Vallerina 2 #1 November 23, 2004 That's right! I'm not afraid to admit that I love this time of year! My favorite part of the holidays is watching my nephews open presents. They stroll in with their cute little outfits on, and they usually tear the place up. Does anyone else love the cheesy crap that comes along with the holidays? I love the movies. I love the music. I love walking downtown when all of the lights and decorations are up. I like looking at the windows at Marshall Field's. I like the neverending sweet potatoes. I like buying stuff that people don't need and wrapping it up for them. I like egg nog. I like decorating our Christmas Tree. I like throwing snowballs at my brother. I like it all! The holidays are big fun! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #2 November 23, 2004 I love it too. Though i'll pass on the eggnog. We're decorating the office this friday and i'm all excited. My nephews are what makes it special to me too. Watching them get all excited is so fun. And yeah, i watch the christmas movies and drive around looking at the pretty lights. I wear jingle bell socks and christmas stuff in my hair. I love it!!! ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #3 November 23, 2004 I love everything about it too! In addition to everything you wrote, I love the cards I get in the mail (because I usually just get bills!) and the long letters that people write. I love driving around and looking at holiday lights. I love the way my house smells with the Christmas tree (I'll never get artificial!). I love listening to my daughter play carols on the piano. I love all the family that comes to town (I think we'll have 30 this year!) I wish it lasted longer!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #4 November 23, 2004 I love this time of year. I can't wait to get the Christmas tree up! I love the music, decorations, mood, lights, everything!!! Having small children around adds to the wonder of the season! To see the joy and anticipation in their eyes......that's what makes it so awesome. J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #5 November 23, 2004 There are very few things that I like about the "holiday season." I like seeing relatives congregated together, but I hate spending too much time in one place. I like to snowboard, but I despise the winter apart from that, and I rarely make it more than once a year anyway. Lucky for us, it's only very-rarely too cold and nasty to skydive in North Carolina. It was over 70 degrees (f) Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the dropzone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #6 November 23, 2004 I love the holidays, as well, because my immediate family (my parents, brothers/myself and our significant others) is so close-knit. It sounds cheesy, but we really love spending extra time together. We love telling funny stories at the dinner table, then watching movies together. My two brothers and I have so many inside jokes. (That glint in both my brothers' eyes when we laugh. They're HILARIOUS...those two!!!) We are all soooo different, but we are so in tune with each other. Not many of our relatives live in this country. That was something that used to bother me as a child, but now I feel lucky that I never had to deal with the unpleasantness that I have heard can occur during the holidays. None of us (my two brothers and myself) has any children, either. That will be fun one day...to see the little one(s)' faces light up when they open their presents. The food is awesome, and we always have those long (several courses), yet fun dinners, where we take pictures of ourselves all sitting at the formal dining table together. I even used to make Christmas cookies from scratch every year, and it even became a tradition with my late best friend. Maybe I'll make them again this year as it's been quite a few years since she's passed away. Also, my mother decorates her home so beautifully. Her decorations aren't cheesy either. They're really pretty. I love picking out a gorgeous Christmas tree. Every year, we take pictures in front of my parents' tree (lol). I used to be a very pious little girl, so I used to love Christmas for religious (Catholic) reasons, as well. Now, I do not necessarily agree with "organized" religion. I will not say, however, that there is anything wrong with people who have faith. It's a blessed thing, yet I most love that the holidays seem to bring (some) people/families closer together. It's beautiful. I also REALLY LOVE getting and giving gifts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #7 November 23, 2004 QuoteLucky for us, it's only very-rarely too cold and nasty to skydive in North Carolina. My daughter picked North Carolina as the place she wants me to move to after she gets out of high school so she can come visit me there. She said it's pretty, but not too hot and not too cold. All the seasons are bearable, we love NC!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #8 November 23, 2004 QuoteThe food is awesome, and we always have those long (several courses), yet fun dinners, where we take pictures of ourselves all sitting at the formal dining table together. We do the same kinds of things, Rosa. Long ago my family decided they liked everyone being all dressed up in pictures instead of being sleepyheads in pajamas with bedhead, so we open all of our presents on Christmas Eve after a huge dinner. Everyone is expected to be dressed up and we all have to take our turns with our families in front of my dad's 13' Christmas tree that he gets every year. The kids still get stockings the next morning and only last year did I stop with gifts from Santa. This year, we'll have 11 kids opening presents together. It's going to be awesome watching them!