We all have our favorite special holiday treats, decorations and traditions
What are yours ?
Pics ? Recipes ? Stories ?
What are yours ?
Pics ? Recipes ? Stories ?
Deck the Halls...
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When I was married to my first husband, their tradition was to go to church Christmas Eve then come home and eat the meal that she had cooking in the oven while we were at church. After that meal, then we would open gifts. Santa had always come while we were gone.
It really worked well since Santa would come to our house overnight and we could do the traditional Christmas morning presents.
When my kids realized that Santa didn't exist, my son
figured out that all those great gifts that Santa brought were actually bought by us. He gave me the biggest hug a little boy could squeeze out and a heartfelt 'Thank YOU!'. We didn't have very much money and Santa always brought the good gifts. The ones from us, mom and dad, were mostly things they needed. Santa brought things they wanted. Just remembering my son's reaction still brings a smile to my face.
It really worked well since Santa would come to our house overnight and we could do the traditional Christmas morning presents.
When my kids realized that Santa didn't exist, my son
figured out that all those great gifts that Santa brought were actually bought by us. He gave me the biggest hug a little boy could squeeze out and a heartfelt 'Thank YOU!'. We didn't have very much money and Santa always brought the good gifts. The ones from us, mom and dad, were mostly things they needed. Santa brought things they wanted. Just remembering my son's reaction still brings a smile to my face.
I suppose I have always been the thrifty sort (that sounds so much better than cheap). Evidently my children picked up on that at a very early age. When my kiddos were small, each year they would write letters to Santa or give me a list of things they really wanted. I still have the last letters they wrote. My daughter (as most girls) wanted everything and had a huge two page list. My son, gave me his letter with several but beside each suggestion he had cut out coupons from the paper and glued them beside each one. I wouldn't take a 100 reo's for those letters. Sometimes the most simple things in life can warm your heart the most. 
We would stay at my Grand Parents Christmas Eve.
A giant plastic Bear Trap would be set out to try to catch Santa...but alas...only managing to catch a swatch of red felt...
I must have been 4...and perspective had kicked in...I realized that the trap teeth were not the same size as the zig zag from the pinking shears that had cut out the felt.
It was the same year I got a pair of pink plastic roller skates that strap onto your shoes.
Funny thing...I was too embarrassed to say that I knew
As I got older, the preparing help came about. My Grandmother decided the gravy making would be my job.
I remember standing on a chair at the stove and soooo carefully adding flour and milk...stirring constantly...I was serious about my duty !
It was probably a task given to keep me out of mischief...but let me tell ya - I make dang good gravy !
A giant plastic Bear Trap would be set out to try to catch Santa...but alas...only managing to catch a swatch of red felt...
I must have been 4...and perspective had kicked in...I realized that the trap teeth were not the same size as the zig zag from the pinking shears that had cut out the felt.
It was the same year I got a pair of pink plastic roller skates that strap onto your shoes.
Funny thing...I was too embarrassed to say that I knew
As I got older, the preparing help came about. My Grandmother decided the gravy making would be my job.
I remember standing on a chair at the stove and soooo carefully adding flour and milk...stirring constantly...I was serious about my duty !
It was probably a task given to keep me out of mischief...but let me tell ya - I make dang good gravy !
I also learned at a early age. Some of you might not find this hard to believe knowing me. My father was a policeman. When I was 5 he took us to the Police Club and I was fascinated with Santa's beard. I pulled it off and made all the little kids cry. I can remember that like it was yesterday but can barely remember what I had for supper. I still turn my head when I see phenomenal facial hair. But I have learned how to control the drooling.
Hubby started buying me Hallmark ornaments when we first married. 2 of a series,.one with the currant year and the other Snowball and Tuxedo which is a very cute snowman and penguin.Sometimes a 3rd ornament. After 22 years my tree is now 99% Hallmark.
Very nice. I love these stories.
When i was a young kid, we were allowed to open one gift on Christmas eve. Somewhere along the line, I think because my Dad couldn't wait, we ended up opening all of them on Christmas eve. That made Christmas morning kind of..odd
I also remember the first time I recognized my mom's handwriting on the tags that said "from Santa" . To this day, she still includes a "from Santa" gift here and there.
