled to be able to do this. I decorated and cooked and baked. My husband only has one sister, her contribution was jello! This year she decided not to come at all, so we will have it with just our daughters (2) and their families.
Christmas Day, well this is our biggie! About 30 people, my cousins and their families. I make roast pork & gravy, dumplings and sauerkraut, and a few sides. In fact tonight I am making the pork and gravy, slicing it and freezing so on Christmas it is simpler and I can enjoy it more. This year that and making a nut strudel my grandma made is all I have to do.
I too have to do things early or I fall apart. PLANNING is the key.
I am not able to do a fraction of the things I used to. I have passed the torch to my daughters gladly, now I get to enjoy theday and my grandchildren.
Good topic! I love reading about the big family gatherings of others.
I wish I had something fun to share, but I'm kind of down in the dumps this holiday. We just moved here, so I'm homesick and missing my friends. Plus, since I ripped the ligaments in my ankle and am hobbling on crutches, I can't attend the snowy outdoor events and facing the crowded mall is too intimidating. Even hopping around one-footed in the kitchen makes it almost impossible to bake special treats.
So, right now, instead of a holiday party I'm having a pity party for myself. ;)
Deb
Thank you for responding Cricket.
Looks like so much fun and the food sounds delicious!
It's so lovely that you've got your girls to help you out.
Bless them for that, I'm sure Santa will reward them for being so helpful.
I hope you will have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy it very much!:)
Thank you for your response Deb.
Aww.:(
I think I've read your topic about the torn ligaments.
So sorry, it must hurt a lot.
Wish you'd feel better, it's always frustrating to get used to a new place when you moved.
Take good care of yourself and I hope you recover well and feel better.
If you are not really able to do Christmas shopping and every other part of the preparing, then we'll just have to bring Christmas to you instead! :)
I'll get your family on a plane and fly them to you. :-*
Hi :)
The only prep I've done is shopping on line via 'wishlists' and all my Xmas cards are sent - I think. Maybe some local ones sttill to go. Other than that I have done no preparation at all.
All our kids plus partners were home last year and we 'did' Christmas in a big way. This year none of them are coming home so hubby and I are alone for the first time in years. Therefore - Christmas doesn't have to be done! It's great! We get to just enjoy being off work. No tree - no lights - no feast. I'll be able to sleep in on Christmas day and no stocking stuffing the night before. Woohoo!
As neither of us are religious Christmas was always an imposed commercial festival for us anyway. We never had the guts to ignore it when the kids were young. Pressure from society was too great.
Take care and have whatever sort of Happy Holiday you want.
Scottie :)
Sounds like you'll have a calm evening on Christmas Scottie.
We didn't really celebrate it either last year, only had a nice dinner and stayed home with just the three of us.
This year we do have our tree set up again and lights all over the house, very nice looking.
Thank you and I hope you'll have a great time too with just you and hubby.
Enjoy sleeping in and have a relaxing day. ;D
I LOVE Christmas. I love the whole atmosphere and the fact that my sister and brother-in-law are coming down and the family will be together. I do have to admit that the commercialization is a pain, but we've toned it down a lot in our family lately with the gifts, so that makes it much more enjoyable.
We always go to Christmas Eve services at church (I'm a regular goer throughout the year also) and drive around looking at lights. On Christmas day we're all together enjoying each other's company and eating good food. :)
Now if only I can stave off this flare that it feels like my body is working on, I can REALLY enjoy it. Things have been stressful at work and I'm trying really hard not to let it get to me so my body won't react negatively to it.
Hi, Shani...
I make cookies for the children I work with. Tuckered! I have a 20 yr old daughter that has been out of work for about a year due to illness, so my husband and I have been sacrificing everything paying her bills. Christmas for our 4 children will be tough this year. We haven't even started really. Pretty sure we are just staying home. Had to OPT out of the name exchange. :(
Cat
When I had a good day a few weeks ago, I put the tree up,, got it all decorated and my wife got mad becasue she said,, you put the tree up,, and I ALWAYS DECORATE IT, I cant win for losing,, SIGH,,, I thought i was doing her a favor,, she works and I dont,,
Blue Kat,
That all sounds so lovely.:)
I really hope you'll stay flare free and will be able to avoid all the stress at work.
So you can have a wonderful and amazing Christmas!
We also toned things down this year, especially gifts.
We all decided about a certain price amount for each gift like 30 dollars for example max to spend on each gift.
So things don't get too expensive, it don't always has to be like big presents and expensive things to appreciate it.
Of course for people like mom and siblings it's normal you spend a little more.
Cat,
Cookies sound so yummy. :)
I'm sorry that your daughter is ill and had to stay off work due to that.
You and hubby are such loving parents for helping her out with the bills, bless you for that.
It's understandable that things will be tougher but know that what counts the most on Christmas: Being together with the people you love.
Depending on what age the kids are they usually don't really understand it, but I do hope you all somehow will enjoy Christmas.
Even if it just staying home and watch Christmas movies and have a lovely meal.
I hope 2011 will be a better year for you.
Big hugs! :-*
Aww Navydad.
I bet the tree looks pretty and fancy.
Sorry that the wife didn't really seem to appreciate it.
I'm sure she won't mind about it anymore soon though.
Hope you'll have a great Christmas and that 2011 will bring you less pain and better days.
Shani, you are so sweet! Thank you. Your words have cheered me up tonight. I am so sorry to be such a a Debbie Downer. I work 1 FT job, and 2 small PT jobs on the weened. One PT job is cleaning, opening and closing my church. I found out today to save some money, they cut MY pay along with one other of several employees, and others stay the same. I know where my place on the food chain is in the church -socioeconomic status, etc...truly sad, and to think the sign out front says "Christian" :-\. I wish I could find another one, but that would mean losing this job. I really need to do some heavy duty prayin'! ;)
Shani
I think for me the key is to not push to hard. I try to only work in the mornings {after I can get moving}. Sit down as much as possible. Standing on my legs very long only makes them hurt more.
I have baked, shopped, wrapped and decorated all I am going to do. I have 3 dr apts tomorrow and then I quit. I intend to rest the rest of the week so I have the energy to enjoy it as much as I can.
Good luck to all Sjoggies, I hope we all get thru it and enjoy what Christmas is all about.
I love you all , harlin
Thanks to all of you for your support for the last year. It was a rough one and I am hoping the next one will be better for us all.
I have tried to prepare ahead. Minimum decorating is done. My shopping's done, but not all the wrapping. I have made several types of goodies. Today I made sugar cookie dough in 2 colors. My daughter is coming tomorrow to help roll, cut, bake and decorate them. When my family are all here on Christmas Eve Day, we're having homemade soups and sandwiches with the various goodies. There is no big meal to coordinate, and the soups can stay hot in crockpots. Cleanup is easier, too, with less food to wrap and refrigerate. (One year we grilled steaks for Christmas dinner. That was pricey, but I recommend it for an easy meal!)
I hope that all of you find ways to participate without overdoing it. Merry Christmas!
Cheryl