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #9 November 23, 2004 This is the first time in about 10 years I'm going to be able to see my brother around the holidays. Normally the holidays aren't such a big deal to me because my family ends up fighting with each other and the whole spirit of it gets ruined. Nothing can spoil the holidays for me this year because I actually get to see my brother whom I get to see maybe every 2 years. He moved closer to us now and this is the 3rd time I'll get to see him this year. I'm so excited! My family isn't going to have much money for Christmas this year so I proposed we just bring in the christmas spirit as much as possible. Go see lights. See as much family as possible. Just spend time together. That's what it's all about. I realize my parents are getting older now and I need to spend as much time with them as possible and form good memories that don't involve fighting around the holidays. We'll see how things go this year.I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #10 November 23, 2004 I LOVE the holidays too!!!! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #11 November 23, 2004 Is it ok to not get too excited about the holidays ?Never have been really into it. I feel relieved when it's over. I'm not a bad person i swear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #12 November 23, 2004 QuoteIs it ok to not get too excited about the holidays ? It's okay to do whatever you want as long as you don't rain on my parade! And, Sheenster, that's really cool! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #13 November 23, 2004 May your parade be dry, warm and sunny. I'll stay out of the way til Jan 2. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genoyamamoto 0 #14 November 23, 2004 I love the food. Turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, pumpkin pie... Mmmmmm... Gotta go... plaything needs to spank me Feel the hate... Photos here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #15 November 23, 2004 I'm gonna decorate my tree with underpants i steal from the dzcom skyboys. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boinky 0 #16 November 23, 2004 I used to love this time of year. My kids were small and grateful for whatever I found for them. I'd be one of those Christmas warriors out at 4:00 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, waiting on the doors to open of the toy store, trying to buy that much desired special toy of the year. Now they are older, selective and mostly unappreciative. It takes all the fun out of shopping. What fun is a handful of gift cards? Where's the heartfelt shopping? I like to buy for those who don't expect anything. Unexpected gifts are the best, especially if you listen with your heart and mind and find that "special" something that they would never think of buying for themselves. I've even constructed some rather original "one-of-a-kind" gifts along the way, knowing they would never be able to buy something like it in a store, but it was "meant" just for them. It shows love. I normally love the movies, the music, the decorations and the holiday clothes. Due to some personal issues, I seem to be having great problems mentally getting "in the mood" this year though. Seeing as I am normally a bouncy kind of person, I'm sure it'll be no time before I am all cheerful again and sharing egg-nog and Christmas carols with Vallerina.Nina Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz) Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #17 November 23, 2004 Ahh, holidays.... I love cooking, and I love eating. As far as decorating, I wouldn't go through the trouble unless I had kids, but I do enjoy seeing xmas lights around town:) I also love to buy/wrap/give presents, but the past few years we haven't done much of a gift exchange. Most of all, I like to spend time with my crazy family, I hope they do something for xmas because many of them left for T-giving:( -A Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #18 November 23, 2004 QuoteThat's right! I'm not afraid to admit that I love this time of year! My favorite part of the holidays is watching my nephews open presents. They stroll in with their cute little outfits on, and they usually tear the place up. Does anyone else love the cheesy crap that comes along with the holidays? I love the movies. I love the music. I love walking downtown when all of the lights and decorations are up. I like looking at the windows at Marshall Field's. I like the neverending sweet potatoes. I like buying stuff that people don't need and wrapping it up for them. I like egg nog. I like decorating our Christmas Tree. I like throwing snowballs at my brother. I like it all! The holidays are big fun! >I LOVE CHRISTMAS TOO!It's the only time of the year that i don't get bugged with "WHY are YOU so happy?" I can say it's Christmas time and NOT have to explain that >life is good< (for me at least)People at work call me Grant-a-Claus after Thanksgiving