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paxPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:29 pm
Sure!
When I was a kid I loved gifts. Now the spirit of holidays is giving thanks. This year I got family and friends gifts to charities. It's easy to shop online, the Red Cross, Southern Poverty Law Center and Humane Society send gift cards. The World Wildlife Federation has really cool plush toys.
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SavannahStarPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:43 pm
What a fabulous idea, Pax! That is really the spirit of Christmas.
The hospice where Mom died has a fundraiser every Christmas, where you can "buy" various decorations for their Christmas trees around the building, like a gold bow for $50, red bow for $25, etc., etc., in memory of a loved one. Dad and I went to a holiday bereavement workshop there last week and the trees are absolutely beautiful. I was able to find the decos Dad and I contributed in memory of Mom.
Our local SPCA is having a big holiday fund drive also, that I've participated in. Oh and our Sunday School at church always has an "angel tree" for needy kids, I also get gifts for them.
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Black-TulipPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:24 pm
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resignedPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:46 pm
I think it is nice to donate to charities as Christmas and helping the less fortunate, but growing up my parents were big on Christmas and buying presents and so to me, that is tradition. The packages never ever fit under the tree..they pretty much were all over the floor.
I like giving presents for friends and family that are usually something they wouldn't get for themselves...whether it be just frivolous or extravagant (albeit affordable). I never think of Christmas shopping as being"finished" until the stores close on Christmas Eve. Every time I am out I can always find more to stick in a stocking or just something cute that someone would like.
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SavannahStarPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:40 pm
resigned wrote:
I think it is nice to donate to charities as Christmas and helping the less fortunate, but growing up my parents were big on Christmas and buying presents and so to me, that is tradition. The packages never ever fit under the tree..they pretty much were all over the floor.
Wow, Pat, your family sounds just like mine! We always had a ton of stuff under the tree....and I did the same with my son. Of course he's older now so the room isn't full of packages anymore, LOL.....mostly gift certs and money, etc. for him nowadays. But I hear ya. And I hate that some people think of it as commercialism. We had the best Christmases and there was so much love, and that love wasn't shown by all the gifts. The gifts were from the heart and never taken for granted. But oh what fun we had opening them all.
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resignedPosted:
Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:51 pm
SavannahStar wrote:
Wow, Pat, your family sounds just like mine! We always had a ton of stuff under the tree....and I did the same with my son. Of course he's older now so the room isn't full of packages anymore, LOL.....mostly gift certs and money, etc. for him nowadays. But I hear ya. And I hate that some people think of it as commercialism. We had the best Christmases and there was so much love, and that love wasn't shown by all the gifts. The gifts were from the heart and never taken for granted. But oh what fun we had opening them all.
It is fun....My Mom was always a screamer when she opened presents.
I really like shopping for Paul's sisters now...they are young ladies and it's fun shopping for stuff for them. The one just started college this year and so it's easy to find good stuff for her..prank college stuff and things she needs. Paul would just a stick a Borders card in a envelope for them........ but he's doing better.
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chancePosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:56 pm
SavannahStar wrote:
Wow, Pat, your family sounds just like mine! We always had a ton of stuff under the tree....and I did the same with my son. Of course he's older now so the room isn't full of packages anymore, LOL.....mostly gift certs and money, etc. for him nowadays. But I hear ya. And I hate that some people think of it as commercialism. We had the best Christmases and there was so much love, and that love wasn't shown by all the gifts. The gifts were from the heart and never taken for granted. But oh what fun we had opening them all.
We are the same way but instead of Christmas morning it has changed to Christmas eve. I guess that is what happens when you have more than one family to celebrate with. My ex-husband gets them for Christmas day which is fine, we do our thing the night before. We have little guys this year so it is going to be so much fun. One year my step son had so many presents he fell asleep before he would open them all. He was 5. I think we may have gone a little overboard that year.
We also do appetizers and snacky stuff rather than a sit down dinner. Much easier on me that's for sure.
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paxPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:08 pm
resigned wrote:
I think it is nice to donate to charities as Christmas and helping the less fortunate, but growing up my parents were big on Christmas and buying presents and so to me, that is tradition. The packages never ever fit under the tree..they pretty much were all over the floor.
I like giving presents for friends and family that are usually something they wouldn't get for themselves...whether it be just frivolous or extravagant (albeit affordable). I never think of Christmas shopping as being"finished" until the stores close on Christmas Eve. Every time I am out I can always find more to stick in a stocking or just something cute that someone would like.
That's really sweet. Yesterday at the dog park some folks filled an old tree with tinsel, tennis ball 'ornaments,' and peanut butter treats. Angie didn't notice but this boston terrier named Pedro kept jumping up toward the tennis balls. It was hilarious, and we took one down so he could play fetch.
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SavannahStarPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:37 pm
pax wrote:
That's really sweet. Yesterday at the dog park some folks filled an old tree with tinsel, tennis ball 'ornaments,' and peanut butter treats. Angie didn't notice but this boston terrier named Pedro kept jumping up toward the tennis balls. It was hilarious, and we took one down so he could play fetch.