When i was a young kid, we were allowed to open one gift on Christmas eve. Somewhere along the line, I think because my Dad couldn't wait, we ended up opening all of them on Christmas eve. That made Christmas morning kind of..odd
I also remember the first time I recognized my mom's handwriting on the tags that said "from Santa" . To this day, she still includes a "from Santa" gift here and there.
lol...I had forgotten about "the year of the handwriting discovery" !
Yep...Santa writes just like my Mom too !
Yep...Santa writes just like my Mom too !
Hahahaha! I never thought about the handwriting! My kids never picked up on it. I was always worried about the wrapping paper. I made sure Santa's gifts were wrapped in paper that was not like any of the paper under the tree from us.
I started a new tradition that my daughter does now. For stockings, I bought a box or two of candy canes. The kids never saw the box/es. After putting a couple into each stocking, the rest went on the tree Christmas Eve. The kids always knew that Santa HAD come when they spied the candy canes all over the tree Christmas morning.
Gosh, I just love bringing back all these memories.
I started a new tradition that my daughter does now. For stockings, I bought a box or two of candy canes. The kids never saw the box/es. After putting a couple into each stocking, the rest went on the tree Christmas Eve. The kids always knew that Santa HAD come when they spied the candy canes all over the tree Christmas morning.
Gosh, I just love bringing back all these memories.
I used to take gift tags into work and have a co-worker sign the "Santa" one's.
My kids are 11 years apart, but we've kept the tradition of ornaments which they will get for their own trees when they have their own homes(long way off), my mom did same for me and it's sweet to decorate and remember my childhood.
My kids are 11 years apart, but we've kept the tradition of ornaments which they will get for their own trees when they have their own homes(long way off), my mom did same for me and it's sweet to decorate and remember my childhood.
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Do you know how easy it is when you find a gift, to pull the tape up, slide the box out of the wrapping paper, open the box and see what's inside and put it all back? Only thing left to do is work on your "surprise" face. Did that for years. Love all the remembering. 
Do you know how easy it is when you find a gift, to pull the tape up, slide the box out of the wrapping paper, open the box and see what's inside and put it all back? Only thing left to do is work on your "surprise" face. Did that for years. Love all the remembering.
I did that too
awwwwwee. Your stories are so sweet, ***almost*** makes me want to get married and have kids... lol...
A year ago I moved to Washington to help take care of my grandparents (they have been married a whopping 70+ years!!!). This Christmas I decided to make a traditional filipino parol. Traditiionally they are made of bamboo and decorated with either colored cellophane or tissue paper. Traditionally one parol is hung and usually lit and placed in the window or outside by the door, to light the way for baby Jesus to come home safely.
I made mine with some bamboo stakes from home depot, spare swatches of cloth and lace, and strung a battery operated string of led lights on it....
I had my grandmother help me, and we slowly finished the project over thanksgiving week. Much fun! And waaaaaaay cheaper than the fancy ones you can buy at filipino supermarkets (these cost upwards of $150 and are usually made of colored capiz shells and lights)...
A year ago I moved to Washington to help take care of my grandparents (they have been married a whopping 70+ years!!!). This Christmas I decided to make a traditional filipino parol. Traditiionally they are made of bamboo and decorated with either colored cellophane or tissue paper. Traditionally one parol is hung and usually lit and placed in the window or outside by the door, to light the way for baby Jesus to come home safely.
I made mine with some bamboo stakes from home depot, spare swatches of cloth and lace, and strung a battery operated string of led lights on it....
I had my grandmother help me, and we slowly finished the project over thanksgiving week. Much fun! And waaaaaaay cheaper than the fancy ones you can buy at filipino supermarkets (these cost upwards of $150 and are usually made of colored capiz shells and lights)...
That's beautiful TinySpark
And what a special memory to make with your Grandmother !!
(Robin...shame on you !)
And what a special memory to make with your Grandmother !!
(Robin...shame on you !)
That is beautiful! I've never seen or heard of those before. Wow, awesome.
That's beautiful TinySpark
And what a special memory to make with your Grandmother !!
(Robin...shame on you !)
Bwahahahaha!
Okay, where's all the heart warming stories? It was helping me to get into the spirit. I made my Christmas avatar and changed my ringtone to Santa Baby for gosh sakes.
Ya'll don't want me to have to change my avatar to this:
More stories please.
Ya'll don't want me to have to change my avatar to this:
More stories please.
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