Christmas Countdown - 2019

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made582 said:
Happy Christmas Eve Eve, MMC!!! How can we be this close already?? Mom has a pretty nasty cold so I might take her to the walk in clinic later today to make sure it hasn’t turned into bronchitis. She can’t afford to let it linger when she has surgery scheduled in 3 weeks. I need to run and get my aunts dog Ella some more treats for her stocking too. I took her to see Santa at Petsmart yesterday. She was not excited about all of the big dogs that were there. Other than that, it’ll be a lot of Kringle radio and some Hallmark while starting to prep Christmas dinner. I hope everyone has a great day!!!!!
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I saw the picture of you, Ella and Santa. Love it!
I hope your mom feels better very soon. Praying her surgery goes well too.
xx
 
AuntieMistletoeDear said:
So, you only have one count left before your merry break as Christmas Day will be here day after tomorrow.

Huge thanks and thanks again for helping us keep track!+i

-merry- Crown


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That's right, Auntie! My yearly one-week break is coming up.
 
whitney37354 said:
We had a quiet weekend and I loved it!

Friday: I worked until lunch. We had our monthly lunch meeting with our team & did a white elephant gift exchange. I received a small charcoal grill. After lunch, we took DD & my in-laws to Dolly Parton's Stampede for our annual wedding anniversary trip. In 26 years, we've missed two years of Stampede. It was great, as usual.

Saturday: I did grocery shopping and we went out for dinner, but otherwise, we stayed in all day, wrapping gifts & watching Christmas movies with DD.

Sunday: Church x 2, with the night service being our candlelight service. It was the best one I've been to in the past 8 years we've been back. We ate out for dinner afterward.

Today I work while DH & DD go to the mall & hang out before picking up DD's best friend. She'll hang out at our house until after dinner.

Christmas Eve: We're changing up our traditions this year. We usually go to the mall with FIL & MIL while FIL buys his Christmas gifts & we people watch before eating Chinese food in the food court. This year, we're going out for breakfast with DH's best friend & his family. They have no parents still living, he is an only child, his wife has sisters who are lots older than her & spend their time with their families. This year they were finally able to adopt her niece, who is eight years old. She's been living with them since she was around 18 months old. They wanted to start a new tradition with us, so we're going for it! Our DD & their DD will exchange gifts. After that, we'll probably come home for a nap, and my plan is to make cookies to take to Christmas dinner. I"ll watch the Little House on the Prairie episode, A Christmas They Never Forgot. I'll be making chicken casserole, green beans, & corn for dinner for just the three of us before watching It's a Wonderful Life. DD will open her Christmas pjs & a small gift before bedtime.

DH's parents were supportive of the change in plans. They also said that they know the family traditions they have will have to change with the times since the grandchildren are older and will soon start having families of their own, which complicates our already complicated blended/broken families that need to make time to see all of the parents & grandparents. Somehow, everyone "has" to be together for lunch on Christmas Day. No one can do Christmas Eve or Christmas night? We've all decided that it's best to just set a time for our family celebrations and say, "Come if you can." If they can't come then, they can get their gifts later. The family is growing too much to get everyone together at the same time.

Christmas Day: DD will open her gifts from us. All of DH's family will get together as usual, but we'll meet around at DH's parents house at 10:00 for gift exchange, then lunch instead of breakfast. We have done breakfast since before the first grandchild was born, & he's 23 now. Some will stay for lunch, others will have to leave to have lunch with other family. We'll come home after lunch. Maybe a quick nap, maybe! I'll make the chili before heading out to my parent's house for dinner & gift exchange as usual. We change up the menu every year: this year we're doing soups, sandwiches, & snacks. I'll make chili, mom is making soup. Don't know what sister & SIL are bringing. My uncle & aunt come over too. I assume that the granddaughters are spending the night with Grammy & Poppy on Christmas night as has become tradition.

Back to work for me on the 26th. DH works the 27th, then he's off until 1/2.

Sorry for the novel! This will probably be my last time here until after Christmas. I hope everyone is happy & healthy for the holiday season. Merry Christmas!
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Sounds busily festive. Have a great time.

 
sugarmuffin25 said:
Good afternoon everyone! Got up early and made two more batches of cookie dough to freeze (ginger molasses and toffee Pecan), cleaned the kitchen, and put a spaghetti meat sauce in the crock pot to simmer all day for stuffed manicotti on Christmas Day. I will probably assemble that later when I get home and just leave in the fridge to pop in the oven. I have to leave soon to pick mom up. Then, tomorrow is my annual shopping/lunch trip with my brother (only missed one year in 25 years or so.). I have to pick up our honey baked ham tomorrow also for Christmas dinner and a lunch meat and cheese tray to take to my brothers. We usually go to his house Christmas Eve but now he has to work until midnight tomorrow night so my husband and mom and I will go over there Christmas evening. We are planning to play cards after the kids open presents. That is bittersweet for me. I love playing cards, but that is something my dad always looked forward to doing and since this is the first Christmas without him I know we will be telling plenty of stories about him Christmas night as we play. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas Eve Eve!
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Bittersweet is how our first Christmas went without my mom. We kept it intimate only about 6 of us. We talked about her a bit, but mostly we enjoyed each others company, the music and the decorations and food.

