Holiday Spirit

[alotofyarn]

I've had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit for the last several years, but I'm trying hard this year especially. It doesn't help that it's been almost 80 degrees outside this week. My parents went to pick out a new Christmas tree, and I had them get one for us too. We used their old one last year, but it was too big and half the lights were burnt out. The year before we didn't put one up at all, and before that we had a small one we were using in our old places. So, now we have a nice 7' prelit tree, and I'm looking forward to putting it up. They also got some garland for us to put out front, and I've got a few decorations for inside too. We've got a ton of presents for E already, including a kitchen, which will be her big gift. Now I just need to figure out what to get for hubby and everybody else.

How is everyone else getting into the holiday spirit?

[OrionGrad]

I feel lay the boys have really helped me get into the holiday spirit, especially this year since DS1 is old enough to be really excited about all of it. We just started doing Elf on the Shelf for the first time, too.

[gcuthbe1]

I'm currently debating when to go get our tree this year, since that seems to be the key for me personally getting into the spirit. We made a whole day of it last year getting the tree and getting out decorations, playing Christmas music, and watching a classic Christmas movie!

Right now my extended family is kind of getting me down. My hubby has off and I'm super excited. But to my extended family, they still don't seem to see it as enough family time. How do you get your extended families to appreciate it as much as we do?

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[spaz]

Hubby and I have decided not to decorate for Christmas this year and it has been incredibly freeing!!! We have traveling and other things going on and just don't want to waste the energy on that and don't want to have to put it away at the end of January. Our oldest thinks it is very logical, but the 18 and 13 year old aren't happy. However, they are free to decorate if they want and put it away. I just will not participate. ( I'm normally the one that does it all.) They don't miss it that much I guess because they said no thanks.

[alotofyarn]

I got the outside decorated this evening! I have a pot by the door that I put fake flowers in for the season, so I swapped out the mums and put in some holly and stuff. I have garland around the door and on the porch rails. I'll put the tree and stockings up later this week. I pulled E's Little People nativity out yesterday too, and she loves it all over again.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We pulled out our nativity too and our Jolly Postman book - our oldest has already read it 100x. Highly recommend for a child 2.5-3+ if you're looking for a neat Pre Christmas book.

[Pollyanna]

We're the Griswolds over here, complete with large blow up on the roof and decorations complete inside and out, Christmas music on the radio and TV, It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

[SoonerTexan]

I'm working on it but it is a little tedious this year with three 4 and under! But the trees is ip


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[Bittersweet]

[MENTION=1889]SoonerTexan[/MENTION] I'm beyond impressed that you got the tree up.

We're decorated and deep in Christmas cookie making and eating mode. I need to slow my roll for the sake of all our waistlines. I'm loving my boys' excitement this year, though. They're so into it.


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[ballibeg]

It'll happen here the weekend before Christmas. We're quite slow I think.

[spaz]

Not decorating is helping us really focus on what is important this year and has taken a lot of the stress out of it as well. We can pare it down to what is truly important about the season for us. We listen to Christmas music constantly. I'm doing some really cool Advent readings from the writings of Deitrich Bonhoeffer. We are volunteering several places including going to the Metroplex to participate in a Christmas Shoe Box prep center. Our kids are really easy this year. The boys are each getting an iphone and that is it. My daughter is getting a gun. ( She wanted one!) We are going to Hawaii with mom for a couple of weeks starting shortly after Christmas ( part of the why we are not decorating). Many years ago we stopped doing gifts for our parents and siblings and instead we each donate to a worthy cause in their name. It is cool to see what people choose to give to. My sister tends to pick "green" charities. My mom paid for a child in a 3rd world country to get their cleft lip and palate fixed, which meant a lot to me since I was born with that.

So far, ( I know it is early yet.) but this is the best Christmas season so far because I am actually enjoying it instead of doing all of those things I felt like I had to do.

[Thirteen]

Holiday Spirit

The residency topiary and attending prelit tree are up. Stockings up, some garland. The baby jail is around the big tree!

We celebrate Advent, so that's more our focus. I enjoy doing various projects with the kids, like Angel Tree. I try to find neighborhoods that have lots of lights, and we drive through them.

The Charlie Brown Christmas special is usually on, daily. (Not my choosing) 😄


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[spaz]

T

The Charlie Brown Christmas special is usually on, daily. (Not my choosing) 


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LOL!!! I remember the years when my children watched Elmo SAves Christmas every day!!! ( Still have it on VCR...good message about why Christmas can't be every day.) I've gotten out our Christmas movies : Home Alone, The Santa Clause, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th street, A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Story, etc. We normally watch a couple each week. However, with both boys gone to college, we may wait to watch some of their favorite ones until they are back.

[rufflesanddots]

Home Alone is the best Christmas movie everrrrr!

[medpedspouse]

Soooooo, as I have told you peeps before, my only reason for being on this earth must be to be the one to give a shout out to Epiphany. Don't know why - maybe it is because I am not ready for the decorations to be put away but I look forward to Dec 25 - Jan 6. We celebrate advent and get to do some neat things through the additional volunteering opportunities this time of year but the gift giving that I enjoy is during the twelve days. Mostly because it is unexpected stuff...just little things - mostly free or inexpensive. You can tell my love top languages are acts of service and gifts.