passes. That started after I began wearing my Santa Hat (with batt. powered lights in it) on top of my hard hat. Yep, climbing up the telephone poles for all the girls and boys._______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #19 November 23, 2004 OK, Fine, I'll break the self imposed 6000 post limit for this thread. The part I really love about this time of year, besides the enthusiasm of my children on Christmas morning is a simple walk. Really, think about it. Imagine yourslef there. I live in Small Town America(tm). Christmas here is not just a holiday, it's a pastime. The whole town is decked out, yet subtly and in a simplistic manner. Simple clear bulbs on the now bare trees in the main square, as well as lining the streets of Main Street, whos buildings date to the 1800's. I love a stroll down that street in the wee hours. After the bars have closed, and the majority of the people have gone off home, to bed. It needs to be dark, and quiet. The town is illuminated by only the light glow of the Christmas decorations and the old-style lamp posts. There isn't so much as a whisper of wind, and the snow of the evening has left a nice, fresh blanket on everything, yet has tapered off to just a trace of light flakes drifting down to the ground. Many people don't understand how people like me can stand to live up here in the winter, as it's true, it gets VERY cold, but just one walk like that hooks you for life. It's that beautiful, and it's that much better when I can take that walk with my wife. Life just doesn't get any better than central Wisconsin at Christmas time. It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #20 November 23, 2004 Wonderful......you took me there with your post. I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, I know what you're talking about. It snows here in the PNW, (rarely for the holidays), but just taking a walk, enjoying the quiet peaceful night lit up with holiday lights, snow or not snow........how nice. Jan -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #21 November 23, 2004 QuoteUnexpected gifts are the best Hell yeah. The look on a person's face when they get handed an unexpected gift is great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #22 December 1, 2004 BUMP! Too much negativity about the holidays running around on here! I loved Thanksgiving. I got my nephew to throw snowballs at my brother! I'm getting excited because I keep coming up with really good gift ideas for other people! Our tree is up and decorated, and it looks so pretty! Egg nog is abundant in the stores (I'll stick to the soy kind, though.) And...just a few more weeks 'til 24 hrs of "A Christmas Story!"There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #23 December 1, 2004 well I love Christmas too.... In my family we avoid the materialism crap by just giving presents for the children in the family. For the adults, we don't bother, since we don't really need anything anyway, & why spoil christmas by stressing out in hectic shopping malls. christmas isn't about that crap anyway. But its a great time to get together with family members who I haven't seen in a long time. I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit already. But I probably won't buy a tree for another couple weeks. And I think a Christmas tree should stay up through the entire Christmas season (which ends on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany), not taken down on Dec 26. And I agree...I don't think I will switch to artificial trees either. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #24 December 1, 2004 I love getting the family together and pigging out on huge meals. I still like Christmas morning, even after the commercialization and material focus. Call me a dork, but I like Christmas music - something you can still sing along with. I hate the whole "presents" thing and also the cold weather. The plan is to spend all future holidays in much warmer climes, and reduce the gift-giving/receiving. I do think it's possible to change your holiday experience if you don't like it - it's taken a few years to clue my family in about not buying me presents, and the fact that if they're somewhere cold, I'm not gonna be there. And I think after a few years, they're finally starting to understand. Now just a few more years to get them to accept it Then a dozen or so years to get them to stop buying me stuff.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
josheezammit 0 #25 December 1, 2004 Quote Does anyone else love the cheesy crap that comes along with the holidays? I love the movies. I love the music. I love walking downtown when all of the lights and decorations are up. I like looking at the windows at Marshall Field's. I like the neverending sweet potatoes. I like buying stuff that people don't need and wrapping it up for them. I like egg nog. I like decorating our Christmas Tree. I like throwing snowballs at my brother. I like it all! The holidays are big fun! I love it all to Val, I Love the whole thing, even though we all get so busy, we all take time to reflect and as a noob I love that this will be my "first" holiday season, to take a week to sit back reflect and enjoy one other time honored holiday tradition, known as the Holiday boogie, heck ya 24 days, I can't wait! Ahh, what a wonderful world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