My dad decorated more this year than usual and we're hoping for a few more visitors; last year we anticipated being difficult as she was our merry patriarch.

Most of my relatives are out of town and friends from the neighbourhood have moved away. The gatherings are getting smaller. I never extended an invitation to anyone although my dad said I could.

All I know is tomorrow won't feel like a regular night. The music, conversation and decorations will make it festive. Plus, my brother and I are exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve before a light dinner and lighting the annual luminaries.

Thinking of you.

 
AuntieMistletoeDear said:
Bittersweet is how our first Christmas went without our my mom. We kept it intimate only about 6 of us. We talked about her a bit, but mostly we enjoyed each others company, the music and the decorations and food.

My dad decorated more this year than usual and we're hoping for a few more visitors; last year we anticipated being difficult as she was our merry patriarch.

Most of my relatives are out of town and friends from the neighbourhood have moved away. The gatherings are getting smaller. I never extended an invitation to anyone although my dad said I could.

All I know is tomorrow won't feel like a regular night. The music, conversation and decorations will make it festive. Plus, my brother and I are exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve before a light dinner and lighting the annual luminaries.

Thinking of you.
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Thank you Auntie. I know you are going through something similar and I am glad to see you have plans with family and friends! My mom, husband, and I sat around telling stories about my dad when she arrived tonight and I know there will be more stories with my brother tomorrow. That is how we keep our loved ones around I guess; keeping their memories and special stories alive. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve tomorrow and an even better Christmas Day!
 
Wow....

We are here.

Got some cooking done. Just sit down to do reading and think about how I want to spend my day tomorrow. Easily my favorite day of the year is tomorrow...

The girls and I had a blast listening to the show on Kringle Radio. They just loved it!!!!! I know we will be listening a lot tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we are looking at mid 60's. Gonna break out the flip flops. LOL.

Merry Christmas, friends.
 
Sugar and Auntie. I too have now spent 12 Christmas without my beloved dad and 34 without my wonderful mother. Was it ever the same? No. It never has nor will it ever be. But the only constant in life is change. Each year I’m surrounded by the things and people they loved and for me, that is almost as good as the real thing. I focus on items that make the best memories. Trust me; with each passing Christmas, it gets easier though truly never the same. Love to all.
 
Binger said:
Sugar and Auntie. I too have now spent 12 Christmas without my beloved dad and 34 without my wonderful mother. Was it ever the same? No. It never has nor will it ever be. But the only constant in life is change. Each year I’m surrounded by the things and people they loved and for me, that is almost as good as the real thing. I focus on items that make the best memories. Trust me; with each passing Christmas, it gets easier though truly never the same. Love to all.
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My Dad was heavy on my mind yesterday. How he would have loved seeing how excited his granddaughters are and he would love to be a part of it....

I miss him. On Christmas. On his birthday. On every day of the year....I miss him. Terribly.

life will never be the same without him. But you know what...life will never be the same because I had him. Wouldn’t trade those days or memories for all of the coin in the world.
 
Merry Christmas Eve MMC! It's here! My favorite day of the year. It's so special every year when I wake up on this day. I'm getting things started with some pancakes for breakfast. Tonight we'll enjoy our usual biggest meal of the year with our traditional dinner. Have a great and merry Christmas Eve!
 
sugarmuffin25 said:
Thank you Auntie. I know you are going through something similar and I am glad to see you have plans with family and friends! My mom, husband, and I sat around telling stories about my dad when she arrived tonight and I know there will be more stories with my brother tomorrow. That is how we keep our loved ones around I guess; keeping their memories and special stories alive. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve tomorrow and an even better Christmas Day!
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Last night, my dad gave me Gary's stocking since it won't be filled this year, he thought I'd like to keep it.

How I kept it together in that moment, I don't know. My strength and ability to stay jolly despite my sorrow surprises me at times. I've always been an optimistic person and have a passion for living life joyfully. I am thankful I had two extra Christmases with him and that he is no longer suffering and managed to drift off to "Netherland", as he referred to it, before he lost his memory. It's finding the silver lining and letting the memories surface that helps.

O'Malley cat doesn't seem to be looking for him anymore.

Yesterday, when I was preparing to run a few errands before heading over to my dads, something slipped off the top of the fridge and brought down with it, a photo magnet of Gary's Celebration of Life table that I set up. I took it as a sign that he was recognzing that this is my favourite time of the year and he wants me to be happy.

I am.

 
Good Morning, Eve'ers!!

"Christmas Eve".
Has a really merry sound, doesn't it?
And it means, of course, that tomorrow is Christmas Day!

Days to Christmas Day: 1 (TOMORROW!!)
'Nuf said!

Rainy all day yesterday with cool temps.
Predicted warmer today and dry.
Cooler again tomorrow, then warm for the remainder of the week.
Christmas Eve starts here in central NC at 46 degrees and it's nice and sunny.

Have a Terrific Tuesday and an Exciting Eve of Christmas, my Friends.
Now, get yourselves all geared up for tomorrow!
 
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