Oh I love that pax, how neat! Do you get Angelina stuff for Christmas?
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paxPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:40 pm
SavannahStar wrote:
Oh I love that pax, how neat! Do you get Angelina stuff for Christmas?
Nothing special, but every day with her is special. Her favorite thing is going for a walk and her favorite toy is sticks, both are free! I did just give her a tiny bit of hot chocolate and she's snoozing away. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
How about you? Do you get anything for your beloved doggie?
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paxPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:45 pm
chance wrote:
We are the same way but instead of Christmas morning it has changed to Christmas eve. I guess that is what happens when you have more than one family to celebrate with. My ex-husband gets them for Christmas day which is fine, we do our thing the night before. We have little guys this year so it is going to be so much fun. One year my step son had so many presents he fell asleep before he would open them all. He was 5. I think we may have gone a little overboard that year.
We also do appetizers and snacky stuff rather than a sit down dinner. Much easier on me that's for sure.
That's really nice. Sometimes those sit down dinners are a pain any way, especially if there's a really good football game on tv.
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SavannahStarPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:28 pm
chance wrote:
We are the same way but instead of Christmas morning it has changed to Christmas eve. I guess that is what happens when you have more than one family to celebrate with. My ex-husband gets them for Christmas day which is fine, we do our thing the night before. We have little guys this year so it is going to be so much fun. One year my step son had so many presents he fell asleep before he would open them all. He was 5. I think we may have gone a little overboard that year.
We also do appetizers and snacky stuff rather than a sit down dinner. Much easier on me that's for sure.
Oh funny about the little guy falling asleep!
Christmas Eve used to be our big celebration, when I was growing up. The "story" told was that my brother (8 years older than me) used to get actually PHYSICALLY SICK with anticipation for Christmas morning....so it ended up that was when we opened presents, the night before.
With my own son, we open "a few" on Christmas Eve but save the bulk of them for the morning.
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Black-TulipPosted:
Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:34 pm
pax wrote:
Nothing special, but every day with her is special. Her favorite thing is going for a walk and her favorite toy is sticks, both are free! I did just give her a tiny bit of hot chocolate and she's snoozing away. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
How about you? Do you get anything for your beloved doggie?
Pax!!!! NEVER give a dog chocolate. That's dangerous.
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paxPosted:
Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:00 am
Black-Tulip wrote:
Pax!!!! NEVER give a dog chocolate. That's dangerous.
Thanks. I promise I won't ever again. She's doing fine!
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resignedPosted:
Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:30 am
It is traditional to go and see the lights on 34th Street at least once throughhout the season and always fun to take out of town guests to view the lights.....it is best viewed right after a snow.
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resignedPosted:
Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:34 am
Another Local Tradition:
For 2007 A Monumental Occasion: The Annual Lighting of the Washington Monument takes place on Thursday, December 6. Now in its 36th year, the Mount Vernon event, which is presented by Saul Ewing, LLP, will feature local entertainers, food, and holiday activities. Mayor Sheila Dixon will flip the switch that lights the Washington Monument and triggers a dazzling fireworks display.
The holiday village featuring food and crafts vendors will open in Mount Vernon’s West park at 5:30 p.m. The entertainment on stage will begin at 6 p.m. and the Monument Lighting and fireworks display will occur shortly before 7 p.m.
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resignedPosted:
Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:36 am
Santa's House at the Inner Harbor:
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SavannahStarPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:20 pm
Those are beautiful pics, Pat!
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resignedPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:46 pm
SavannahStar wrote:
Those are beautiful pics, Pat!
Hi ,SS.
I missed seeing you.
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paxPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:04 pm
Those are great photos pat. Have you been to those places?
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resignedPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:37 pm
pax wrote:
Those are great photos pat. Have you been to those places?
Only when I tear myself away from my bitter little world on the computer.
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resignedPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:44 pm
Click your heels together...
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wvgirlPosted:
Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:09 pm
This year is going to be different in our house. Sara Jo will not be able to be here for Christmas My stepson is temporarily here, until his mom finds them a place. I don't even know if he will be with her Christmas day or us. If not us, I guess he'll open his presents Christmas Eve. Emily and her family will be here mid morning on Christmas day and stay most of the day. I will be cooking ham and the works. I imagine my son will be here with his fiance, but he may be eating with her family. idk. It's so different that after 24 years of having the excitement of getting kids to bed, playing santa, and the early morning wake ups-it's just not gonna be that way this year. It's kind of unsettling.
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paxPosted:
Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:56 am
I hope you have a wonderful time wvgirl, though it will be different from other years.
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with anticipation for Christmas morning....so it ended up that was when we opened presents, the night before.
My stepson is temporarily here, until his mom finds them a place. I don't even know if he will be with her Christmas day or us. If not us, I guess he'll open his presents Christmas Eve. Emily and her family will be here mid morning on Christmas day and stay most of the day. I will be cooking ham and the works. I imagine my son will be here with his fiance, but he may be eating with her family. idk. It's so different that after 24 years of having the excitement of getting kids to bed, playing santa, and the early morning wake ups-it's just not gonna be that way this year. 
It's kind of unsettling.
